The Miami Dolphins have reportedly decided the fate of star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Miami is expected to release Suh on Wednesday, which marks the start of the NFL’s new league year. ESPN’s Jeff Darlington was first to report the news, citing the Dolphins desire to change their locker room culture. Linebacker Lawrence Timmons will also be released by the team on Wednesday, per multiple reports.
Making the decision to part ways with Suh is the second major transaction by the Dolphins in less than a week, as the team traded wide receiver Jarvis Landry to the Cleveland Browns on Friday in-exchange for two draft picks. The trading of Landry was also reportedly made with a desire to change the culture, as was the trade that sent running back Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles in October.
Suh was scheduled to make a base salary of $16.9 million in 2018, and account for $26.1 million on the team’s salary cap sheet. If the Dolphins designate Suh as a post June-1st cut, the team will save $17 million against the salary cap. Releasing Suh with no designation would only save the team $3.9 million.
Back in March 2015, Suh signed the most lucrative contract for any defensive player in NFL history with the Dolphins at a $114 million clip over six seasons that included $60 million guaranteed. While Suh did make the Pro Bowl in the first year of the deal, he never fully lived up to the expectations that came with the hefty price tag. It’s likely Suh was against having the Dolphins restructure his contract, which made it harder for the Dolphins to find a potential trade partner, and made it easier to cut ties.
There’s expect to be a wide-range of interest in Suh from various teams, with the Detroit Lions, Suh’s original NFL team expected to be among the suitors. The San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Oakland Raiders could all also likely have interest. Suh is expected to slide into the top 15 on our available free agents list once his release becomes official.
In his Dolphins career, the team only made the playoffs one time, and struggle to play consistently in all three of Suh’s seasons. He finishes his tenure in Miami with 180 tackles, 27 stuffs, and 15.5 sacks.
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