The Miami Dolphins have made the playoffs in two consecutive years under Mike McDaniel, emerging as one of the best teams in the NFL with one of the most star-studded rosters in the AFC. However, a looming Tua Tagovailoa contract extension could play a role in some key Dolphins’ players leaving this offseason.
Entering the 2024 NFL offseason calendar, Miami is currently projected to be $52 million over the salary cap. While contract restructures and extensions can help them get under, the Dolphins’ front office faces some more difficult decisions this offseason.
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While the Dolphins’ situation isn’t as bad as the Buffalo Bills, who are expected to go through a massive talent drain, they still have their problems. Thanks to salary-cap issues, Miami could lose one of its key starters defensively.
ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacquez highlighted cornerback Xavien Howard as a very realistic cap casualty for Miami this offseason. The All-Pro defensive back carries a $25.906 million cap hit next season, a figure that exceeds his on-field performance.
Xavien Howard contract details
| Cap Hit | Pre-June 1 cut | Post-June 1 cut | |
| 2024 | $25.906 million | -$1.199 million cap savings | $14.5 million cap savings |
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Howard has not been as effective in coverage over the past two seasons. He allowed a 101.2 QB rating when targeted 84 times in 2022 and last season he allowed his lowest completion rate in coverage (62.9 percent) since 2019. However, there’s another potential loss that could prove devastating for Miami.
All-Pro offensive tackle Terron Armstead is still undecided on playing in 2024, per Louis-Jacques. The 32-year-old offensive tackle told reporters last season that he had a “Super Bowl or bust” mentality for 2023. After falling short and dealing with persistent injury issues over the years, retirement is very much on the table for Armstead.
The risk of Armstead retiring makes left tackle one of the Dolphins’ biggest needs this offseason and cutting Howard would create a void in the secondary. For a team already dealing with salary-cap issues and limited in its ability to spend, adding talent this offseason will prove difficult.
