Miami Dolphins' Salary Cap Breakdown by Position
The Miami Dolphins have a lot to do this offseason, and it starts by sorting out their salary cap.
As it stands now, per Spotrac.com, the Dolphins are projected to be $1,508,567 over their adjusted salary cap of $149,770,411 (salary cap is adjusted for the $7,770,411 they can roll over), as they have $154,474,278 committed to their cap in 2015, a total which includes their potential draft picks.
This number will have to be pared down significantly just to retain key free agents, and likely will, but we can't make the assumption of how it will be pared down yet.
Today we're going to analyze how much of their cap space is tied to each position in comparison to the spending across the league as well as the performance of the players in said positional units.
Quarterbacks: Cap Hit $4,615,364
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This number is subject to change, a fact that has been the worst-kept secret in Davie since Monday.
Ryan Tannehill is set to cost the Dolphins $4,030,364 against their salary cap next year if the deal that The Sun-Sentinel's Dave Hyde reports is being discussed isn't done. I fully expect such a deal to be done, thus multiplying the cap hit at least three times over.
For now, Miami is ranked 26th in the NFL in quarterback spending. How is their total $4,615,364 when Tannehill is only at $4,030,364 right now, though?
Simple: The Dolphins signed McLeod Bethel-Thompson back in October, and he will be paid $585,000 next season if he sticks on the team.
What should also increase Miami's cap number at quarterback is the signing of a backup for Ryan Tannehill, if the Dolphins choose to go the veteran route.
Running Backs: Cap Hit $1,407,200
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As it stands, the Dolphins only have three running backs on the roster in Lamar Miller, Mike Gillislee and Damien Williams, who combine to make $1,407,200 in 2015.
While none of these three players are likely to see a raise in 2015, the cap number at the position will go up due to the Dolphins either drafting a running back or signing a free-agent back.
Compared to the rest of the league, Miami doesn't spend a lot on running backs as they're ranked 28th in the league in such spending. The ranking won't change much, but the cap number likely will.
Wide Receivers: Cap Hit $26,268,156
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Nearly 18 percent of Miami's cap room is tied to wide receivers, as the Dolphins have the third-most salary owed to receivers in the NFL.
What a waste of money that appears to be when you look at the up-and-down performance of the unit in the last two seasons.
These ups and downs will likely result in a house-cleaning at the position, starting with the possible release of Mike Wallace (a move I will be against but understand) along with releasing Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson (two moves I would support).
The best performing wide receiver just happens to be the one paid the least of the starters at the position, with Jarvis Landry and his $789,753 salary.
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Tight Ends: Cap Hit $749,713
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This is a number that has to change in some way, shape or form this offseason.
It could change by simply re-signing Charles Clay, an impending free agent who's salary is not counted with the other Dolphins tight ends (Dion Sims, Arthur Lynch) because he's technically not on the roster.
This number could also change if Clay decides to go elsewhere, as the Dolphins will either have to draft a tight end or sign one via free agency.
The best decision would be to just re-sign Clay. Outside of Julius Thomas and Clay, the pickings at tight end are slim in free agency, and the only first or second-round tight end in the draft (Devin Funchess of Michigan) will be better suited at wide receiver in the pros.
Offensive Line: Cap Hit $27,988,140
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For the amount the Dolphins spend at the position, you'd expect much more than what they got in 2014.
The production should be better in 2015 with the return of Branden Albert, Mike Pouncey's return to center, and a potential draft pick at guard.
The only thing to keep an eye on in terms of that number going up or down would be if Pouncey, in the final year of his rookie contract, signs an extension with the Dolphins.
According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, said deal will likely get done.
This number could also increase if the Dolphins decide to go after a guard in free agency, but said increase could be partially cancelled out by the release of Nate Garner.
The Dolphins have Garner on the hook for $1,816,668 in 2015 but would have zero dead money if he's released at any time this offseason.
Defensive Line: Cap Hit $29,484,804
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Only four teams spend more on their defensive lines than the Miami Dolphins.
That number will surely change, especially if Jared Odrick re-signs with Miami.
Has the money Miami spent on their defensive ends and tackles been worth it? It depends on where the blame should lie for their shoddy performance against the run late in 2014.
If you blame the scheme and point out how the Dolphins were better against the run before Kevin Coyle came into town (a logical point), then you'd say they haven't gotten their money's worth, but they can.
If you just think it's the talent, then no, they haven't gotten their money's worth on this unit.
As for pass rushing, this aspect was fantastic up until the secondary went down due to injuries.
Linebackers: Cap Hit $20,451,872
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If you believe that this is an awful amount of money for mediocrity, you'd be correct.
The Dolphins will have two tough decisions to make at this position with Dannel Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler, who combined will make $14,250,000 in 2015.
I'm confident that Ellerbe will be released, or at least get a drastically restructured contract to stay, however, linebacker is a position the Dolphins will strongly look at in the first two rounds of the draft, which will hasten the departure of one, if not both, of their prized free-agent hauls from 2013.
This alone will lower the amount of money spent at the position, and it could also bring about improvement.
Cornerbacks: Cap Hit $18,800,727
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There are a variety of reasons why this number will go down.
We could see the Dolphins try to restructure Brent Grimes' contract, as he's owed $10 million in 2015. I personally wouldn't do that (Grimes did play well in his last two seasons), but I'd understand the rationale.
The easy pick is the release of Cortland Finnegan, which would free nearly $5.5 million in cap room for Miami. However, keep in mind that back in December Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald reported that Finnegan could retire, which would free up his entire contract's worth of cap space for the Dolphins if he chooses to retire before Miami releases him.
Safeties: Cap Hit $8.345 Million
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Currently, the Dolphins only have Reshad Jones and Don Jones on the roster as safeties, with Reshad Jones making $7.76 million.
The number at the position will go up as the Dolphins either re-sign some of their free-agent safeties (Louis Delmas, Jimmy Wilson, Michael Thomas and Jordan Kovacs), draft a safety, or both.
Special Teams: Cap Hit $5,704,140
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For special teams, this cap number might seem like a bit too much.
It could, and likely will, go down this offseason. If the Dolphins choose to draft a kicker to compete with Caleb Sturgis, said kicker could be paid less than Sturgis' $621,140 cap hit. Brandon Fields might also have to get his contract restructured, but I wouldn't put it out of the realm of possibility if the Dolphins bring in competition for him, which could force his release.
Salary Cap information provided by spotrac.com.
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