Terron Armstead isn’t currently a candidate for release before June 1, but he could be moved after that date. Doing so would result in $7.8 million in dead money for the following season, while freeing up $15 million in cap space starting June 2. Similarly, the Dolphins might also consider trading Bradley Chubb post-June 1, which would add $9.1 million to the dead money total but provide $20 million in cap relief after June 1.
The Dolphins’ financial situation is far from ideal, revealing how they’ve effectively put themselves in a tough spot. To address depth issues, General Manager Chris Grier will likely have to rely on short-term contracts, often at or near the league minimum, leaving little room to bring in quality starters that are urgently needed.
In his end-of-season press conference, Grier acknowledged the need to improve the offensive line and find a better backup quarterback. However, the team’s salary cap limitations could make these upgrades challenging without major roster changes.
The roster was originally designed to carry the team through the 2025 season, with contracts structured to retain key players for next year while making the “outs” in those deals more favorable by 2026. However, the team didn’t account for the impact of injuries or other issues affecting depth.
