The Miami Dolphins are aiming for a Super Bowl run in 2024, with a strong roster in place for a deep postseason push and the potential to break their 24-year championship drought. While this season holds promise for many players, changes to the roster will be necessary before the 2025 season, meaning some players might not return next year. One such player likely on his way out is veteran tackle Terron Armstead.
Armstead’s future in Miami seems uncertain. After considering retirement last season, he decided to play at least one more year. However, his struggle with injuries, leading to missed games and series, has been a concern for the Dolphins. Anticipating this, the team drafted Patrick Paul as Armstead’s eventual replacement.
Paul is a promising prospect who will spend 2024 developing under Armstead’s guidance. The Dolphins’ primary challenge in 2025 concerning Armstead is the salary cap. Currently, Armstead is set to count $22 million against the cap. Releasing him would result in $18.5 million in dead money, with only $3 million in savings. However, designating him as a post-June 1 cut would reduce the dead money to $7.8 million and provide the Dolphins with $14.3 million in cap relief.
Given that Miami is projected to be around $40 million over the cap entering the 2025 league year, saving $14 million could be crucial for cap compliance and free agency spending. These financial considerations, along with the presence of Paul, cast doubt on Armstead’s future with the Dolphins.