Brooks ‘likely’ to reach extension with Dolphins

The deal includes $35 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who first broke the news. Brooks, 28, is coming off a season where he led the league in tackles with 183 and was named a first-team All-Pro. He also hasn’t missed a single game since joining the Dolphins two seasons ago. It’s easy to see why Miami’s new regime identified Brooks as a core piece for them going forward. While the Dolphins roster still carries lots of uncertainty, Brooks has proven to be reliable.

Achane, LB Jordyn Brooks, LB Tyrel Dodson and C Aaron Brewer are all entering contract years. Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan previously referred to Achane, Brooks and Brewer as the team’s “three pillars,” yet today Kelly quotes him as saying, “nobody is untouchable in this business.” Kelly believes that Achane will be aiming to beat the four-year, $48 million contract extension that Bills RB James Cook signed in August 2025. Kelly also notes that the team will offer contracts sometime in the next two weeks, but that the Dolphins believe that other teams “will likely get serious about trying to acquire Miami’s top veterans.” Achane skipped the team’s April 7 voluntary workout in what head coach Jeff Hafley called “part of the business,” it wouldn’t be surprising if more business decisions happen in the future.

The other two that Sullivan named were LB Jordyn Brooks and OG Aaron Brewer. Sullivan said that he hopes to secure extensions for all three players in the future, and called Achane a “priority” deal he hopes to get done. This should lay to rest any trade talk surrounding Achane, who was rumored to be available despite the team denying any interest in dealing him. The Dolphins are in a complete rebuild mode after taking on more than $170 million in dead cap this season to part ways with key players from the previous staff. Achane, who totaled 1,838 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns last season, will be a key player in Bobby Slowk’s offense next season, and at only 24 years old, will be well worth the extension he has coming his way as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.

Harris isn’t the only reporter who believes that the Cowboys are still on the hunt for new defenders. In a report from earlier today, ESPN’s Todd Archer mentions Brooks and Al-Shaair as well, while also bringing up Steelers LB Patrick Queen as a possibility. Harris disagrees on the latter player, saying on social media that the Cowboys have “pivoted off Queen,” though he believes the inside linebacker position “gets addressed in the trade market.” In a mock draft published today, Harris links LSU CB Mansoor Delane to the Cowboys at pick No. 12 and Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker at pick No. 20. Brooks totaled 125 solo tackles and 19 TFLs. Al-Shaair totaled 74 solo tackles and five TFLs. Stay tuned.

Achane, along with C Aaron Brewer and LB Jordyn Brooks are “core players” in Miami’s view along with the already-extended Jaylen Waddle. Achane has seen some trade buzz this offseason, but there’s not really a compelling reason for Miami to move off him without a big haul considering he’s just 24 years old.

Brewer has gotten All-Pro support this year with a career-high 85.9 PFF grade, so his potential return to the lineup after missing Week 17 would bode well for (apparently) Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon. Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks (hamstring), LB Chop Robinson (concussion), K Jason Sanders (right hip) and OL Austin Jackson (back) are all also questionable for Week 18.

Brooks left in the third quarter against the Buccaneers and went to the locker room. The 28-year-old is the Dolphins’ leading tackler and one of the team’s better offensive players. He had five tackles and a pass defensed before leaving.

One of the Dolphins’ better players this season, Brooks is good to go as they move on from Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. Tua is merely the emergency QB3 this afternoon. Joining him on the shelf are S Minkah Fitzpatrick, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, CB Isaiah Johnson, OL Kendall Lamm, DL Matthew Butler and WR Tahj Washington.

Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the move clears up $3 million in cap space. For most teams, contract maneuvers at this point in the season would cause some speculation that they are looking to add at the trade deadline. For the Dolphins, the extra cap space would allow them to absorb some dead cap from outgoing contracts. Jaylen Waddle is the biggest name that could be on the move, but Miami also has multiple pass-rushers who will be of interest to contending teams.

The former No. 27 overall pick did not have his fifth-year option picked up by the Seahawks, putting him on the open market after just four seasons. He has been a full-time starter for Seattle in each of the past three seasons. Brooks saw his snap count fall in 2023 but managed to break out as a pass-rusher, tallying 4.5 sacks. He entered the season with two career sacks. Brooks added 111 tackles, eight TFLs, and an interception to his stat line as well. He will slot in a starting role for the Dolphins defense in 2024.