The Miami Dolphins’ roster transition under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has sparked extensive trade talk across the league.
After parting ways with several high-profile players to restructure their salary cap, the front office faces a difficult decision regarding First-Team All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
Jordyn Brooks Trade Rumors: Why the Dallas Cowboys Make Sense as a Landing Spot
FOX Sports reporter Greg Auman recently labeled Brooks as one of the league’s top remaining trade candidates, naming the Dallas Cowboys as a primary destination.
Brooks is entering the final year of the three-year contract he signed with Miami in 2024. While he carries a $10.86 million cap hit for 2026, his base cash earnings sit at around a manageable $8.38 million.
Auman argued that Miami’s projected spending in 2027 free agency could offset any potential compensatory draft selections if Brooks leaves next spring. This reality makes a preemptive trade logical.
“If it doesn’t happen before the season, it feels inevitable he lands with a contender at the trade deadline,” Auman wrote.
“Potential Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys, who need all the defensive upgrades they can get after last season.”
The Cowboys are a logical destination for Brooks due to their vulnerable defensive front.
In 2025, under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas struggled significantly in the trenches, finishing with one of the league’s worst run defenses and tying for the seventh-fewest sacks in the NFL.
Dallas enters the 2026 season with major question marks at linebacker. The current depth chart relies on DeMarvion Overshown, who has missed substantial time with injuries, alongside rotational starter Dee Winters, sophomore Shemar James, and rookie Jaishawn Barham.
None of these young defenders possess “green-dot” defensive communication experience, leaving a leadership void on the field.
Brooks would address those defensive issues immediately. Originally drafted 27th overall by Seattle in 2020 out of Texas Tech, Brooks put together a historic 2025 season. He led the entire NFL with 183 tackles, while adding 3.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
According to the PFSN NFL LB Impact Rankings, every qualifying Cowboys linebacker finished the 2025 season with a D grade or worse. Trading for Brooks would change that reality instantly, given he took the top spot in the league metric last year with an elite 96.8 impact score.
Even though his 52.7 coverage grade is a known weak spot, Schottenheimer’s defensive system can cover up that flaw by pairing him with steady safeties and cornerbacks.
The groundwork for a deal may already be in motion. Earlier this offseason, the Miami Herald reported that Dallas inquired about Brooks’ availability, and Sullivan confirmed he has received trade inquiries from multiple teams.
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While a trade is not imminent as mandatory minicamps conclude, the interest remains substantial. Brooks turns 29 in October and remains in his physical prime.
For a Dallas front office needing to solidify its defensive core, trading for a proven All-Pro linebacker is a practical decision.
