Quick take Documents dated February 24, portray the Miami Dolphins preparing a sweeping roster teardown that could cost roughly $200 million when you count guaranteed money, accelerated dead cap and replacement signings. The files link Miami’s move to two disappointing seasons and a conscious break from the prior quarterback era. They also highlight a wider AFC pattern: nearly every team has at least one urgent, structural hole — from QB depth to interior line and safety play. This report pulls the documents together, reconstructs the decision timeline, names the key actors and traces likely ripple effects through free agency, the draft and salary-cap planning.
Why this matters What’s in the papers isn’t a gentle tweak. Miami’s proposed plan is a deliberate two-phase reset: immediate cap-clearing moves that accept one-time costs, followed by a multi-year rebuild aimed at accumulating draft capital and preserving payroll flexibility. Early internal cost models peg the upfront bill around $200 million when you include guarantees, accelerated charges and short-term roster fixes. That kind of hit would reshape Miami’s offseason activity — and affect market dynamics across the AFC as teams chase the same limited pool of quarterbacks and front-seven defenders.
What the documents contain – Financial worksheets and contract scenarios outlining near-term costs and projected long-term cap relief. – Memos linking the reset to back-to-back underwhelming campaigns and a decision to move beyond the team’s previous quarterback era. – Legal and cap-advisor notes mapping buyout, restructure and release permutations, with dead-money impact spelled out. – League and team scouting summaries that flag common AFC weaknesses: quarterback rooms, interior and edge rush, downfield weapons and safety play.
How Miami arrived here Late-season performance reviews and play-chart analysis appear to have intensified scrutiny inside the building. Executives sketched a two-stage program: 1) Immediate roster actions — releases, restructures and trades to create cap space at the cost of one-time charges. 2) Multi-year rebuild — build around draft picks and salary flexibility to find a longer-term quarterback and reshape the roster.
Timing was a clear factor. Free-agency windows, the draft calendar and training-camp deadlines dictated how quickly options had to be considered and executed.
Who’s steering the ship The documents point to a compact decision group: ownership, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. Sullivan ran the financial modeling while Hafley contributed schematic and performance assessments. Club counsel, outside cap consultants and contract specialists weighed in on termination language and roster guarantees. Medical, coaching and personnel departments cross-checked evaluations before narrowing the options.
The quarterback question One set of scenarios models a separation from Tua Tagovailoa. Internal metrics reportedly showed a decline in downfield efficiency and a rise in interceptions. Given the guarantees and roster protections in his deal, severing ties with a veteran quarterback helps explain a large slice of the roughly $200 million reset cost. The club’s internal debate boiled down to comparing the net present value of keeping an established starter versus creating space for cheaper, younger alternatives or pursuing a veteran in free agency.
Staffing and schematic continuity Even as personnel turns were discussed, the front office appeared keen to preserve offensive continuity. Bobby Slowik’s promotion to offensive coordinator and the addition of Kevin Patullo as pass-game coach signal a desire to keep core passing concepts intact. That approach would smooth a possible QB transition and protect receiver development. Scouting narrowed quarterback profiles to a few fits; internal leanings favored a schematics-first solution over a high-variance rookie or a marginal veteran swap.
AFC-wide trouble spots The files don’t treat Miami in isolation. They catalog pressing needs around the conference: – Baltimore Ravens: interior-line injuries and turnover have weakened their ability to collapse the pocket from the middle. – Buffalo Bills: scouting notes say the offense lacks a true downfield vertical threat beyond 10 yards to consistently stretch defenses for Josh Allen. – Indianapolis Colts: edge-win rates and sack conversion showed inconsistency; a higher-impact edge rusher is a priority. – Cincinnati Bengals & Jacksonville Jaguars: safety play and back-seven issues produced coverage leaks (Cincinnati) and schematic instability (Jacksonville).
How teams analyzed gaps Scouting dossiers combined film grading, play-by-play metrics, medical reports and situational charts. Teams built graded target lists and ran cap cost/benefit scenarios, then refined those lists after interviews, medical checks and internal audits. Analytics fed directly into coaching and scouting priorities, shaping the choice between veteran stopgaps and developmental draft investments.
Why this matters What’s in the papers isn’t a gentle tweak. Miami’s proposed plan is a deliberate two-phase reset: immediate cap-clearing moves that accept one-time costs, followed by a multi-year rebuild aimed at accumulating draft capital and preserving payroll flexibility. Early internal cost models peg the upfront bill around $200 million when you include guarantees, accelerated charges and short-term roster fixes. That kind of hit would reshape Miami’s offseason activity — and affect market dynamics across the AFC as teams chase the same limited pool of quarterbacks and front-seven defenders.0