The Green Bay Packers had a major need on the interior defensive line entering the 2023 NFL Draft. Scouting, stacking, and developing talent to take the pressure off two-time Pro Bowler Kenny Clark seems to be a never-ending cycle for the organization in the early stages of every offseason. In April, the Packers addressed the issue by adding Lukas Van Ness in the first round, Colby Wooden in the fourth, and Karl Brooks in the sixth.
Despite being the third (and last) defensive lineman picked in the Packers class, Brooks has all the components to be a solid contributor in his rookie year. His production, versatility, and durability stand out for a late-round selection. Last year, in his best statistical season at Bowling Green, he recorded 50 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and two forced fumbles, There is some inclination to shrug off his production based on the level of competition he faced in college. However, all of his strengths are translatable to the NFL level.
Mike Daniels, the former defensive lineman for the Packers, shared his thoughts on the selection:
At 6’3”, 303 lbs., Brooks is a big man who can do it all on the line of scrimmage. The former first-team all-MAC has put some eyebrow-raising moments on film at the interior and edge positions. He has active hands-on pass-rush sets and outstanding agility for a defensive tackle, and he utilizes a quick first step to build momentum as a bull-rusher. He can drive through contact from different angles and has the speed to be a playmaker in backside pursuit.
The former Falcon is a high-effort player from the snap to whistle. Brooks has an excellent feel for working off blockers and knowing how and when to counter as the play goes on. For such a big man, he has plenty of weapons in his arsenal, using spin and swim moves to get away from opposing blockers. Additionally, his quickness to react and locate the ball can come in handy when preventing explosive plays. It’s important to acknowledge that he was voted as a two-time team captain with Bowling Green, which can speak to a certain volume about his presence and leadership in the locker room.
The Packers have a young and inexperienced defensive line following the free-agent departures of Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry. The group consists of veteran Clark, second-year players Wyatt and Ford, third-year player T.J. Slaton, and Chris Slayton, and the 2023 rookies in Van Ness, Wooden, and Brooks. Overall, it’s a young core of players who have not seen a ton of NFL action to this point, if at all. As a matter of fact, only three defensive linemen on the active roster have played in an NFL game (Clark, Wyatt, and Slaton). Kenny Clark, the leader of the group, will have a large role in the upcoming season. He will not only be the skilled disruptive player that he is but a vocal leader and mentor to the youngsters.
Defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery was emphatic at the start of OTAs on the necessity of throwing some young guys to the fire:
“Whoever those guys are that are in those roles need to step up,” Montgomery said. “You lose two starters, you’ve got to replace them. Those guys that left were really good players.”
According to ESPN, the Green Bay Packers will face only three teams that finished inside the top 10 on both pass-block and run-block win rate rankings: the Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs, the Chicago Bears, and the Denver Broncos. They will also face three opponents that finished in the bottom 10 in the same categories when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers and play the New York Giants on the road.
How can Karl Brooks make an immediate impact on the field?
It all starts with the run defense. In 2022, Green Bay’s defense allowed five yards per carry, which ranked 28th in the NFL. They also allowed 139.5 yards per game and finished 31st in rush defense DVOA. Brooks can help by providing power and the ability to engage multiple blockers simultaneously, a trait that runs deep in his arsenal.
Joe Barry can exploit that to create one-on-one matchups on the inside for Clark and Wyatt, who is expected to make a leap in Year 2. If Barry wants to go even deeper, he can strategize around Brooks’ capacity to confuse opposing blocking schemes and tendencies with his spin and swim moves. That scenario opens a door for linebackers to attack unblocked gaps on the line of scrimmage and capitalize on no gain or negative yardage plays.
Brooks’ mental toughness is one underrated aspect of his game. His willingness to never quit until the whistle blows can play a crucial factor for his position group. He will provide energy, focus, and resiliency to a unit that has underperformed in recent memory. Matt LaFleur stated in past interviews his intentions to find players with the “dawg mentality” who can sail between the mix of confidence and swagger and translate it to performance on the field.
It’s unclear how much playing time Brooks will get in his rookie year. But if he can embrace and learn from the inevitable growing pains, and if the Packers are willing to rally around him, creating a proper plan and developing the player to maximize his talent, Green Bay could have a solid defensive player for the foreseeable future.
