Miami Dolphins General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has already shown a willingness to sacrifice short-term talent for long-term assets. Last offseason, the Dolphins dealt Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos in a move that helped build one of the league’s largest collections of draft capital entering the 2026 NFL Draft. As the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches, the question becomes whether Sullivan has another move or two up his sleeve. National analysts have identified several Dolphins as potential
trade candidates, with three names appearing more often than the rest: Austin Jackson, Joshua Uche and Zach Sieler.
The Dolphins as Sellers
T Austin Jackson
- Alain Poupart, Sports Illustrated: “Jackson is scheduled to become a free agent after the season and he’s got a low base salary that would make him attractive financially to other teams.”
- Carter Bahns, CBS Sports: “Tackles are always in demand. He would be an affordable half-season rental.”
- Anthony DiMoro, Heavy: “With offensive lines such as the Philadelphia Eagles decimated either by departures or injuries, Jackson immediately steps in as a starting right tackle for the majority of offensive line-starved teams in the NFL.”
- Kyle Crabbs, Yahoo Sports: “Given his durability concerns and lack of a low end contract, Jackson has the makings of a perfect insurance rental at offensive tackle for a contending team.” Potential buyer: Jaguars, which is currently without standout tackle Anton Harrison.
It’s easy to see why Jackson has emerged as the consensus favorite to be moved. Starting-caliber offensive tackles rarely become available, and Miami has already spent much of the season evaluating younger offensive linemen. If Sullivan is looking for the cleanest path to adding draft capital, Jackson may be it.
EDGE Joshua Uche
- Alex Kay, Bleacher Report: “Parting with a late-round pick to bolster the defensive front with a player who recorded 11.5 sacks as recently as the 2022 season is worth the risk.” Potential buyer: Ravens
- Dan Graziano, ESPN: “He’s a seven-year veteran who’s playing well for a team in the first year of a significant rebuild. If the Dolphins get the opportunity to turn this signing into a useful draft pick, it’s not at all hard to imagine them jumping on it.”
Uche presents the opposite dilemma. Unlike Jackson, there appears to be a real argument for keeping him: He has played well, fits the age profile of a player who could still contribute when Miami is ready to compete again and likely wouldn’t command a massive contract extension. The question becomes whether the Dolphins value a future draft pick more than continuity in the pass rush.
DT Zach Sieler
- Poupart: “Sieler is coming off his best performance of the season and he remains a solid, at times very good, interior defensive lineman, but he will be 32 at the start of the 2026 season. That could be a problem for Miami, though not for a contender looking for D-line help.”
- Antwan Staley, Athlon Sports: “With no guaranteed money remaining on his contract after the 2026 season, the Dolphins could release Sieler next offseason. Ideally, they’d like at least an early Day 3 pick, possibly from a contending team that needs interior defensive help.”
- Jason La Canfora, Casino.org: “While Sieler is now in his 30s, he continues to draw double teams at the line of scrimmage despite limited help around him. As Miami seeks to accumulate draft capital, Sieler becomes a prime trading chip.”
Sieler is arguably Miami’s best trade chip, but he’s also the player who would be hardest to replace. While most rebuilding teams listen when contenders come calling about veterans in their 30s, moving one of the locker room’s most respected veterans would send a signal that Miami is prioritizing future assets over short-term competitiveness.
While a handful of Dolphins have surfaced in trade speculation, those three names consistently appeared across multiple national outlets. It’s worth noting that trading Sieler would result in a $10 million dead cap for 2026 and a $24+ million dead cap for 2027. A Jackson trade would result in a $4.5 million dead cap for 2026 and $14 million in 2027. Trading Uche would result in a dead cap for 2026 of just $600,000. (These stats courtesy of Spotrac.)
Other Names To Watch
None of these players surfaced as frequently as Jackson, Uche, or Sieler, but each has factors that could make him expendable if Miami receives the right offer.
LB Willie Gay Jr.
- Justin Carter, Fansided: “With Rodriguez and Brooks both playing 90 percent or more of snaps, Gay’s 50 percent snap share can be replaced by getting Jackson Woodard or Liam Anderson on the field more.”
WR Jalen Tolbert
- James Brizuela, Yahoo Sports: “Tolbert may not be utilized in the correct way with the Dolphins, but he could be a strong rotational option for another team that needs a boost to their wide receiver department.”
S Zayne Anderson
- Carter: “Anderson ranks 30th among safeties in PFF grade. He’s only allowed two receptions all season and ranks first among safeties in yards allowed per reception.”
The Dolphins as Buyers?
While most trade deadline discussion has focused on the Dolphins as sellers, Miami could just as easily explore opportunities to acquire young talent. The roster remains one of the league’s youngest, and rebuilding teams sometimes use the deadline to take chances on players whose value has dipped elsewhere. The Dolphins have only $6 million and change in cap room for 2026, which limits who they might be able to bring in. Just the same, here are a few names to keep an eye out for:
Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
One of the most discussed trade targets this season, Thomas is two years removed from a 1,200-yard, 10-touchdown rookie season that earned him a Pro Bowl nod. He’s young (24) and still on his rookie contract, which as a former first-round pick includes a fifth-year option. His affordability and potential could cost a Day 2 pick in the 2027 draft, making him a more expensive target than others on this list.
Vikings WR Jauan Jennings
Back in the offseason, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported the team was interested in then-free agent Jennings, who ended up signing an $8 million one-year deal with the Vikings. The 29-year-old has been a dud in Minnesota this season (2 receptions for 9 yards), but the previous two years Jennings caught 15 touchdowns and 1,600 yards for the 49ers. Adding him would cost the Dolphins maybe $2 million the rest of the season but give the team a reliable possession receiver already familiar with Bobby Slowik’s offense.
Titans DL Solomon Thomas
The Dolphins are already in need of defensive line help, a need that will become even more pressing if they trade Uche. Maybe they can rehab another veteran lineman in Solomon Thomas, who has 18.5 sacks and 145 tackles over a 10-year career. Now, it’s possible he’s washed up, but at low salary ($1-2 million) and acquisition costs, he might be worth a look.
Browns WR Jerry Jeudy
Two years off a 1,200-yard Pro Bowl season, Jeudy is languishing with the Browns (12 receptions for 150 yards) and ranks fifth on the team in receptions. The 27-year-old could probably be had for a Day 3 pick, and the Dolphins would only owe him about $1 million for the rest of the season. Jeudy has a non-guaranteed $22.9 million salary for 2027 that would need to be restructured.
Whether the Dolphins ultimately buy, sell or do some combination of both, the deadline should offer another glimpse into Sullivan’s long-term vision. Last offseason he was willing to move a popular player like Jaylen Waddle in exchange for future assets. If a contender comes calling for Austin Jackson, Joshua Uche, Zach Sieler or some other veteran, we’ll see whether that philosophy still applies.
