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Just months after Jordyn Brooks was linked to the Dallas Cowboys as a solution at linebacker, the Miami Dolphins rewarded the First-Team All-Pro player with a three-year, $51.3M extension, ending any hopes of a potential move.
“Miami Dolphins and LB Jordyn Brooks have agreed to a 3-yr $51.3 million extension with $35m guaranteed, per Erik Burkhardt of Roc Nation Sports,” agent Erik Burkhardt told ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
The Cowboys were urged to trade for Brooks during the offseason as a part of their defensive rebuild, after fielding a franchise-worst defense in the 2025 season.
The new contract extension keeps Brooks with the Dolphins through the 2029 season with an average annual value of $17.1M, making him the sixth-highest-paid inside linebacker in the league.
The Dolphins have undergone a massive front-office overhaul and a roster rebuild since October 2025 with a prime focus on acquiring young, cost-controlled talent.
They have now extended Brooks as part of retaining their young talent, making him the third Dolphins player to receive a multi-year extension with the team during the offseason, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.
Brooks led the league in tackles last year with 183 tackles (99 solo), 13 tackles for loss, three passes defended, and 3.5 sacks, starting all 17 games. He earned First-team All-Pro honors and was entering the final year of his previous three-year, $26.25M contract.
The two-time NFL solo tackles leader also led the league in 2021 with 109 solo tackles (184 total tackles) and five passes defended during his stint with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Cowboys had thin depth behind LB DeMarvion Overshown and a lack of stability in that position due to his constant injuries, as he had appeared in only 19 games out of a possible 51 regular-season contests.
The team acquired former San Francisco 49ers LB Dee Winters during the 2026 NFL Draft to fill the roster gap, but analysts urged the Cowboys to trade for Brooks to add veteran depth at that position.
With Brooks now committed to the Dolphins for the 2026 season, the extension quickly drew reactions from NFL fans, many of whom weighed in on what it means for the Cowboys and Dolphins.
Fans weigh in after Dolphins lock up Jordyn Brooks
As Schefter reported the news on X, fans had mixed reactions to the Dolphins’ decision. Some praised the team for retaining a key defender, while some questioned the size of Brooks’ new contract.
One fan joked about the end to Brooks trade speculation with the Cowboys.
“Welp, there goes that trade rumor for the Cowboys,” one fan wrote.
One fan felt the contract was expensive but believes Brooks’ consistency makes the investment worthwhile.
“Hawu, $51 million for a LB who ranked 67th in the NFL top 100? That’s a lot of coin. But consistency is worth paying for if he keeps it up,” one fan commented.
Another fan questioned whether the Dolphins prioritize defense over offensive line depth concerns.
“They should have saved this money to fix the offensive line. Prioritizing linebacker extensions over protection is a huge mistake,” another fan commented.
One fan raised concerns about Brooks’ sack count never reaching two digits since his rookie season in 2020 (his highest sack count being 4.5 in 2023).
“$21.4M per for a linebacker who’s never had double-digit sacks- feels like a bet on scheme fit more than production,” one fan wrote.
Another fan wrote that the extension was a much-needed roster move by the Dolphins.
“Brooks has been one of Miami’s most consistent defenders. Locking him up was the right move,” another fan wrote.
While some fans saw the extension as a solid move before training camp, others questioned whether the deal would prove to be good value.
Was extending Jordyn Brooks the right move for Miami, or should Dallas have made a push? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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