Five Miami Dolphins players who deserve extensions before they hit free agency

Austin Jackson remains the one player on the Miami Dolphins that I never thought they needed to re-sign.

Austin Jackson is having his best professional season and it isn't close. Now, the Dolphins who smartly declined to pick up his 5th-year option will need to get him back under contract as he will draw interest from around the league.

Something has finally clicked for Jackson and it isn't the fact he is playing in a contract year. Jackson is playing better because he is healthy and finally has a competent offensive line coach, Butch Barry.

Jackson is anchoring the right side of the Dolphins line and now it is hard to imagine where the Dolphins might turn if he walks away after the season. Miami could look to the draft to find his replacement but that is a bit risky and they have needs at more than just right tackle.

The bigger problem with retaining Jackson, should the Dolphins decide to do so, is the fact that they have other players on the offensive line that need new contracts as well.