Head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan made the first big roster decision of their partnership in Miami -- but not nearly their last of the day.
The Dolphins are releasing two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Monday.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport added that this decision was always expected after the team restructured Chubb's contract last year, which resulted in a $31.2 million cap hit for 2026.
Hours after the Chubb news, Pelissero reported that Miami was set to release several more players -- wide receiver Tyreek Hill, wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and guard James Daniels -- which, along with Chubb, will clear over $56 million in 2026 cap space. The team has since announced the release of Hill, Westbrook-Ikhine and Daniels.
Chubb led the team in sacks during each of his last two healthy seasons. He totaled 11 sacks in 2023 to go along with a league-leading six forced fumbles, and in 2025 paced Miami with 8.5.
Those two campaigns were sandwiched around Chubb sitting out the entirety of the 2024 season due to a torn ACL.
Now, heading into his age-30 season, he's free to look for a third NFL home. There should be no shortage of suitors for the former Bronco and Dolphin, who boasts 48 career sacks and certainly appears to have more left in the tank despite some big injuries.
In the span of four months, Miami has dwindled its vaunted pass-rushing trio of Chubb, Jaelan Phillips and Chop Robinson down to one, having traded Phillips to the Eagles in November. Considering others edge rushers on the roster such as Cameron Goode and Quinton Bell are pending free agents, the Dolphins are looking at a hefty rebuild of the pass-rushing room to go along with a makeover of the WR group following the Hill and Westbrook-Ikhine moves.
They currently hold the No. 11 pick in April's draft and have freed up some much-needed money to make some deals. The paperwork for Chubb's release will be something to watch, especially considering his release was not announced alongside the other three Fins players. Miami will take on some dead money regardless, but the team would save $20.2 million if they end up designating him as a post-June 1 cut versus the $7.3 million in cap savings that would be gained by letting him go as a pre-June 1 release.
With Chubb, Hill and others departing, plus major decisions such as what to do with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa still looming, the Dolphins faithful are promised to have quite a different team to root for in 2026.
