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Miami Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb.
The Denver Broncos thought they had the NFL’s next elite pass rusher when they drafted North Carolina State’s Bradley Chubb with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft — further reinforced by his 12.0 sacks during his rookie year.
Things never panned out for Chubb in Denver, and he was eventually traded to the Miami Dolphins in a blockbuster move midway through the 2022 season and the Dolphins signed him to a 5-year, $110 million contract extension.
Now, after Chubb’s career is finally off life support, he’s looking for a new home and immediately becomes 1 of the NFL’s top free agents.
“Sources: The Dolphins and two-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Bradley Chubb are parting ways, making the 29-year-old a free agent,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account on Monday. “In his two full seasons with the Dolphins (2023 & 2025), Chubb has 20 sacks, 8 FF, and 117 tackles. He should have a nice market … Chubb had 8.5 sacks this past season and was a top trade candidate before the deadline, with three teams actively trying to trade for him before Miami opted to keep him. Now he’s a free agent and should have heavy interest.”
Chubb has been almost dominant over his last 2 seasons — 11.0 sacks in 2023 and 8.5 sacks in 2025 sandwiched by missing all of the 2024 season with a torn ACL.
“Bradley Chubb had a $31.2M cap number for 2026. Miami will save $7.3M in cap space while taking on $23.8M in dead money by moving on from Chubb, who had 8.5 sacks last year,” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov wrote on his official X account.
Chubb Likely Looking to Join Legit Contender
Through his first 8 seasons, Chubb’s career has largely been defined by losing and injuries.
In his first 5 seasons with the Broncos, Chubb never made the playoffs.
In his first 2 seasons with the Dolphins they lost in the AFC Wild Card round both years but missed the playoffs each of the last 2 seasons and are headed toward a major rebuild. Which means Chubb will almost certainly be looking for a legitimate contender to join in 2026 — the likes of which could include the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the top of the list.
The Dolphins have a new general manager in Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach in former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
“First big move and cut for Jon-Eric Sullivan as Dolphins GM,” Dolphins reporter David Furones wrote on X.
Dolphins Almost Traded Chubb in 2025
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reported Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta looked into making a huge move for Chubb, a 2-time Pro Bowler, at the 2025 trade deadline.
The Ravens eventually traded for Tennessee Titans edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones.
“There were bigger-name pass rushers available (than Jones),” Zrebiec wrote. “The Miami Dolphins put 2021 first-rounder Jaelan Phillips on the market for a third-round pick, and the Eagles were willing to meet that asking price. Fellow Dolphins pass rusher Bradley Chubb was available, too, and the Ravens explored that option. The Jets’ Jermaine Johnson could have been had for a second-round pick.”
The Broncos, on the other hand, are set at edge rusher for the foreseeable future with one of the NFL’s best defensive players in Nik Bonitto.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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