So far this offseason, I have stayed away from the projection of the upcoming salary cap, and how much space the Miami Dolphins might have, simply because there are too many unknowns. I have seen projections of the flat cap, meaning the $120 million cap from last year will remain at $120 million for this year. I've seen projections putting it in the $126-128 million range. It's a very fluid environment, until the NFL announces exactly what it will be.
But, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly hass been crunching the salary cap numbers for the last week, projecting a $122 million salary cap. With that number in mind, the Dolphins are sitting right in the middle of the pack, in terms of money to spend.
The Dolphins, from Kelly's calculations, have a $117,416,173 cap number going into the 2012 season. However, the NFL allows team owners to request to exceed the cap by whatever amount they were under the cap the previous season, essentially using the surplus money from last year; Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has, reportedly, already received permission to use last year's surplus. Miami was $9,057,394 under the cap last year, meaning they can add that onto this year's cap.
So, with just that amount, the Dolphins, with a $122 million cap, would really have a $131 million limit. A team can also borrow $3 million against future salary caps, if they chose, meaning the Dolphins could go as high as $134 million, although that is not likely.
When you add it all up, the Dolphins have a projected $13,641,221 for this offseason. If you take out the estimated $5 million it will cost to sign the rookies from this April's draft class, Miami has about $7 million for free agency.
Of course, between now and the start of free agency, Miami could restructure contracts to reduce salary cap numbers (such as Jake Long's $12 million), or could release players.
Click here to see a full list of all 32 NFL team's salary cap situtation, according to Kelly. And, try to figure out how the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to get under the cap, from more than $27 million over the limit.
0 recs | 6 comments
Cutting Soliai is going to make us big players in FA this year.
joel311 - February 22, 2012
I thought this number was without soliai, since he is already a free agent
mavin12 - February 22, 2012
This number already is with out Soliai. Any curent FA's we have are not figured into our cap situation.
No, Soliai and no Langford.
We can find more money by restructuring current players such as, Jake Long, Yerimiah Bell, and Brandon Marshall.
Of these the only one who could be cut IMO is Bell. We may also make cuts to bottom of the roster to scrimp a few bucks together as well.
Needless to say, if we got get a big FA QB ie. Manning or Flynn we are not going to have much money for anything else in Free Agency.
Hollywood Dolfan - February 22, 2012
True, but...
If we decide to address QB in free agency, then we’ll have the space to address all of our biggest needs in the draft and perhaps by looking at who is already on our roster.
Name the 3 biggest non-QB needs? RT to replace Colombo, OLB/DE to replace Jason Taylor’s 7 sacks and challenge Misi, and NT to replace Soliai.
If we get Manning or Flynn, draft strategy is simple.
I say first round OLB/DE, second round RT who competes with Murtha and Jerry for a spot either at RG or RT, and third round NT to replace Soliai during the limited downs we play true 3-4 defense.
I don’t expect the third round guy to be at Soliai’s level immediately, but just as Soliai played limited snaps in the NT role, so would the rookie, which limits the negative impact of losing Soliai.
Other than that – I’m actually reasonably happy with our TE and WR situation, since I feel like Clay, Fasano, Bess, and Hartline don’t get enough touches, and I love our RB situation. QB with Flynn/Manning plus Moore plus Devlin is pretty good for QB’s 1-3.
On defense, I think we have a great LB corps except for the OLB spot opposite Wake, and I think our D-line is very solid even w/o Soliai, with plenty of options for DE in both 3-4 and 4-3 situations and for DT in 4-3 situations. Our secondary situation is okay, with a mix of talent and concerns. Miami right now has a decent safety corps. Not great, but not terrible. At Cornerback, you have Davis and Wilson playing well as #1 and dime corner. The main issues are Sean Smith bouncing back as #2 corner and Will Allen’s health holding up.
So really, we can address the glaring gaps in the first 3 rounds of the draft, leaving rounds 4-7 for depth at O-line and secondary, with the Dolphins being reasonably solid otherwise, so long as they get a QB in free agency.
MartinH04 - February 22, 2012
I like most of this, although, I disagree with NT being a predominate need.
I think Starks can fill that hole.
Draft strategy also depends on whether it is Manning or Flynn.
If Manning then- round 1 OLB/DE (Couples or Ingram imo) Round 2 RT (Sanders possibly) Round 3 QB (Osiwieler, this would give him 2-3 years to groom into a starter)
If Flynn then – I would like to see us double down with Cincy or dare I say it NE and pick up the best possible DE and TE then round 2 RT (Sanders again) and Round three safety or corner (Can add to special teams and Nickle as we see what happens with Will Allen and Yerimiah Bell)
What I was trying to say with my initial response was that if we go QB shopping in FA then don’t expect us to splash hard anywhere else.
OL-I like Murtha and Jerry and I think one of them will start somewhere on the line next season.
WR- I think all 3 are good and I think Brian Heartline is underrated though he has the potential to be trade fodder if we can’t sign a QB in Free Agency
TE- I think Clay can play well here and I think Fasano is a good extra lineman but we really do need a seam threat.
Front 7- We need someone here who can pass rush and run stuff, period. I also would mind them switching around some of our Linebackers to see if their strengths are served better.
Secondary- We need more production out of these guys. We have two aging players and two young bucks and yet we can’t seem to get the INT’s I think Coyle will do wonders for these guys and I am hopeful too many changes aren’t needed.
Hollywood Dolfan - February 23, 2012
We need to restructure contracts and get Mario Williams
If we get a QB in FA and Mario Williams then we have an excellent opportunity with the draft to not only make the playoffs, but be a factor in the playoffs. Coples/Ingram may turn out to be good pass rushers. However, we know that Williams can rush the passer. He had 5 and half sacks in five games last year before suffering a pectoral injury. Both Odrick and Starks would have monster seasons along w/Wake. As long as Brady is in our division, the Patriots will be the favorites and the Giants have the blueprint to beat Brady. The Fins should follow that same path.
In that scenario, then I would draft De Castro, OG from Stanford in Round 1 and Coby Fleener, Dwight Allen, or Orson Charles, TE, in round 2.
sundevil11 - February 22, 2012
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