How Dolphins structured Austin Jackson contract and what it means
Already $40 million over next season’s projected salary cap, the Dolphins structured right tackle Austin Jackson’s contract in a way where his 2024 cap hit is modest before rising dramatically in 2025 and 2026.
Jackson agreed to a three-year, $36 million extension last week, with $20.7 million guaranteed.
Jackson’s 2024 cap hit of $4.077 million is manageable for a team that will need to slash salary and restructure contracts to be cap compliant next season.
But his cap number rises to $13.83 million in both 2025 and 2026, per overthecap.com. His base salaries of $10.88 million in 2025 and $9.88 million in 2026 aren’t guaranteed.
Per OTC’s Jason Fitzgerald, $13 million of the $20.7 million ‘guaranteed money’ in the new contract is fully guaranteed at signing.
The full guarantee, per OTC, includes Jackson’s remaining 2023 salary, a $5 million signing bonus, his 2024 salary ($1.125 million) and a $6.6 million option bonus due in 2024.
Per Fitzgerald, if Jackson is on the roster on the third day of the 2024 league year, $5 million of future salary becomes fully guaranteed.
The contract features $3 million in incentives and annual per game bonuses of $595,000. If he’s on the roster on the third day of the 2026 league year, he will earn a $1 million bonus.
The Dolphins now have both starting tackles — Jackson and Terron Armstead - under contract next season. Armstead is already guaranteed $5 million of his $13.2 million salary next season.
Three opening-day starters — center Connor Williams, guard Robert Hunt and guard Isaiah Wynn — will be free agents in March.
Williams will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, and that could affect his market value this offseason. Wynn sustained a long-term quadriceps injury Oct. 22 against the Eagles. Both players were having very good seasons before their injuries.
Hunt, who also had been playing very well, has missed four games with a hamstring injury, and Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he would be surprised if Hunt plays on Sunday against the visiting Jets (1 p.m.., CBS).
This story was originally published December 13, 2023 at 9:27 AM.
