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The Miami Dolphins are facing many question this offseason, starting with the head coaching search that is currently ongoing. There is another set of decisions that have to be made fairly quickly, however, as the team looks to re-sign some of their players with expiring contracts. It is not, unfortunately, as easy as just figuring out to which players they should make offers, give the team's current salary cap situation.
The 2016 salary cap is expected to be between $153 million and $155 million. Miami is currently sitting at about $156 million for next season, meaning they will have to make cap space, just to be legal when the new season starts, not counting any re-signings, free agent additions, and draft pick signings. The team can easily clear about $40 million in cap space, if they use a clause in Ndamukong Suh's contract that allows them to spread some of his money over five years, as well as there are some salary cap cuts they can make and contracts they can renegotiate. The team has to make some smart decisions in the upcoming weeks to position themselves financially for 2016.
The new league year is scheduled to begin on March 15, meaning that is the date that contracts expire and free agency begins. If the Dolphins are planning to re-sign any of their players before they are able to hit the open market, they must complete it before 4pm Eastern time on March 15 (and, technically, they should do it before March 13, when the league's tampering period will open).
The Dolphins soon-to-be free agents are:
Matt Moore, quarterback
Lamar Miller, running back
Jake Stoneburner, tight end
Brandon Williams, tight end
Matt Hazel, wide receiver
Rishard Matthews, wide receiver
Ulrick John, tackle
Jacques McClendon, center
Shelley Smith, guard
Derrick Shelby, defensive end
Olivier Vernon, defensive end
Robert Thomas, defensive tackle
Spencer Paysinger, linebacker
Kelvin Sheppard, linebacker
Tyler Patmon, cornerback
Louis Delmas, safety
Shamiel Gary, safety
Michael Thomas, safety