The Dolphins are releasing five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh as a post-June 1 cut, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). The move signals another attempt for the Dolphins to change their culture, which has now resulted in the departure of three of their top players within the last calendar year — Suh, Jarvis Landry and Jay Ajayi. Suh now ranks as the best free agent currently available.
Suh was due to make $16.9MM in base salary next season, with a cap hit of $26.1MM. It was reported last week that the Dolphins were considering shedding the sizable cap hit by cutting Suh. The 31-year-old was set to enter the fourth year of his six-year, $114MM deal with Miami, which was an NFL record at the time signing.
Miami still has the option to cut Suh with a post-June 1 designation. That would allow the team to space out the dead cap space resulting from Suh’s release over the next two seasons and would give them an immediate $17MM in available cap space.
The Dolphins signaled that a cut for Suh was possibly on the horizon by acquiring Robert Quinn from the Rams earlier this month in exchange for fourth- and sixth-round picks in the upcoming draft. It was also suggested the team would possibly approach Suh about restructuring his deal for 2018. The Dolphins are also expected to part ways with linebacker Lawrence Timmons and Julius Thomas in cap-saving measures prior to the new league year beginning on March 14.
Suh was graded out by Pro Football Focus as the league’s No. 4 interior defensive lineman last season, which should create a decent bidding war for the services of the three-time All-Pro and former No. 2 overall pick. He missed out on back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances, though. He was named to his first one with the Dolphins in 2016 after collecting five sacks and 47 tackles.
Suh has seen a decline in his sack totals in each of his three seasons with the Dolphins since racking up 8 1/2 in his final year with the Lions in 2014. With Suh reportedly out of the picture, the Dolphins still have Davon Godchaux, Jordan Phillips, Vincent Taylor, and Gabe Martin on the roster at defensive line, along with Quinn.
Just plain out confusing
it’s the least confusing move of the off season
Here is the reason. $$$$$$$$
Dude can still play, confused by what they are doing. I know this guys gonna get paid and won’t be short teams to choose from and even though I’d like to see the 9ers get him I think this has Browns or Bears written all over it. I think one of them for sure signs this guy.
With the Browns having traded Shelton, he would fit perfectly…….but at what cost?
Time to blow the whole thing up I guess…no offensive line, a defense with more holes than Swiss cheese, and a QB who has yet to live up to his potential and now has successive ACL injuries. Just hit the reset button and start over.
I agree about hitting the reset button. It seems Miami can’t figure out how to get going in the right direction….maybe start with a new owner, then get rid of the GM and Head Coach….then look at the talent. Saving $$$$ wont help if you have a bad coach and a lack of talent!
He would look amazing with Hunter, Griffen, and right next to big Linval. That was the one weak spot of the front 7. Then you can take a draft and develop with someone like a Steven Richardson out of Minnesota. Or if Hurst falls you can take a flyer on him.
If they’d save $17m after June, why not wait until then? What’s the significant reason for doing it now?
So they can spend what they save now on free agents. By June, the market will be dried up.
You can do it now and call it a June 1st cut. That date actually doesn’t really matter anymore for teams. (Up to 2 players I believe)
Post June 1 cuts spreads the hit out,maybe they wanted it out the way sooner
This was all about the $ not about the level of play. Although… his sack rate is down .4/game to .3/game. I have them taking Da’Ron Payne in my mock.
Would he have to take paycut with his new team? Curious what his AV salary / market is?
Browns got rid of Danny Shelton – Suh seems like a great fit to take over that spot.
Is a Lions reunion in the cards??? I hope so!!!!
Suh go with the vengeful pick and head up to New England.
Doubt Bill would want to put up with Suh. And Suh won’t change for anyone
I would put money on him going to the patriots
To the eagles he goes playing for free like he said last year. Wishful thinking
Suh was not the same player he was in Detroit.
He had more help around him in DET. Still one of the best if not the best interior lineman in FB
go to tampa.. right down the road and would be a nice 1-2 on tje inside with mccoy. give the defence a lil attitude. doubt tampa would sign him though….
I could see Suh back in the PNW, Hawks now have plenty of cap space and a spot for him with Bennett in Philadelphia and Richardson a FA.
I’d rather have Sheldon back
Titans
I would to see him.with Mccoy. They would be unstoppable on the interior. We’re to cheap to go after him though. Was,pats or raiders
Raiders need help up front and he would bring toughness and nastiness back to that defense.
Ryan Pace and The Chicago Bears, I hope you break the bank and sign Suh… Play Sue, Goldman & Hicks with Bullard as the rotation guy. That defense starts to look REAL stout if they draft an edge guy and resign Kyle Fuller… They can patch the OL & LB thru the draft. They could really make things easy on Mitch.