With the deadline for NFL franchises to pick up the fifth-year option on their 2020 first-round draft picks being ended, the Miami Dolphins have decided not to pick up the fifth-year options on offensive lineman Austin Jackson and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene.
The Dolphins cleared their perspective about the three first-round selections from the critical draft class by declining the fifth-year option on Jackson and Igbinoghene, and opting into Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option, guaranteeing the young quarterback leading the NFL in passer rating (105.5) last season for the 2024 season.
Dolphins declined fifth-year options on Austin Jackson and Noah Igbinoghene
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Dolphins have opted against exercising the fifth-year option for the 2020 NFL Draft first-round picks: OL Austin Jackson and CB Noah Igbinoghene, leading them to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2023-24 NFL season.
The #Dolphins are not expected to exercise the fifth-year option on their 2020 first-round picks, OL Austin Jackson and CB Noah Igbinoghene.
Barring a late surprise, just 12 of 32 options will be picked up, plus one player (Jordan Love) extended.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 2, 2023
After getting selected by the Dolphins with the 18th overall pick, the former USC Trojan Jackson started 30 games (out of 32) for the team and played all over Miami’s offensive line including left guard, left tackle, and right tackle, albeit due to being plagued by a pair of ankle injuries, he played in just two games last season and couldn’t prove his worth to the franchise.
The 24-year-old was a first-team All-Pac 12 selection before getting enrolled in Miami and entered the final year of a four-year, $13,640,349 rookie contract including a $7,480,254 signing bonus.
Igbinoghene was drafted with the 30th overall choice in 2020 out of Auburn and has been an even bigger disappointment than Jackson as he started only five games throughout his three NFL seasons. The 23-year-old appeared in nine games for the Dolphins in 2022 and recorded 10 tackles, one interception, and three pass defenses.
The two-year starter of Auburn signed a four-year, $11,254,207 rookie contract including a $5,744,878 signing bonus.
However, the franchise could still negotiate a long-term contract with Austin and Noah during this year to prevent them from becoming free agents in March of 2024.
Do you think that the Dolphins make the right move by not picking Igbinoghene and Jackson’s fifth-year option? You can let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
