The Denver Broncos have already swung one major trade with the Miami Dolphins in the 2026 offseason. If another one ever came across the table, this is the kind that should have them moving fast.
Linebacker has been the Broncos’ problem spot for a while now, and they still haven’t found a clean answer. They took a shot in 2025 by signing veteran Dre Greenlaw, and that move flopped. They spent a third-round pick on Drew Sanders in 2023, but he hasn’t been able to lock down the position or stay healthy enough to matter.
Even with talk that Denver could chase a big-name free agent or draft prospect in 2026, the only meaningful addition to the room has been seventh-round pick Red Murdock, the final selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That’s why Jordyn Brooks makes so much sense if the Dolphins are truly open for business. If Miami is willing to listen and the price is right, the Broncos ought to be all over it.
Brooks has been on the trade radar for a while, and Miami has not moved him yet. The Dolphins could still decide to extend him instead. But until that happens, a deal remains on the table.
The logic is easy to follow. Miami is in a rebuilding phase and has already moved on from plenty of players this offseason, including the blockbuster deal that sent Jaylen Waddle to Denver for a strong return of draft capital.
Brooks keeps coming up because the timing fits. He’ll turn 29 in October, and he is not under contract beyond this season. That puts Miami in a spot where it could try to extract value now rather than risk losing him later.
His base salary this year is also just $7.815 million, which only makes him more appealing to teams looking for help at linebacker.
The Dolphins also added more bodies to the position, taking Jacob Rodriguez in the second round. They now have Tyrel Dodson, Willie Gay Jr., and rookie Kyle Louis in the mix as well.
That makes a Brooks trade easier to justify from Miami’s side, even if it would mean giving up a proven veteran for younger talent.
And Brooks has earned the reputation that makes him worth chasing. He was a first-team All-Pro last season, piled up 183 total tackles, and set a career high with 13 tackles for loss. He has missed only two games since the 2021 season, which is exactly the kind of durability teams crave at linebacker.
He may not solve every coverage issue Denver has had at the position, but his production from the off-ball spot is real.
At this stage of the offseason, a move like this still feels unlikely unless the Broncos were dealing with an injury to one of their starters. But as training camp gets closer, the depth chart gets harder to ignore.
Right now, Denver is one injury away from having to lean on Jordan Turner, Red Murdock, Taurean York, or another unproven option next to Alex Singleton or Justin Strnad on a defense that wants to be the best in the NFL.
The Broncos can’t stockpile All-Pro talent everywhere, but this is the kind of upgrade that is both financially and draft-capital friendly. If Miami is willing to take calls again, Denver should be ready to answer.
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