Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports that the restructuring of Bradley Chubb’s contract opened up $16.3 million in salary cap space for the Miami Dolphins. Chubb was slated to count $28.6 million on Miami’s cap this season and was expected to be a post-June 1st cut, which would have given Miami $19 million in cap space on June 1st. Now, Miami gets to retain Chubb as a player and opened up $16.3 million to use at the start of free agency.
This puts Miami in the neighborhood of $30 million in available cap space as of the time of this writing. The Dolphins can clear more cap space with restructures to Jordyn Brooks, Tua, and Zach Sieler, as well as releasing Jake Bailey and Alec Ingold prior to Monday and the start of the legal tampering period.
With this restructure Chubb can earn up to $21 million this year if he reaches incentives.
Cap-clearing season continues:#Texans did a simple restructure on LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s contract, clearing $6.26M#Dolphins’ restructure of LB Bradley Chubb cleared $16.3M #Chargers’ release of DE Joey Bosa cleared $25.36M #Colts’ release of DL Raekwon Davis cleared $6.49M pic.twitter.com/WmZJMaUZ8b
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 7, 2025
This will free up much needed salary cap space for the Miami Dolphins to allow them to be more aggressive next week when free agency starts.
Chubb was injured in Week 17 of the 2023 season and missed all of the 2024 season. He is coming back from his 3rd ACL injury now and with Jalean Phillips status in doubt for the start of the 2025 season, Chubb will be needed to start Chop Robinson most likely to open the season.
In 2023 Miami traded a future 1st, 4th, and Chase Edmonds to Denver for Chubb and a 5th round pick.
In 24 games with the Dolphins, Chubb has 13.5 sacks and 86 tackles. For his career Chubb has 39.5 sacks in 73 games.
Chubb will be 29 years old in June.
The Dolphins still need to get younger at the EDGE rusher position and should pursue it this offseason, but with Chubb returning, it isn’t the pressing need that it was. Miami has very pressing needs at offensive guard, DE, DT, Safety, and Cornerback.
The legal tampering period of free agency begins Monday, March 10th at noon Eastern. Before this pay reduction by Chubb, only six teams had less salary cap space than Miami entering next week.
Sports Illustrated Mock Draft has Miami taking a Great Player from the SEC
