The Miami Dolphins are about to hand out a big deal to one of the NFL’s best defensive players. And they’re not trading him away. Not happening.
Jordyn Brooks, the linebacker who led the league in tackles last season, is getting a contract extension. Multiple reports now describe it as “likely” that the two sides will finalize a long-term deal before the 2026 season kicks off. That runs counter to what ESPN’s Aaron Schatz suggested recently — that Miami should trade Brooks to a contender like the Cowboys or Bengals rather than risk losing him for nothing when his current deal expires after this year.
But the Dolphins have bigger plans.
They’re in the early stages of a semi-rebuild under new head coach Jeff Hafley, who took over after Miami finished 7-10. The front office has already locked up several young pieces: offensive lineman Aaron Brewer, running back De’Von Achane, and quarterback Malik Willis. Now they’re turning their attention to keeping the 27-year-old Brooks in aqua and orange for the foreseeable future.
Brooks has made it clear he wants to stay. According to the reports, he’s communicated that to the team repeatedly. And Miami’s front office has very few extension-eligible players on the roster right now, which makes Brooks something close to a no-brainer priority.
This comes despite the Dolphins drafting two off-ball linebackers in the most recent draft. But that seems more like planning for depth than a sign they’re moving on from Brooks. Hafley’s entire defensive philosophy leans on a strong front seven, and losing your linebacker anchor — the guy who piled up 168 combined tackles in 2025 — would undercut that before it even got started.
Cap space is always a variable. But the messaging from Miami’s camp is clear: they want Brooks long-term, and they expect to get it done. Trading him would signal a deeper teardown than the team is willing to admit, and after watching him become one of the most reliable defenders in the league, the Dolphins appear to be choosing stability over asset liquidation.
The season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on September 13 will be an early test of where this team really is. But having Brooks in the middle of the defense should at least give Hafley one serious building block to lean on.
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