For several Miami Dolphins veterans, it was Black Monday in Miami Gardens. Under the new leadership team of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, the team waived pass rusher Bradley Chubb, wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Nick Westbrook-Ikein, and offensive guard James Daniels.
Those four cuts leave a team that was well over the salary cap before Monday now with $3.1 million in cap space, according to OvertheCap.com — even before Chubb’s money is taken into account, since the team has not officially released Chubb despite posting a farewell message on social media. When the Dolphins can use Chubb’s savings, the team will have between $11 million and $13 million in cap space (depending on how they choose to officially move on from the veteran EDGE player).
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Tyreek Hill’s departure was Miami’s biggest money-saving move on Monday – the soon-to-be 32-year-old pass catcher’s departure saved the Dolphins $22.9 million in cap space. However, the Dolphins will still face a $28.249 million death cap hit when Hill plays for another team in 2026.
On paper, these moves appear to leave major holes on Miami’s roster, but Daniels only played three games for the Dolphins in 2025, Hill played just three and a half games last season, Westbrook Ickin had just 11 catches for 89 yards and zero touchdowns in his lone season in Miami, and Bradley Chubb — who will turn 30 this summer — clearly lost a step after a knee injury sidelined him for the entire 2024 NFL season.
For a team that’s 7-10 in 2025 even as everything is crumbling around it, Monday’s cuts provide the organization with some much-needed cap space while clearing the roster of aging and/or ineffective players. With a strong draft class and some cautious free agent signings, the Dolphins hope to contend for a playoff spot in 2026 while continuing to reshape the roster in the image of the new regime.
