The Miami Dolphins still don’t know if Terron Armstead plans to return in 2025, but they’re set to get a salary cap reprieve while they wait for his decision.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Armstead “plans to take his contract down to minimum” while he decides his future. The move is expected to clear $13.745 million in salary cap savings for the Dolphins, a huge help for a team that entered the 2025 offseason without much room to spare.
Armstead, 33, was previously due to count $22.8 million against the Dolphins’ salary cap in 2025, fourth most on the team behind only Tua Tagovailoa, Bradley Chubb, and Tyreek Hill.
The Dolphins have several avenues to clear more space, including contract extensions for players like Jaelan Phillips and Zach Sieler that would lower their cap number in 2025. But Armstead’s slashed salary is a huge help as the Dolphins head into free agency with tons of needs to address, including a deficient offensive line and no starting safeties.
Last year, Miami picked Patrick Paul in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft with the hope that he’d eventually take over for Armstead at left tackle. Regardless if that happens in 2025 or at a later date, the Dolphins salary cap situation is already looking much more manageable.