According to OverTheCap.com, the Miami Dolphins are going to need approximately $18.8M in cap space this season to accommodate for their 2020 rookie class — a monstrous influx of talent to the Dolphins’ roster that currently features 14 selections; including six in the top 70 picks. And while that figure may feel like a lot of coin (it is), it isn’t really a significant hit relative to the cap space that some of the NFL’s top contracts demand.
As a matter of fact, there are 27 NFL veterans currently on schedule to command a bigger cap hit than all 14 of Miami’s looming rookie picks combined. Who are they? And are they worth the money they’re due?
27. OT Nate Solder, NYG
- Cap hit: $19.5M
- Worth it?: No
26. DL Kawaan Short, CAR
- Cap hit: $20.3M
- Worth it?: No
25. WR Julio Jones, ATL
- Cap hit: $20.4M
- Worth it?: Probably, yes
24. WR Sammy Watkins, KC
- Cap hit: $21.0M
- Worth it?: No
23. QB Cam Newton, CAR
- Cap hit: $21.1M
- Worth it?: Not recently
22. QB Matthew Stafford, DET
- Cap hit: $21.3M
- Worth it?: If he’s healthy
21. OLB Chandler Jones, ARZ
- Cap hit: $21.3M
- Worth it?: Absolutely
20. QB Jacoby Brissett, IND
- Cap hit: $21.38M
- Worth it?: No
19. QB Alex Smith, WAS
- Cap hit: $21.4M
- Worth it?: No
18. OT Trenton Brown, LV
- Cap hit: $21.5M
- Worth it?: Probably, yes
17. QB Derek Carr, LV
- Cap hit: $21.5M
- Worth it?: He’s apparently being shopping in trade talks, so…
16. QB Aaron Rodgers, GB
- Cap hit: $21.64M
- Worth it?: Yes
15. QB Nick Foles, JAX
- Cap hit: $21.8M
- Worth it?: He got beat out by Gardner Minshew, so…
14. DE Demarcus Lawrence, DAL
- Cap hit: $21.9M
- Worth it?: Yes
13. DL Marcell Dareus, JAX
- Cap hit: $22.5M
- Worth it?: No
12. DE Frank Clark, KC
- Cap hit: $22.7M
- Worth it?: Yes
11. QB Joe Flacco, DEN
- Cap hit: $23.6M
- Worth it?: No
10. DL Fletcher Cox, PHI
- Cap hit: $23.8M
- Worth it?: Yes
9. QB Matt Ryan, ATL
- Cap hit: $24.1M
- Worth it?: Yes
8. DL Aaron Donald, LAR
- Cap hit: $25.0M
- Worth it?: Absolutely
7. OLB Von Miller, DEN
- Cap hit: $25.6M
- Worth it?: Absolutely
6. DE Khalil Mack, CHI
- Cap hit: $26.6M
- Worth it?: Absolutely
5. QB Jimmy Garoppolo, SF
- Cap hit: $26.6M
- Worth it?: We don’t think so
4. QB Russell Wilson, SEA
- Cap hit: $31.0M
- Worth it?: Absolutely
3. QB Kirk Cousins, MIN
- Cap hit: $31.0M
- Worth it?: We don’t think so
2. QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
- Cap hit: $33.5M
- Worth it?: Probably not anymore
1. QB Jared Goff, LAR
- Cap hit: $36.0M
- Worth it?: We don’t think so
