Watch: Chris Grier tells Austin Jackson that he’s a Miami Dolphin

Watch: Chris Grier tells Austin Jackson that he’s a Miami Dolphin

[jwplayer 9wMXfELD-ThvAeFxT]

The moment when an NFL rookie finds out he’s been selected to his first NFL team on draft night is one of the most magical moments you can capture in the offseason of any sport. Surrounded by his family, the pomp and circumstance of the NFL Draft often leads to big celebrations and even bigger group hugs. But in these unordinary times, the 2020 NFL Draft’s general manager to player exchanges are much more intimate.

There’s no high five-ing in the draft room. No roars from living rooms packed with dozens of family and friends. It’s the general manager, the player and his immediate family. That’s about it.

And for new Miami Dolphin left tackle Austin Jackson, he probably wouldn’t have it any other way. Jackson spoke last night with general manager Chris Grier while surrounded by his family — who Jackson has lovingly sacrificed so much for this past year. Jackson stepped up to help his little sister in the face of a rare bone marrow disease, donating bone marrow to her this past July while knowing full well that the after effects may sap his abilities on the football field for the Trojans this past fall.

If they did, they didn’t impact his stock — the Dolphins made Jackson a top-20 overall selection if this year’s NFL Draft and he figures to be a big piece of the effort to protect new franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

“You did a great job through the interview process and everything you did helping your sister and everything is a great story — and then your play on the field, too. ”

The Dolphins figure to pair Jackson next to offensive guard Ereck Flowers to give the team a mammoth set of athletes to play on the left side of the line of scrimmager. There is plenty of power in Jackson’s game — though he does need to channel that with better block framing to be the player he’s physically capable of. The good news? The Dolphins are a team dedicated to player development — so Jackson has come to the right spot.