Buccaneers don't have to look too far down the road for a possible impact last-minute trade deadline pickup
The NFL Trade deadline is now a little over 24 hours away, and deals are finally starting to take place. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have yet to move, but there are options that could be there to help give their roster a shot in the arm as they enter the second half of the season.
One possible trade partner is down the interstate a bit and has already shown a willingness to deal key players - the Miami Dolphins. At 2-7, the Dolphins are in sell mode, and they just proved that by trading edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles for a third-round pick.
If the Dolphins are willing to entertain moving Brooks, Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht should be picking up the phone and dialing Dolphins interim general manager Champ Kelly about a deal.
The Bucs should consider trading for Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks before the deadline
The Bucs' linebacker group is one that the team is going to have to look at with both a short- and long-term lens. Lavonte David is not having a great season in year 14. Pro Football Focus has given him a career-low 55.8 overall defensive grade and credits him with allowing 31 catches on 35 targets in pass defense with a 115.7 opposing passer rating when targeted. He also has a missed tackle rate of 18.3% per PFF, his highest career rate thus far, with 11 missed tackles attributed to him. At some point - and likely soon - Tampa Bay will need to fill his shoes and move ahead.
SirVocea Dennis has had an even rougher go of things in 2025. He has a PFF grade of 45.9 with a 29.1 coverage mark and has allowed 36 catches on 40 targets for an opposing passer rating of 125.4. He also has a missed tackle rate of 13.9% with 9 missed tackles credited to him.
A sideline-to-sideline missile, Brooks' strength has been in tackling and in the run game this season with an 80.8 tackling mark (5.2% missed tackle percentage) and a 77.1 run defense mark. He also has generated 11 pressures and 2.5 sacks, something that comes in handy in an aggressive defensive gameplan that Todd Bowles often likes to employ.
I touched base with A to Z Sports Miami writer Kyle Crabbs to get his take on Brooks and what it might take to acquire him.
"Jordyn Brooks will be one of the tougher assets to pry away from Miami for a few reasons. First and foremost, he's a team captain and leader who has played at or above expectation since arriving in Miami in 2024. As a player who is under contract for 2026, Brooks has a longer appeal as compared to a stripping down of a player on a rental.
If Miami were to trade Brooks, it would be hard to imagine it costing less than another top-100 draft choice. With one and a half years of cost-friendly control on his contract as a do-it-all linebacker in the prime of his career, this should be one that Miami isn't eager to give away. That should be considered the biggest difference versus the team's decision to ship out pass rusher Jaelan Phillips on Monday morning.
You want Jordyn Brooks, you're going to have to pay for it."
Shocking Turn of Events: Lions Cut Two Highly-Talented Rookies After Wild Night Out — Head Coach Drops Bombshell Message!
In an unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves through the NFL, two highly-touted rookies from the Detroit Lions were cut from the team just hours after being caught in a wild late-night party. The incident, which involved the players partying into the early morning hours, led to their shocking release by head coach Dan Campbell.
Sources close to the team revealed that the players showed up late and visibly hungover to practice the next day, sparking outrage among teammates and coaching staff. Campbell, known for his fiery leadership and no-excuses mentality, wasted no time taking swift action — leaving everyone questioning: What kind of behavior can we expect from the Lions now?
Coach Campbell's Blunt Reaction:
“It’s not just about talent. This is about doing things the right way, and that means respecting the game, your teammates, and your commitment to being a pro.”
“What happened last night is unacceptable. We’re here to build a championship culture, not to be out partying like it’s spring break!”
The head coach’s blistering comments have sparked a firestorm of debate, with fans and analysts divided on whether Campbell went too far. Some argue that cutting young, promising players over a single lapse in judgment could be a drastic overreaction. Others claim that Campbell's move was absolutely necessary to maintain the “winning culture” the Lions have worked so hard to build.
But it’s not just Campbell’s comments that have made headlines — it’s the players themselves, whose sudden release has fans buzzing. The rookies, who were expected to play pivotal roles in the Lions' season, are now left without a team, with rumors swirling that they could be picked up by rival teams desperate for talent.
Lions' Team Leaders React
One veteran player, Jared Goff, spoke up on the matter:
“No one is above the team. We’ve worked too hard for this moment, and if you can’t stay focused, you’re out. Simple as that.”
Fans on social media are split, with some praising Campbell’s leadership, while others slam him for exaggerating the consequences of the party. It’s a conversation that’s only just begun, and the fallout could shake up the entire NFL landscape.
Could this bold move be the beginning of a dynasty for the Lions? Or did Campbell just alienate future stars for the sake of discipline?
Stay tuned for more details — and buckle up, because the Lions drama is just getting started!
