Miami Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson’s 2024 campaign ended prematurely due to injury, and he was limited to eight games, the second-lowest of his career. Jackson suffered a knee injury in Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills but toughened up and managed to play every single snap. However, his knee started swelling up, and an MRI determined that he had suffered a torn meniscus, which required season-ending surgery.
The Miami Dolphins don’t have much cap space
The Dolphins entered Thursday with limited cap space, roughly $10.7 million to work with. However, $10.7 million is not enough cap space for them to add free agents and retain talent like Calais Campbell. Restructuring their right tackle’s contract would be a great opportunity to provide the front office with much-needed cap flexibility and extra wiggle room.
Miami Dolphins restructure $36 million starter’s contract
According to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, the Dolphins restructured Austin Jackson’s contract by converting $9.71 million of his salary into a signing bonus, adding extra void years, and freeing $7.77 million in cap space. As a result, Jackson’s $10.88 million base salary drops to $1.17 million, and his $13.83 million cap hit drops to $5.79 million in 2025. Finally, his $9.71 million prorated signing bonus will be spread evenly at a rate of $1.942 million over the next five years.
With the restructuring of their right tackle, the Dolphins should have roughly $18.6 million.
