The Miami Dolphins entered the 2026 NFL Draft with many holes to fill on their depleted roster. Miami’s current situation was by design, as general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan opted to get younger and cheaper rather than continue to invest in an aging roster that had produced underwhelming results the past two seasons.
Upon taking over the Dolphins, Sullivan listed several players who he viewed as building blocks for Miami. Those players were Jordyn Brooks, De’Von Achane, Patrick Paul and Aaron Brewer. Aside from Paul, the remaining three players are all set to be free agents after the 2026 season which has led to questions about their futures despite Sullivan’s strong statement.
Now, following the 2026 NFL Draft, some have begun to wonder whether Brooks’ time in Miami is coming to an end, especially after the team drafted two linebackers.
Miami Dolphins Could Look to Trade Jordyn Brooks
Brooks, who had previously been a trade target for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, is among Miami’s best players as he led the NFL in tackles during the 2025 season and earned first-team All-Pro honors.
However, the Dolphins linebacker is going to turn 29 years old during the season and may not be aligned with Miami’s rebuilding timeline. Additionally, as previously mentioned, the Dolphins drafted linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with their second-round pick and linebacker Kyle Louis with their fourth-round pick.
Following the selection of Rodriguez, Phin Phanatic’s Shayne Kubas wondered about the future of Brooks, as he wrote: “It’s hard not to immediately wonder about the future of All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Brooks is in the final year of the three-year contract he signed with Miami back in 2024, and the new front office has no ties to him.”
While Brooks and Rodríguez could play together, as evidenced by Sullivan’s statements following Day 2 of the draft, where he said regarding the Rodriguez selection, “I think he’ll fit really well in the room with (Jordyn) Brooks and ‘T. Dot’ (Tyrel Dodson) and he’d be a great addition to the Miami Dolphins.”
The addition of weakside linebacker Kyle Louis, the position Brooks plays, could signal a potential replacement for the Dolphins veteran down the line. If Louis impresses, Miami could opt to move Brooks for draft capital.
Dolphins Draft Grade
The addition of Louis was one of the most praised selections by the Dolphins. It helped land them a B+ grade by The Ringer’s Danny Kelly, who wrote:
“The Dolphins made approximately 80 picks in this draft, or that’s how it felt at least, and did a really nice job of adding depth and talent to what had become a depressingly barren roster. The team came away with a starting tackle (Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor) and cornerback (San Diego State’s Chris Johnson) with its pair of first-round picks, solidifying two of the most important spots of a rebuild. They added two rangy, playmaking linebackers in Jacob Rodriguez (second round) and Kyle Louis (fourth round), giving new head coach Jeff Hafley plenty of options in both base and sub-package looks.
Crucially, the Dolphins looked to bolster their receiver group, too, and I’m sure Malik Willis was somewhere smiling when the team drafted personal favorites of mine in Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr. (it also took Caleb Douglas in the third round). I won’t be surprised if both Bell and Coleman emerge as starters for this squad as early as this year. Overall, it’s clear that Miami has a ways to go in its full roster reset, but I was impressed with what new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan was able to accomplish in his first draft.”
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