Miami Dolphins biggest problem is money

The Dolphins have tied up just over $103 million in 2018 cap space on eight players. Suh, Tannehill, Jones, Branch, Stills, Alonso, Wake, and Timmons. None of those eight players have outs in their contract that eliminate contracts without cost a large amount of dead money.

Combined, those eight players would account for $72.5 million in dead money. Obviously the Dolphins would not release all of them but none of those players cap hits are really edible except Wake’s and again, you can’t really release or trade him.

Miami needs to use the cap more efficiently. They need to spend better because they are throwing money at a few starters and then have to try to fit everyone else into starting roles for less. A lot less in many circumstances. It’s the reason why Miami spends less on guards for example.

The good news and yes there is good news. The Dolphins have a lot of youth on this team that are starting. Some of that is beneficial. Cordrea Tankersley is playing as a rookie and still developing. The same can be said about Xavien Howard who still needs to develop.

It’s easy to see where the money is going but consider the next eight players on the Dolphins team. Ja’Wuan James can be allowed to leave this off-season and Miami would save $9.3 million. Pouncey would save $7 million. Julius Thomas would save $6 million. The savings end there for all intent and purposes without restructuring one or more of the top eight.

The next eight players on the list, not including Julius Thomas or Ja’Wuan James account for $18 million and change in cap space. Those players include DeVante Parker, Charles Harris, Xavien Howard, Jordan Phillips, MarQuies Gray, and Laremy Tunsil. All six are still on their rookie contracts. They also include T.J. McDonald and Ted Larsen who are on team friendly deals.

McDonald’s contract will pay him $2.5 million in 2018 and Larsen will count $1.9.

So why is this important? Eight players make up the bulk of the teams cap ($103 million). That is eight starters of  22 players. The next eight top paid starters count $18 million. 16 players of the 22 starters. That means six starters are paid less than $1.3 million for the 2018 season. The 2018 cap isn’t known yet but combined those 16 players account for $121 million of a possible $176 million cap (likely higher).

There are 53 men on the active game day roster. 37 players that split the remaining $52 million of cap space. Roughly. Six of them are starters but this leaves a lot less money for quality depth at any of the positions.

The point here is this. Miami must do a better job of managing the cap and especially where they alot their spending. Ndamukong Suh was a huge free agent signing but he has not brought a championship to Miami. He has one post-season birth in his three seasons and the Dolphins defensive rankings are some of the worst in the league, especially last season.

Miami isn’t getting the return for their investments and that has to change. Better cap management will allow the team to pay a little more for starters but at the same time the team will have more money to spend on solid starting caliber back-ups who will and can compete for those starting jobs.

This is where Miami needs to focus their attention as soon as they can get out of these contracts. In some cases, that will not be 2019 either. Those same top eight players will cost $90 million in 2019 cap space. Lawrence Timmons and Cam Wake are not under contract for the ’19 season. Combined, those players would carry $31.6 in dead money if all six were let go. None of this accounts for Mike Pouncey’s salary as Miami can get out of that contract at the end of this season.

Miami at least would have a few outs with Tannehill at $2.3 million and Suh at $13 million in dead space. 2020 looks a lot better but can Miami build a competitive team by then? Depends on whether they continue to spend their cap space poorly.