Dallas calls Miami about All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks, accelerating their pursuit of a defensive cornerstone. The hunt for a solution intensifies.
FRISCO - What was once a Dallas Cowboys "discussion'' item here inside The Star has become a "discussion'' item in the form of a call from Dallas brass to the Miami Dolphins in pursuit of All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
We have written often in this space that Dallas plans to add to its efforts to fix the NFL's worst defense, and Brooks' name has been mentioned as a potential candidate there.
But the chase may have just gotten more serious with the Dolphins revealing that they've taken calls on a trade, and with the Miami Herald writing that the Cowboys are among the teams interested in trading for Brooks.
Cowboys COO Stephen Jones this week at the NFL Owners Meetings downplayed the urgency here, but he's not fooling anybody. The Cowboys have used the offseason to beef up their pass rush with the Rashan Gary trade and they've done the same in the secondary with the free-agent signings of safety Jalen Thompson and cornerback Cobie Durant.
The remaining hole is an obvious one.
"I don't think there's any timing on that,'' Jones said, before adding, "there's always opportunities to trade and we'll look down every avenue.''
More candid about the realities, though, is coach Brian Schotteheimer, who this week said of the need at linebacker, "We need to address that.''
The Cowboys could do so in other ways, of course. We've mentioned ideas that include the signing of Giants ex Bobby Okereke or Commanders ex Bobby Wagner and a trade for Houston's Azeez Al-Shaair or Tennessee's Cody Barton.
There are also potential answers in the first round of the April NFL Draft, when Dallas owns picks Nos. 12 and 20 and could be eying Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (in a trade-up from 12?) or the likes of Georgia's CJ Allen, Texas' Anthony Hill and Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez.
But few of those names are the sure bet that Brooks is.
Last season, Brooks led the league in total tackles (183) and solo tackles (99) while earning his first-career All-Pro nod. He started all 17 games while adding 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three pass breakups.
Brooks, 28, is a Houston native and comes with pedigree, as he was originally the No. 27 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
Brooks is playing on a three-year, $26.25 million deal signed with the Dolphins in March 2024; the idea in Miami now might be to say goodbye to him (and a massive extension) while they rebuild ... with the Dolphins maybe wanting to pry Dallas' third-round pick in trade.
Time will tell if the Cowboys and Dolphins can come to a deal, or if Miami looks for a different trade partner.
The Cowboys know they need to "address'' a problem. And that process just got accelerated with a "discussion'' with the Dolphins.