Reviewing Packers 2023 Draft Class: IDL Karl Brooks
By Paul Bretl
It’s on to Round 6 in my review of the Green Bay Packers’ 2023 draft class. Up next is versatile interior defensive lineman Karl Brooks, at pick 179, from Bowling Green.
In this series, I am taking a closer look at each of the Packers’ draft picks, starting with their measurables, diving into the college stats that you need to know, and their fit on the team. I also have draft day quotes from Brian Gutekunst and other members of the Packers, as well as a pre-draft scouting report from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.
If you’ve missed any of the previous reviews, you can find them below.
Karl Brooks, IDL, Bowling Green
Measurements
6’3″ | 303 | RAS: 5.87
Brooks is a bit on the smaller side for an interior defender, but according to GM Brian Gutekunst, that won’t stop the Packers from lining him up inside. From a Relative Athletic Score perspective, Brooks is well below the typical 8.0 threshold that Green Bay has adhered to, but the interior defensive line – along with tight end – is one position where there really hasn’t been a pattern when it comes to using athletic testing as a guide to who may or may not interest the Packers. Devonte Wyatt posted an elite RAS, while TJ Slaton and Kingsley Keke were below 8.0, and Jonathan Ford scored below 4.0.
Stats to Know
Two words to describe Brooks are versatile and dominant. Brooks has five years of playing experience, totaling 2,394 career defensive snaps. Like Colby Wooden, Brooks played up and down the defensive front, spending 211 snaps lined up in the B-gap, according to PFF, along with another 718 over the offensive tackle, and 1,441 as a big edge rusher. He would record 36 pressures and eight sacks in 2021, but was nearly unstoppable In 2022, recording 63 pressures and 12 sacks. Brooks would rank first in PFF’s run defense grade and sixth in their pass-rush win rate metric. He finished his career with 46.5 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles.
Fit with Packers
Early on anyways, Brooks is likely going to be used mostly in obvious passing situations, and someone the Packers can line up in a variety of gaps, given his versatility. However, it’s not as if the Packers don’t have a shortage of pass rush options along the interior. Green Bay already has Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt, Wooden could fill a similar role as Brooks, and Lukas Van Ness will probably see some inside pass rush snaps as well. What the Packers need are more early down run defenders to join TJ Slaton. Of course, Clark will be used in that capacity as well, but he can’t regularly play 100% of the defensive snaps either. Brooks can earn more playing time by proving that he can hold up against the run. Rather than playing inside on these early downs, perhaps the Packers line him up as a big edge defender where his job will be to set a strong edge and contain the run.
The Packers said it
Milt Hendrickson – Director of Football Operations
"“What he (Brooks) was able to display, even against the MAC, and not to knock the MAC, but there were times you turned on the tape and he was man amongst boys. And when you see players from non Power 5, or FCS schools, you want to see them dominate, and when you put on the tape, you see that player dominate.”"
Pre-draft scouting report
"“The inclination to shrug off Brooks’ production based on level of competition — or because of questions about his positional fit — might be a mistake. Brooks’ snap quickness, footwork, hand usage and motor are all translatable play qualities. His movement and counters are intuitive, allowing for quick access into the backfield. Against the pass, he frequently beat tackles as a bull rusher off the edge. Brooks has the size of a three-technique but the versatility and athleticism to move around a defensive front. He flashes disruptive, three-down talent as a future starter in a one-gap scheme.” – Lance Zierlein, NFL.com"