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Miami Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in desperate need of an elite edge rusher — have been for a few years now.
It just so happens one just hit the free agent market, and he could very well be the answer for Tampa Bay in 2026 with 2-time Pro Bowler Bradley Chubb.
“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. Chubb, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, signed a 5-year, $110 million contract extension with the Dolphins in November 2022.
“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 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.
Buccaneers Missed Big on Edge Rusher in 2025
The Buccaneers took a big swing and missed on an edge rusher in the 2025 free agency cycle when they signed 2-time NFL All-Pro Haason Reddick to a 1-year, $14 million contract and got 2.5 sacks in return.
To that end, Chubb might not be a good enough fix at the position. There’s likely going to be a push to get a player like Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson in free agency or Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby in a trade.
Getting Crosby would almost be an unprecedented move for the Buccaneers, with Bleacher Report predicting any team who wants the perennial All-Pro would need to give up a 2026 1st round pick, 2026 3rd round pick, conditional 2027 2nd round pick and 2027 3rd-round pick.
Pro Football Focus called the Buccaneers the top landing spot for 6-foot-4, 261-pound free agent edge rusher Boye Mafe after he just won the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.
Mafe, a 2022 2nd round pick, has 20.0 sacks through his first 4 season and just played out a 4-year, $8.5 million rookie contract.
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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