The Seattle Seahawks shocked a lot of people with their performance during the 2022 season. Many presumed they were heading into a rebuild, but instead, they are now on the path to becoming contenders. After going 9-8 and earning a Wild Card spot, Seattle is in a great position this offseason.
The Seahawks have a ton of draft capital courtesy of the Denver Broncos from the Russell Wilson trade last offseason. There are building blocks on both sides of the ball so that the future is bright as well.
One of those building blocks is linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Brooks was selected No. 27 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He showed some real flashes as a rookie, recording 57 tackles, two tackles for loss and having two passes defended in 14 games, six starts. After that, things really took off.
Brooks led the NFL with 109 solo tackles in 2021, recording an eye-popping 184 total tackles. He had 10 tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, one sack and five passes defended in what was a breakout season. In 2022, he saw his role increase even more as long-time starter Bobby Wagner was released and signed with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Texas Tech product was having another wonderful season, recording 161 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits with one sack and five passes defended. But, he tore his ACL in the second to last game of the season against the New York Jets.
That injury is the only thing giving the Seahawks pause about exercising Brooks’ fifth-year option on his rookie contract. His option is worth $12,722,000 because of a playing time escalator. Wagner is returning to Seattle this season and will help compensate for Brooks’ loss if he cannot return to the field in time for Week 1.
Despite the injury, PFF predicts that the Seahawks will exercise the fifth-year option on his deal and it is hard to argue against that. Brooks’s PFF grade of 52.5 ranks only 84th out of 144 players, but his impact on the team is hard to ignore. His PFF WAR paints a better picture of that, as his 0.58 is 16th.
While Wagner is still playing at a high level, Brooks is the future at off-ball linebacker in Seattle. Watching those two play together again at some point during the 2023 season will help get this defense back on track and make the team even more dangerous than they were last year.
