Austin Jackson played left tackle and left guard before settling in at right tackle.
Austin Jackson signed a three-year contract deal to protect Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside, but the 2020 first-round pick’s journey has not always been easy. He started his career as a left tackle and then moved on to left guard before settling into right tackle position.
In his fourth season with the Miami Dolphins, Jackson, 25, improved, allowing one or less quarterback pressures in 12 of his 16 starts last season. The former USC Trojan is preparing for his fifth season and offered some advise to rookie Patrick Paul just days after being taken in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“I would just say, keep a sense of urgency and stay hungry,” Jackson told reporters on Tuesday. “Definitely, especially if you’re young. The league advances quickly, and if you don’t strive to keep up, you’ll fall behind, so every day is an opportunity to improve.
Paul, 22, was a two-time captain at Houston, allowing only one sack in 469 snaps as a junior. Unlike Jackson, he will not be thrown into the fire and pushed to play early in his rookie season. In addition, he will learn from Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm, two great professionals at left tackle.
While Paul enters the year buried on the depth chart, Jackson put it best: the league moves quickly. Lamm will be riding for the final time next season. Armstead has started 23 games in two seasons with Miami.
A route to playing time may not be evident in April, but a 6’7″ Hulk at left tackle could be just what the Dolphins need by December.
