2018 NFL free agency: Dolphins expected to release defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh this week

The AFC East is seeing some serious personnel turnover this offseason. After the Buffalo Bills traded away starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor to the Cleveland Browns last week and the Miami Dolphins did the same with recently franchise-tagged wide receiver Jarvis Landry, the New England Patriots' division rivals from Florida are expected to make another big move this week – one that will involve star defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh.

As first reported by ESPN's Jeff Darlington, Miami will release the veteran:

The plan is for Ndamukong Suh to be released as early as today as the Dolphins continue their attempt at a culture change – a plan that has purged arguably Miami’s three most talented players within last year. A lot riding on 2018.

Pro Football Talk followed up the initial report with a more concrete timeline:

Source: Miami’s current plan is to cut @NdamukongSuh at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday

The 31-year old defensive tackle is on the Dolphins' books with a salary cap hit of $26.1 million this season – a number that climbs to $28.1 million next year before going back down to $22.4 million in 2020. While Suh is an excellent player and the salary cap is ever increasing, the numbers are unsustainable and do not reflect the true value he or any other non-quarterback could potentially have to a franchise.

Consequently, the number two overall pick of the 2010 draft will hit the open market soon, which is good news for the Patriots – not because the team is expected to make a run at Suh (it is not) but because there is a chance that he will leave the division and maybe the conference altogether in the upcoming weeks. Suh registered a rather modest 2.5 sacks in nine games against New England but is still a player capable of creating tremendous issues for an offense.