The Miami Dolphins are moving more money around in the second week of free agency.
They restructured the contract of edge defender Bradley Chubb, according to ESPN on Tuesday morning, converting $13.75 million of his base salary into a signing bonus.
The move creates $11 million in 2024 cap space. Chubb still gets paid, but Miami lowers his cap number for this season and spreads the burden out over future seasons.
That comes after adding another $1.3 million in cap room from restructuring running back Jeff Wilson Jr.’s deal Monday evening. Last week, the Dolphins reworked the contracts of cornerback Jalen Ramsey, defensive tackle Zach Sieler, tight end Durham Smythe and fullback Alec Ingold in order to get salary-cap compliant last Wednesday ahead of the start of the new league year.
With the maneuver, the Dolphins have roughly $13.86 million in cap space, but that’s before accounting for the cap numbers of several of their recent free agent signings: Edge rusher Shaquil Barrett, safety Jordan Poyer, offensive linemen Aaron Brewer, Isaiah Wynn and Jack Driscoll, tight end Jody Fortson and defensive linemen Benito Jones, Jonathan Harris and Da’Shawn Hand.
Miami now has ample room to fit all their deals into the 2024 equation, while also having some flexibility to add further. The Dolphins are also set to tack on $18.5 million in cap space in June from the release of cornerback Xavien Howard with a post-June 1 designation. A chunk of money will need to go into signing the incoming rookie class.
Chubb, who turns 28 in June, had 11 sacks and a league-leading six forced fumbles in 16 games last season. He tore his ACL in his knee in the Dec. 31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and has been rehabbing the injury during the offseason.
With fellow outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips rehabbing a torn Achilles, it’s possible the two start the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. The acquisition of Barrett helps until the two are healthy, while making for a formidable rotation once all are available.
