The NFL’s most expensive secondary just got a little cheaper. The Miami Dolphins, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, will be releasing veteran free safety Bobby McCain today after spending the last two seasons as the team’s primary free safety. The Dolphins, who drafted Oregon safety Jevon Holland with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, also hosted former 1st-round pick Malik Hooker earlier this week on a free agent visit, suggesting that more turnover was coming to the Dolphins’ secondary.
Dolphins have informed team captain and starting safety Bobby McCain that they are releasing him today, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 6, 2021
Much of Miami’s efforts this offseason have gone towards retooling a defense that made significant leaps forward in 2020. With a reduced salary cap in 2021, Miami has now parted ways with LB Kyle Van Noy and McCain as significant leaders off of last year’s group.
This move for Miami will save the Dolphins over $5.5M in salary cap space for the upcoming season, opening significant room to help the Dolphins ensure they’re able to get their 2021 rookie class under contract without any trouble or having to restructure any additional contracts. But his departure will keep $1.48M on the books in dead salary cap, so the Dolphins will have some lingering effects of McCain’s contract on their books for the upcoming season.
Whether or not Holland steps into the free safety role to replace McCain is yet to be determined. He’s got plus ball skills with 19 career interceptions and passes defensed combined through two seasons at Oregon. But his range on the back end is something that may be a hurdle that prompts Holland to play closer to the line of scrimmage.
What happens in the coming days will be telling. If the Dolphins commit to signing Hooker after their mid-week free agent visit, than Holland appears ready for a role in the nickel and potentially as an early down defender at strong safety. But if Miami stands firm, it seems they’re willing to bet big on Holland’s potential as their deep man in the middle.