Byron Jones’ time with the Miami Dolphins will soon to be over.
The Dolphins plan to release the cornerback who was once a prized acquisition in 2020 with free agency beginning next week, according to a league source.
Jones, who missed the 2022 season, will be designated as a post-June 1 cut, which provides the Dolphins with $13.6 million in 2023 salary cap relief. The savings will not be available to the team until June, so it can’t be used during March’s initial wave of free agency.
Releasing Jones after June 1 is about a $10 million difference in savings than the $3,547,000 of immediate relief the Dolphins could find otherwise. The Dolphins were already $16 million over the salary cap in a number that will fluctuate as they work to restructure contracts, possibly release other players under contract or seek trade options.
Jones, who signed a five-year, $82.5 million with Miami in 2020, carried with him a cap number of $18,351,000 in 2023. He will become a free agent on March 15.
Although Jones is now set for free agency, his future is highly in doubt after missing last season after failed rehab from lower left leg surgery last March. He recently tweeted he still can’t run or jump.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier was still surveying all possibilities regarding Jones as of last week when he spoke at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
“You have to look at every option,” Grier said then. “You always have to look at all different scenarios and plan for best-case and worst-case scenarios. Right now, we’re not making any assumptions on anything, and just let him continue to attack his rehab and see what happens.
“I think we’re in a good spot. He’s working hard trying to get back into play, and he’s been in communication with us through the process.”
Grier also mentioned that new Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will be involved in any decision-making surrounding Jones’ future.
Jones, who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, including one Pro Bowl campaign in 2018, had 95 tackles, two interceptions and 14 pass deflections over two seasons in Miami before missing the 2022 campaign.
Jones’ tweets that noted he can’t run or jump due to his injuries were also incendiary, revelatory and somewhat cryptic remarks about his rehab gone wrong.
“DO NOT take the pills they give you,” he tweeted. “DO NOT take the injections they give you. If you absolutely must, consult an outside doctor to learn the long-term implications.”
Grier had said the team was working out the issues with Jones and his agent.
“Talked to his agent, had a good conversation,” Grier said. “With Byron, we’ve always had great communication. He has a very good relationship with our training staff and doctors. So, from our end, we’ve been really transparent, a lot of really good communication between him, his agent and our trainers and doctors.”
Added Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, when he spoke at the combine: “The Dolphins organization, the entire training staff and the medical department has supported him at every turn.”
Jones’ big contract was an issue in recent years with how he had a more lucrative deal than Xavien Howard, despite Howard being more productive opposite Jones.
Miami will be seeking cornerback help either through free agency or the upcoming draft. Beyond Jones’ departure, Howard took a step back in 2023, fighting through multiple groin injuries. Nickel cornerback Nik Needham, who enters free agency, is coming off an Achilles tear.
The Dolphins did get a solid rookie season from cornerback Kader Kohou, after picking him up as an undrafted free agent. Miami also has Keion Crossen, former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene and 2021 undrafted free agent Trill Williams under contract.
