The Miami Dolphins finished their third training camp practice on Friday, and second-year safety Dante Trader Jr. gave the day one of its more notable moments after speaking with reporters.
Trader Jr. said he spent much of his offseason training alongside All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks, a choice that says plenty about the kind of player he wants to become. According to multiple media members on hand, including Dolphins reporter Travis Wingfield, the two worked out together often, and Trader Jr. said that time together has carried over into camp.
Dante Trader said this offseason he was wherever Jordyn Brooks was. They trained together and it’s helped them hold each other accountable out here at practice. pic.twitter.com/kMZHGxqy8X
- Travis Wingfield (@WingfieldNFL) July 31, 2026
That kind of offseason work fits with what Brooks has been saying about his own role. He has repeatedly talked this offseason about showing younger players what it looks like to be a pro and to meet a winning standard. For a Dolphins defense dealing with plenty of uncertainty in the secondary, a step forward from Trader Jr. would go a long way.
Head coach Jeff Hafley already voiced confidence in Trader Jr. during OTA’s this summer, and the safety’s decision to spend so much time with Brooks should only strengthen that belief inside the building. The coaching staff can appreciate the approach. Still, once September arrives, the real test will be what Trader Jr. does on the field.
That pressure is real in Miami’s safety room. Veteran free agent addition Lonnie Johnson Jr. is the only player currently there with more than Trader Jr.’s 419 career defensive snaps, and Johnson Jr. is not even a sure thing to make the roster. That leaves a lot on the shoulders of a former fifth-round pick who may be asked to play a major role in Hafley’s plans.
It’s a heavy ask, but it comes with the territory for a team carrying nearly $180 million in dead cap this season. Trader Jr. did show something as a rookie, especially against the run, even if his tackling needs work after posting a 16.9% missed tackle rate, according to Pro Football Focus.
If Miami uses him as the primary box safety near the line of scrimmage and rookie Michael Taaffe can handle the deep responsibilities, there is at least a path for this secondary to look serviceable in the first year of the new regime. It is still early, but one thing is clear: if Trader Jr. falls short this season, it won’t be because he didn’t put in the work.
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