Contracts Dolphins Must Consider Cutting in 2024 Offseason

The Miami Dolphins have some work to do in the NFL offseason to become compliant inside the salary cap.

Miami currently sits at $51 million over the cap, per Spotrac. It has nine players scheduled to make over $10 million and 30 players expected to make at least $1 million in the 2024 campaign.

The Dolphins will have to trim some of the contracts from their roster to get within the cap and to also refresh their roster.

None of the team's top stars are expected to go anywhere, but depth players could be moved in order to make the salary cap situation more forgiving.

Durham Smythe

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 07: Durham Smythe #81 of the Miami Dolphins looks on against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Miami's offense in the Mike McDaniel era has not valued tight ends.

Durham Smythe was the team's third-best pass-catcher in 2023, but he only had 366 receiving yards.

Smythe had just three games with four or five receptions and two 50-yard performances this season.

Those numbers are not good enough to justify paying Smythe over $4 million in the 2024 campaign.

Smythe will be a $4.4 million salary cap hit in 2024, and although he does other things inside the offense, it is hard to pay a tight end that much to record such a low yardage total.

Miami's offense could evolve in Year 3 under McDaniel to incorporate more tight end production instead of just relying on Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but at the current level of production, Smythe is not worth the contract he possesses.

Jeff Wilson

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 07: Jeff Wilson Jr. #23 of the Miami Dolphins rushes during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Jeff Wilson's 53-man roster spot was made redundant by De'Von Achane's breakout rookie campaign.

Wilson, who signed a two-year deal last offseason, has a potential out in his contract that would cost the Dolphins $752,000 in dead cap space.

That is likely the move Miami will make since Wilson does not have a path to concrete role in the Miami offense with Achane and Raheem Mostert healthy.

The Dolphins are better off letting Wilson walk and either signing or drafting a younger running back to fill the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.

Wilson would benefit from leaving Miami in order to chase a No. 2 spot somewhere else in the league.

Mike White

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 24: Mike White #14 of the Miami Dolphins warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Hard Rock Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Dolphins also have a potential out on Mike White's contract this offseason.

A release of the backup quarterback would only cost the Dolphins $1.75 million in dead salary cap.

White's two-year deal, which was signed last offseason, is backloaded with more money in the second year.

The backup quarterback is scheduled to make $5.2 million in 2024, a total that is too high for a team that needs to shed some cap space.

The Dolphins could release White and bring him back on a cheaper deal, or they could find another veteran quarterback at a cheaper price.

Tua Tagovailoa's full-season health could also play a role in a potential White release. He was signed last season partly because the Dolphins did not want to be left with Skylar Thompson at quarterback in a playoff in case Tagovailoa was injured again.