Bengals’ perfect 2026 NFL Draft trade

Trade: Bengals get LB Jorydn Brooks, Dolphins receive 2026 4th-round pick, 2027 5th-round pick

As mentioned earlier, the Bengals’ linebacker group remains unimpressive. Last season, Cincinnati fielded two rookies in fourth-round pick Barrett Carter and second-round pick Demetrius Knight Jr. The linebacker position is one of the toughest positions for rookies coming into the NFL, and Cincinnati felt every bit of the growing pains that came with rookies learning a tough position.

Carter and Knight were two of the biggest culprits for the Bengals’ issues all season long. Carter, in particular, struggled with proper tackling throughout the season, contributing to Cincinnati’s crippling tackling issues. They were awful against the run and also were pretty terrible in coverage.

The Bengals seem committed to both Carter and Knight. Earlier in the offseason, head coach Zac Taylor said this about the linebacker duo.

“We’re going to need them to take another huge step, obviously, for our defense to be where we want it to be as a championship-caliber defense. But just with a critical eye from us over the last half of the season, I was really encouraged with their development, and I think we’ll see another big jump this year.”

While it’s certainly possible that one or both players take a leap, the Bengals should not solely bank on that possibility. For all we know, it’s just as likely that both players continue to struggle in 2026. Cincinnati needs a veteran in the second level to help guide the incoming sophomores while also being a contributor on the defensive end.

This is where a player like Brooks steps in. The Miami Dolphins’ 2025 season was disastrous for the most part, but Brooks remained a critical piece of their defense. He led the entire NFL in tackles last season with 183 (99 solo tackles, also leads the NFL). Brooks did that with a 5.2% missed tackle rate, an incredible number especially when juxtaposed next to Carter (13.8%) and Knight (14.5%).

Brooks particularly excelled in the run game, sporting a 92.0 run defense grade in PFF. That’s a welcome addition for the Bengals, who were arguably the worst team in the NFL in terms of run defense. He’s also better in coverage, which is going to be a boon for the team.

There are other players on other teams that could be attractive candidates. Houston Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair, in particular, stands out as an attractive trade option on paper. However, out of all of the potential trade targets, only Brooks is the one likely to be dealt, given the Dolphins’ current trajectory.