It's not hyperbolic to say that the Dallas Cowboys have the worst linebacker room in football. It hasn't been for a lack of trying, but the facts are the facts. They reportedly had competitive offers on the table for Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker before they both chose the Las Vegas Raiders.
That has compelled Dallas to hit the trade market, with Miami Dolphins stalwart Jordyn Brooks sticking out as a reported target. Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald revealed that the Cowboys, among other teams, have called about Brooks.
Nothing has materialized, but Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan gave Dallas a major boost in explaining why Miami traded wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, arguably the best player on the roster (h/t TheListFinsPod on Twitter).
"... We’re in a situation in Miami, where I think everybody gets it. We have to get younger, we have to get cheaper. Jaylen (Waddle) is a really good player. Jaylen’s 27 years old, he’s going to want a new contract, the receiver market is not going down, it’s going up. And by the time we hit our stride, I didn’t know if that made a lot of sense for us.”
The Dallas Cowboys should not give up hope on trading for Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks
If Waddle doesn't fit the Dolphins' newly minted timeline, then Brooks certainly doesn't. A first-round pick of the Seahawks in 2020, Brooks will turn 29 in October. Waddle turns 28 in November, making him a full year younger than the veteran linebacker.
Not only that, but Brooks will also want a new contract soon. He inked a three-year contract with Miami worth up to $30 million as an unrestricted free agent in 2024. He has no guaranteed money left and carries a digestible $10.86 million cap hit.
Coming off an All-Pro season, Brooks will surely be looking for a new deal. Who knows? He and the Cowboys could even agree to an extension before a trade is announced.
That's hardly a necessity, though, and knowing Dallas, an extension would likely come after the trade. Regardless, the point remains: Brooks’ age and contract are an even worse fit for Miami’s timeline than Waddle’s.
The Dolphins likely don’t want to completely strip their locker room of veterans. Brooks’ leadership and steadying presence could be invaluable as the franchise navigates a hellish financial situation. He was a deserving first-team All-Pro in 2025 after compiling a league-high 199 tackles, 61 defensive stops, and a 92.0 run-defense grade that ranked third among LBs, per Pro Football Focus.
Trading Brooks would send a brutal message to the locker room, but Sullivan knows the team has to get younger and cut costs. The new GM has done a commendable job resetting the books, but Miami is still carrying $179 million in dead money this year, with another $57.68 million already lined up for next year, per OverTheCap.
In other words, the door remains open for a Brooks trade.