3 surprise cuts the Dolphins could make this offseason

2. FS Bobby McCain

McCain is a solid player, starting out as a fifth-round pick a couple regimes ago in Miami to making a position change to starting at least 13 games at two different positions in two of the last three seasons. But he’s not outstanding or special in any respect, with 46 total tackles, five pass breakups and one interception last season.

So it’s worth wondering if the Dolphins consider a $7.1 million cap hit worthwhile for someone who isn’t a top-end player at his position. That’s the eighth-highest cap hit on the team right now, and the ninth-highest cap hit among free safeties in the league. A look at that list of free safeties with the highest 2021 cap hits right now invites me to say McCain is not in the same class as most of them, and he’s not.

Some lists of possible cuts for the Dolphins might include safety Eric Rowe along with McCain. But Rowe is a more versatile and better player, often matching up against tight ends, and letting him go would notable weaken a rising unit. The same can’t be said for McCain, and the Dolphins can save almost $5.7 million by cutting him ($6.4 million with a post-June 1 designation).