The Miami Dolphins received an influx of salary cap space on Tuesday, jumping to over $20 million in available spending money for the 2026 season. The Dolphins used two “post-June 1” designations on roster cuts this year, moving on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and linebacker Bradley Chubb as they reset their roster and look to get their cap situation back under control.
June 2 is “post” June 1, which means the salary cap relief that comes with those two cuts has now hit the books. (Officially,
the space hit at 4 p.m. Eastern on Monday because the league day ends then, but that is effectively June 2 for all transactions.) According to OverTheCap.com, the Dolphins now have $20.16 million in cap space for this season. While about half of that cap space will be used to sign the team’s 13 drafted rookies, that will still leave a large amount of money for the team to consider adding some veteran free agents to the roster.
The team could also look to keep the money available for in-season injury issues or roll it over into the 2027 salary cap.
Miami has over $179 million in dead money – salary cap accounting of money that was guaranteed in a contract for a player who is no longer on the team – the most in the league this year. They also have the most dead money scheduled for next season with $56.7 million against the 2027 salary cap already. They also have the most cap space for 2027 with over $132.8 million available for next year.
The Dolphins will receive an additional $1.25 million in salary cap credit for next season after Tagovailoa signed with the Atlanta Falcons this year. Miami will be credited as part of the offset language that was in his contract prior to being released.
Tagovailoa’s release costs Miami $55.4 million in cap space for this season while Chubb adds another $11 million in dead money. Miami also has large dead money accounting for wide receiver Tyreek Hill ($28.2 million), wide receiver Jaylen Waddle ($23.2 million), cornerback Jalen Ramsey ($20.9 million), safety Minkah Fitzpatrick ($13 million), and tackle Terron Armstead ($10.7 million).
Miami has been deliberate in how they have created and used salary cap space this offseason, looking to put the team back on solid ground for the future. They likely will continue that methodology with the money that became available today. Could they sign a free agent to bolster their roster? Yes, but they will likely be looking to do it at a minimal cost and only on a short-term contract. They cannot waste the work they have already done.
