Cap-constrained Dolphins heading in new direction after trading standout receiver Jaylen Waddle

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jon-Eric Sullivan's aggressive overhaul of the Miami Dolphins has taken another step.

The new Miami general manager has dismantled the core of a once star-studded roster, prioritizing draft capital over established resumes and doing what he can to get the Dolphins out of a difficult salary cap situation.

Franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was released, along with other stars including Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb.

The massive overhaul continued Tuesday when wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was traded to the Denver Broncos for picks No. 30, 94 and 130 in this year's draft. While Waddle was a foundational offensive piece under Miami's old regime of coach Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier, the franchise is clearly heading in a different direction.

“There are players that we see as building blocks as we move down the road,” Sullivan said at last month's NFL scouting combine. “My job as the general manager is if the phone rings, I have to listen. Any player is tradeable at a certain price.”

Getting out of this current salary cap bind has been the priority. Miami will have $175 million in salary cap charges next season on players who are no longer on the roster.

That's more than half of the Dolphins' cap for 2026 and includes more than $50 million to Tagovailoa, $28.2 million to Hill and $20.9 million to cornerback Jalen Ramsey, traded to Pittsburgh last year.

“Obviously, it’s no secret that we’re in a bit of a strain salary cap-wise,” Sullivan said last month. “I think you can always do what you want to do within the salary cap. That means you have to kick things down the road. ... I think we’re in a position where we need to get back into a healthy state within our salary cap.”

Sullivan has said he will prioritize the draft to fill in the roster, which fits the approach he wants to bring from his time working in Green Bay's front office.

The Dolphins have already addressed one of their key needs in free agency, signing Malik Willis at quarterback, but they also now have 11 total draft picks in 2026 — two in the first round and seven in the first three rounds — to begin addressing a roster with plenty of needs.

Miami's receiver room after the Waddle trade, which also included sending a 2026 fourth-rounder to Denver, now includes Tutu Atwell, Malik Washington, Theo Wease Jr., Tahj Washington, Terrace Marshall Jr., Jalen Tolbert and AJ Henning.

So the Dolphins could address the position with one of their picks.

“It’s my job to be very creative and aggressive in how we use our (draft) picks,” Sullivan said, “then our undrafted free agency process, then the 53 cut and then practice squad steals. We’ve got to build this thing out, but we have to build it out so that it’s sustainable over time. You can’t do that overnight.”

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Miami Dolphins’ new quarterback Malik Willis speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team’s training complex, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)

FILE - Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

It’s no longer just a fantasy. A quadruple of major trophies might just be on for Arsenal this season.

Not that the players have time to think about it.

Arsenal reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League by beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Tuesday for a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Mikel Arteta’s team also leads the Premier League by nine points, plays Manchester City in the final of the English League Cup on Sunday and has reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.

So, midfielder Declan Rice was asked after the Leverkusen game, how excited is Arsenal getting about the possibility of winning four trophies?

“We don’t actually get too caught up in it because it’s coming thick and fast ... There’s no time to think about what’s going on,” said Rice, one of the scorers against Leverkusen.

“We just keep playing matches and preparing the matches as quick as we can. Momentum and confidence is everything in football, and the more you keep winning, that feel-good factor around the place is obviously really good for everyone.”

Arsenal is getting some fortune with the cup draws, too.

Next up in the Champions League is Sporting Lisbon, which might have completed one of the greatest comebacks in the competition’s history by beating Bodo-Glint 5-0 to overturn a 3-0 first-leg loss but might prove to be the weakest team in the quarterfinals — at least on paper.

And in the FA Cup, Arsenal was drawn against second-tier Southampton, so is a heavy favorite to get to the semifinals.

As for the League Cup final, City is coming off playing with 10 men against Real Madrid from the 20th minute in its 2-1 loss in the Champions League on Tuesday. Arsenal also has a psychological edge heading to Wembley Stadium after pulling well clear in the Premier League title race in recent weeks.

“We’ve got the momentum — we feel like we can win every match we play,” Rice said. “And that’s a good thing to have at the minute. Confidence is everything in football.”

Rice also had words of praise for Eberechi Eze after his powerfully struck, outside-of-the-area shot opened the scoring against Leverkusen at Emirates Stadium.

The England midfielder is finally establishing himself in the first team after a summer move from Crystal Palace, having learned more about the defensive aspects demanded by Arteta.

“Honestly, he’s frightening,” Rice said. “Around the edge of the box, left foot and right foot, there’s not many players I’ve seen hit the ball better than him.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal's Eberechi Eze center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, in London, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Arsenal's Declan Rice celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, in London, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Arsenal's Declan Rice celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, in London, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)