The Seattle Seahawks shocked everyone twice on Thursday night. First, they didn’t trade down like they usually do and second, they took a player at a position they didn’t need in linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Don’t get me wrong, Brooks isn’t a bad player. He is a solid linebacker and will most likely have a career in the NFL. The 6’0 240lb linebacker out of Texas Tech comes to the Seahawks with plenty of speed and tackling prowess and that in of itself will have value.
However, there is a pile up at the linebacker position and one wonders how, when, and where he will get a chance to play. With Bobby Wagner at the middle position, flanked by KJ Wright and Bruce Irvin, it leaves Brooks to battle it out for backup time with Cody Barton, Mychal Kendricks (currently a FA but expected back), and Ben Burr-Kirvan. While Kendricks future may be up in the air (due to legal issues) and Brooks seemingly to be more talented than BBK, then it seems like a backup position for the next couple of year at least seems to be in the cards for the Red Raider.
“A tackling machine,” said ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. when asked about Brooks after the pick was made, noting his 4.54 40-yard time at the combine piqued the interest of a number of teams.
Viewed as a 2nd rounder on most boards, Brooks has size to spare and good closing speed. He is quick to diagnose the run and can maneuver around blocks. He is exceptionally skilled at shadowing running backs out of the backfield and has excellent lateral movement.
Brooks did struggle against top tier colleges like Oklahoma and gets gassed when left in too long. He does not have a history of edge pass rush and struggles when asked to cover in zone defense.
Brooks seems like a solution to push Cody Barton for KJ Wright’s outside linebacker role after Wright’s (and Kendrick’s) contracts run out. Or if in some move to completely rebuild this team, he makes sense to replace Bobby Wagner and his $18 million contract. However, for a team that seems ready to challenge now, this pick is a luxury. And it is a luxury that could easily be addressed in later rounds as pass rush, the defensive backfield, and WR corps all could use some bolstering.
