Dolphins release RB Raheem Mostert, a starting cornerback and longest-tenured player on team

Chris Perkins and David Furones, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Feb 14, 2025

Published in Football

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There was no Valentine’s Day love from the Miami Dolphins for three veterans on Friday.

Running back Raheem Mostert, cornerback Kendall Fuller and tight end Durham Smythe were all released, the team announced.

The trio of veterans was known to potentially be on the chopping block early this offseason due to salary cap savings for a Miami team that entered Friday a projected $13.3 million over the salary cap, according to OverTheCap.com.

The Mostert cut saves $2.95 million toward the cap, with $1 million in dead money. Fuller’s release adds another $2.76 million to Miami’s cap savings, but with $5.4 million in dead money. Letting go of Smythe nets $2.175 million toward the cap, with $2.66 million of dead cash. The grand total saved: about $7.9 million.

Had Fuller been released with a post-June 1 designation, the savings would’ve jumped up to $6.8 million with dead money dropping to just $1.3 million. But while the move could be made now, the savings wouldn’t have become available until June, well after the initial wave of free agency in March.

NFL teams have two of those available every offseason, and there is speculation Miami could use one on outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, whose cut post-June 1 could save the team $19.5 million. Examples in recent years of post-June 1 releases for the Dolphins include cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones.

Mostert, who turns 33 April 9, was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2023 after setting Dolphins records for a single season with 21 touchdowns and 18 rushing touchdowns, has been released by the team, the Sun Sentinel has confirmed.

Mostert’s agent, Brett Tessler, posted his news on social media Friday afternoon before the other two cuts were known.

Mostert was a personal favorite of Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, largely due to the five years (2017-21) they spent together in San Francisco. This was likely a tough decision for McDaniel.

Fuller got the news one day after turning 30 on Thursday. While decent in coverage throughout his one season with the Dolphins, he lacked availability, missing six games between two separate concussions and a late-season knee injury.

His cut possibly opens up the Dolphins to look deeper into cornerbacks either in free agency and the late April draft, as the team will need another starter at the position, along with star cornerback Jalen Ramsey and nickel Kader Kohou.

Smythe, 29, was previously the longest-tenured Dolphin on the roster. That distinction now belongs to kicker Jason Sanders, who was taken later in the 2018 draft, the final one under former coach Adam Gase.

Smythe had just nine receptions for 53 yards, his worst season stat line since his first two years in the league. Known more for his in-line blocking, he also appeared to take a step back in that area of his game in 2024, as tight end blocking overall did not produce for McDaniel’s outside-zone run-blocking scheme. Second-year tight end Julian Hill largely took Smythe’s job as a starter last season.

Mostert, one of the most likable and charitable players on the team, was known in part for his big smile and friendly demeanor, and in larger part for his resilience and speed.

Mostert had been cut by six teams, including the Dolphins (2015), before finally finding his footing with the 49ers.

When the speedy Dolphins spoke of the players who would comprise their mythical 4×100-meter relay team, Mostert, a collegiate track standout at Purdue, was always on the squad.

Mostert battled injury problems for much of his career, and that crept into his play last season, when he missed games early in the season with a chest injury and then battled a knee issue late in the season.

Worse, the normally sure-handed Mostert had critical lost fumbles against Indianapolis and Buffalo last season.

Mostert ended the season with 278 yards rushing on 85 carries (3.3 yards per carry) and two touchdowns in 13 games.

One year earlier he rushed for a career-best 1,012 yards on 209 carries (4.8 yards per carry) in 15 games.

Late in the season Mostert told the Sentinel he wanted to be back with the Dolphins in 2025 and pointed out he was under contract.

Mostert’s departure means the Dolphins return running backs De’Von Achane (907 yards rushing, 4.5 yards per carry) and Jaylen Wright (249 yards, 3.7 ypc) among primary ball carriers from last year along with little-used running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (57 yards rushing, 3.6 ypc) and fullback Alec Ingold.