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MIAMI GARDENS — So often, news stories are written about players who are not present for voluntary organized team activities in the offseason amid contract negotiations.
Maybe it’s time the players who do show up for their teammates despite going through extension talks to secure their long-term financial security get their headlines.
For the Miami Dolphins, that’s linebacker Jordyn Brooks and center Aaron Brewer.
Brooks, who counts for $10.8 million against Miami’s salary cap in 2026, and Brewer, whose cap number this season is just below $5 million, are both on the final year of their current contract. Each was signed as a free agent in 2024 and has been extremely valuable to the Dolphins. Brooks was a first-team All-Pro selection at his position last season, and Brewer second-team All-Pro.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has labeled Brooks, Brewer and running back De’Von Achane as three foundational building blocks he inherited from the Dolphins’ previous regime — all who entered 2026 on the final year of their deals — that he wants to build around. Achane agreed to his four-year extension for $64 million and $32 million guaranteed last week, so Brooks and Brewer figure to be up next.
“Achane getting his deal, that’s something that needed to happen right away,” Brooks said Tuesday, after Miami’s second session of OTAs and first one open to the media. “Probably our best player on the team, just his skill set and the way he’s played for us the last two years since I’ve been here, he earned every bit of that.”
With an understanding Achane had to get his first, Brooks waits to see what develops for himself.
“I don’t know. I mean, it can go either way, honestly,” he said, “but for me, I’m just controlling what I can control. Play football. I’m blessed to do it and so I’m going to just keep approaching it that way.”
And that’s exactly what Brooks appreciates about going to work with his team in an offseason where much has changed around him.
“For me, I know I need to get better as a player, so that’s why I show up,” Brooks said. “I never want to give the wrong message to the team or to my teammates. I play with these guys, go to battle with them, and I want them to know that I’m here no matter what, playing the game for the right reasons, and so I show up to work because that’s what’s required of me.”
As for Brewer, who was also fully participating in individual and team drills at Tuesday’s OTA session, he’s operating with patience when it comes to contract talks.
“I ain’t in no rush,” said Brewer, who wasn’t made available for interview Tuesday, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel earlier this month. “I don’t have no anxiousness, no anxiety. Everything’s going to figure itself out in due time.”
Brewer has quickly become one of the NFL’s most-touted centers, known for his athleticism from the position and how he can get to the outside and block in the wide-zone run-blocking scheme.
Brooks earned his All-Pro honors last season with a league-leading 183 tackles.
He takes his leadership role seriously, especially on a roster with so much turnover this offseason.
“When you don’t make the playoffs two years in a row, there’s a lot of things that need to be fixed,” Brooks said. “Bringing younger guys in, just bringing new guys in, period — that’s the best way that you can do that, is to have a collective mindset. So, everybody’s fresh. You set out what the standard is and everybody meets that standard.
“Us as leaders, we enforce whatever coach (Jeff Hafley) is saying and we get it going the right way. I think that’s the best way to get it done.”
Aside from the Brooks and Brewer contract extensions, Sullivan also has a 13-pick draft class to sign.
Those figure to get settled in June, when the Dolphins reel in the money from the releases of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and edge rusher Bradley Chubb. At that point, Miami may also look to sign other remaining free agents ahead of training camp in late July.
Continue reading...
Maybe it’s time the players who do show up for their teammates despite going through extension talks to secure their long-term financial security get their headlines.
For the Miami Dolphins, that’s linebacker Jordyn Brooks and center Aaron Brewer.
Brooks, who counts for $10.8 million against Miami’s salary cap in 2026, and Brewer, whose cap number this season is just below $5 million, are both on the final year of their current contract. Each was signed as a free agent in 2024 and has been extremely valuable to the Dolphins. Brooks was a first-team All-Pro selection at his position last season, and Brewer second-team All-Pro.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has labeled Brooks, Brewer and running back De’Von Achane as three foundational building blocks he inherited from the Dolphins’ previous regime — all who entered 2026 on the final year of their deals — that he wants to build around. Achane agreed to his four-year extension for $64 million and $32 million guaranteed last week, so Brooks and Brewer figure to be up next.
“Achane getting his deal, that’s something that needed to happen right away,” Brooks said Tuesday, after Miami’s second session of OTAs and first one open to the media. “Probably our best player on the team, just his skill set and the way he’s played for us the last two years since I’ve been here, he earned every bit of that.”
With an understanding Achane had to get his first, Brooks waits to see what develops for himself.
“I don’t know. I mean, it can go either way, honestly,” he said, “but for me, I’m just controlling what I can control. Play football. I’m blessed to do it and so I’m going to just keep approaching it that way.”
And that’s exactly what Brooks appreciates about going to work with his team in an offseason where much has changed around him.
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“For me, I know I need to get better as a player, so that’s why I show up,” Brooks said. “I never want to give the wrong message to the team or to my teammates. I play with these guys, go to battle with them, and I want them to know that I’m here no matter what, playing the game for the right reasons, and so I show up to work because that’s what’s required of me.”
As for Brewer, who was also fully participating in individual and team drills at Tuesday’s OTA session, he’s operating with patience when it comes to contract talks.
“I ain’t in no rush,” said Brewer, who wasn’t made available for interview Tuesday, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel earlier this month. “I don’t have no anxiousness, no anxiety. Everything’s going to figure itself out in due time.”
Brewer has quickly become one of the NFL’s most-touted centers, known for his athleticism from the position and how he can get to the outside and block in the wide-zone run-blocking scheme.
Brooks earned his All-Pro honors last season with a league-leading 183 tackles.
He takes his leadership role seriously, especially on a roster with so much turnover this offseason.
“When you don’t make the playoffs two years in a row, there’s a lot of things that need to be fixed,” Brooks said. “Bringing younger guys in, just bringing new guys in, period — that’s the best way that you can do that, is to have a collective mindset. So, everybody’s fresh. You set out what the standard is and everybody meets that standard.
“Us as leaders, we enforce whatever coach (Jeff Hafley) is saying and we get it going the right way. I think that’s the best way to get it done.”
Aside from the Brooks and Brewer contract extensions, Sullivan also has a 13-pick draft class to sign.
Those figure to get settled in June, when the Dolphins reel in the money from the releases of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and edge rusher Bradley Chubb. At that point, Miami may also look to sign other remaining free agents ahead of training camp in late July.
Continue reading...
