The Miami Dolphins and linebacker Jordyn Brooks have reached an agreement on a three-year contract extension, ensuring his presence with the team through the 2029 season. This move is part of the team’s strategy to build around core players as they restructure their roster for upcoming seasons. The extension was initially reported by ESPN‘s Adam Schefter.
The new deal for Brooks is valued at $51.3 million and includes $35 million in guaranteed money. This extension adds the 2027, 2028, and 2029 seasons to his existing contract. Once the new money becomes active, Brooks’ average annual salary will be $17.1 million, positioning him as the fifth-highest paid linebacker in the league.
Before this extension, Brooks was set to enter the final year of the three-year contract he signed with the Dolphins in 2024 as a free agent. He actively participated in all voluntary offseason training programs while working towards this new agreement.
Brooks’ Impact on the Dolphins
Since joining Miami, Brooks has been a central figure in the team’s defense. The 28-year-old has started all 34 games for the Dolphins, accumulating 326 tackles, 6.5 sacks, nine passes defensed, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. In his most recent season, his 183 tackles led the league, earning him his first Pro Bowl selection and a First-Team All-Pro selection.
Brooks originally entered the league in 2020 as a first-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks, where he spent his initial four seasons. His performance in 2025, where he led the league in combined tackles, tied for the 10th most in a single season since the NFL began tracking the statistic in 1987. During that season, he also recorded 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and broke up three passes.
Heading into the 2026 season, Brooks made his debut in the NFL Top 100, ranking at No. 67. ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler also placed him as the seventh-best off-ball linebacker, based on input from various executives, coaches, and scouts across the NFL.
One coordinator described Brooks’ skill set as similar to Demario Davis in his younger years, highlighting his strength, speed, physicality, ability to play in space, and strong tackling. The Dolphins demonstrated their high regard for Brooks by retaining him late into the offseason, especially as the team undergoes a reset with a new head coach, Jeff Hafley, and general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Jordyn Brooks #20 of the Miami Dolphins reacts as he leads a huddle prior to an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Pennsylvania on December 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images” width=”960″ height=”640″ />Roster Rebuild and Future Considerations
The Dolphins’ new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, had previously identified key players he envisioned as foundational pieces for the team’s future roster. With Brooks’ extension, Miami has now secured contract agreements with three of these core players. Running back De’Von Achane signed a four-year, $64 million extension in March, and center Aaron Brewer received a three-year deal worth $52.5 million in June.
The team’s focus on these extensions signals a clear direction for their rebuild. While Brooks’ trade value was noted, the decision to keep him underscores his importance to the franchise on the field.
Other players could also be considered for extensions. Right tackle Austin Jackson, who signed a three-year extension in 2023, will be in the final year of that deal in 2026. However, concerns regarding his health, having played only 14 games over the last two years, may lead the team to wait until he completes the upcoming season before considering a new contract. Miami needs to see more availability from their 2020 first-round pick.
Linebacker Tyrel Dodson is another player who could be in line for an extension, though the team may have prepared for a potential departure after the season. During the 2026 NFL Draft, Miami selected Jacob Rodriguez in the second round and Kyle Louis in the fourth round, both of whom could be potential replacements for Dodson in 2027.
Regarding salary cap space, the Dolphins have approximately $11.7 million available for the current season, according to OverTheCap.com. Brooks’ extension might create additional cap space if portions of his salary were converted to a signing bonus or if void years were added to the back end of the deal. Miami may use this flexibility to add a free agent this summer, address in-season injuries, or roll unused cap space into the 2027 salary cap.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
