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Seahawks quick reaction NFL Draft grades: Jordyn Brooks

By Lee Vowell

LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Jordyn Brooks #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders on the field during warmups before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma State Cowboys on September 30, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Oklahoma State won the game 41-34. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Jordyn Brooks #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders on the field during warmups before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma State Cowboys on September 30, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Oklahoma State won the game 41-34. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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With their first pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the Seahawks chose linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Was this a wise decision for Seattle?

The Seahawks, for once, did not trade back down or out of the first round of an NFL draft. Still, they pulled a surprise and chose linebacker Jordyn Brooks from Texas Tech. The question isn’t whether Brooks is a good player, he is. But does he fit a position of need for Seattle?

Seattle has a recent history of overthinking their first round picks. L.J. Collier in 2019 has been a bust so far. Rashaad Penny was the first pick in 2018 and he has been inconsistent. But Brooks? He is not a pass rusher by any means. At least he wasn’t in college. But he is really fast. In fact, he is fast enough to probably take the place of K.J. Wright and that might be the key to this pick.

As a senior in 2019, Brooks had 20 tackles for loss. 20! That is a bunch of plays where he is getting into the backfield of opposing teams and making them unhappy. But Brooks had just 3 sacks in 2019 and that was his most of any season during his college years.

At the NFL combine, Brooks ran a 4.54 40. There is no doubt that he can run with speed and maybe this is what the Seahawks loved about him. In 2013 and 2014, Seattle’s defenses were built on speed and this is what made them so good. But in 2020, Seattle needs guys who can get to the opposing quarterback and Brooks doesn’t fit this.

My assumption is that if Seattle sees Brooks as the replacement for Wright, then Wright will be cut and save the Seahawks nearly $7 million in cap space. This cap space could then be used to re-signed Jadeveon Clowney and maybe add Everson Griffen. But if cutting a player or two wasn’t in the plan for Seattle, then I am unsure of the reason of taking Brooks.

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Here is my biggest issue with the Seahawks picking Brooks. He could have been taken in the second round, just like Collier could have last year. Seattle appears to have wasted a first round choice on a player they could have had later in the draft. And Brooks doesn’t fill the Seahawks biggest need: Pass rusher.

Grade: C

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