MIAMI GARDENS ― Lamar Jackson to Miami is the kind of idea that only starts making real sense if everything breaks just right.
If Jackson wants out of Baltimore, says he’ll play only for the Dolphins and is willing to shape the deal around Miami’s needs, then the conversation changes fast. With one year left on his Ravens contract and a no-trade clause, he would hold real power in forcing the issue. And if he were willing to take less than the $63 million or more annually that would strain Miami’s rebuild and cap picture, the Dolphins would have to pay attention.
The price tag is the whole story here. A Jackson move only becomes workable if he’s talking about a long-term deal in the neighborhood of five or six years at about $50 million per season, with the idea that Miami could build a championship-caliber roster around him. At that point, the Dolphins would have to listen.
Jackson’s appeal to Miami goes beyond the obvious star power. He’s from Pompano Beach in Broward County and played high school football at Boynton Beach in Palm Beach County.
He would instantly bring excitement, national attention and a jolt to a franchise that could use both. More importantly, he wins.
Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP, and any chance to add a player like that can’t just be brushed aside.
There’s also the simple football case. Jackson has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, and he may not be quite the same running threat going forward.
Even so, he’s still only 29 and remains an exceptional athlete. If he ever landed in Miami, he’d be the best quarterback in Dolphins history, short of Dan Marino.
The buzz is already out there. Analyst and former NFL star Michael Irvin and Fox Sports analyst Nick Wright have both floated the Dolphins as a possible landing spot for Jackson.
On First Take, Irvin said, “Lamar in Baltimore is an NFL superstar,” and added, “Lamar in Miami is an international icon.” Wright went even further, saying on “The Herd,” “I think Lamar Jackson is the Week 1 starting quarterback next year for the Miami Dolphins,”
Still, the most likely path for Miami may be to do nothing dramatic and wait. The Dolphins could simply let Jackson reach unrestricted free agency after the 2027 season, which lines up with a plan to stick with Malik Willis for at least two years while also weighing draft options.
That route makes sense, too. Willis hasn’t done what Jackson has done, but he is mobile, athletic and younger, even if only by two years, and the Dolphins may still want to see how far that ceiling can go.
If Miami did pursue Jackson before then, the trade package would have to be reasonable. The Dolphins should not give up multiple first-round picks. But a deal built around one first-round pick, or two second-round picks and a fourth-round pick, would at least be worth discussing.
The question then becomes what Baltimore would do. The answer is leverage and pressure.
If Jackson truly wants Miami badly enough, he would have to make it clear he won’t play another down for the Ravens and that he’ll only play for the Dolphins. Baltimore could try to call that bluff for a while, but eventually the situation could force a trade.
Jackson’s no-trade clause, along with the no franchise-tag clause, limits Baltimore’s leverage and could open a window for Miami. The Dolphins would have to consider it.
But only if everything lines up perfectly.
In Other News...
Dolphins Fans Are Split On Whether This Loss Actually Meant Progress
The loss to the New England Patriots left Dolphins fans in a familiar spot, sorting through frustration and encouragement at the same time. The reaction around the game was split, with some pointing to the usual trouble spots and others finding reasons to believe the team is moving in the right direction even without the result to show for it.
Miamis performance gave both sides of that debate something to grab onto. There were critiques of how the game was handled in key moments and concerns about how the team functioned on both sides of the ball, but there was also a sense that the Dolphins at least stayed competitive and showed signs of progress compared with where they have been. [Read more 🡒]
Ollie Gordons Costly Flag Sparked A Debate Dolphins Fans Know Too Well
Ollie Gordon II knew he put the Dolphins in a tough spot with an unsportsmanlike taunting penalty against the Patriots, and he did not try to excuse it. The Miami running back said he should have kept his emotions in check, a familiar refrain for a team that has spent plenty of time dealing with the fine line between competitive fire and costly flags. Jeff Hafley also weighed in on the issue, underscoring how difficult it can be for players to stay composed in the heat of the moment while also navigating a standard that can feel inconsistent from one game to the next.
For Miami, the bigger frustration is less about one isolated penalty than the broader debate it represents. Unsportsmanlike conduct calls have become a recurring talking point around the league, with similar flags landing on other players and leaving fans and coaches wondering how much emotion the NFL really wants to allow. The Dolphins would like more clarity, and maybe a little more leniency, because when a game tilts on a judgment call, the conversation rarely ends with the player who was flagged. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Edge Depth Is Suddenly A Trade Deadline Talking Point
As the trade deadline approaches, one Miami pass-rusher has started to surface in outside chatter as a possible moveable piece. Josh Uche is on a one-year deal and has bounced around the league, but he has still managed to give the Dolphins some edge depth while putting together a modest early return this season.
The idea gaining traction is less about splash and more about value, which is why a team like Chicago has been mentioned as a fit as it looks to keep adding help up front after its recent defensive line move. For Miami, it puts a familiar kind of deadline question on the table: whether a low-cost veteran edge rusher is part of the long-term plan, or whether his market could make him an interesting chip before the window closes. [Read more 🡒]