The Miami Dolphins are moving closer to the NFL trade deadline, and the roster picture feels pretty simple: this is a rebuilding team, so the names more likely to leave than arrive are the ones worth watching.
Zach Sieler has drawn plenty of attention, but he is not the only player who could be on the move. If the Dolphins decide to listen to Sieler and avoid creating another opening for next offseason, Jon-Eric Sullivan still has a handful of tradable pieces to consider. The catch is the return probably won’t be much - at best, a 6th-round pick in 2027, and more likely selections in 2028.
Austin Jackson sits near the top of that list. The right tackle has one major issue hanging over him: he is one play away from missing the whole season.
Even if the injury doesn’t look severe at first glance, Jackson’s health has long been a concern. There are still reports tying teams to him, with Detroit mentioned as a possible trade partner.
Jackson is in the final year of his deal, and that is not expected to change. If Miami can get anything back, it would make sense to do the deal.
Willie Gay Jr. is another player with some value attached to his name. His season has been fine - not dominant, not disastrous, just steady enough to keep him in the conversation.
He is playing, contributing, and also showing some mistakes, which could be linked to communication problems on a much younger defense. The Dallas Cowboys have been floated as a potential landing spot because of their needs at linebacker.
Gay can start, but his real usefulness comes as quality depth, and that is something Dallas could use. His contract is also set to expire after the season, so Miami would be wise to take something rather than nothing.
Jaylen Wright is in a different spot, but he belongs in the trade discussion too. A foot issue has kept him sidelined long enough for Ollie Gordon to grab the top role with De'Von Achane out for the season.
Wright had a chance to show he could handle that job, but the injury got in the way. He is under contract for one more season, and there are still questions raised by the injury, even though the talent is there.
The encouraging sign came Wednesday, when Wright practiced without limitations, suggesting the foot problem may be behind him. He is one of the players who could benefit from a fresh start, and his name could come up more as the deadline nears.
Chop Robinson is the sort of player who reminds everyone that nobody is completely untouchable. He has upside, but he has not fully turned it into consistent production yet.
At the same time, edge remains one of Miami’s biggest defensive problem spots, which makes the idea of moving him feel odd on the surface. The issue is his concussion history and his uneven play.
The Dolphins would not trade him unless they could land a day-two pick, and even that may be a stretch. Still, the reality is that drafting Robinson has not been one of Chris Grier’s best moves so far.
Jalen Tolbert rounds out the group. With Caleb Douglas missing most of the season, Tolbert could have had more of a chance to carve out a role, but Miami has made it clear where its focus lies: the rookie class and Malik Washington.
Tolbert does bring upside, and with wide receivers getting banged up around the league, his experience has some appeal. The likely return would be a conditional swap of late-round picks in 2028, which is not much.
Even so, the alternative is keeping him as extra depth the Dolphins do not really need and have not been using.
In Other News...
Dolphins Free Agents Are Already Creating A Tough Roster Decision
The Dolphins are already staring at an early roster squeeze, with 22 players set to hit some form of free agency in 2026. That group includes 12 unrestricted free agents, five restricted free agents and five exclusive rights free agents, which means the front office is going to have to start sorting out which pieces are worth keeping long before the 2027 picture comes into focus.
Some of the names in that mix are obvious candidates to draw attention because of their performance and the teams needs, while others may not even make it to the finish line of the current season. Miami has several decisions coming at once, and the challenge is not just identifying who fits, but figuring out which contracts, roles and priorities make the most sense when the next round of roster building begins. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Deadline Approach Puts Even Zach Sieler In Play
As the NFL trade deadline draws closer, Miamis rebuild has put just about everyone on the roster under a different kind of scrutiny, and Zach Sieler has not been exempt. The veteran defensive tackle acknowledged the rumors swirling around him, even as the Dolphins continue to weigh whether moving established players now can help restock the draft capital they need for the long haul.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan is said to be open to listening on trade possibilities, a sign that Miami is looking at the bigger picture rather than clinging to short-term comfort. For Sieler, that leaves a familiar tension around a veteran on a team in transition: a productive player wants clarity, the front office wants flexibility, and the deadline can force both sides into a decision neither can fully control. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Could Revisit A Dolphins Trade Idea Fans Know Well
Jerry Jones is already talking like the Cowboys can still climb back into the NFC East race, and with Dallas sitting at 2-4, the trade deadline looks like a real pivot point. The owner and general manager has said the team could be active, while coach Brian Schottenheimer has voiced confidence that a turnaround is still in play. With draft picks to work with and a need to upgrade the pass rush, Dallas is being linked to a few possible fixes as the speculation starts to heat up.
One of the names that keeps surfacing will feel familiar to Dolphins fans, and not in a casual way. Miamis defense has already made a strong investment at linebacker, so any renewed Dallas interest would come with plenty of context from earlier in the year and a reminder that the Cowboys have been poking around this fit for a while. Whether the deadline brings a real push or just more smoke, it is another sign that the market around Miamis roster could stay active. [Read more 🡒]