Immediately after signing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in free agency last year, many speculated that the Miami Dolphins would have to rejigger his deal after just one season to free up some much need salary cap space. Fast forward to today and the Dolphins have $166.9 million in cap commitments for 2016 with a salary cap expected to settle around $154 million. That's not good.
The Dolphins underachieved this past season going just 6-10 after adding a lot of talent last year. New head coach Adam Gase instills a sense of optimism and hope among fans, but Miami will need some salary cap relief in order to re-sign key players and continue adding depth.
"No team currently has more cap commitments for 2016, but not team has an easier route to creating significant room than Miami," ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates wrote. "When the team signed defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to a lucrative six-year deal last offseason, it included a clause that allows the team to convert part of his $23.485 million base salary for 2016 into a signing bonus.
"The upside? It immediately reduces his cap hit for 2016 (by up to $18 million or so), though it adds on to his cap hit for the four years beyond. The team also could clear $7.751 million in cap space by releasing defensive end/outside linebacker Quinton Coples before the new league year begins."
Miami will have to explore these options as they hope to re-sign talented up-and-coming pass rusher Olivier Vernon. The talented 25-year-old notched 81 total pressures last year, up from 48 in 2014. He also collected 30 QB hits in addition to his 7.5 sacks. He is a young player who is still improving and is the logical option to replace the aging Cameron Wake at defensive end. The Dolphins would be smart to figure out a way to keep him, and that likely means restructuring Suh and letting go of some expensive veterans.
