The Dallas Cowboys continue to be linked with Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks after ESPN's Bill Barnwell valued the All-Pro at a second or third-round pick. Brooks, entering the final year of his contract, has emerged as a potential target as Dallas looks to strengthen its defense. The move could provide the Cowboys with a proven playmaker while giving Miami valuable draft capital for the future.The Dallas Cowboys are still connected to Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks, with trade talk picking up in the days before the 2026 NFL season. That led to speculation that Dallas could make another move after adding linebacker Dee Winters earlier this offseason, with ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently estimating Brooks’ value at a second or third-round pick.CategoryDetailsPlayerJordyn BrooksCurrent TeamMiami DolphinsRumored TeamDallas CowboysContract StatusFinal year of three-year contractSalary Cap HitApproximately $8.375 million in 2026Trade LikelihoodModerateLatest Insider UpdateBill Barnwell values Brooks at a second or third-round pickPotential ReturnSecond or third-round draft selectionWhich teams are interested in Jordyn Brooks?Dallas has emerged as one of the most frequently mentioned destinations for Brooks. The Cowboys entered the offseason looking to strengthen a defense that struggled throughout 2025, and linebacker remains an area where the front office could still make an upgrade.The team recently acquired Dee Winters from the San Francisco 49ers, but Brooks would represent a much bigger addition. With DeMarvion Overshown's career repeatedly interrupted by injuries, Dallas may prefer a proven veteran who has stayed on the field.Trade chatter has followed Brooks for months. In June, Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport proposed a deal that would send a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fourth-round pick to Miami in exchange for Brooks and a 2028 fifth-round selection."(The Cowboys) have been wildly aggressive trying to bolster a defense that was the NFL's worst last year," Davenport wrote. "There are two new edge-rushers in veteran Rashan Gary and rookie Malachi Lawrence, two new starters at safety and a new linebacker in Dee Winters. However, while Winters is a capable pro, he's not the same caliber of player Brooks is. The Cowboys are perpetually all-in on a Super Bowl run, trading for Brooks would be a nice finish to the team's defensive makeover."What insiders are saying about the trade rumorsBarnwell believes Brooks' trade value is lower than many would expect despite his elite production."I had (Dolphins center) Aaron Brewer and Brooks on my first-team All-Pro roster in 2025, but they both play relatively undervalued positions and are already in their peak seasons as 28-year-olds," Barnwell wrote.His valuation has only strengthened the belief that Dallas could realistically complete a deal if it chooses to pursue one.Contract details and salary cap implicationsBrooks signed a three-year, $26.25 million contract with Miami before the 2024 season. He is entering the final year of that deal and is scheduled to earn roughly $8.375 million in 2026.The linebacker has been one of the NFL's most reliable defenders, missing only two regular-season games since 2021. He led the league with 183 tackles and 99 solo tackles in 2025."A smooth coverage linebacker with great instincts and field sense, Brooks is one of the few linebackers in the league who can truly be trusted to carry a tight end down the field, or drop into the intermediate middle and not get bamboozled by route combinations or quarterbacks' eye fakes," ESPN's Ben Solak wrote in October 2025. "Coverage linebackers in their athletic prime are rare and impactful players."How the trade could impact both teamsA move for Brooks would give Dallas another experienced starter and provide stability at a position that has lacked consistency. It would also complete much of the defensive overhaul the Cowboys began earlier this offseason.Miami, meanwhile, would gain valuable draft capital if it decides not to extend Brooks beyond 2026. The Dolphins would have to replace one of their defensive leaders, but additional picks could help reshape the roster for the future while creating greater financial flexibility.