The Miami Dolphins are staring down the kind of salary cap mess that keeps front offices up at night. But if recent NFL history has taught us anything, it’s that even the ugliest cap situations aren’t death sentences. They’re puzzles-tough ones, sure-but solvable with the right mix of strategy, patience, and a little bit of cap wizardry.
Let’s start with the reality: Miami’s 2026 cap sheet is a minefield. They’re projected to be $18 million over the cap, and that’s before making any major roster decisions.
The biggest issue? A mountain of dead money-cash that counts against the cap even though the player is no longer on the roster.
Take a look at the numbers:
- Tua Tagovailoa: $67.4 million (likely to be cut)
- Jalen Ramsey: $20.7 million (traded)
- Tyreek Hill: $15.9 million (likely to be cut)
- Bradley Chubb: $10.9 million (cut or restructure candidate)
- Terron Armstead: $10.7 million (retired)
Tagovailoa’s situation is especially painful. His total potential dead cap hit could climb to $99.2 million if the Dolphins move on from him entirely in 2026.
That’s an eye-watering number, but it doesn’t have to sink the franchise. Remember, the Broncos ate $89 million in dead cap after cutting Russell Wilson in 2024-and still managed to go 11-6 that year, then 14-3 the next.
This is where general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and cap strategist Brandon Shore come in. Shore, who survived the front office shake-up that saw Chris Grier let go, is known for his cap acumen.
Now, he and Sullivan will need to get creative. That likely means a reset: a youth movement powered by rookies, minimum-deal veterans, and a more surgical approach to free agency.
The good news? Teams have shown it can work.
In 2025, five of the ten teams with the highest dead cap totals still made the playoffs. That list includes the 49ers, Seahawks, Eagles, Jaguars, and Texans-all of whom managed to win despite financial handcuffs.
Look at the 49ers. They carried $103.6 million in dead cap this season-third-most in the NFL-and still went 12-5.
That’s with injuries and major dead money hits from players like Deebo Samuel, Arik Armstead, and Javon Hargrave. How’d they do it?
Smart drafting, bargain free-agent signings, and leveraging the value of a quarterback on a rookie deal.
That’s the blueprint Miami needs to follow.
The Dolphins went all-in over the past few seasons, swinging for a Super Bowl window that never really opened. They didn’t win a playoff game.
Now, they’re paying the price. But this isn’t a teardown.
It’s a retooling.
One key advantage? Rookie quarterback contracts.
Miami is expected to have Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller on the roster in 2026, both on cap-friendly deals. That opens up flexibility elsewhere-on the offensive line, at receiver, in the secondary.
When you’re not paying $40-50 million a year for your quarterback, you can spread that money around.
Just look at San Francisco again. Even after rewarding Brock Purdy with a future extension, his 2026 cap hit is just $9.1 million.
That’s a massive edge in roster-building. When that number jumps to $57.6 million in 2028, the Niners will have to adjust.
But for now, they’re maximizing the window.
The Dolphins can do the same. It won’t be easy.
There will be tough decisions-fan-favorite veterans let go, contracts restructured, and expectations tempered. But if they draft well, spend wisely, and lean into the value of those rookie deals, they can rebuild faster than most would expect.
This offseason is all about recalibrating. It’s about turning the page on the Tua era, acknowledging the missteps of the past, and charting a new course.
The Dolphins have the tools. Now it’s up to Sullivan and Shore to use them.
Because cap hell isn’t permanent. Not if you know the way out.