Jacob Rodriguez Isn’t the Only Dolphins Linebacker Turning Heads

Jacob Rodriguez has received plenty of attention during his impressive rookie start, but he isn’t the only Miami Dolphins linebacker playing at a high level.

Jordyn Brooks has yet to miss a tackle through three games, according to Pro Football Focus, making him one of just three linebackers in the NFL without a miss so far. PFF currently gives Brooks a 76.6 overall grade, while his 78.4 run-defense grade ranks sixth and his 82.8 pass-rush grade ranks fourth among qualified linebackers. 

That level of tackling reliability shouldn’t be surprising.

Brooks earned first-team All-Pro honors last season after leading the NFL with 183 total tackles, including 99 solo stops. Miami rewarded him with a three-year extension during the offseason, making it clear he would remain one of the foundational pieces of the rebuild. 

Now Miami may have found the perfect player beside him. Rodriguez already has 28 tackles through three games and followed his huge NFL debut with six tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception against Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City. 

My Take

The Dolphins are 0-3, so there hasn’t been much to celebrate.

Their linebacker room is becoming the exception.

Rodriguez looks like a potential Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, while Brooks continues to play like one of the NFL’s most dependable veterans.

That combination gives Miami something extremely valuable during a rebuild: two linebackers who could anchor the middle of Jeff Hafley’s defense for years.

Rodriguez may be the exciting new name, but Brooks is quietly reminding everyone that Miami already had an elite linebacker in the building.