Dolphins 2024 free agency primer: Cap space, possible additions and more

The NFL’s two-day negotiation period opens at noon Monday, during which teams can contact and enter negotiations with unrestricted free agents. These deals cannot be finalized until the new league year starts at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Dolphins have already been busy. Miami re-signed defensive backs Elijah Campbell and Nik Needham and is also set to bring back punter Jake Bailey and offensive lineman Robert Jones. The team has also made outside additions, signing tight end Jonnu Smith, as well as a pair of veteran defensive tackles.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the start of the new league year, including how much cap space the Dolphins have, potential additions in free agency and more.

CAP SPACE

As of Sunday morning, the Dolphins are $23 million over the cap, according to Over the Cap. This does not account for deals for Campbell, Smith, Needham or Smith. In the last few weeks, Miami freed about $26 million in cap space by releasing defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, cornerback Keion Crossen and inside linebacker Jerome Baker.

The Dolphins must be cap compliant by the start of the new league year and will need even more space to re-sign their free agents and make outside additions. These cap-saving moves can come in the form of more cuts, contract extensions or restructures, which lowers cap hits by converting base salary into a bonus and prorating it over multiple years.

Miami will receive $18.5 million in cap space when it releases cornerback Xavien Howard at the start of the new league year. But it is not available to use until June 2 because the move was designated as a post-June 1 cut.

FREE AGENTS

Unrestricted free agents

The following players have four or more accrued seasons and an expiring contract. They can negotiate with other teams on Monday.

▪ Running back Salvon Ahmed

▪ Cornerback Eli Apple

▪ Wide receiver Braxton Berrios

▪ Cornerback Justin Bethel

▪ Wide receiver Robbie Chosen

▪ Wide receiver Chase Claypool

▪ Wide receiver River Cracraft

▪ Defensive tackle Raekwon Davis

▪ Safety DeShon Elliott

▪ Defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand

▪ Center Jonotthan Harrison

▪Outside linebacker Justin Houston

▪Right guard Robert Hunt

▪Outside linebacker Melvin Ingram

▪Outside linebacker Bruce Irvin

▪Safety Brandon Jones

▪Tight end Tyler Kroft

▪Offensive tackle Kendall Lamm

▪Inside linebacker Calvin Munson

▪Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins

▪Center Connor Williams

▪Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr.

▪Left guard Isaiah Wynn

▪Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel

Restricted free agents

Restricted free agents have three accrued seasons and an expiring contract. The Dolphins can place a qualifying offer — often called a tender — on them, which would give the team the right of first refusal or the opportunity to receive draft compensation for the player signing with another team.

If a restricted free agent does not receive a tender or it is withdrawn, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Dolphins have already reached deals with their two restricted free agents; Miami signed Campbell to a one-year deal and agreed to terms with Jones on a one-year deal.

POTENTIAL ADDITIONS

The following is a list of unrestricted free agents whom the Dolphins could target to address positions of need.

Center

Aaron Brewer (Tennessee Titans)

Brian Allen (Los Angeles Rams)

Coleman Shelton (Los Angeles Rams)

Guard

Laken Tomlinson (New York Jets)

Damien Lewis (Seattle Seahawks)

Jon Feliciano (San Francisco 49ers)

Safety

Geno Stone (Baltimore Ravens)

Justin Simmons (Denver Broncos)

Jordan Fuller (Los Angeles Rams)

Wide receiver

Donovan Peoples-Jones (Detroit Lions)

Kendrick Bourne (New England Patriots)

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Tennessee Titans)

Inside linebacker

Josey Jewell (Denver Broncos)

Blake Cashman (Houston Texans)

Lavonte David (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Cornerback

Rock Ya-Sin (Baltimore Ravens)

Sean Murphy-Bunting (Tennesee Titans)

Ronald Darby (Baltimore Ravens)

Defensive lineman

DaQuan Jones (Buffalo Bills)

Maurice Hurst (Cleveland Browns)

A’shawn Robinson (New York Giants)

Outside linebacker

Jadeveon Clowney (Baltimore Ravens)

Denico Autry (Tennessee Titans)

Kyle Van Noy (Baltimore Ravens)

Return specialist

Keisean Nixon (Green Bay Packers)

Devin Duvernay (Baltimore Ravens)

Deonte Harty (Buffalo Bills)