Following the 2026 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins’ top priority was finalizing De’Von Achane’s contract extension. The team did just that as they agreed to a four-year extension that put Achane under contract with the team through the 2030 season.

After Achane’s extension, Miami’s focus now shifts to All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who has one year remaining on the free-agent contract he signed with the Dolphins prior to the 2024 season.

Due to Brooks’ contract situation not yet being resolved, similarly to Achane, Brooks is the subject of trade rumors. The Dallas Cowboys have been the team most prominently linked to Brooks, and if an extension is not finalized, those trade rumors are likely only to get louder.

Miami Dolphins Linebacker Linked to Dallas Cowboys

Coming off the best season of his career, Brooks would be a welcome addition on any NFL team. However, the Dallas Cowboys appear to be a team that could really use the All-Pro linebacker. The Athletic’s Dave Helman said, “The Cowboys traded for Dee Winters during the draft, but by no means is their linebacker depth chart good even still. If I was Dallas, I’d still be calling the Dolphins about that and being like, ‘You really won’t take a (Round) three (pick) for a guy who’s not gonna be there when you’re ready to contend? Come on.’ That’s my pet cause of the summer.”

Regarding why Miami could move Brooks for a third-round pick, FanSided’s Michael Haney wrote:

“As good as he is, the Dolphins could be willing to part ways with the 28-year-old. They already traded away Jaylen Waddle and let go of stars like Tyreek Hill this offseason. Brooks is the best player on Miami’s defense, but second-round pick Jacob Rodriguez could take his place.

They’re clearly in the early stages of a full-scale rebuild, so why not move on from a player whose value is higher than it will ever be?”

Trade Possibilities

However, following Achane’s extension, the Dolphins appear to have some leverage in the situation as FanSided’s Jerry Trotta wrote:

“Not that it wasn’t already urgent, but the Cowboys now have even more reason to move for Brooks. While Jon-Eric Sullivan is a first-time general manager, extensions tend to come in clusters. If Miami has any interest in keeping Brooks, who’s entering the final year of his contract, it also needs to act quickly.

Brooks’ contract suggests that a trade won’t come together overnight. While he’s set to hit free agency after 2026, the Dolphins would save just $2.58 million in cap space by trading him before June 1 while taking on $8.27 million in dead money”

Miami may also be inclined to get a premium draft pick for Brooks, who the team might be able to replace following the draft selections of Jacob Rodriguez and Kyle Louis.

After selecting linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, Phin Phanatic’s Shayne Kubas wondered about the future of Brooks, as he wrote: “It’s hard not to immediately wonder about the future of All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Brooks is in the final year of the three-year contract he signed with Miami back in 2024, and the new front office has no ties to him.”