As the Dallas Cowboys continue reshaping their defense under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, the idea of acquiring a proven, high volume tackler is not going away.
Most NFL teams have broken for the summer and won’t conduct any additional team activities until training camps begin later next month. Roster construction, however, is a 24/7, 365-day process. ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz recently compiled a list of last-minute moves every team should make to round out their rosters and listed the Cowboys as a perfect landing spot for Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
“Brooks was a first-team All-Pro linebacker last season, leading the league with 183 total tackles and adding 3.5 sacks as a blitzer. He would be a useful addition for a team with a contending-quality offense but a need at linebacker, perhaps the Bengals or the Cowboys.” — Aaron Schatz on ESPN
On paper, the move makes perfect sense as Dallas would acquire a 28-year-old, first team All-Pro linebacker who was also a former first-round pick — something the Cowboys have always coveted.
Financially, it also makes sense now that June 1 has passed. If released or traded before that date, Miami would have added over $5.8 million in dead cap space to their already record-breaking $175 million in dead money they are set to carry this season, with a savings of just $2.5 million.
Now that the date has passed, the Dolphins would save his salary amounts of $8.3 million and that $5.8 million would sit on their 2027 cap as dead money.
While those numbers sound great, it would leave Dallas with a pretty significant problem. Like Brooks, presumed starting linebackers DeMarvion Overshown and the recently acquired Dee Winters are both set to hit free agency next year.
On the flip side, the Cowboys have seven off-the-ball linebackers listed on their roster and every single one of them are currently still on their rookie contracts making the group one of the least expensive units on the team.
The compensation would be somewhat worrisome as Dallas is without their 2027 fourth and fifth-round picks due to prior trades making a potential deal almost debilitating in what is being described as a loaded upcoming draft.
At this stage, the move remains speculative yet ESPN’s inclusion of the Cowboys reinforces a belief around the league.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: ESPN suggests Cowboys as fit for $8.3M Dolphins All-Pro
Reporting by Angel Torres, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Angel Torres, Cowboys Wire | USA TODAY Network
