The Green Bay Packers are one of the youngest teams in the NFL this year. While this typically means that there are multiple serious questions surrounding the team, this is not the case in Green Bay. Sure, there are questions regarding some starting spots and some of the depth at other positions is questionable. However, the fact of the matter is that the young Packers are stacked with talent that has shown that they are going to be exciting players for years to come.
When discussing which of these young players is going to have a breakout season, many people identify wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks. The second-year pass catcher was a huge fan favorite last year due to his great route running, reminding many of former Packers wide receiver Davante Adams. He finished his rookie season with 39 receptions for 581 yards and four touchdowns.
While Wicks may certainly take a big jump this season and could emerge as Green Bay’s next number one wide receiver, one Packers insider named a different player who could have a breakout season in his second year in the league.
Green Bay Packers Insider Thinks Karl Brooks Will Have a Breakout Year in 2024
In a recent mailbag article, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic was asked which Packers player he thought was going to have a breakout season this year. While acknowledging that Wicks would be the popular pick, he threw out the name Karl Brooks, the second-year defensive lineman:
“I’ll go with Karl Brooks instead. With four sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, four passes defensed and six tackles for loss as a rookie sixth-round pick, he could be in line for a big jump in the defensive line rotation.”
Brooks was a sixth-round pick out of Bowling Green by the Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft. The spot in which he was selected, the 179th overall pick, did not belong to the Packers going into the draft. Brian Gutekunst acquired the 179th overall pick along with a second-round pick (50th overall) when he traded the 48th overall selection to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Of course, Green Bay used the 50th overall pick on wide receiver Jayden Reed.
Green Bay Packers Defensive Lineman Karl Brooks Is in for a Big Year
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Schneidman listed Brooks stats for his rookie season above. They certainly were promising for a rookie, but they become even more impressive when one looks at how little Brooks was on the field.
Last season, Brooks played just 34% of the defense’s snaps. He was also playing within Joe Barry’s scheme, which was very complicated and hard for players to understand.
This year, a switch to a 4-3 defensive front will open up a more playing time for Brooks. Furthermore, new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley wants his front seven to be more aggressive and create havoc in the backfield.
Increased playing time and a more aggressive system could lead to a massive leap for the second-year pro.
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