In the second installment of my three-part series highlighting overlooked contributors on the 2024 Green Bay Packers, I will take a closer look at second-year defensive lineman Karl Brooks. A product of Bowling Green, Brooks was a surprise standout as a rookie last season after the Packers selected him in the sixth round with the 179th-overall pick.
While Bowling Green, a member of the MAC, is not necessarily known as a football powerhouse, Brooks managed to put up some impressive numbers throughout his five-year career with the Falcons. In his collegiate career, Brooks totaled 167 tackles, 46 of which were for a loss, 27.5 sacks, one interception, five pass deflections, five forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He was named third-team All-Conference at the end of the 2021 season and first-team All-Conference at the end of 2022, propelling him toward a professional career with Green Bay. Brooks was undoubtedly one of the highlights of a stacked 2023 Packers draft class.
As a rookie, he played in every game — including the postseason — and totaled 23 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and four pass deflections. The imposing No. 94 produced 30 pressures on his 309 pass-rushing snaps. He also had multiple pressures in 10 games, including five in his breakout game, the Packers’ Thanksgiving win over the Detroit Lions, four in the divisional round loss to San Francisco, and three in the Week 18 victory over the Chicago Bears. Brooks became the first Green Bay rookie to register four-plus sacks and multiple fumble recoveries in a season since linebacker Clay Matthews in 2009. He also blocked a field goal on special teams, making his presence felt on the third unit as well.
That’s impressive production from a rookie sixth-round backup defensive lineman from the MAC. Brooks started to come on strong at the end of the season, putting up some of his best performances when it mattered most. He finished the last game of the season, the Divisional Round loss to the 49ers, as the Packers’ highest-graded player, according to PFF, with a whopping 90.7. Such a strong finish to his rookie season should propel him to a larger role in 2024.
You could make a pretty strong case that Brooks was the most impressive rookie out of last year’s loaded class not named Reed, Wicks, or Valentine, due to his production and durability. He’s gaining recognition around the league. Brooks was one of two Packers, along with Luke Musgrave, to make CBS Sports’ “NFL All-Breakdown” team for defensive linemen.
So, where does Brooks fit coming into his sophomore season in the NFL? The defensive line is probably the easiest position on the roster to sort out, as the Packers will likely enter 2024 with the same five down linemen they played last year. Kenny Clark is the anchor of the group, joined by Devonte Wyatt, T.J. Slaton, fellow 2023 draft pick Colby Wooden, and Brooks.
With Brooks’ versatility allowing him to play outside defensive end and inside defensive tackle in this new system, Green Bay might have the opportunity to carry one fewer edge rusher, going with four total, and stash another player at a different position. The Packers love interchangeable players who can man multiple spots, especially along the offensive and defensive lines. Brooks certainly fits that bill. While he is not the world’s best run stuffer, his ability to shoot gaps and gain quick separation from offensive linemen could help him get into more backfields and meet runners before they reach the line of scrimmage.
The Packers have struggled for years to generate consistent pressure from the interior, relying heavily on Kenny Clark. They have been looking for someone to line up next to Clark and help remove the opponent’s focus on the Pro Bowler. The team even spent a first-round pick on Devonte Wyatt, hoping he could fit that role. However, Brooks arguably finished last season as the team’s second-best pass rusher among defensive linemen. He ranked in the top 10 among rookies in sacks, hurries, QB hits, and pressures, tallying a respectable 10.3% pressure rate, all in limited playing time.
New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s system emphasizes playing more aggressively and attacking, so it’s fair to expect that Green Bay will want to get its best pass rushers on the field more often, leading to a likely increased workload for Brooks. Hafley has spoken about his desire to have his defensive line consistently penetrate the line of scrimmage and be disruptive in the backfield. Brooks was only on the field for 34% of the defensive snaps last year, with the team wary of putting too much on his plate early in his career. After all, the jump in competition from the MAC to the NFL is significant, but he has shown a penchant for the skill set the DC craves.
To win games in the NFL in 2024 — and, more importantly, to win championships — you need to generate a consistent pass rush, make the quarterback uncomfortable by moving him off his spot, and create turnovers. You also need depth, especially along the trenches, which this Packers team possesses up and down the roster, especially along the defensive front. With a loaded edge-rusher room that runs at least four deep with Gary, Smith, Van Ness, and Enagbare, plus Clark and former first-round pick Wyatt alongside him on the defensive line, Brooks could find himself with many favorable one-on-one matchups, setting him up for a productive season.
Brooks has a track record of getting better year after year in college. Suppose he can make a similar jump heading into his second year in the NFL, proving he can consistently get into the backfield and be a disruptive force. He could be the missing piece the Packers have searched for on defense for years.
