In a hotel conference room in Indianapolis, new Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan smartly laid out realistic expectations for offseason spending with a small group of South Florida reporters.
“We’re not gonna be big shoppers in free agency, but we’ll have an opportunity to add a role player or two that could come in and help us win,” Sullivan said.
But Sullivan and the Dolphins have already exceeded expectations.
“We’ve got eight picks as we sit here today, and not a ton of money to do stuff in free agency,” Sullivan said in that meeting at the NFL Scouting Combine. “We have a bit of an uphill climb.”
But Sullivan and the Dolphins are off to a good start in that climb.
Sullivan is facing one of the worst salary cap situations in recent league history.
Consider these are some of the players who will count as dead cap space for the Dolphins in 2026: Tua Tagovailoa ($55.4 million), Tyreek Hill ($28.2), Jalen Ramsey ($20.9), Minkah Fitzpatrick ($13), Bradley Chubb ($11), Terron Armstead ($10.7), James Daniels ($4.8), Zach Wilson ($3.8) Alec Ingold ($2), Jonnu Smith (1.7) and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine ($1.6).
Just those players add up to about $153 million.
The NFL salary cap for a team in 2026? About $301 million.
You can see Sullivan’s dilemma.
And yet Sullivan found a way to add the top free-agent quarterback on the market, speedy and strong-armed Malik Willis, a 26-year-old with intriguing potential.
Sullivan and cap expert Brandon Shore smartly structured a reasonable contract that would allow Miami to escape after two years, if necessary, or to have Willis under contract for three years plus potentially a franchise tag year, if Wilis shines.
With little to no money to work with, one might have thought Sullivan would wait until a second- or third-wave of free agency, when players may be willing to accept less.
But Sullivan went the other way, aggressively offering many free agents deals at or around veteran minimums. Sullivan knows how often players want to live and work in South Florida.
And, in some cases, Sullivan was able to bring South Florida natives home.
Miami Dolphins free agency brings locals home
One year deals made sense.
Players with high draft pedigree who have shown some promise but petered for various reasons made sense.
Edge rusher Josh Uche (former second rounder), defensive end David Ojabo (former second rounder), wide receiver Tutu Atwell (former second rounder) safety Lonnie Johnson (former second rounder), wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (former third rounder), cornerback Marco Wilson (former fourth rounder) were among the 19 free agents Miami quickly signed or re-signed.
There is strength in numbers. Let practice sort it all out.
Miami is creating competition. And Sullivan is at least giving Miami’s first-year coaching staff a fighting chance.
This is obviously a transition season for Miami.
Miami Dolphins free agents additions are thoughtful
The team hopes to establish a new culture in 2026 and relaunch into playoff competition as early as 2027.
Expectations are low. ESPN recently predicted Miami at over/under 3.5 wins.
Three. Point. Five!
Sullivan has exceeded the expectations he level-set in Indianapolis.
Miami has a long way to go in its roster reconstruction.
But so far Sullivan’s plan seems thoughtful and strategic and that’s a good start.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins free agency start is exceeding expectations
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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