What Does the Future Hold for Jackson and Igbinoghene?

The 2020 first-round picks haven't done enough to warrant a major commitment for 2024, but that doesn't mean they can't make a case for themselves in 2023

The deadline for NFL teams to exercise the fifth-year option on 2020 first-round picks came and went Tuesday, and it provided clearer picture of how the Miami Dolphins feel about two of the three first-round selections from that critical draft class.

The Dolphins opted into Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option, which guarantees the quarterback who led the NFL in passer rating (105.5) last season $23.2 million for the 2024 season. They did so more than a month earlier than the franchise needed to so the organization could provide Tagovailoa a vote of confidence, ending league-wide speculation about his health following a concussion-plagued season and re-confirming the franchise’s commitment to him.

But the sound of crickets surfaced when anyone from the organization was asked about offensive lineman Austin Jackson, the 18th pick in the 2020 draft, and Noah Igbinoghene, the 30th selection that year.

The answer came Tuesday when the Dolphins, as expected, declined to pick either player's fifth-year option..

AUSTIN JACKSON'S FIRST THREE SEASONS AND HIS FUTURE

Jackson’s first three seasons were plagued by injuries and struggles as the Dolphins’ starting left tackle, left guard and right tackle for 30 of the 32 games he played. He’s still penciled in as Miami’s starting right tackle, and the Dolphins have done little to provide the former USC standout competition for the starting spot this offseason.

But that clearly wasn't enough for Miami to commit $14.2 million to Jackson for the 2024 season, which would have been the price of his fifth-year option based on a formula that calculates a player's from the average of the 3rd- to 25th-highest salaries at their position over the past five seasons, and a trigger that’s created from playing time and Pro Bowl berths.

That type of salary would have made Jackson the eighth-highest paid player on the team in 2024, trailing only Tagovailoa, receiver Tyreek Hill, cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, pass rusher Bradley Chubb, and Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead, who would surpass him by only $25,000.

The Dolphins have $260.6 million committed to 33 players in 2024, and picking up Jackson's fifth-year option would have eliminated most, if not all of the remaining cap space for that season.

If Jackson does prove to be a stable starter for Miami this season — either at left guard or right tackle, two spots he’s played — the Dolphins could work out a multi-year deal. And if that can’t be done, they could use the franchise tag to retain his rights, though that wouldn't happen unless he made a big jump.

Miami hasn’t added legitimate competition for the starting right tackle spot because Brandon Shell, who started 11 of 13 games he played for Miami last season, wasn’t re-signed. But the Dolphins have had conversations with numerous veteran offensive tackles like George Fant, Cam Fleming and Taylor Lewan about possibly joining the team before training camp.

As the roster stands currently, Geron Christian, who has started 16 of 48 games he's played since joining the NFL in 2018, and Kendall Lamm, who has started 29 of 87 games he's played since 2015, are the logical challengers for the starting right tackle spot. It's unclear at this time whether Miami will use Ryan Hayes, former Michigan standout taken with the 2023 seventh-round selection, at guard or tackle.

NOAH IGBINOGHENE AT A MAJOR CROSSROADS

The fifth-year option for Igbinoghene would have been $11.5 million, and it was asinine to even consider the Dolphins would pick that up considering the former Auburn standout has been a first-round bust.

Igbinoghene, who started five of the 32 games he played the past three seasons, has been consistently outperformed by two undrafted cornerbacks —Nik Needham and Kader Kohou — and routinely has been leapfrogged on the depth chart by rookies, random defensive backs claimed off the waiver wire or players signed during the season.

Even though the hiring of new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and passing game coordinator/secondary coach Renaldo Hill should provide Igbinoghene a fresh start, it’s not unrealistic to speculate that he might not survive training camp considering the Dolphins drafted South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith in the second round, and Howard, Ramsey, Needham and Kohou likely will take up the top five cornerback spots if everyone stays healthy.

That means Igbinoghene and his $2.1 million salary for 2023 ($1.6 million of which is guaranteed), will be competing with Trill Williams, Keion Crossen, Justin Bethel and Tino Ellis for a sixth cornerback spot on the 53-man roster unless he drastically improves, moves to safety, or gets traded before training camp or the NFL’s cutdown day after the final preseason game.

FIFTH-YEAR OPTION DECISIONS AROUND THE NFL

As a final score, so to speak, a paltry 12 first-round picks from 2020 had their fifth-year option exercised for 2024.

The 12 options that were picked up include first overall pick Joe Burrow, OT Andrew Thomas (4), Tua (5), QB Justin Herbert (6), DT Derrick Brown (7), OT Jedrick Wills (10), OT Tristan Wirfs (13), WR Jerry Jeudy (15), CB A.J. Terrell (16), WR CeeDee Lamb (17), WR Justin Jefferson (22) and WR Brandon Aiyuk (25).

The 14 picks whose fifth-year option was be exercised were Chase Young (2nd pick), Isaiah Simmons (8th) C.J. Henderson (9th), Mekhi Becton (11th), Javon Kinlaw (14th), Jackson (18th), K'Lavon Chaisson (20th), Jalen Reagor (21st), Kenneth Murray (23rd), Cesar Ruiz (24th), Jordyn Brooks (27th), Patrick Queen (28th), Igbinoghene (30th) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (32nd).

The Green Bay Packers also bypassed the fifth-year option with QB Jordan Love, the 26th overall pick, but they did sign him to a one-year extension.

There was no fifth-year option available for third overall pick Jeff Okudah because the Detroit Lions retained some of his salary when they traded him to Atlanta this offseason; for 12th overall pick Henry Ruggs because he was released by the Raiders after being arrested and charged with DUI resulting in death; for 19th overall pick Damon Arnette because he also was released by the Raiders; for 29th pick Isaiah Wilson because he was released by the Dolphins in 2021 about a week after they acquired him in a trade with Tennessee; and for 31st pick Jeff Gladney, who was released by the Vikings after being arrested on domestic violence charges and later was killed in a car accident after being found not guilty of the charges.