It could make more sense than most believe.
The Jordyn Brooks Connection Has Always Been There
Dallas has already been connected to Jordyn Brooks, and Miami had several teams calling about him earlier this offseason.
When I went back and looked at what Brooks did last year:
183 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a first-team All-Pro nod in 2025.
To say that is attention grabbing may be downplaying it.
If Dallas somehow pulled this off, Brooks isn’t coming in to compete for snaps. He’s coming in to be the best player in the room.
I thought the idea was dead when Miami signed him to a three-year, $51.3 million extension with $35 million guaranteed. My first reaction to this deal was pretty simple, “Well, there goes that player.”
But then I dug into the contract more. According to Over The Cap, Jordyn Brooks got a $12.31 million signing bonus, while his 2026 base salary is only $1.215 million.
Miami already paid the bonus and that changed the whole way I looked at this trade.
The $51.3 million headline makes the deal sound impossible. Once I got past that number and looked at what Dallas would actually be dealing with in 2026, I didn’t brush it off.
The Jordyn Brooks Connection Has Always Been There
Dallas has already been connected to Jordyn Brooks, and Miami had several teams calling about him earlier this offseason.
When I went back and looked at what Brooks did last year:
183 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a first-team All-Pro nod in 2025.
To say that is attention grabbing may be downplaying it.
If Dallas somehow pulled this off, Brooks isn’t coming in to compete for snaps. He’s coming in to be the best player in the room.
I thought the idea was dead when Miami signed him to a three-year, $51.3 million extension with $35 million guaranteed. My first reaction to this deal was pretty simple, “Well, there goes that player.”
But then I dug into the contract more. According to Over The Cap, Jordyn Brooks got a $12.31 million signing bonus, while his 2026 base salary is only $1.215 million.
Miami already paid the bonus and that changed the whole way I looked at this trade.
The $51.3 million headline makes the deal sound impossible. Once I got past that number and looked at what Dallas would actually be dealing with in 2026, I didn’t brush it off.
The Cowboys waived one of their free agent signees.
Hopefully Williams adds depth to a position the Cowboys desperately need.
So far, Williams is thriving under that pressure, as he’s been among a handful of defensive standouts over the first two practices of camp. He caught the eye of Cowboys team reporter Nick Eatman, who went as far as to say that Williams has looked “dominant.”
“Sam Williams has a big opportunity in front of him this year and he looked rather dominant during the team drills,” Eatman wrote.
“On two straight plays, he showed the variety of skill set the Cowboys have always admired from Williams, who ran stride for stride with running back Dominic Richardson on a wheel route down the field, and then stuffed the same running back in the hole on the next play. Also, Williams lived in the backfield, creating all kinds of pressure rushing from the left side.”
This is exactly the kind of problem the Cowboys should welcome with open arms.
A Sam Williams breakout would change the complexion of the Cowboys’ defense
A lot will be asked of Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku in the outside linebacker (EDGE) room. Gary’s run-defending chops give him a high floor, while Ezeiruaku’s untapped potential could determine just how dangerous this pass rush becomes.
So far, Williams is thriving under that pressure, as he’s been among a handful of defensive standouts over the first two practices of camp. He caught the eye of Cowboys team reporter Nick Eatman, who went as far as to say that Williams has looked “dominant.”
“Sam Williams has a big opportunity in front of him this year and he looked rather dominant during the team drills,” Eatman wrote.
“On two straight plays, he showed the variety of skill set the Cowboys have always admired from Williams, who ran stride for stride with running back Dominic Richardson on a wheel route down the field, and then stuffed the same running back in the hole on the next play. Also, Williams lived in the backfield, creating all kinds of pressure rushing from the left side.”
This is exactly the kind of problem the Cowboys should welcome with open arms.
A Sam Williams breakout would change the complexion of the Cowboys’ defense
A lot will be asked of Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku in the outside linebacker (EDGE) room. Gary’s run-defending chops give him a high floor, while Ezeiruaku’s untapped potential could determine just how dangerous this pass rush becomes.
Dallas needs to be uncharacteristically aggressive this offseason.
Dallas can’t afford to overlook any opportunities to improve the defense, even if that means making a move during training camp. Any sort of shortcoming the coaching staff can pinpoint on that side of the ball shouldn’t be taken with a grain of salt.
The Cowboys know that the defense can’t risk starting out the season on the wrong note, or it could lead to a similar result last year where Dallas found itself chasing a playoff spot before it was too late.
Instead of waiting until the trade deadline like last season when they landed defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets, it might benefit the Cowboys to stop a bleeding noise before it gets too messy.
Many fans will point to a potential blockbuster deal with the Las Vegas Raiders for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby as a move that Dallas can’t risk passing up, but the Cowboys could be better off making a move in the secondary if the new additions of Cobie Durant, Jalen Thompson and PJ Locke don’t work out as the front office had hoped, or worse, injuries start to pile up in the back end.
Cowboys fans also have their concerns about the output from safety Malik Hooker and cornerback DaRon Bland. Though Bland has historical production on his resume, making him the feature piece of a big trade can’t be ruled out, even with the four-year, $90 million contract extension he signed last August.
Dallas can’t afford to overlook any opportunities to improve the defense, even if that means making a move during training camp. Any sort of shortcoming the coaching staff can pinpoint on that side of the ball shouldn’t be taken with a grain of salt.
The Cowboys know that the defense can’t risk starting out the season on the wrong note, or it could lead to a similar result last year where Dallas found itself chasing a playoff spot before it was too late.
Instead of waiting until the trade deadline like last season when they landed defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets, it might benefit the Cowboys to stop a bleeding noise before it gets too messy.
Many fans will point to a potential blockbuster deal with the Las Vegas Raiders for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby as a move that Dallas can’t risk passing up, but the Cowboys could be better off making a move in the secondary if the new additions of Cobie Durant, Jalen Thompson and PJ Locke don’t work out as the front office had hoped, or worse, injuries start to pile up in the back end.
Cowboys fans also have their concerns about the output from safety Malik Hooker and cornerback DaRon Bland. Though Bland has historical production on his resume, making him the feature piece of a big trade can’t be ruled out, even with the four-year, $90 million contract extension he signed last August.
Nothing to be concerned with yet, just worth monitoring.
Safeties P.J. Locke and Jalen Thompson, both offseason free-agent acquisitions, will miss the team’s third practice of training camp. Cornerback Zion Childress will also be held out with an injury of his own.
Locke seemed to hyperextend his knee on the first day of on-field work and although the team deemed it minor, he will miss his second-straight practice. Thompson, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, was sidelined with a bothersome hip.
Childress has a hamstring issue; the second-year corner has an uphill battle to earn a roster spot so every missed opportunity is concerning. Starting tight end Jake Ferguson will miss the practice due to personal reasons.
Ferguson’s absence gave reserve TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, primed for a larger role, and the rest of the position group extra reps with the starting offense.
Safeties P.J. Locke and Jalen Thompson, both offseason free-agent acquisitions, will miss the team’s third practice of training camp. Cornerback Zion Childress will also be held out with an injury of his own.
Locke seemed to hyperextend his knee on the first day of on-field work and although the team deemed it minor, he will miss his second-straight practice. Thompson, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, was sidelined with a bothersome hip.
Childress has a hamstring issue; the second-year corner has an uphill battle to earn a roster spot so every missed opportunity is concerning. Starting tight end Jake Ferguson will miss the practice due to personal reasons.
Ferguson’s absence gave reserve TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, primed for a larger role, and the rest of the position group extra reps with the starting offense.
Daily discussion question: Which new Cowboys player are you most excited about right now?
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
