Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert could be a candidate to be cut this offseason in order for the franchise to free up some cap space, and one team insider thinks the veteran could be the “easiest choice to cut ties from” despite how popular he is within the organization.
“But the team can also outright free itself of various contract obligations for 2025 by releasing players, depending on whether it’s beneficial to take on the dead cap hit for how much money is saved based on how the contracts are structured,” wrote David Furones of the Sun Sentinel.
“Miami could cut running back Raheem Mostert, who turns 33 on April 9, saving $2.95 million with just $1 million in dead cap space.
“Mostert is aging. He saw a sharp decline in his productivity from 2023 to 2024. The Dolphins already have De’Von Achane with Jaylen Wright entering his second season and possibly need a more physical, downhill runner to complement the speedy Achane. All this means Mostert, as liked as he is by coaches and in the locker room, might be the easiest choice to cut ties from.”
Mostert’s first two seasons with Miami were far more memorable than his third. He was less productive this past season for a Dolphins team that struggled to an 8-9 record.
In the 2022 season, Mostert made a solid first impression with the team. He rushed for 891 yards and three touchdowns, adding another 202 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
In the 2023 campaign, he took his game to another level. The Florida native rushed for 1,012 yards and led the league with 18 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 175 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. His 21 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns led the NFL, and he earned the first Pro Bowl nod of his career.
Mostert was undoubtedly looking to keep moving in the same direction in the 2024 season, but his production ended up regressing. He finished the season with 278 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. In the passing game, he had 161 receiving yards but didn’t register a score.
Mostert is 32 and will turn 33 this offseason, so the Dolphins may indeed take a hard look at his future. He has one season left on his deal.
But he shouldn’t be written off, and it’s important to note that he had to navigate a role change this past season. It’s entirely possible that he’s still capable of being a productive running back moving forward.
The Dolphins will have to take everything into consideration. They’re looking to put together a strong offseason so they can avoid a repeat of what just transpired. In the 2024 campaign, Miami fell short of expectations and posted a losing record for the first time since the 2019 season.
