Why did the Dolphins release Bradley Chubb?
The Miami Dolphins are parting ways with their 2025 sacks leader.
According to multiple reports, the Dolphins are releasing edge rusher Bradley Chubb in a salary cap-related move before the start of the 2026 league year and free agency. Chubb, 29, will join a free agent class that includes edge rushers Trey Hendrickson, K’Lavon Chaisson and former Dolphins teammate Jaelan Phillips, among others.
Miami was set to enter the offseason $17.4 million over the NFL’s salary cap for 2026, according to OverTheCap. Chubb’s cap hit for 2026 is listed at $31.2 million.
By releasing Chubb, the Dolphins save $7.34 million in cap space in 2026 while eating $23.9 million in dead money for the season. If Miami chooses to designate Chubb as a post-June 1 release, it would save $20.2 million with $11 million left in dead cap for 2026 and $12.9 million in dead cap pushed into the Dolphins’ 2027 spending, per Spotrac.
Chubb joined the Dolphins from the Denver Broncos via trade ahead of the NFL trade deadline in 2022 and signed a five-year, $110 million extension shortly after. The North Carolina State product played in 41 games over three and a half years in Miami – he missed the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL he had suffered in Week 17 of the 2023 season.
During his Dolphins tenure, Chubb recorded 22 sacks and led the team in the statistic in both 2023 (11) and 2025 (8.5). His six forced fumbles during the 2023 season also led the NFL.
In 2025, the Dolphins tabbed Chubb as their Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for his work in the community.
