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The Miami Dolphins lost a potential free agent target

The Miami Dolphins have lost Pro Bowl-caliber talent at a large number of positions this offseason.

On offense, they lost Pro Bowl players Tyreek Hill, Darren Waller, Tua Tagovailoa and Alec Ingold, while also trading away star player Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos. Defensively, Miami lost Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb to the division rival Buffalo Bills and traded Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the division rival New York Jets. 

That does not include the Dolphins losing capable starters like Rasul Douglas, Jack Jones Jr., James Daniels, Cole Strange and Ashtyn Davis. 

Due to the amount of departures, Miami has been linked with several free agents despite their lack of salary cap space. Now, one of the players linked to Miami has instead joined former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Potential Miami Dolphins Target Signs With Los Angeles Chargers

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Los Angeles Chargers had signed Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku to a one-year, $8 million contract. Njoku, who has totaled more than $70 million in career earnings, according to Spotrac, spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Cleveland Browns.

Njoku had been previously linked to the Miami Dolphins as a potential free agent target. Sports Illustrated’s Mark Morales-Smith previously viewed Miami as the top landing spot for Njoku. Morales-Smith wrote:

“David Njoku could go back home to where he played his college ball with the Miami Hurricanes. They are a team desperately in need of weapons, and he is an impressive athlete who would fit well in, if nothing else, a very athletic offense. He could also come cheap enough to fit in their nightmarish cap situation.

Njoku could legitimately be one of their top options in their passing attack, a role we’ve seen hold in the past in Cleveland. At 29 years old, he could still stick around with three or four solid years left in him to carry this team through their rebuild and into what they hope will be their ascension on the other side.” 

Unfortunately for fans of both the Hurricanes and the Dolphins, a reunion did not occur. Njoku will now join offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who was Miami’s former head coach. Former Dolphins players Alec Ingold and Cole Strange have also joined McDaniel in Los Angeles.

Why It’s Good News for Miami

While some fans may have hoped to sign Njoku, A to Z Sports writer Kyle Crabbs argued that the move never made sense for Miami, and the Dolphins would not have paid as much as the Chargers did. 

Crabbs wrote:

“And with a contract value that’s worth up to $8 million in total value, let’s be honest. It was never going to happen with the Dolphins. Miami is trying to get:

1. Younger
2. Cheaper

David Njoku is neither. And yet in mid-April, at least one prediction market had the Miami Dolphins with Njoku’s second-best odds. Neither was wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who Miami had interest in but would have needed a total collapse of his market to even get into the upper levels of the conversation. It’s an unfortunate reality of where the team is at for 2026.

60% of their salary cap obligations this season belong to players no longer on the roster. $8 million for a soon-to-be 30 year old tight end 11 missed games in the last two seasons was not on the menu.”