The Dallas Cowboys are looking into trading for All-Pro linebacker, why he’s a ‘terror’ on defense

The Dallas Cowboys are discussing trading for LB Jordyn Brooks of the Miami Dolphins. Here’s what they would be getting in him.

Craig Smith, Mauricio Rodriguez
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The Dallas Cowboys are still looking for a linebacker, and we now know two potential trade targets they are looking into.

Recently, a report surfaced indicating the Cowboys are discussing potential trades for linebackers Jordyn Brooks (Miami Dolphins) and Azeez Al-Shaair (Houston Texans).

While both are standout players and scheme fits for the Cowboys, Brooks in particularly raises an eyebrow because he was just named a first-team All-Pro in 2025 after leading the NFL in tackles. So naturally, I set out to learn more about him.

What Brooks brings to the table

I reached out to one of our own Dolphins experts at A to Z Sports, Craig Smith, for his point of view on Brooks. He described where he is a “terror” on defense and why he thinks it would be a tough pill to swallow for Miami to move on from him.

“Jordyn Brooks was a signing in the 2024 offseason that was met with uncertainty by some, given the resources the Dolphins invested in him (three years, $30 million),” Smith says. “But it proved to be money well spent, something you couldn’t say too terribly often with general manager Chris Grier.”

“While Brooks won’t blow you away with his coverage skills, he’s a sideline-to-sideline terror in run support. He was solid in 2024 with 143 total tackles, three sacks, an 83.0 PFF run grade, and a 77.5 pass rush mark. He took it to another level last year with a league-leading 183 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks, a 92.4 run defense grade, 90.3 tackling mark, and 75.0 pass rushing mark by PFF. When he got his hands on a ballcarrier, they were going down, as he missed just 4.3% of his tackles last year.

“The Dolphins have been parting with players from the old guard quickly under their new front office, but Brooks would be a tough one to swallow. Miami needs players who play hard, are physical, and are fundamentally sound like Brooks has been, who would be a building block moving forward as the Dolphins try to find that elusive first playoff win in over a quarter century.

“But at this point, it’s impossible to discount them moving anyone (or perhaps more accurately, any dollar they can).”

Why the Cowboys need Brooks

While DeMarvion Overshown has been a standout linebacker for the Cowboys, he is better off playing free and not having to command the defense. Problem is, as of right now, Dallas doesn’t have a proven middle linebacker type that can do that.

And while the Cowboys can hope to find a rookie linebacker to do that in the first-round of the NFL Draft, it’s smart to have a veteran option for flexibility in April and to not charge a rookie with having to be the defense’s green dot defender.

Earlier in the month, the Cowboys dealt DT Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round pick. And while they could pick a rookie at the end of Day 2, they know they need difference-makers now. Can they use pick No. 92 to help them get Brooks? I think they can.

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