Jordyn Brooks, a native Texan, was one of the bright spots last season for the Miami Dolphins with a league-leading 183 tackles.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys' free agency activity hasn't included any game-winning urgency in the form of acquiring a new middle linebacker.
They've been in talks - reportedly being contenders to land Nakobe Dean, Devin Lloyd and Quay Walker - but Jerry Jones' staff has yet to land a signature.
While its entirely possible for the Cowboys to still pursue a linebacker externally, this late into the game all but means that such a player would be a stop-gap fill-in, which wouldn't come with as much confidence or pedigree for such a demanding position that calls the defensive plays.
Those type players you could rely on with the green dot are already off to other places.
Or, this result could put Jones in the position where he has no choice but to address the need early in the NFL Draft. By all indications, the lack of momentum in free agency here makes the draft idea the next expected route. But is it really smart to give a rookie the play-calling assignment?
That means the trade market could still be of service, too.
The Miami Dolphins just singled a rebuild by buying out quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's massive contract and shipping off top receiver Jaylen Waddle.
Could they trade star linebacker Jordyn Brooks - last year's tackles leader - next?
If so, Dallas would obviously be interested.
ESPN's Todd Archer briefly mentions Brooks and the nose-diving Dolphins as a player potentially worth targeting, but with Miami hungry for draft capital, it'd likely take a hefty package for the Cowboys to land a deal.
Brooks, a Houston native and Texas Tech grad, posted an NFL-high 183 tackles in 2025, along with 3.5 sacks.
Jones claims to "bust the budget" this offseason - and so far, he has. Safety Jalen Thompson's $11 million salary is the largest external free-agent price Dallas has inked "in more than a decade," Archer says.
Brooks, who will be turning 29, would have to be another high-priced commitment as his current contract commands $7.8 million on its last year in 2026.
Unless this lack of message really is a message that the Cowboys are whole-heartedly targeting linebacker in other areas besides free agency, Brooks is one of the last few trade opportunities that makes sense for both sides.
