The Miami Dolphins are trying to take the next step to a playoff spot this year, and these five players won’t be a part of things come Week 1.
From 5-11 in Brian Flores’ first season as head coach to 10-6 last season, the Miami Dolphins’ rebuild has quickly moved into its latter stages. The next step is of course a playoff spot, which won’t be easy in a deep AFC.
Trade rumors keep tying them to Deshaun Watson, but the Dolphins have remained publicly committed to Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback for this year. Upgrades to the offensive line and the addition of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will make it easier for Tagovailoa entering his first full season as the starter.
But with becoming a good team comes tougher decisions on who to keep around. Miami cut veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy early in the offseason, and more recently they let defensive back Bobby McCain go. Going young and cheaper was the driving force for those moves.
As the Dolphins move through the rest of the offseason, these five players won’t make it to Week 1.
5 players the Miami Dolphins will cut before Week 1
5. Emmanuel Ogbah, outside linebacker/defensive end
Ogbah led the Dolphins in sacks (nine) and quarterback hits (21) last year. along with 36 pressures. Eight of those sacks came before Week 10, but in what may come off as bad luck half of those pressures came from Week 13-16 and he had five quarterback hits without a sack in Week 13.
Miami used their second first-round pick on an edge rusher, Jaelan Phillips. It’s worth wondering if they might have interest in any available edge guys (Melvin Ingram, Justin Houston). Someone like Ingram or Houston would at least compete for snaps, and possibly outright replace Ogbah at a cheaper rate.
The Dolphins can still clear all of Ogbah’s $7.5 million cap hit for this year by cutting him. It will depend on any traction with who is still available on the edge rusher market, but Ogbah shouldn’t feel secure in his roster spot just yet.