Ndamukong Suh's Mega-Contract Hurts Dolphins

(photo credit: foxsports.com)

When the Dolphins signed Ndamukong Suh to a 6-year, $114 million dollar contract last offseason, they knew they were putting themselves in a salary cap bind for years to come.

Their salary cap issue has already started to rear its ugly head one offseason later, with the Dolphins decision to use the transition tag on Defensive End Olivier Vernon, rather than put up an extra $3 million to use the franchise tag.

Vernon, one of the game’s young elite pass rushers, has been a lone bright spot over the years, posting 29 sacks in his first four seasons and not missing a single game. Now the Dolphins could lose him, just as they lost TE Charles Clay last offseason, to a salary cap rich team such as Oakland or the New York Giants.

If the Dolphins had decided to use the non-exclusive franchise tag, like the Bears used on WR Alshon Jeffery, they would be compensated two first round picks if another team decided to outmatch them. Because of the Suh deal, the Dolphins have now put themselves in the position to lose Vernon.

While losing free agents like RB Lamar Miller, WR Rishard Matthews, and DE Derrick Shelby would hurt the Phins’, losing Vernon would be potentially disaster. Instead of being able to fill holes in the draft like defensive back, linebacker and offensive line, they would again have to focus on the defensive line: a position that was supposed to be a strong suit for them.

The Dolphins could restructure Suh’s deal to push bigger cap hits into later years, or could start cutting higher earning veterans. While cutting players like WR Greg Jennings ($5.5 million), DE Quinton Couples ($7.7 million) and Brice McCain ($3.5 million) are easy decisions saving the team $14.6 million dollars, they’re going to have some decisions to make if they want to keep Vernon, starting with fellow DE Cameron Wake. While Wake is a leader in the locker room and been a Probowl caliber defensive end, he is going to be 35 this season, coming off a torn Achilles, and costing the Phins’ $9.8 million.

Other players that could be cut to make room for Vernon are CB Brent Grimes, TE Jordan Cameron, DE Dion Jordan and LB Koa Misi. All of these players fill needs the Dolphins have, but to accommodate both Suh, Wake and Vernon, the Dolphins are going to have to make tough cuts to other areas of much higher need.

While signing Suh to a mega-contract was an exciting move last year, we are now seeing the side effects of having a defensive tackle count $28 million against the cap: limited options for resigning free agents like Vernon and Miller, having to cut key players like Grimes and Cameron to structure around Suh and an inability to sign impact free agents.

It might have been an exciting signing last season, but now that Miami has to deal with the ramifications for the next five years, Suh’s deal will become increasingly less popular in south Florida.