Near the end of a first-round pick’s contract, the team that drafted that player has the opportunity to add a fifth year onto the contract to keep them with the team for another season.
This year, the Miami Dolphins had three players to make that decision on, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, offensive tackle Austin Jackson and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene.
Miami announced earlier in the offseason that they’d be picking up Tagovailoa’s option, but no news had come out regarding the other two. That is, until Tuesday, when ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Dolphins wouldn’t be picking up the options for Jackson or Igbinoghene.
The options would’ve been $14.2 million for Jackson and $11.5 million for Igbinoghene.
Jackson, since being selected 18th overall in 2020 out of USC, has started in 30 of 50 possible games while taking snaps at left tackle, left guard and right guard. In 2022, he appeared in just two games after being named the starter responsible for protecting Tagovailoa’s blind side.
Igbinoghene, who was taken 30th overall in 2020, has had even more struggles. He’s appeared in just 32 games for Miami in his three seasons, as he’s been a healthy scratch a number of times. 2022 was probably his best season, but the former Auburn Tiger still hasn’t shown enough to earn the option.
