The Miami Dolphins currently rank 31st in the league in terms of available salary cap space. This is a big reason why the team might consider releasing or trading defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Suh is slated to consume the most salary cap, at $26.1 million in 2018.
The Dolphins are currently over their allotted cap space by nearly $7.5 million. And, the Dolphins may wind up paying upwards of $16 million for wide receiver Jarvis Landry to play under franchise tag tender this year.
Something will need to give. Suh’s $26.1 million cap hit ranks him third-highest in overall league cost just below Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and San Francisco 49ers newly paid Jimmy Garoppolo.
According to Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald, there are some options the Dolphins can consider when it comes to Suh. If the team trades him, it will save $3.9 million in cap space. The Dolphins obviously will receive something generous back in return. Then there’s the option of outright cutting Suh after June 1, which would save $17 million in cap space.
Since signing a huge contract in 2015, Suh’s numbers have declined for the most part from his final season with the Detroit Lions in 2014. That year, Suh recorded eight sacks and 54 combined tackles.
In 2017, Suh managed 4.5 sacks and 48 combined tackles but is still clearly playing at a high level. The Dolphins have big decisions to make when it comes to their 31-year-old defensive lineman, who is currently signed through 2020.