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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Alain Poupart, Sports Illustrated<\/a>: \u201cJackson is scheduled to become a free agent after the season and he\u2019s got a low base salary that would make him attractive financially to other teams.\u201dCarter Bahns, CBS Sports<\/a>: \u201cTackles are always in demand. He would be an affordable half-season rental.\u201dAnthony DiMoro, Heavy<\/a>: \u201cWith 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.\u201dKyle Crabbs, Yahoo Sports<\/a>: \u201cGiven 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.\u201d Potential buyer: Jaguars, which is currently without standout tackle Anton Harrison.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Alex Kay, Bleacher Report<\/a>: \u201cParting 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.\u201d Potential buyer: Ravens Dan Graziano, ESPN<\/a>: \u201cHe\u2019s a seven-year veteran who\u2019s 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\u2019s not at all hard to imagine them jumping on it.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019t command a massive contract extension. The question becomes whether the Dolphins value a future draft pick more than continuity in the pass rush.<\/p>\n Poupart: \u201cSieler 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.\u201d Antwan Staley, Athlon Sports<\/a>: \u201cWith no guaranteed money remaining on his contract after the 2026 season, the Dolphins could release Sieler next offseason. Ideally, they\u2019d like at least an early Day 3 pick, possibly from a contending team that needs interior defensive help.\u201dJason La Canfora, Casino.org<\/a>: \u201cWhile 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Sieler is arguably Miami\u2019s best trade chip, but he\u2019s 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\u2019s most respected veterans would send a signal that Miami is prioritizing future assets over short-term competitiveness.<\/p>\n While a handful of Dolphins have surfaced in trade speculation, those three names consistently appeared across multiple national outlets. It\u2019s 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<\/a>.)<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Justin Carter, Fansided<\/a>: \u201cWith Rodriguez and Brooks both playing 90 percent or more of snaps, Gay\u2019s 50 percent snap share can be replaced by getting Jackson Woodard or Liam Anderson on the field more.\u201dJames Brizuela, Yahoo Sports<\/a>: \u201cTolbert 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.\u201dCarter: \u201cAnderson ranks 30th among safeties in PFF grade. He\u2019s only allowed two receptions all season and ranks first among safeties in yards allowed per reception.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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<\/a>, which limits who they might be able to bring in. Just the same, here are a few names to keep an eye out for:<\/p>\n Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Vikings WR Jauan Jennings<\/p>\n