Details have emerged regarding the restructured contract of five-time Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead, and even though the figures had been reported, they remain eye-opening.
Armstead agreed to lower his base salary from $13.3 million to the veteran minimum of $1.2 million, reducing his 2025 cap hit from nearly $23 million to just under $9 million, per overthecap.com. This adjustment creates almost $14 million in cap savings for Miami — as long as Armstead remains on the roster.
Congratulations to Terron Armstead on being inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame! Armstead played in the 2013 Senior Bowl. Terron spent 9 years with the New Orleans Saints and is currently the starting left tackle for the Miami Dolphins!! Congratulations, @T_Armstead72!! pic.twitter.com/6itG9VSzIK
— Reese’s Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) March 6, 2025
However, the pay cut doesn’t guarantee that Armstead will be with the team for the 2025 season. What it does ensure is that he will remain on the roster when the new league year begins on March 12. Releasing him before that would actually raise his cap hit to $18.5 million due to prorated signing bonus charges. If the Dolphins opted to cut him after June 1, his cap number would drop to $7.8 million, freeing up an additional $1.2 million — which is equal to his new base salary.
The significant pay reduction strongly hints that Armstead is seriously considering retirement but wanted to keep his options open a bit longer. If he were fully set on playing a 13th season, it’s unlikely he would have agreed to such a drastic cut, especially since his credentials could have fetched him more money elsewhere.
This situation appears to be either a veteran buying time to finalize a tough decision or a player deeply committed to staying with Miami for a fourth season.
The Dolphins’ head coach recently stated at the scouting combine that the team is preparing as though Armstead will retire. Communication between the team and Armstead has been ongoing, and while the veteran hasn’t made a final decision, the team is planning for the possibility that he won’t return, allowing them to properly prepare for free agency and the draft.
Armstead’s willingness to take a pay cut isn’t new — he also accepted a reduced salary last year to stay with the team for a third season. Much like Calais Campbell, Armstead has had a standout career but is still chasing an elusive Super Bowl ring.
Interestingly, during interviews leading up to this year’s Super Bowl, Armstead repeatedly spoke about the Dolphins as though he was expecting to be part of the team in 2025.
In the meantime, Armstead received a notable honor, as he was named to the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame. Before making a name for himself in the NFL — including setting a record for offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash at the combine — Armstead represented Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the Senior Bowl. He was later drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2013 draft, spending nine seasons in New Orleans before joining the Dolphins in 2022.