The larger key is needing to cut so much in so short of a period. If they wanted to tag Wilkins, they'd need to be cap compliant including his franchise tag by 3/14. That's about 55m from where they are right now. If they had more cap space, they could tag, while working on an extension with him. But they can't really do that, have all that franchise tag money locked up (ie unknown if he takes extension), and then try to sign all the guys they are losing at the same time. Difficult decisions are being made because of their cap situation.
Yep. They can't cut 55m, tag Wilkins, risk he doesn't take an extension, and then figure out contracts like AVG, Hunt, and Williams. Not to mention, the numerous holes all over the roster.
They can if they want to but it looks like they don't want to. They have the most restructure room in the league and this means they haven't pushed a lot of money into forward years yet go look at 2025 and how they compare to other playoff teams so I'd expect some restructures before the season which would get them cap compliant and also the space to tag Wilkins if they wish plus re-sign the guys they want to keep. The cap is tight but it's still manageable and if they really, really want to tag Wilkins then they can and it shouldn't really effect their other offseason plans.
Well they might not want to restructure all the guys that can be restructured. Like what if they don't want to give Tua a massive deal? Or what if they want to take time with that negotiation and not get it done in 10 days? Or what if they don't want to push Armstead money down the road? These things are complicated. It's not just do you or do you not want Wilkins. There's so many more considerations and other dominoes when your cap is like this.
Yeah, I wasn't including Tua in the restructures now. You have Hill, Chubb, Ramsey and Sieler all set to make large base salaries this season, those deals are set up like that so you can restructure them easily, give most of the salary as a bonus and then prorate that bonus out the years of the contract that are left. The player will like it since they get the money right away instead of game cheques each week and the team likes it as it brings down this years number. The only person who doesn't like it is Steve Ross since he has to write the cheques but he's never had an issue with it before. The 4 of them are guaranteed $71M this season in salary and roster bonus (Ramsey) that can be restructured. The Dolphins could leave the length of the contracts as is or they could stick some void years on them to leave dead money some years in the future.
Dan, like you I know how the cap works…mostly…and I’ve been nearly in agreement with you on the topic. With that said… Belittling someone who doesn’t agree with you isn’t going to make them agree with you. It’s going to be yet another rancor filled argument. Know what I mean?
According to that reddit post, assuming you MAX out the savings, those 4 would save you about 55m, which basically gets you to even after you tag Wilkins. Then how do you proceed with other FAs? How do you proceed with re-signing AVG, Hunt, and Williams? The draft? You'd be handcuffed in a big way.
That is the thing that makes the cap relatively easy to manipulate…signing bonuses. By paying cash out of pocket up front, that takes a HUGE chunk out of the hit to the salary cap. I think that’s something that’s missed in the salary cap discussions when it comes to contract restructuring. Granted, in theory you could pay every player their contract in a signing bonus and have nothing applied to the cap, but that’s not realistically possible. We are fortunate that we do have an owner that hasn’t been afraid to break out his checkbook and pay those signing bonuses upfront.
They’re belittling themselves by coming here and creating discontent. Now, some that are crying about the cap aren’t trolls, and if you’ve seen I’ve been patient and courteous to them… but there’s a limit. When these things have been explained over and over in very simplified terms and they refuse to even read the facts and instead repeat the same nonsense over and over it gets aggravating. Even then though, I’ve only been snarky when replying to snark.
We are currently $28m over. How do you get that $55m- $28m= even? And there are more than 4 players to restructure. Once again, there’s a very reasonable way the Dolphins can get to around $80m under the cap. There’s an even easier way to get to $50m below the cap. Regardless, $50m or $80m is plenty to keep everyone they have, sign FA’s, and sign new rookies. If you’re being honest here, you’re either really bad at math, can’t comprehend the articles being posted, or your preconceived notions are clouding your judgement. I doubt you’re being honest, however, and just trolling.
Over the cap has it at $31,638,623 currently. Add in Wilkins 22m or so franchise tag? You are close to 55m. Once again, it's not that they can't, it's the logistics and time frame on how it all plays out. Try acting like an adult and not call someone a troll for once in your life.
We’re going to be fine this year when it comes to the cap, we might not keep everybody but we’ll have talent to compete. Next season (2025) is going to be interesting.
Not a fan of Grier but I'm hopeful he will not let Wilkins walk for only a 3rd round compensation pick in 2025. I'd be fine with a trade that combined nets 2nd, 3rd and 5th round picks in 2024/25.
They’re wrong. Their current, as of right now, cap space is -$28,485,900. You said the best sports reporter in the business said he wouldn’t be tagged? You can’t play both sides of the fence. However, if he is tagged, they will have the money to do it.
I expect the same but that’s not a given. Let’s see what Grier does, if we don’t win a playoff game next season, he should be gone imo.
Who is playing both sides? What are you talking about? Correct. He likely won't be tagged because of the cap situation. That's what everyone is saying.
You are only handcuffed until you either trade him or get a deal done. Even then, once you make some cuts like Baker, Jeff Wilson, Crossen, maybe Mike White you suddenly have $20M to play with which can be stretched pretty far with backloaded contracts. Throw in re-signing Tua and then you are up to $30M to spend while still having Wilkins tagged. It’s feasible for the Dolphins to do this but whether they want to give Wilkins a huge deal is another thing. I think they’ve already let him walk when they re-signed Sieler, same with Hunt I think they gave his money to AJ.
But you might not be able to do either. Trade or get a deal done. Bak is the only one making real money outside of Tua, and then what do you do at lineman? Like you can cut the whole team, but you need replace productive players. Going to have a lot of holes to fill...Big ones. IMO Hunt was probably the most valuable FA. His production was consistently great.
I’m sure Grier would love that too but is there anyone out there that is willing to give up that many picks plus a $100M contract for Wilkins? Especially when you could go after Chris Jones, Leonard Williams, DJ Reader of Justin Madubuike for no picks.
I like Hunt as well but if he’s going to get $17M per year then I don’t like him that much. Good player but not worth a top 5 guard contract, he’s never even made a probowl. I’m betting you could get Kevin Zeitler at half the price for 100% of the performance.
All I can say is if we lose Hunt,Baker,Howard,Wilkins is this team better or worse?Of course we will sign people but I would bet lesser players.
Nope, and I happen to think staying healthy is a skill, and he's been very good at that. Question is more performance related at his age. He probably won't be too cheap though coming off a Pro Bowl.
Looks like we'll never know since it was reported again he will not be tagged. Shame because we could really use more picks
Lmao… Sure, staying in shape lessens a persons chances of injury, but even then at this level we’re talking very little because everyone is healthy. “Not getting rolled up on from behind is a SKILL!!” No
1. They literally don't have the space to currently do it. 2. They can make the space, but it would place them in an awkward position with rest of team. Read a bit. Everyone reporting same thing, but you know more.
Some people get rolled up, and injure something. Some people get rolled up, and walk it off. Being more limber is a thing. Look at how many games Zeitler has played in last 5 years compared to Armstead. If you think it's just all random, not sure what to tell you.
You act as if the cap is a hard cap and shifting money and extending players don’t happen. The players and their agents know how this works. If the Dolphins want to tag, trade, or extend Wilkins they have the money to do so. I have money in CD’s and stocks. If I need to make a purchase using that money I need to move that money. My checking account doesn’t reflect that money, but it can be there at my request. Obviously I do know better than whomever you’re getting your advice from.
But there might be penalties to selling the CDs and stocks. It can be at your request but not without complications and loss.
If done correctly, like the Dolphins will do, there are not. This isn’t difficult. Especially since others have done the work and all you have to do is check the math. There are tons of examples in this thread and others, not to mention all over the internet, how the Dolphins can get to around $80m under the cap if they need/want.
Some people live after their chutes fail to open. Is that skill? No one is saying that some people are more flexible. What you’re talking about is genetics. If we were talking about Pop Warner I’d be inclined to agree because some kids will exercise and stay healthier than others. However, in the NFL these guys are doing exactly what experts are telling them to do in order to be flexible/ strong/ etc. And if not, they get cut. Being more flexible, at this level, isn’t “skill”.
After releasing Baker and Crossen the Dolphins are around $15m over the cap. “But… but… but… we’re $50m over and won’t have enough money to even field a team!” That number is after releasing 3 guys… the aforementioned two and Ogbah. “But… but… but… we will need to release all of our good players to get under the cap.!” lol
