Veteran defensive back Keion Crossen received some difficult news on Tuesday, as the Miami Dolphins are reportedly planning to cut him in a move possibly motivated by cap space considerations.
Keion Crossen is getting cut by the #Dolphins, per @AaronWilson_NFL
Miami saves $2.9 million in cap space with the move. pic.twitter.com/8nUsZVORZn
— Dolphin Nation (@Dolphin_Nation) March 5, 2024
After learning of the news, the 27-year-old took to social media and said goodbye to the Dolphins in classy fashion.
Thank you @MiamiDolphins it’s always a pleasure
— Kei_ (@KeionCrossen) March 5, 2024
The Dolphins signed Crossen to a three-year deal in the 2022 offseason, but he only ended up playing one season for the squad. He appeared in 16 games in the 2022 season before missing the entire 2023 campaign due to injury. The 2024 season would have been the final season of his deal with Miami.
Crossen is a nice story, as he wasn’t drafted until the seventh round in 2018 but became a Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots in his rookie season. He also got to taste the playoffs with the Houston Texans in the 2019 season and Dolphins in the 2022 campaign.
Miami is having to make some tough decisions this offseason in order to improve its cap situation. The team currently projects to be over the cap by a considerable amount, and the work isn’t done yet.
The hope is that the Dolphins will ultimately be able to position themselves better for success going into the 2024 campaign after two straight playoff disappointments. While Miami did a nice job of reaching the playoffs in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the organization still doesn’t have a postseason victory in over two decades.
Crossen should land on his feet, as he brings some value to the table on defense and special teams. Moreover, his playoff experience helps enhance his resume a tad. He’s still relatively young and could have some solid years left in the NFL.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins would likely prefer to have as much roster clarity as possible by the time free agency and the draft arrive in order to spend their money and picks wisely. The decision to cut Crossen may not be the most significant move of the offseason, but it gets the team a step closer to having a completed roster for the 2024 campaign.
