The Dolphins are 0-5, the trade deadline is still weeks away, and Austin Jackson is suddenly one of the names worth watching in Miami.
Jackson and Zach Sieler have both been floated as possible players who could leave South Florida, but Jackson is the more interesting case. He was one of Chris Grier’s three first-round picks in 2020 and the final remaining member of that 11-player rookie class. If Miami does move him, the bigger question is simple: what does the offensive line look like without him?
The honest answer is that the Dolphins do not have much margin for error.
Looking at the depth chart, Caedan Wallace is the most likely next man up on the edge. Miami traded for the former Patriots tackle before the season, but he brings very little starting experience with him.
Wallace has only two starts on his resume and has appeared in 14 games overall, including this season with the Dolphins. He was a 3rd-round pick in 2024.
If Wallace is not the answer, the options get thin in a hurry. Chukwuebuka Godrick is listed as the primary backup behind Patrick Paul, but he is a 2025 undrafted player with just three career starts and he has been inactive every week of the 2026 season.
Jarrett Kingston is another possibility, though he has yet to start a game in three years. Gotlieb Ayedze is the only other name in the mix, and he is on the practice squad.
There is also the Kadyn Proctor angle, which complicates things further. Many believe Proctor will eventually take over at right tackle anyway, and Miami has been using him next to Paul on the left side.
That setup is working, and moving Proctor across would come with its own problems. It would also weaken the left side, which is not something the Dolphins are eager to do.
The tackle picture is shaky enough. The guard depth is not much better, and Wallace would again be one of the fallback options if Miami decided to shuffle Proctor.
From the Dolphins’ side, the logic for considering a deal is pretty clear. Jackson is in the final year of his contract, and his 2027 contract is void.
If Miami wants him beyond this season, it would have to negotiate a new deal, and that does not appear likely. He is only in his seventh season, and tackles still carry value around the league, even when the player in question has been as inconsistent as Jackson has been.
Miami also knows his injury history well. For a player who likely will not be on the roster a year from now, getting something back now makes sense.
The return probably would not be huge, but even a mid-round pick would be useful. Jackson does not have a future in Miami, so moving him would fit.
The timing matters, too. The Dolphins have a bye in Week 6, and if they make a move before then, they would get two weeks before returning to the field to get another tackle ready. That could include shifting Proctor to the right side if needed.
However it happens, the reps would matter for whoever replaces Jackson. Miami would also have to scan the free-agent market for more line depth. If the Dolphins are going to trade him, doing it before Week 6 gives them the cleanest runway to adjust and move on.
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