Financials
The salary-cap picture behind the rebuild: where the 2026 money goes, what the roster reset cost, and the contracts that define the Hafley–Sullivan era. Data as of September 7, 2026 (provisional post-cutdown update) (per OverTheCap and league reporting).
OTC lists 53 active contracts, but its reserve and practice-squad tables still include Carter Warren, Jeremiah Franklin and Cam Riley. Headline totals are a provisional source snapshot, not a reconciled club balance sheet.
The cost of the reset
60% of 2026 liabilities is dead moneyMiami is carrying roughly $181.6M in dead money in 2026 — the bill for moving on from the previous core. The 13-player draft class gives Miami a rookie-contract foundation, but future flexibility still depends on existing guarantees, extensions and the cost of filling out the roster.
Top 10 cap hits, 2026
Retained contracts, including reserve lists — per OverTheCap
Dead money by player, 2026
Charges from previous contracts, including players later re-signed
Top 2026 cap hits
Showing 20 of 20
| Zach Sieler | DL | Defense | $11,419,000 |
| Austin Jackson | T | Offense | $6,895,524 |
| Jordyn Brooks | ILB | Defense | $6,214,166 |
| Malik Willis | QB | Offense | $5,672,000 |
| Aaron Brewer | C | Offense | $5,642,000 |
| Kenneth Grant | DL | Defense | $4,990,071 |
| Kadyn Proctor | G/T | Offense | $4,749,112 |
| Chop Robinson | EDGE | Defense | $4,084,426 |
| Chris Johnson | CB | Defense | $3,461,903 |
| De'Von Achane | RB | Offense | $3,154,627 |
Top-20 cap dollars by side of ball
Sum of the 20 largest 2026 cap hits
Dead money ledger
Showing 25 of 25
| Why | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tua Tagovailoa | $55,400,000 | Released March 2026; signed with Atlanta |
| Tyreek Hill | $28,248,750 | Released February 16, 2026 (failed physical) |
| Jaylen Waddle | $23,228,128 | Traded to Denver for 1st/3rd/4th-round picks |
| Jalen Ramsey | $20,868,000 | 2025 trade to Pittsburgh — residual proration |
| Minkah Fitzpatrick | $12,996,000 | Traded to the Jets for a 2026 7th-round pick |
| Bradley Chubb | $10,972,742 | Departed in the 2026 roster reset |
| Terron Armstead | $10,732,750 | Retirement — residual proration |
| James Daniels | $4,800,000 | Released in the 2026 roster reset |
| Zach Wilson | $3,800,000 | 2025 contract residual charge |
| Alec Ingold | $1,995,000 | Released in the 2026 roster reset |
Key contracts
Showing 8 of 8
| Context | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malik Willis | QB | 3 yrs · $67.5M | $45.0M | 2028 | Signed in free agency from Green Bay as the new QB1 — reuniting with the Hafley/Sullivan regime. |
| De'Von Achane | RB | 4 yrs · $64.0M ext. | $17.378M fully · $27.378M total | 2030 | $16M/yr — 3rd among RBs. His 2026 and 2027 salaries are fully guaranteed; the total guarantee includes money that vests later. |
| Zach Sieler | DT | 3 yrs · $64.0M | $34.0M | 2029 | The defense's anchor and highest 2026 cap number on that side of the ball. |
| Aaron Brewer | C | 3 yrs · $52.5M | $21.325M fully · $31.75M total | 2029 | The June extension carries a $6M 2027 roster bonus and later vesting guarantees; it includes one void year for cap purposes. |
| Jordyn Brooks | LB | 3 yrs · $51.3M ext. | $26.5M fully · $35.0M total | 2029 | Extended in July. The deal includes a $6M 2028 vesting guarantee and one void year for cap purposes. |
| Kenneth Grant | DT | 4 yrs · $21.956M | $21.956M fully | 2028 | The 2025 first-rounder has a fully guaranteed rookie deal; a fifth-year option decision follows the 2027 season. |
| Kadyn Proctor | G | 4 yrs · $26.120M + 5th-yr option | $26.120M fully | 2029 | No. 12 overall pick — listed at left guard on the issued depth chart. |
| Chris Johnson | CB | 4 yrs · $19.040M + 5th-yr option | $19.040M fully | 2029 | No. 27 overall pick, acquired with the capital from the Waddle trade tree. |
Cap figures per OverTheCap as of September 7, 2026 (provisional post-cutdown update); contract terms per OverTheCap's current contract records. “Fully” and “total” guarantees are labeled separately where the contract includes vesting guarantees.
Who signs the checks? →
The full ownership structure — Stephen Ross, Ares Management, Joe Tsai, the celebrity limited partners — and the business-side executive team.