MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins have officially parted ways with veteran pass-rusher Bradley Chubb, a move that immediately shakes up the 2026 NFL free agency landscape. Following a report from insider Jordan Schultz, the team confirmed the decision Monday morning, designating the two-time Pro Bowler as a post-June 1 release. The transaction clears a staggering $20.2 million in salary cap space for Miami, signaling a major financial reset for a franchise looking to retool after a turbulent 2025 campaign.
The Cap Math: Why Miami Made the Move
This wasn’t just a football decision; it was a financial necessity. By using the post-June 1 designation, General Manager Chris Grier avoids a crippling immediate hit. Instead of swallowing the entire dead money sum at once, Miami will spread the cost, carrying dead cap hits of $11 million in 2026 and $12.9 million in 2027.
Chubb, who returned from a devastating 2024 ACL tear to play all 17 games last season, proved he still has gas in the tank. He logged 8.5 sacks and 47 total tackles in 2025—respectable numbers, but perhaps not enough to justify the $31 million cap hit he was scheduled to carry this year. For a Dolphins team needing liquidity to address other roster holes, Chubb became a luxury they couldn’t afford.
“It’s the ugly side of the business. Bradley battled back when people thought he was done. He gave us 17 games of heart last year. He’s going to make some team very happy, and I hate that it won’t be us.”
— Jevon Holland, Dolphins Safety
The Suitors: Who Needs a Pass Rush?
Chubb hits the open market at 29, with a resume that commands respect. While he may need to accept a pay cut from his previous $18.2 million average, three contenders have emerged as logical landing spots for the 2026 season.
1. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens’ 2025 season ended in disappointment (8-9), largely due to a defense that couldn’t finish. Baltimore tied for the third-fewest sacks in the NFL (30), and the decision to trade Odafe Oweh to the Chargers backfired spectacularly as Oweh flourished in L.A. with 7.5 sacks in just 12 games. With Kyle Van Noy showing his age, GM Eric DeCosta needs a proven edge presence to pair with Travis Jones. Chubb fits the “Play Like a Raven” mold: physical, resilient, and hungry.
2. Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones made a splash at the 2025 trade deadline by acquiring Quinnen Williams from the Jets, but the defense is still hauntingly quiet on the edge since dealing Micah Parsons to Green Bay. The Cowboys plummeted from 52 sacks in 2024 to just 35 last season. Jadeveon Clowney was a stopgap, not a solution. Pairing Chubb with Williams would give Dallas the inside-outside punch they desperately missed during their late-season slide.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
The Trey Hendrickson saga appears to be over, and not in the way Cincy fans hoped. After a contract standoff and a meager four-sack season in 2025, Hendrickson is hitting free agency, leaving a massive void. The Bengals lost 11 games last year and need a defensive identity. Chubb offers a high-upside swing for a defense that needs to get back to bullying AFC North quarterbacks.
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
For Miami, this savings likely earmarks a push for offensive line help or a younger edge defender in the draft. For Chubb, the timeline is short. Expect him to sign quickly, likely before the draft, as teams look to secure veteran insurance before gambling on rookies. If he lands in Baltimore or Dallas, he instantly shifts the power balance in those divisions.
