The least well-thought out trade rumor of 2026 is here and of course it involves the Miami Dolphins
What stage of grief is this over the Miami Dolphins’ contract extension with LB Jordyn Brooks?
The Miami Dolphins locked in a major piece of their franchise’s leadership earlier this summer when the team agreed to terms on a three-year extension with linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Usually, when a player signs a new contract, the understanding is that player is there to say.
The Dallas Cowboys’ media didn’t get the memo. Friday afternoon in Dallas saw a renewed buzz about Jordyn Brooks as a Cowboys trade target via Bryan Broaddus. Broaddus is a well-accomplished media personality and former NFL scout — but his take on Friday about Jordyn Brooks is something that you, as a Dolphins fan, simply must look the other way on. It’s ignoring a lot of things from Miami’s side of the fence.
Don’t let the Dallas Cowboys drag you into the mud over Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks rumors
“I think (Dallas is) going for a bigger fish. And please, take the word ‘fish’ in mind here when I say this. I think they’ve got a linebacker in mind…the team I think you need to focus on is Miami. And I’m kind of getting some whispers about Miami. That maybe Miami realizes that they’re not going to be very good. And that, through the blessing of Stephen Ross, they’re going to go ahead and absorb a bunch of cap. They’re in some serious cap problems. Ross has kind of given them a blessing to ‘if we have to take more of those hits, but we can add draft picks and capital, we’re willing to do that.’ I would keep an eye on (Jordyn) Brooks there.”
— Former NFL scout & Dallas Cowboys writer Bryan Broaddus
Shoot. Why stop at Jordyn Brooks? You think that Santa Claus could suit up on the nose? What’s the Easter Bunny up to? Maybe he could sign on to play at safety!
Look, I get it. It’s the NFL. Crazy things happen all the time. Just last year, the New York Jets traded Sauce Gardner three and a half months after signing him to a four-year, $120 million contract extension to stay in New York. That happened with a new regime, too. But you know what the Colts gave the Jets for Sauce Gardner? Two first-round draft picks.
The Dolphins reportedly received phone calls about Brooks throughout the spring while he was scheduled to earn $8.5 million this season. None of those offers were obviously too good to pass up, because Brooks is still a Miami Dolphin. So now, we’re supposed to believe after the Dolphins have given him a $5 million raise and paid out the vast majority of his preexisting compensation, that Miami’s going to get better offers now and find one that would justify a deal? Because that’s what it means when you pay more money up front. The investment is up, which means the cost to buy is up, too.
About these ‘whispers’…
The speculation about Brooks as a trade piece is missing valuable context from…the team that has Jordyn Brooks. But more on that in a moment. These state secret whispers are good for a laugh. “Maybe Miami, with Stephen Ross’s blessing, is going to absorb a bunch of cap”. Oh yeah, what gave it away? The $180 million in dead cap?
The Dolphins have talked very openly about their situation as a team in the last seven months. They’ve essentially told us their blueprint to move forward with every step of the way. Which brings us back to Brooks.
A much needed reality check
Dallas media has gone as far as to say that Brooks’ extension is a good thing for a potential trade because the Cowboys don’t want to negotiate their own deals. So what does that make Miami? The personal accountant and a subcontracted negotiator for Dallas? Respectfully, get over yourselves.
The Dolphins have legitimately sold on one long-term asset this offseason in Jaylen Waddle. Waddle netted the Dolphins a 1st and 3rd round draft choice. If Dallas was prepared to go there for Brooks, I promise you a deal would have been done already. The Cowboys’ corner of the NFL world is in for a rude awakening if they think a slow start to the season for the Dolphins would simply prompt a fire sale. Which is kind of frustrating because all you’ve had to do is listen to a single word spoken by either head coach Jeff Hafley or general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan since they’ve arrived in South Florida to know that.
They’ve been effusive in the value Jordyn Brooks brings. Their desire for him to lead here. The value of rewarding him and what it means to the culture they’re trying to build. So what, a slow start in a teardown throws all of that out the window to trade a guy for cheap after voluntarily giving him a 40% raise this season? Sure. While we’re at it, I’ve got some ocean front property in Iowa I’ve been thinking about selling. You think the Cowboys will be interested?
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