[jwplayer WVjORAVL-ThvAeFxT]
The Seattle Seahawks shocked the world in the 2020 NFL draft, electing not to trade down and keeping their original first-round pick for the first time since 2011.
Seattle used the pick to take Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
Brooks is an elite tackler, leading the Red Raiders in tackles in three of his four collegiate seasons, finishing seventh in school history in total tackles.
His numbers were absolutely jaw-dropping in 2019, as the weakside linebacker recorded 108 total tackles, including a BIG-12 leading 20 tackles for loss. In fact, Brooks’ skill set has drawn comparisons to a linebacker Seahawks fans will be familiar with – Bobby Wagner.
Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells called Jordyn Brooks the "next Bobby Wagner" which he would know since he coaches Wagner at Utah State.
I think Seahawks fans would sign up for that.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) April 24, 2020
However, Brooks doesn’t immediately fill a need on this roster. K.J. Wright is still under contract and coming off a renaissance season in 2019, and with Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven on hand as reserves, it’s hard to imagine where Brooks will fit in at least right away.
Additionally, while Brooks excels in run coverage, he’s a liability in pass protection – an issue that plagued Seattle’s linebacker group last season as they stubbornly stayed with their base 4-3 defense, which forces the linebackers to play more in pass coverage.
With LSU star linebacker Patrick Queen still on the board, and with most projecting Brooks to go later in the second round, it’s hard to fathom why Seattle did not trade back to take Brooks with a later pick.
Of course, that option may not have presented itself, and the Seahawks may have a different idea of what they plan to do with Brooks in the short and/or long term.
Seattle will have plenty more picks to make on Friday and Saturday, with things kicking off Friday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m. PT.
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