Ferris State Professional Athletes

Zach Sieler, the Ferris State product anchoring Miami's defensive line, finds himself at the center of NFL trade deadline speculation with the Jacksonville Jaguars identified as a prime suitor — and the Bulldogs alum isn't shying away from the conversation.

The Jaguars Come Calling

Jacksonville, sitting at 4-2 and sensing a window in a divisional race already being vacated by sellers like the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, has been urged to pursue Sieler as a deadline acquisition, per Heavy Sports analyst John Shipley. The appeal is obvious: Sieler carries a $64 million contract that reflects his standing as one of the more reliable interior defensive linemen in the league, and a contending team adding that kind of proven run-stopping presence before the stretch run is a well-worn deadline formula.

For the Dolphins, it's a more complicated calculus. Miami isn't in a position to simply dismantle its defense, and Sieler has been a foundational piece of their front. Moving him would signal either a broader rebuild pivot or a significant haul coming back the other direction.

Sieler Speaks

After Miami's 28-25 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, October 26, Sieler addressed the swirling trade rumors directly — and made his feelings clear. The details of what he said matter less than the fact that he said anything at all: players rarely engage trade speculation unless the volume has gotten loud enough that silence becomes its own story. Sieler chose transparency over deflection, a notable choice for a player whose professional home may be in flux before the week is out.

He's been a consistent presence for the Dolphins, and Sunday's win over the Jets — a divisional rival — only reinforces that Miami has live stakes in keeping its defensive core intact. Whether the front office agrees is the question that will define Sieler's immediate future.

The Ferris State Factor

For Bulldogs fans tracking alumni in the pros, Sieler has long been the headliner — a DIII success story turned legitimate NFL starter with $64 million in earnings to show for it. No other active Ferris State alumnus currently generates this kind of league-wide attention. The trade deadline window closes soon, and the next few days will determine whether Sieler remains a Dolphin or becomes the most high-profile Bulldog to be dealt mid-season in recent memory.

Other Ferris State alums on active rosters — Caleb Murphy (Chargers, LB), Shon Stephens (Eagles, CB), Malik Taylor (Lions, WR), and Tavierre Thomas (Vikings, FS) — remain in the background this week. This is Sieler's moment, for better or worse.

The Ferris State Bulldog the NFL Can't Stop Talking About

Zach Sieler built his NFL career the hard way — undrafted out of Ferris State, scratching for a roster spot, evolving into one of the most reliable interior defensive linemen in the league. Now, with the trade deadline closing in, the longest-tenured Miami Dolphin finds himself at the center of a very uncomfortable conversation: half the league wants him, and the team he loves is 0-5.

The Packers, Vikings, and Jaguars have all been publicly linked to a potential Sieler deal, and the logic on each end is hard to argue with. Green Bay's defensive line has been ravaged by injuries. Minnesota is chasing a championship window. Jacksonville, sitting at 4-2 heading into their bye, is weighing deadline acquisitions to push a promising season further. Analysts at Heavy Sports floated Sieler's name to all three fan bases, citing his tradeable $64 million contract and the Dolphins' documented willingness to move veterans — Miami shed significant roster pieces before the 2026 season even kicked off.

Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox named the Vikings a legitimate suitor. A Jaguars insider, Travis Holmes of Big Cat Country, urged Jacksonville's front office to treat Sieler as a cost-efficient target with double-digit sack upside. The Packers case practically writes itself: a struggling defense, an available elite run-stuffer, and a seller desperate for draft capital.

The only person who doesn't seem interested in any of it is Sieler himself.

"I love it here. I want to win here as a Dolphin," Sieler told reporters, per Pro Football Talk — a statement that was unambiguous even if the front office's intentions are anything but. Sports Illustrated noted that Sieler's public loyalty puts Miami in an awkward position: dealing their longest-tenured player would accelerate a rebuild, but doing so against his wishes carries a real cost to locker room culture and organizational trust.

None of that may matter if the front office decides the math works. A 0-5 record has a way of clarifying priorities.

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Elsewhere among Ferris State's NFL contingent, Tavierre Thomas continues to hold a safety spot on the Vikings roster — meaning a Sieler trade to Minnesota would briefly reunite two Bulldogs in the same secondary. Thomas has been a reliable depth piece for Minnesota this season.

Malik Taylor remains on the Lions' wide receiver depth chart, Caleb Murphy is logging snaps at linebacker for the Chargers, and Shon Stephens holds a corner spot in Philadelphia. None generated significant news this week — Sieler had that market cornered.

The trade deadline will determine whether a Ferris State alum stays loyal to South Beach or gets shipped to a contender that wants him badly enough to pay for it. Either way, the story of Zach Sieler — undrafted kid from Big Rapids who became a $64 million trade chip — is worth savoring regardless of how it ends.