The Miami Dolphins began a sweeping roster overhaul Monday, as head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan made the first major personnel decisions of their new partnership. Miami is releasing two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb, a move that had long been anticipated after the team restructured his contract last year — a maneuver that left him carrying a $31.2 million salary cap hit for 2026.
The Dolphins did not stop there. Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, along with guard James Daniels, were also released in a series of moves that will clear more than $56 million in cap space for 2026. The financial reset signals a significant shift in direction for a roster that once appeared built to contend immediately.
Chubb departs after leading Miami in sacks in each of his last two healthy seasons. He recorded 11 sacks and a league-best six forced fumbles in 2023, then returned from a torn ACL that sidelined him for all of 2024 to post 8.5 sacks in 2025. Now entering his age-30 season, Chubb hits the open market with 48 career sacks and is expected to draw strong interest despite his injury history.
His exit continues the dismantling of what was once a formidable pass-rushing trio. Miami traded Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles in November, leaving Chop Robinson as the lone remaining member of that group. With edge rushers Cameron Goode and Quinton Bell also heading toward free agency, the Dolphins face a substantial rebuild along the defensive front. The receiver room will likewise look dramatically different without Hill and Westbrook-Ikhine.
Miami holds the No. 11 overall pick in April’s draft and now possesses significant financial flexibility to reshape the roster. The cap implications of Chubb’s release remain notable: a post–June 1 designation would save approximately $20.2 million, compared to about $7.3 million if processed before June 1, though either route leaves dead money on the books.
With cornerstone players departing and a looming decision on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa still unresolved, the Dolphins appear poised for a transformative offseason — one that could leave the franchise looking markedly different by the start of the 2026 campaign.
