The Green Bay Packers reportedly have included defensive tackle Karl Brooks on the list of players they want to keep long term, and this is music to my ears. Brooks has been one of my favorite players on this roster since the moment Green Bay drafted him, and now the question becomes: What does the Cheeseheads Brazil legend need to do to earn that extension?
The Packers took Karl Brooks in the sixth round out of Bowling Green in 2023. He’s now entering the final year of his rookie deal and is already eligible to sign a new contract extension. That said, if an agreement is reached, the most likely timeline would fall somewhere between the regular season and shortly before the start of the 2027 league year.
Brooks has been a reliable player for Green Bay, even though he has never fully cracked the starting lineup. As someone who has watched his game closely over the last few years, I think he’s a very good rotational pass rusher who does an excellent job keeping offensive linemen from getting their hands on him.
On the other hand, he has had some struggles against the run, which makes sense considering he’s a bit undersized compared to the prototypical defensive linemen Brian Gutekunst usually targets in the draft. Even so, players with Brooks’ versatility and pass-rushing ability still carry a lot of value in today’s NFL, especially in complementary roles.
I also don’t believe Green Bay will have to dig deep into the wallet to re-sign Brooks. He has spent his career as a depth piece rather than a full-time starter, which should help keep his market at a reasonable number despite his production. When thinking about a potential contract, I could see something similar to the deal the New York Jets gave Kingsley Enagbare in free agency: one year worth around $10 million. Players like Brooks may not headline a defense, but productive role players along the defensive line still carry value.
Javon Hargrave is a short-term addition at this stage of his career, while Devonte Wyatt is already 28 years old. Green Bay also added Chris McClellan in the draft, and I thought that was a solid move, but aside from McClellan and Brooks, the long-term outlook for the interior defensive line still has little to show for itself. That’s another reason why keeping Brooks around on a reasonable deal would make a lot of sense.
Additionally, it’s interesting how McClellan and Brooks complement each other stylistically. Brooks is more of a quick interior pass rusher who wins with leverage and movement. Meanwhile, McClellan profiles as the bigger-bodied defensive lineman who can help more against the run, even though he still offers some value as a pass rusher himself.
Because of that, the two could end up fitting together very nicely long term, giving Green Bay a pair of defensive linemen with different skillsets that balance each other out up front.
Keeping players like Karl Brooks around is exactly how Green Bay has sustained success for years. Not every important piece on a roster needs to be a superstar or a household name. Sometimes, the difference between having good depth and having a complete defensive front comes down to retaining productive players who understand the system and consistently do their jobs.
