With little breathing room (ninth-lowest) in 2025, the Miami Dolphins’ salary cap space isn’t in great shape right now, but who are the top 10 players who will take up the most cap room for the team in the upcoming season?
This article examines the most costly players on the Dolphins’ 2025 roster. Player contracts can be complicated, though, with many moving parts. With that in mind, we’ve used the players’ 2025 cap numbers, rather than weighing their guarantees against potential earnings.
Though Miami is still paying retired defender Terron Armstead, he’s not included in this list.
10 Most Expensive Players on the Miami Dolphins’ 2025 Roster
10) Austin Jackson, OT | $5.749 million
Austin Jackson was just one of a laundry list of Dolphins critically injured during the 2024 season, one year after the team signed him to a three-year, $36 million contract extension. While he had a rocky start to his career, Jackson was becoming a key cog in Miami’s offensive line before tearing his meniscus in Week 9.
9) Jaylen Waddle, WR | $8.021 million
Jaylen Waddle signed a three-year extension in May 2024. With over 4,000 career receiving yards, he remains one of the league’s most explosive No. 2 options.
8) Aaron Brewer, C | $8.118 million
Though Miami’s run game remains a work in progress, Aaron Brewer played well as a run-blocker in his first season with the team. Heading into his sixth season, Brewer is still working to improve his pass protection skills.
7) Jordyn Brooks, LB | $11.050 million
Brooks has been a standout in his first year with Miami, leading the team in tackles while making impact plays against both the run and pass. Signed to a three-year, $26 million deal in the 2024 offseason, he’s provided the Dolphins with much-needed stability and physicality at linebacker — an area that had long been a weakness.
6) Bradley Chubb, EDGE | $12.328 million
A torn ACL in Week 17 of the 2023 season sidelined Bradley Chubb for the 2024 season, but the Dolphins are hoping the two-time Pro Bowler returns to form as a key edge presence opposite Jaelan Phillips.
5) Zach Sieler, DT | $12.447 million
Sieler has been one of Miami’s most consistent front-seven defenders. His ability to disrupt plays from the interior earned him a well-deserved extension in 2023.
4) Jaelan Phillips, EDGE | $13.251 million
Phillips, when healthy, is one of the league’s most dynamic young edge rushers. His return from a torn ACL will be closely watched in 2025.
3) Jalen Ramsey, CB | $16.661 million
Jalen Ramsey hasn’t quite lived up to the shutdown corner status he earned with the Los Angeles Rams, and his reputation is now being questioned. In April, Miami granted his trade request. Ramsey would trigger a $25.213 million cap charge if traded before June 1, making a post-June 1 trade more plausible.
2) Tyreek Hill, WR | $27.699 million
Tyreek Hill couldn’t put together a 1,000-yard season in 2024 — falling just 41 yards shy of the feat — which would’ve been his fifth consecutive. Still, he’s regarded as one of the NFL’s top deep threats.
1) Tua Tagovailoa, QB | $39.181 million
Fresh off a contract extension, Tua Tagovailoa leads the Dolphins’ cap sheet in 2025. He set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns last season, cementing his franchise QB status.