Dolphins to release former Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Jones

When the Miami Dolphins signed cornerback Byron Jones to a five-year, $82.5 million contract back in 2020, the expectation was that he’d team up with Xavien Howard to form one of the best tandems in the league.

After just three seasons in South Beach, it became apparent that this wasn’t going to happen. In turn, the Dolphins are set to release Jones with a post-June 1 designation to save a whopping $13.6 million against the 2023 NFL salary cap, per ESPN. This move comes with a mere $4.75 million dead cap hit.

Miami’s decision to release Jones wasn’t simply financially driven. While the team was $16.56 million over the 2023 cap prior to making this move, Jones simply did not live up to expectations with the Dolphins. A lot of that had to do with injuries derailing his career.

A former first-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2015, Jones earned Pro Bowl honors with Dallas in 2018. He ultimately landed a lucrative deal with Miami during the spring of 2020. 

In three seasons with the Dolphins, the former Connecticut standout played in 30 games. He missed the entire 2022 season due to a leg injury. He opened up about this ahead of his release by indicating that his career could very well be over.

“It was an honor and privilege to play in the NFL but it came at a regrettable cost I did not foresee," Jones wrote. "In my opinion, no amount of professional success or financial gain is worth avoidable chronic pain and disabilities. Godspeed to the draft class of 2023."

In his last season with the Dolphins in 2021, Jones started 16 games. He recorded 10 passes defended without an interception while yielding a 100.6 QB rating when targeted.

Jones' future in the NFL remains unclear, although his comments don't sound like those of someone who is ready or able to get back on a football field.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, still have more work to do in order to become viable players once the market unofficially opens on March 13.