Florio: belief in league circles is Dolphins will cut Tua and absorb entire $99m cap hit in 2026

[dan the fin]

Granted I’m not sure how accurate over the cap’s salary cap tool is where you can play around with cutting, trading and renegotiating is, but you can get into positive cap space by making some significant moves.

For example, we can clear just short of $18 million in cap space by Fitzpatrick, Jackson, Sieler and Waddle post-June 1, and cutting Sanders, Brooks, Ingold, Brewer and Dodson pre-June 1. That’s a lot of faffing around to get there, but it is possible if they got rid of the higher earning veterans on the roster. That’s before any restructuring takes place. Sure you’ve got to replace them, but that could be done through the draft, UFAs and cheap veteran contracts.

So if Sullivan can make the numbers work to take the hit in one go, then it makes sense to take it in 2026 and be done with it. However, I suspect it might end up being split via a post-June 1 move to make balancing the numbers easier.

You can only do 2 post june cuts. I guess you can wait and and actually cut guys after june 1st but what is the point? You would be taking on dead money in 27 on those guys equal to or greater then just post june first on Tua.

 

[MARINO1384]

It doesn't really matter what part it is coming from (salary, option etc) it's just an accounting number based on the split of a post June 1 cut ($67.4M this year, $31.8M next year) and him counting as $56M on the cap this year.

As I said, they can move these numbers around by prorating his $15M option and $39M salary due this year it's just how much they want to move around or how much they need to move around to facilitate a trade. No one is taking on the contract as it stands but if they Dolphins prorated the option and did a max restructure of his salary then I'm sure they would have multiple takers as it essentially turns into a 1 year $5.2M contract for whoever takes it on. That's cheaper than a backup QB will cost in FA but the downside to that is the Dolphins eat a ton of dead cap next year but luckily they have plenty of space next year.

Would need a 2nd or 3rd to do that though or else not worth taking that much next year.

 

[Mach2]

I don't know if a 3 is realistic or not, we will have to wait to see what kind of market there is for Fitzpatrick.

He is still in his prime but is a FA after the coming season so he would either be a rental or you would be planning to extend him.

I would have no problem keeping him as well, and extending him 2-3 years as he is a very good fit in Halfley's Defense and is still playing at a high level.

But I can understand if Minkah does not want to go through a rebuild/teardown/tank process at this stage of his career.

Even if we trade him we are going to take with no lube.

There are already void years on the contract so there will be future dead money no matter what

The only positive is if we could get a mid round pick in return. We're probably just as well off keeping him.

 

[Mr Fan]

Even if we trade him we are going to take with no lube.

There are already void years on the contract so there will be future dead money no matter what

The only positive is if we could get a mid round pick in return. We're probably just as well off keeping him.

Injury guarantees in the contract scare me on even keeping him on the roster.

 

[Mach2]

Injury guarantees in the contract scare me on even keeping him on the roster.

Minkah? Never really been an injury risk.

 

[Mr Fan]

Minkah? Never really been an injury risk.

Ugh...sorry, thought I was responding to the Tua thread.

Minkah, I've got no problem keeping him if he wants to stay. I think its best for him to move on though since he won't want to be around for an ugly rebuild.

 

[EPBro]

Duh. It's the only move.