Let’s get ready for this week’s 2023 NFL Draft. We have you covered with all of our NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles for this year’s class. Here’s a look at Karl Brooks.
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2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Karl Brooks (DL – Bowling Green)
Karl Brooks (DL – Bowling Green)
6’3″ – 296 lbs.
Background:
Weighed just 220 pounds as a high school linebacker, but has been a major contributor for the Falcons for the past five years, taking over a starting role by the third week of the 2018 season, a year in which he finished with 32-4.5-3.5. Production expanded to 33-8.5-4.5 the following year, but was limited to just three of the team’s five games played in the shortened 2020 season (10-2.5-2.0) before rebounding with two excellent seasons to conclude his collegiate career: 42-12.5-7.5 in 2021 and 50-18.0-10.0 in 2022.
Positives:
Four-year starter with escalating production culminating in two strong campaigns to close out his career, playing a high percentage of the team’s snaps. Has added a ton of bulk to his frame over his college career and is well-built for a pro defensive lineman, typically lining up as a five-technique end in school, but also slides inside and even takes some snaps out of a two-point stance. Has plenty of lower-body strength to hold the point of attack when two-gapping. Heavy, active hands allow him to discard blockers and make stops in the run game. Reads keys well and can anticipate the play direction and make tackles in the backfield; shows impressive overall understanding of the game and a strong ability to locate the football. Flashes the ability to knife between gaps with a rip move, with a quick first step for a player with his size. Works hard to get out toward the sidelines in pursuit when defending against outside runs and screens. Shows the ability to convert speed to power when working on stunts/twists. Has a powerful bull rush to walk back opposing linemen, especially when rushing off the edge. Gets his hands up to contest passing lanes.
Negatives:
Spent five years in school, so is slightly over-aged. A little bit taller than your typical defensive tackle, and can play upright at times. Could be more active with his lower body at times when defending on the edge; more consistent leg drive would allow him to walk back opposing blockers. Inside moves can undermine the team’s run fits on occasion when lining up on the edge.
Summary:
One of the most well-rounded defensive line prospects in this year’s class, he combines excellent size and strength with a quick first step, active hands, and impressive football intelligence, traits which allowed him to play all over Bowling Green’s defensive front. Should be able to play many of the same roles at the next level, fitting in either even or odd fronts, but might be best as a five-technique end on a three-man line with two-gap principles. Looked like a second-round talent on tape, even in a relatively strong defensive line class, although it’s possible his disappointing pre-draft workouts cause him to slip.
Projection: Round 3
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