3 Dolphins that won’t be back next year and best options to replace them
Miami Dolphins. 2. player. 59. CB. Byron Jones. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
The Dolphins cutting Byron Jones is just smart business at this point
What feels like eons ago, the Dolphins made another big move to try and improve the defense when they spent big in free agency to ink Byron Jones, formerly of the Cowboys. He was signed to a five-year, $82.5 million deal but he has not exactly rewarded the club for their investment.
Jones didn’t play at all in the 2022 season but has not been good in the other two seasons with the club either. To be clear, he’s not been a disaster, but Miami paid him like one of the top players at the position in the league and Jones has been far from that.
The tricky thing with Jones’ contract is that the team can’t cut him early in the offseason as they’d still take on more than $10 million in dead cap. However, if he is designated as a post-June 1 cut, then Miami would save $13.6 million while only incurring about $4.7 million in dead cap. For a team strapped against the cap this offseason, that seems like an easy move to make that will send Jones out of South Beach.
Dolphins best replacement options for Byron Jones
- Terrance Mitchell (Free Agency)
- Garrett Williams (NFL Draft)
- Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (NFL Draft)
While there are some intriguing options for Miami in free agency, Terrance Mitchell being one of the ones who could be had on a budget, the draft is where I’d like to see the Phins make their move. Though they don’t pick until the second round, this is a rich class at corner on Day 2. With 2020 first-rounder Noah Igbinoghene not developing quite as much as hoped, making another big draft investment in the position seems wise as they lose more depth.