Seahawks stay at 27, draft Texas Tech LB Jordyn Brooks

Apr 23, 2020, 9:14 PM | Updated: 10:47 pm

The Seahawks surprised everyone with their pick of Jordyn Brooks in the first round. (Getty)

(Getty)

Seattle Sports

For the first time since the 2011 NFL Draft, the Seahawks kept their original first-round pick, and they used it to select Jordyn Brooks, a linebacker from Texas Tech.

Instant reaction: 710 ESPN Seattle on Seahawks 1st-rounder Jordyn Brooks

Brooks finished his collegiate career as a Second-Team All American after recording 103 tackles and 20 tackles for loss along with 3 sacks. During his four-year career with the Red Raiders, where he played predominately at middle linebacker, Brooks had 367 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. During his time at Texas Tech, Brooks was named to All-Big 12 teams all four years.

Brooks measured in at 6 feet even and 240 pounds. Additionally, he has long arms (32 and 7/8 inches) and ran the seventh-fastest 40-yard dash time among all linebackers invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this year.

With the 27th pick…

Welcome to Seattle, @JordynBrooks_! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/HLoFdBzWnl

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 24, 2020

The move is a bit of a surprise as not only was the Seahawks’ biggest need heading into the draft at pass rush, but Seattle didn’t move from the 27th pick and ultimately made a selection. Most had thought that the team would be trying to trade down to either later in the first round or in the second round.

Brock Huard, co-host of 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock and Salk and a FOX college football analyst, was surprised by the pick, but thinks the Seahawks made a good selection at 27. Huard was supposed to watch Brooks play at the end of the season, but he was inactive with a shoulder injury.

Get to know him, @Seahawks fans.@JordynBrooks_ is the complete package. 🤩

🔴#WreckEm⚫️ pic.twitter.com/N7DR903GiS

— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) April 24, 2020

“I was bummed I was not going to see him play because he was a tackling machine,” Huard said. “Texas Tech isn’t known for defense, but this is the only thumper. This is the only speed guy … If we want thump and we want tackling on this Seattle defense and is vicious and has a nose for the football, you’re going to find it out of Lubbock, Texas.”

Former NFL linebacker Dave Wyman thought it was a classic Seahawks draft pick in the sense of how surprising it was.

“This is such a (Seahawks general manager) John Schneider move because nobody would have thought that he would take him here,” Wyman said. “If you watch him play, he’s incredibly tenacious. He’s a bulldog … he just made every play on the field.”

The Seahawks have an All-Pro at linebacker in Bobby Wagner and also have veteran K.J. Wright and 2019 draft picks Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven. Despite some solid linebackers, the defense was one of the worst in football. Huard thinks Seahawks fans disappointed by the pick will turn around soon enough.

“I know Seahawks fans are going to freak out, but they’re going to go to YouTube and watch the tape and go, ‘Oh my gosh, this guy runs and hits.’ And you know what their defense didn’t do last year? Run and hit,” Huard said.

RUN & HIT

It’s where the Seahawks took big steps backwards the last 2 years. if they address that need w/every pick in this draft they’ll be a better team for it

Thump
Violence
Speed

Jordyn Brooks checks those boxes. I don’t think we knew the name Bobby Wagner in ‘12 either

— Brock Huard (@BrockHuard) April 24, 2020

John Clayton said the move reminds him of 2019 second-round pick Marquise Blair, as Brooks may not be tasked with starting right away.

“Cody Barton can move and K.J. Wright at his age can still move, so is there any way you’re going to see him on the field?” Clayton asked.

Huard thinks the move signals the end of K.J. Wright’s time in Seattle, whether that’s before the 2020 season or after.

“It will be interesting coming out of this what they do contractually and everything else,” he said.

And though a new starting linebacker wasn’t the top priority, Huard thinks Brooks does add a much-needed tenacity to the Seahawks’ defense.

“You could not run or hit. You did not have thump on your defense,” Huard said. “…You are no longer violent … and this guy will be more violent than Cody Barton, more violent than K.J. Wright at this stage of the game when he gets on the field than those guys simply because of his ability to run and hit.”

Next up for the Seahawks, they have two picks in the second round, starting at 59th overall and soon after at pick 64. The draft resumes at 4 p.m. Friday with the second and third rounds.

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