Every offseason, NFL rosters undergo shakeups that catch fans off guard. Even for a team with playoff aspirations like the Miami Dolphins, no one is immune, not even former first-round picks or high-priced veterans. As the Dolphins prepare for a pivotal 2025 season, two big names may be unexpectedly on the roster bubble: cornerback Cam Smith and edge rusher Bradley Chubb.
Both players entered Miami with lofty expectations. Smith, a 2023 second-round pick out of South Carolina, was touted as a potential heir to former Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard. Chubb, a Pro Bowler acquired via trade from Denver in 2022, was viewed as the edge presence needed to elevate the Dolphins’ defense into elite territory. Fast forward to today, and neither player’s future in Miami is secure.
Here’s why.
Cam Smith’s Vanishing Act: From Top Pick to Trade Bait?
Cam Smith’s journey in the NFL has been underwhelming, if not outright mystifying. After being selected with the 51st overall pick in 2023, Smith barely saw the field during his rookie campaign. Injuries slowed his development early on, but his lack of snaps, even when healthy, raised serious concerns about how the coaching staff viewed him.
Now entering his third year, Smith finds himself in a battle on the cornerback depth chart. Training camp will be crucial for Smith, but even a strong summer may not be enough to secure a spot.
The Dolphins value versatility and physicality in their corners, two traits that Smith has struggled to showcase at the pro level. There have been murmurs that the coaching staff has grown frustrated with his inconsistency in both coverage and tackling. With the team deep in the secondary and looking to develop younger, hungrier talent, Smith could either be dangled as trade bait or face the reality of being a surprise cut.
A fresh start may be the best thing for both sides.
Chubb’s Clock Ticking as Young Edge Rushers Emerge
On the surface, it seems absurd to even suggest cutting Bradley Chubb, especially after he notched 11 sacks in 2023 and appeared to finally be living up to the blockbuster trade that brought him to South Florida. But football is a “what-have-you-done-lately” business, and for Chubb, that question mark looms large.
Chubb suffered a devastating ACL tear late in the 2024 season, his second major knee injury since entering the NFL. While reports suggest his rehab is progressing, he may not be ready for the start of the season, or worse, he may never regain the explosiveness that made him so dangerous off the edge.
The financial angle is just as daunting. Chubb is set to carry a hefty cap hit in 2025, and the Dolphins, with other core players needing extensions, may look to save cap room by cutting bait early. Enter Chop Robinson, Miami’s first-round pick in 2025, and Jaelan Phillips, who returns to the fold from injury after flashes of stardom in his first two seasons.
Throw in Mohamed Kamara, a fifth-round pick in 2024, and suddenly the Dolphins have a younger, cheaper, and potentially more durable trio of edge rushers ready to take the torch.
Miami isn’t lacking in defensive depth, and Chubb’s price tag, combined with his injury history, makes him an expensive gamble. If the team believes it can replicate his production with its current stable of rushers, don’t be shocked if Chubb becomes a cap casualty before Week 1.
While stars like Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle are entrenched as the foundation of the franchise, Miami’s path to sustained success requires tough decisions. That means potentially parting ways with underperforming or injury-prone veterans, even if their names carry weight.
Smith and Chubb once symbolized the Dolphins’ future on defense. But in the unforgiving world of the NFL, past potential means little when younger, cheaper options are nipping at your heels.
Come training camp, don’t be surprised if Miami makes bold moves in the name of progress.
