Karl Brooks was a top-ten rookie in sacks, QB hits, hurries, batted passes, and stops. He was Green Bay’s highest-rated defender in the playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Brooks surpassed expectations as a sixth-round pick. In February, he revealed during the Cheeseheads Brazil podcast that he had hoped for a Day 2 draft selection. When he finally got the draft call on day 3, a sense of relief washed over him.
He saw action in 378 defensive snaps last season, accumulating 25 total pressures, 4 sacks, 4 QB hits, and 17 hurries. Additionally, he ranked second among rookie defensive linemen in deflected passes. Brooks also tallied 12 tackles for loss and forced a turnover. Heading into year 2, these numbers could significantly increase, along with his playing time.
During a play against the Los Angeles Chargers, LA adjusted their protection scheme to Brooks' side. Despite this, he found himself in a one-on-one situation and effortlessly maneuvered past the right guard to sack Justin Herbert. This particular play highlights one of Brooks' best traits: offensive linemen usually have a hard time getting their hands on him, and Brooks is often able to generate pressure from the interior of the offensive line, which is a nightmare for quarterbacks.
The Packers are shifting to a 4-3 defense under Jeff Hafley, who has emphasized his desire for a defense that aggressively attacks both the ball and the line of scrimmage. This more assertive scheme aligns well with Brooks' strengths as a pass rusher, offering him greater opportunities to disrupt plays in the backfield. Moreover, Green Bay's upcoming schedule features matchups against 5 out of the 10 teams with the lowest pass-blocking grades and 4 out of the 10 teams with the lowest run-blocking grades from last year. With 25 pressures and 4 sacks in 2023, it wouldn't be surprising if Brooks were able to double his production.
Brooks also benefits from rotating on a robust defensive line. Kenny Clark is coming off a career-high 7.5 sacks last year, while Devonte Wyatt totaled 45 pressures and 5.5 sacks last season. Rashan Gary and Preston Smith combined for 17 sacks and 105 pressures. Opposing offenses will need to gameplan for all these players, undoubtedly leaving Brooks with favorable one-on-one matchups. Moreover, it will be interesting to see how Hafley plans to use him. Will Brooks play more as a defensive end? Will he be lining up inside on 3rd-and-long situations? The unpredictability of how Brooks will be used could be one of the x-factors for his second-season leap.
Karl Brooks is poised to be even more disruptive in his second year, benefiting from greater familiarity with NFL speed and a system that accentuates his aggressive style. Packers fans have every reason to believe he will emerge as a reliable starter in Green Bay's lineup by the end of 2024.
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