The Seattle Seahawks made a notable move earlier in the week when they declined to pick up linebacker Jordyn Brooks’ fifth year option. By doing so, they have made the upcoming 2023 season a contract year for the young Texas Tech alum, all while coming off an ACL injury suffered late last year.
Normally, not picking up the fifth year option for a first round pick might signal a team’s intentions of moving off the player. But if you ask Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, this does not seem to be the situation. When asked about Brooks, Carroll was his usual optimistic self when discussing Brooks’ future in the Emerald City.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says on @ChuckAndBuckKJR show that Jordyn Brooks "has gone a long, long future'' with the Seahawks and that "we expect Jordyn to be with us for a long time.'' But that "we've got to orchestrate the way we move forward.''
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) May 3, 2023
Perhaps it really is as simple as wanting to find a way to keep Brooks around under a new contract free of the rookie structure. Cynics might say this is Carroll simply staying true to his optimistic brand and not admitting the Seahawks are looking for a way out.
Whatever the reason may be, one thing is certain: Jordyn Brooks is going to face an uphill battle to remain in Seattle. Not only will he try to prove to the team who drafted him he still belongs in their plans, but simultaneously prove the injury hasn’t slowed him down while searching for a new contract.
Projecting the Seahawks starting lineup after the 2023 NFL draft