The NFL trade deadline hits Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern, and the Miami Dolphins are one of the teams worth watching closely.
After Sunday’s Week 9 loss to the Detroit Lions, Miami dropped to 1-7 and is still navigating the first season of a full roster rebuild. That puts the front office in a familiar deadline spot for a team in transition: decide whether to keep stockpiling draft capital or hold onto veterans who can help shape the locker room through the rest of the season and beyond.
Miami already tore the roster down this past offseason, taking on a record $188.8 million in dead money in an effort to set up future success. That makes the logic of moving veterans pretty clear.
At the same time, the Dolphins may not be eager to take just any offer. With so few established players on the roster, they could decide that keeping their veterans matters more than squeezing out a middling return.
If that happens, Miami would be in position to ask for major draft packages in any deal.
Among the names drawing attention, Jordyn Brooks stands out first. The linebacker has averaged 163 tackles over his two seasons in Miami and already has 63 tackles this year.
He earned First-Team All-Pro honors last season and would give any defense an immediate boost in the middle. Still, the Dolphins clearly view him as part of their core.
They extended him over the summer and appear to like the pairing of Brooks and rookie middle linebacker Jacob Rodriguez as the backbone of the defense. Detroit, Sunday’s opponent, could have interest after losing Jack Campbell to injury, and the Lions are joined by the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers as possible suitors.
Zach Sieler is another player who could come up in talks, even if it is hard to picture him in another uniform. The defensive tackle remains a central piece of Miami’s line, but the Dolphins do have younger options behind him.
Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, and Zeek Biggers, all 2025 draft picks, have made an impact when on the field, which gives Miami some flexibility. Sieler also brings the kind of presence teams value in a rebuild: he is a defensive captain, a steady playmaker, and someone who has publicly said he wants to stay in Miami.
The Jaguars, Vikings, Bears, and Packers are listed as teams that might be interested.
Austin Jackson may be the clearest trade candidate if the Dolphins do make a move. The right tackle is in the final year of his contract, and injuries have been a recurring issue throughout his career.
He has also had a rough year, especially in isolated matchups, and Miami may already be viewing him as a player who is not part of its 2027 plans. If the Dolphins decide to move on, they could use the draft or free agency to address right tackle, or even consider moving rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor to the spot next season.
Proctor has played well inside, though, so keeping him there is also part of the equation. Jacksonville, Carolina, and Green Bay are listed as possible landing spots.
Josh Uche is another name to keep in mind after his performance against the Lions on Sunday. Signed to a one-year deal as a 2026 free agent addition, he could be the kind of player Miami flips into a 2027 pick. Like Sieler, Uche has said he wants to stay in Miami and be part of the rebuild, with his belief in head coach Jeff Hafley playing a role in that view.
Any confirmed Dolphins trades will be updated as they happen.
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