The first big cut for new Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan isn’t quarterback Tua Tagovailoa or wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
It’s outside linebacker Bradley Chubb.
Chubb is being released by the Dolphins, according to multiple reports Monday morning.
Cutting Chubb, who turns 30 before next season, marks the beginning of what is expected to be a large-scale roster overhaul of what previous GM Chris Grier had in place.
It’s also a first step in getting Miami salary cap compliant ahead of the start of the new league year March 11, as the team entered Monday projected to be about $17.4 million over the 2026 salary cap, according to aptly named website OverTheCap.com.
Releasing Chubb outright saves the Dolphins about $7.3 million toward the salary cap, while accounting for nearly $23.9 million in dead cap space. But if he’s released with a post-June 1 designation, the Dolphins stand to save about $20.2 million toward the cap with just roughly $11 million of dead cap.
The cut always seemed likely this offseason even when Grier or interim GM Champ Kelly were still running Miami’s roster. He returned to the team last offseason on a restructured deal that made it so.
Chubb is coming off a major bounce-back season after missing his 2024 campaign recovering from a knee injury.
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He had 8 ½ sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 47 tackles, playing all 17 games after tearing his ACL and more in one of his knees at the end of 2023. That injury occurred on Dec. 23, 2023 against the Baltimore Ravens, and the rehab kept him sidelined through all of 2024.
Additionally, Chubb was the Dolphins’ Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee this past season.
Chubb, the No. 5 pick of the 2018 draft by the Denver Broncos, was traded to the Dolphins from the Broncos at the trade deadline of the 2022 season. He totaled 22 sacks playing two and a half seasons for Miami, not including 2024 when he didn’t play.
When Grier traded for Chubb, he was expected to form half of a fierce pass-rushing duo with Jaelan Phillips, a first-round pick of the Dolphins in 2021. Phillips suffered two season-ending injuries of his own in his time in Miami, and each’s major ailments stunted how many games they played together. Phillips was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles at last season’s trade deadline.
The Dolphins will move forward with a major need on the edge, possibly with the outlook of using more 4-3 defensive ends. New coach Jeff Hafley, along with defensive coordinator Sean Duggan, used them plenty over 3-4 outside linebackers with the Green Bay Packers the past two seasons.
