For months, there was hope that Jordyn Brooks would find his way to DFW. The Dallas Cowboys reportedly discussed trading for the All-Pro linebacker back in March, but that pursuit fizzled after they acquired 49ers veteran Dee Winters during the NFL Draft.
Well, the Brooks dream ended once and for all on Tuesday when he inked a three-year, $53 million extension to remain in South Florida. In Year 1 of a tear-it-down rebuild, it's a bit head-scratching that the Dolphins opted to lock down a linebacker who's entering his age-29 season. But who are we to question another team's front office?
In any event, Brooks' new deal could have a ripple effect on the rest of Miami's roster. In fact, Matt Fitzgerald of Phin Phanatic, FanSided's dedicated Dolphins site, believes veteran linebacker Tyrel Dodson is now a prime trade candidate.
"New GM Jon-Eric Sullivan sent a lot of veterans packing this offseason either via trade or release, and opted not to retain many of his in-house free agents. It wouldn't be a stretch to suggest he'll trade starting linebacker Tyrel Dodson before Week 1 either," Fitzgerald wrote.
Following the Winters trade, the Cowboys have maintained they're happy with their linebacker group. That doesn't mean they won't revisit the position if they don't like what they see in training camp or an injury forces their hand. If that happens, Dodson would make a lot of sense.
The Cowboys should keep Tyrel Dodson in the back of their mind as a trade target
Dodson has appeared in 93 games over six seasons, including 43 starts. He started 16 games for Miami last year, racking up 129 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 49 defensive stops, and a 66.6 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus. The Cowboys could do a lot worse.
Brooks got all of the plaudits -- rightfully so -- but Dodson was another positive in an otherwise dismal Dolphins season that ended with their general manager and head coach getting fired. Dodson's breakout prompted Fitzgerald to call him "one of the flat-out most underrated players in the NFL."
The Dolphins made it a point to invest in their LB room during the draft, selecting Texas Tech star Jacob Rodriguez in Round 2 (No. 43 overall) and Pittsburgh's Kyle Louis in the fourth round.
New HC Jeff Hafley likely has big plans for Rodriguez, so it's fair to wonder where that leaves Dodson, who started 16 games and played 90 percent of the defensive snaps last year. Louis' path to playing time isn't as clear, but he made too many plays in college to be a non-factor, even as a rookie.
The Cowboys' linebacker room is full of potential, but very unproven
There's a lot to like about DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters playing behind Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, but Overshown's health is a huge question mark. Even if he stays healthy, do you love the options behind them?
Third-round pick Jaishawn Barham likely needs time to develop, and it's far from a given he'll hit the ground running as an off-ball linebacker after spending his final season at Michigan as an edge rusher.
Maybe the Cowboys are so high on Barham and second-year pro Shemar James, who had 91 tackles as a rookie, that adding another linebacker isn't even on their radar. Having said that, the position was such a detriment last season that it would be dangerous to assume the problem's been remedied.
Much will hinge on how quickly the young backers take to Christian Parker's scheme. If the learning curve proves steeper than expected, Dodson would be an ideal late-summer addition.
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