The Miami Dolphins were among a handful of NFL teams that came to the fore yesterday for some of the upcoming list transactions before the start of the free agency window, which is less than two weeks away. Miami’s reported decision to break up with Kyle Van Noy is astonishing, in large part because the team only brought the linebacker into battle in 2020 and paid him a 4-year contract, $ 51 million, with stipulated guarantees of $ 30 million. USD. But Miami has made a wise structuring of Van Noy’s transaction and will part with the linebacker after a season and paid him just over $ 15 million for his services and hardly over $ 4 million in dead ceiling for the upcoming offseason.
The decision to break up with Van Noy will save the Dolphins at least $ 9.75 million against the ceiling in 2021 – enough to sign a considerable talent or maybe even two quality starters. And that’s why, against all the other excessive ceiling commitments facing the Dolphins, this decision is so significant for the outlook for 2021.
Van Noy was an “equally promoted” player. He was never going to blow you away, but his versatility, leadership and toughness were assets for the Miami locker room in 2020. These factors that are outweighed by the financial situation tell you one thing: Dolphins are probably preparing for another aggressive race in this season.
Van Noy was a quality starter, and the Dolphins could have given up Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant and Clayton Fejedelem in 2021 if the team simply wanted more space to score a few key players. That’s not it. This is a seismic change of direction just a year ago – the Dolphins have not remained loyal to the 2020 signing because it was thought the funds could be better served elsewhere on the list this year. So get ready, Dolphins fans. This has the feeling of the start of a few hectic weeks for the Dolphins. And Miami will likely make another significant move along the way, opening up more space for the type of high-profile additions in South Florida that staff deem necessary to arouse their offense in 2021.