The Miami Dolphins are hoping for a Super Bowl run in 2024. The pieces are there for this team to go on a deep postseason run and put an end to the 24-year curse. The season should be memorable for plenty of players.
However, this team will need to make roster changes ahead of the 2025 season, which could mean that these players won't be back on the field next fall. To start us off, a veteran tackle is surely on his way out after '24, right?
Terron Armstead
The writing for Terron Armstead in Miami is on the wall. After contemplating retirement this past season, Armstead decided to run it back at least one more time. This season will be an interesting one. Armstead has a problem staying healthy, and as a result, he misses games and series. The Dolphins finally knew this and drafted his eventual replacement in Patrick Paul.
Paul is an intriguing prospect who still needs to develop, but he will get that chance in 2024 and learn from Armstead. Miami's biggest issue facing their decision in 2025 with Armstead is the salary cap. Armstead, as it stands now, will count $22 million against the cap. Releasing him will carry $18.5 million in dead money with only $3 million in savings.
A post-June 1 designation will reduce Armstead's dead money to $7.8 million and give the Dolphins a $14.3 million cap relief. Miami's cap situation won't be great entering the new 2025 league year. Miami is estimated to be around $40 million over the cap without knowing what the increase will be next year. Saving $14 million could go a long way in getting cap compliant and leave money to spend in free agency. Money and Paul leave Armstead's future in Miami in doubt.
Jevon Holland
In a perfect world, this conversation isn't happening at all, but Jevon Holland is going to ask for a lot of money that the Dolphins can't afford. Miami will be tight with the cap next year and the only option they may have is to tag him. Doing so keeps him with the team for another year, but like Christian Wilkins, it would only be a matter of time before he leaves and Miami is likely to get nothing in return.
Allowing Holland to hit free agency should bring a compensatory draft pick back to the team, but that too isn't guaranteed. Miami would be wise to look ahead and find safety help to replace him should they feel his future with the team is in doubt.
One of the biggest and most interesting signs is that there have been no rumors about the team working out a new deal with Holland. Holland has said that nothing is imminent, and it seems that even a conversation hasn't really happened. If the Dolphins want to retain him, a deal should at least start being discussed soon while the price tag is lower. Next year, if he's not tagged, a deal could be quite expensive - Holland is probably thinking the same thing.
Jason Sanders
This is a unique season for the Dolphins kicker. The NFL has changed the kickoff rules, so touchbacks are not all that important anymore. In fact, some teams are not using kickers at all and instead will train a better tackler with more speed for special teams.
Jason Sanders holds all the cards for his future. If his field goal percentages are good, the Dolphins will have no problems paying him $4.7 million next year, or they will restructure his deal and kick money down the road as they have before. That being said, if Sanders has an off season, the Dolphins could look to cut him. Doing so would save $4 million in cap space.
Sanders had a good season last year, and he needs to continue doing so, but we can't pretend that his entire career has been consistent. This year will be an important one for both the Dolphins and Sanders. He needs to stay consistent, otherwise it won't be long before Miami starts to look for a replacement.
Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. is on a one-year contract, with a void year in 2025 for cap purposes, but if injuries keep him off the field, there will be no reason to bring him back. Miami can easily part ways with the former All-Pro after this season if they decide the risk isn't worth the reward.
OBJ is pretty much playing on a one-year deal with the Dolphins and so far, he has yet to get on the field in training camp. That is a problem and a sign of what the Dolphins could be dealing with all season long. Beckham joining the Dolphins was exciting for Miami fans, but so far, there hasn't been much to get too fired up about. It's up in the air when he'll be back at practice.
Miami has a lot of moves that they can make and there are quite a few one-year deals on the books in 2024 that will come off next season, but those players need to be replaced and many of them will return on yet another one-year contract. Might Beckham do enough to stay in Miami beyond 2024? Who knows, but the early signs haven't been promising for him.