The Miami Dolphins, along with every other NFL team, can spend no more than $279.2 million in 2025 to stay under the league’s salary cap. With the regular season set to start, the Dolphins are right at that limit.

According to Over The Cap, Miami is near the bottom of the NFL in available cap space. That’s due, in part, to more than $56.4 million in “dead money” spending dedicated to players no longer on the roster. Leading the way in that category are cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey, who count $15.7 million and $15 million against the Dolphins’ salary cap, respectively, despite suiting up elsewhere.

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So where is the other $220 million being allocated? Here’s a breakdown of the Dolphins’ spending at each position:

Quarterback ($42.25 million)

The Dolphins dished out a fully guaranteed $6 million deal to backup Zach Wilson, who will count $2.2 million against Miami’s salary cap this season and $3.8 million next year. But it’s starter Tua Tagovailoa’s massive contract that’s eating a whopping $39.2 million of the Dolphins’ cap space this season.

Running back ($9.56 million)

More than half of the backfield spending is actually dedicated to a fullback, Alec Ingold, whose $4.82 million cap hit is included in this total. Starter De’Von Achane is eligible for an extension during the 2026 offseason.

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Wide receiver ($40.26 million)

The Dolphins have several cheap receivers on the depth chart, but starters Tyreek Hill ($27.7 million) and Jaylen Waddle ($8.02 million) combine to be one of the league’s most expensive pass catching duos.

Tight end ($4.63 million)

Miami balked at redoing Jonnu Smith’s deal when the tight end was jockeying for a pay raise after a Pro Bowl season. After trading the veteran to the Steelers, the Dolphins replaced him with a significantly cheaper option in Darren Waller, who counts just $2 million against the cap in 2025.

Offensive line ($28.67 million)

The Dolphins made the offensive line a top priority in March when they signed guard James Daniels to a three-year, $24 million deal in free agency. However, the majority of that deal will count against Miami’s cap in the next three seasons and just $2.69 million in 2025.

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Defensive line ($16.72 million)

Recently extended team captain Zach Sieler ($7.88 million) and first-round rookie Kenneth Grant ($3.99 million) combine for more than 70 percent of the salary cap spending on the defensive line.

Linebacker ($46.0 million)

Veterans Jaelan Phillips ($13.25 million), Bradley Chubb ($12.33 million), and Jordyn Brooks ($11.05 million) have the third, fourth, and fifth highest salary cap hits on the team, respectively.

Cornerback ($11.86 million)

The Dolphins are spending far more on their former star cornerbacks, Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey, than the entire position group combined in 2025.

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Safety ($11.87 million)

A new contract for Minkah Fitzpatrick gave the safety the stability he wanted in the form of a $16.2 million signing bonus. But the deal also trimmed $11 million off his salary cap hit in 2025, which is now just $4.5 million.

Specialists ($8.45 million)

There’s currently no kicker on the Dolphins’ active roster as Jason Sanders, who has a $4.73 million cap hit, is currently on the injured reserve. Still, he counts for more than half of the salary cap obligations for the specialists trio.

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins’ salary cap breakdown by position