Ndamukong Suh contract: Why Restructuring Would Hurt the Dolphins

[fisi]

Before 2015, the Miami Dolphins signed marquee free agent Ndamukong Suh to a blockbuster contract. He became the highest paid defensive player in the NFL, and was expected to become the heart and soul of the Dolphins’ defense. Despite many who criticized his performance, last season was actually a good year for Suh. His position is not known for putting up monster stats, and he was able to have success creating chaos in the backfield despite playing with a mediocre defense.

Now, discussion has emerged of the Dolphins looking to restructure Ndamukong Suh’s contract. The main goal of this would be to clear up salary cap room for this season. However, in this article I will explain why it is a very bad idea for the Miami Dolphins to delay what is an inevitable lottery-sized cap hit for Ndamukong Suh.

Ndamukong Suh’s salary cap hits are laid out as follows:

2016: $28.6 million

2017: $15.1 million

2018: $22.1 million

2019: $24.1 million

2020: $18.375 million

Restructuring Suh would be a "win now" move for a team that is not even close to win now territory. The Dolphins need players across several positions, and it will take a couple of seasons to rebuild the defense the right way.

This discussion of a Suh restructure is alarming, and a sign that the team could be looking to fall back on bad habits. If they look towards free agency again to turn their defense into what they perceive could be a "win now" team, they will only set themselves back exponentially further.






from phinsider
http://www.thephinsider.com/2016/2/...cturing-ndamukong-suh-would-hurt-the-dolphins

 

[Sons Of Shula]

I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment.

 

[Geforce]

Whether they restructure Suh or not, it is still imperative for the coaches to get the young players playing at a high level to ease that effects of that contract.

They tried to rely on the young guns last year and it bit them in the butt.

 

[jimthefin]

I agree as well.

IF making some room would put the team over the top for a title run I would say risk the future but not for this team.

 

[clownfish]

But the cap goes up each year, so a bigger cap hit later would mean less overall percentage of the total cap. I say restructure.

 

[Phinatic8u]

We don't need to restructure Suh to add FA anyways.

Can still add a OL, LB and CB. Other options than to restructure Suh.

 

[fininpsl]

Restructuring would be just plain dumb. Eat the money now, and leave us with more cap flexibility later when we might be only a couple pieces away. I like Suh and think he will likely be in the long term plans, but restructuring his contract makes him uncuttable til 2020. What if he has a career ending injury? Or his play slides off the table? Both unlikely, but if either did happen the Fins could deal with it by 2018 under the existing contract. It's two more years of cap hell if they restructure and something goes south with Suh.

 

[fisi]

Restructuring would be just plain dumb. Eat the money now, and leave us with more cap flexibility later when we might be only a couple pieces away. I like Suh and think he will likely be in the long term plans, but restructuring his contract him makes him uncuttable til 2020. What if he has a career ending injury? Or his play slides off the table? Both unlikely, but if either did happen the Fins could deal with it by 2018 under the existing contract. It's two more years of cap hell if they restructure and something goes south with Suh.

Absolutely agreed with ya!

 

[NorFlaFin]

Better off dumping some of the overpaid veterans who simply aren't worth their bloated contracts

 

[lotion]

The people that drew up that contract are still in the bldg. Suh came in and knew where he stood in the pecking order with that contract, led a bit of a rebellion got the coaching staff churned. Seems to me the decision makers for the fins think they're playing checkers instead of chess even if they have a TON of cap space when a player gets that kind of money they rarely get better.
The fact that they tied up that much money with a guy that doesn't touch the ball and can be taken out with a double team was a dumb move to begin with.

 

[Fin Fan in Cali]

The bottom line is if they feel they can better this team with the draft, or if they don't feel confident or they want to do it sooner than the restructure will take place.

 

[Sarnics13]

How much does dumping Grimes save us again? There's step 1 to savings....

 

[phazer]

if we restructure and draft well it's a win win....If

 

[spiketex]

I heard Bill Polian in a recent interview say that his expectations for free agent signings coming to new teams were always much bigger in year 2 than year 1. His general message was that despite the expectations and big money, it is much harder for key free agent signings to come into a new organization with new coaches and new teammates than most people realize. While fans may expect immediate wins, the reality is that a lot of key free agents struggle in year 1. Applying Bill Polian's theory, we would expect Ndamukong to make real progress this coming season.
Let's see if Bill is right.

 

[Finland]

Sure don't hear much about the grand Dawn lately.