The Dolphins walked into the 2026 NFL trade deadline looking like a team already thinking ahead, and their silence only made the picture clearer. Miami was coming off a 19-9 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday that dropped its record to 1-7, then took another hit Tuesday when quarterback Malik Willis was placed on injured reserve.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Willis’ lingering groin problem turned into a core muscle injury, and he will miss at least four games. The offseason move that was supposed to stabilize the position never really clicked anyway.
After signing a three-year, $67.5 million deal, Willis finished with 1,396 passing yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. Kyle McCord is now set to take over as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback.
That quarterback change is part of why Miami’s trade deadline inactivity stood out. The organization spent the offseason reshaping the roster, moving on from several established veterans as general manager Chris Grier and head coach Jeff Hafley leaned into a younger build.
The idea was clear enough: take the short-term lumps, gain flexibility, and give future contributors room to grow. At 1-7, the Dolphins have already lived through the pain.
The offense has been a mess. Through eight games, Miami has scored only 13 offensive touchdowns and allowed 24 sacks. Protection has been shaky, turnovers have piled up, and the execution has been uneven enough to force some tough roster questions.
That’s where Austin Jackson enters the conversation.
Jackson has spent his entire career in Miami since the Dolphins took him 18th overall in 2020. Injuries have slowed his progress, but he still brings real starting experience and can play right tackle.
His future is murky because his contract expires after this season, and he already reworked his deal in the offseason on a one-year agreement worth about $7 million. That contract also carries bonus accounting that will keep affecting Miami’s cap even after the playing portion ends.
So the Dolphins were staring at a familiar deadline dilemma: keep an experienced tackle and risk losing him for nothing, or see whether another team would pay for the remaining control. That question gets sharper because Miami has already invested heavily in the offensive line.
The Dolphins used the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Kadyn Proctor, a massive prospect with left tackle experience at Alabama. Proctor began his pro career at guard, and Miami values his ability to move around.
Patrick Paul has locked down left tackle, Jonah Savaiinaea is handling duties on the right side of the interior line, and center Aaron Brewer gives the group another veteran presence. There’s enough here for the Dolphins to keep experimenting.
Still, moving Jackson would not be simple. Proctor has shown promise at guard, and shifting him around again could be counterproductive. But Miami is also not in a position where it needs to preserve continuity just for the sake of it.
There is another reason to hesitate, and it starts with McCord. The former Syracuse standout, who joined from Green Bay during the offseason, is preparing for his first NFL regular-season appearance.
Taking away an experienced tackle right before his first start could make an already difficult transition even rougher. Miami’s line has already struggled to protect Willis, and adding more instability would not help McCord settle in.
The money side of the move is messy too. Jackson’s revised deal includes significant bonus accounting and void years, so trading him would not wipe the slate clean. Miami could still be left with accelerated cap charges, which makes the idea of dealing him purely for financial relief less appealing.
If the Dolphins were going to move Jackson, the real prize would be draft compensation. But there is no confirmed sign that Miami passed on an offer that met that standard.
Jackson was not the only veteran whose name surfaced in trade chatter. Jordyn Brooks drew attention as a possible target for teams looking for help on defense.
Josh Uche also came up as a potential source of draft capital after posting three sacks this season, including one against Detroit. He’s on a one-year contract, and his recent production could have made him attractive to teams seeking pass-rush depth.
At the same time, there’s a case for keeping him, especially since he is 28 and could still fit into Hafley’s plans beyond this season if a new deal comes together.
Zach Sieler was the one veteran who was effectively removed from the conversation. He suffered a ruptured biceps against Detroit and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, ending any realistic trade talk around him.
Even with all of that, Jackson still looked like the clearest candidate to be moved. His contract situation, his experience, and Miami’s long-term offensive line investments all pointed in that direction.
The Dolphins have already accepted that 2026 is about development, and Willis’ injury only adds more uncertainty to the offense. That should have pushed them toward collecting assets for 2027 and beyond.
But there’s still a case for keeping Jackson, especially if Miami wants some stability while McCord gets his first crack at NFL starts. Jackson could still end up back with the Dolphins on another contract. If he helps steady the line during the quarterback transition, holding onto him might make sense after all.
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