A retirement elsewhere just gave the Dolphins a new opportunity to explore trading away one of their biggest looming cap decisions
The Dolphins should pick up the phone ASAP.
The Miami Dolphins‘ roster transition this offseason is probably going to spur a lot of “big brain” conversations.
Among them: which players are possible trade candidates and who are the players that Miami may want to hold on to instead. Are those trade candidates going to have markets? Or are they simply cut candidates that the Dolphins’ leadership is fantasizing about having interest across the league? For one such player on Miami’s roster, the Dolphins may have a team worth dialing up on the phone and checking in on about interest on. There’s been a retirement that could change the circumstances for a contender in the NFC West.
Rob Havenstein’s retirement could create an opportunity for the Dolphins and Austin Jackson
Rob Havenstein has been a long tenured starter at right tackle for the Los Angeles Rams organization; he’s 148 starts since the 2015 season. But his watch has ended — Havenstein announced his retirement from the NFL this week after missing 10 regular season games this year. It marked Havenstein’s third straight season missing games.
It’s a bummer for the Rams. But it’s also a potential opportunity for the Dolphins.
Austin Jackson, Miami’s own starting right tackle, has been plenty good for the Dolphins when he’s been on the field. He just hasn’t been on the field often enough. Jackson has played in 14 games for Miami in the last two seasons combined, marking the latest frustrating stretch for the former first-round draft choice. Jackson also just so happens to be on Miami’s books for $15 million in cap space this upcoming season, the final year of his current contract.
The Dolphins have options. Because his salary is not guaranteed, Miami could simply cut ties and save the $11.5 million in salary he’s owed. In that scenario, Miami could cut Jackson outright and save just $1.6 million in cap space or they could opt to designate him as a Post-June/1 cut and carry the full cap charge of $15 million until June 2nd. Upon that date, Miami would save $11.1 million of 2026 cap space and the rest of the dead cap would transfer to 2027.
Miami does have a deadline to be aware of with Jackson’s contract, too. On the third day of the league year in March, Jackson is owed a $1 million roster bonus. If Miami has him on the roster at that point, they’ll have to pay out and it will be an additional million tacked on to their salary cap obligations for 2026 that can no longer be manipulated.
So what is “Sully” to do? Why not pick up the phone and see if the Rams are in the market for a right tackle! (They are). Conveniently enough, Havenstein, before his retirement, was scheduled to make the exact same amount of money in 2026 as Jackson — $11.5 million. Los Angeles has an embarrassment of riches on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. They’re currently scheduled to pick:
- 167th overall (Fifth round)
- 206th overall (Sixth round via Houston)
- 209th overall (Sixth round)
- 232nd overall (Seventh round via Baltimore)
- 250th overall (Seventh round projected comp pick)
- 256th overall (Seventh round projected comp pick)
The Dolphins should pick up the phone and check in with Rams general manager Les Snead. They should gauge the Rams’ interest in Jackson as a possible fit — especially since the right tackle has had his best years playing in a parallel offensive scheme to the one Sean McVay runs for the Rams.
Jackson turns 27 years old this summer. He could (should) be in the prime of his career. But the injury history plus the non-guaranteed salary as the Dolphins enter a regime change make him a player for which all options should be explored. I wouldn’t simply give Jackson away. But I wouldn’t be all that eager to keep him after 25 missed games over the last four seasons, either. Perhaps someone else’s suddenly free salary budget for a right tackle could make him a viable option for someone else.
I’d be willing to call and find out.