Would you think a shiny new $51 million contract would end all the trade talk? But for the Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks and the Dallas Cowboys, the rumors just will not go away.
Speaking on 105.3 The Fan, former Cowboys executive Bryan Broaddus downplayed the possibility of Dallas pursuing veteran free agent Bobby Wagner and instead pointed toward a much bigger target. “I think they’re looking bigger than Wagner. I think they’re going for a bigger fish.”
“The team you need to focus on is Miami, and I am kind of getting some whispers about Miami, and that Miami realizes they’re not going to be very good,” he added. “I would keep an eye on Jordyn Brooks.”
The Dolphins signed him, yet the whispers keep getting louder. Between Miami’s tricky salary situation and Dallas desperately needing a linebacker, the speculation has a life of its own. It is a strange situation that makes zero sense on paper but somehow feels inevitable.
Just days after Brooks agreed to remain in Miami through the 2029 season, the Dallas Cowboys once again found themselves linked to the veteran linebacker. The latest round of speculation stems from former Cowboys executive Broaddus, who suggested Dallas fans should keep a close eye on Miami as Jerry Jones continues hinting that another defensive addition could still be on the way.
While there has been no credible report that the Cowboys are actively negotiating with the Dolphins, Broaddus then connected that possibility to the Dolphins. He later added that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross could be willing to absorb salary cap charges if it helps the organization acquire future draft capital. But why are there trade speculations going on around Brooks even if the Miami front office extended their star linebacker?
Why Jordyn Brooks’ extension hasn’t completely ended the Cowboys trade rumors
At first glance, Brooks’ new contract would seem to eliminate any chance of a trade. However, the details of Brooks’ extension tell a more nuanced story.
Brooks’ new deal adds three years worth $48 million in new money, averaging $16 million annually, while bringing the total value of the extension to approximately $51.3 million. The agreement also includes up to $3.3 million in incentives through the 2029 season.
Most notably, Miami converted Brooks’ 2026 compensation into a signing bonus. His existing salary plus a $5 million raise. That totals to around $12.31 million. It was paid upfront as guaranteed money. Brooks will also receive a fully guaranteed $1.215 million base salary this season, which gives him total 2026 compensation of $13.575 million.
For 2027, Brooks is scheduled to earn nearly $13 million, with just over $12.5 million guaranteed, plus workout and per-game roster bonuses. But beyond that, none of Brooks’ 2028 compensation is fully guaranteed.
That doesn’t mean Miami wants to trade him. In fact, extending one of the league’s most productive linebackers signals the opposite. But the contract structure also means the extension alone does not automatically eliminate future trade possibilities, which helps explain why speculation has continued.
On the other hand, Dallas needs a linebacker
As I have already discussed in this article, the linebacker position has been a major concern for the Cowboys. They have spent training camp evaluating a young linebacker group led by Dee Winters, second-year player Shemar James, rookie Jaishawn Barham, and DeMarvion Overshown as he continues working his way back from injuries. But adding Brooks would immediately give Dallas an experienced defensive signal-caller.
The 2025 All-Pro has led the NFL with 183 tackles while adding 99 solo tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks, which makes him one of the league’s most productive defenders.
His skill set would fit an obvious need on a Cowboys defense that struggled against the run last season and is looking to establish more consistency in the middle of the field. But the real question is, does the Cowboys’ salary cap allow them to trade for Brooks?
Can the Cowboys afford him?
Financially, the move would still require work. Dallas currently has approximately $5.5 million in available salary cap space entering August.
That figure is well below Brooks’ 2026 compensation, meaning the Cowboys would almost certainly need to restructure contracts or make additional roster moves before taking on another significant salary.
Cap space alone does not make a trade impossible, but it would require Dallas to create additional flexibility before completing any blockbuster deal.
For now, there is an important distinction between speculation and reporting. But until concrete reporting emerges, the Brooks conversation remains just an intriguing possibility fueled by roster fit. Whether anything develops beyond that remains one of the more interesting storylines to watch as training camp continues.