Despite his stock reportedly rising post-combine, ex-Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks remains a possibility for the Los Angeles Rams. But this is not a mention in reference to replacing Cory Littleton. This is speaking towards the idea of Littleton and Brooks playing alongside one another.
Los Angeles Rams Should Draft Jordyn Brooks
Cory Littleton's a Ram. He should STAY a Ram.
That said, which of these LBs can you see him playing alongside in 2020 (and/or beyond)????Might I suggest @TexasTechFB Jordyn Brooks, who rates much higher, big picture, in my book. Top 5 even. #LARams pic.twitter.com/yvvafEFtn8
— Mob Times~2021 NFL Champs ★👑𝓛𝓐 𝓡𝓪𝓶𝓼👑★ (@GridDawgs247) March 7, 2020
Not sure what other NFL experts (and some scouts) have missed in his highlights or saw during the combine but this writer sees a top-five linebacker in the ex-Texas Tech dynamo named Jordyn Brooks. The Rams see it, too. They’ve seen enough to have a formal meeting with the stud during the NFL Combine. The word is, it went well.
That said, let’s have a closer look at the possible Rams 2020 draft class member who could help solidify their recent linebacker instability issues for several seasons should they succeed in re-signing Cory.
The Stats & Measurables
Name: Jordyn Brooks (Jordan is incorrect)
Height: 6’-0″ (not Texas Tech’s 6’1″ listing)
Weight: 240 lbs
Arm Length (Wingspan): 32 7/8″ (79 3/8″)
40-Yard Dash Time: 4.54
Games Played (2019): 11
Tackles: 108
Tackles For a Loss: 20.0
Sacks: 3.0
Forced Fumbles: 1
Games Played (college career): 46
Tackles: 360
Tackles For a loss: 32.0
Sacks: 6.5
Forced Fumbles: 2
Interceptions: 2
Profiling the ex-Texas Tech Tackling Machine
Brooks had a monster senior season for Texas Tech. Participating in 11 of 12 games and somewhat banged up most of the month of November, he still finished with 108 tackles to become the Red Raiders seventh all-time tackler.
Additionally, according to Texas Tech, his tackles for loss total and tackles for loss per game average (1.8) led the Big 12. He was one of only three players to rank in the NCAA top 15 in the three categories, tackles for loss, solo tackles per game (6.0) and total tackles per game (9.8). Named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), the Walter Camp Foundation, the Walter Camp Foundation, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), as well as Pro Football Focus, Brooks is now the first Texas Tech linebacker to be named a first or second team All-American since Ring of Honor member Zach Thomas (1994-95). I think that guy had a pretty fair pro career, too.
Strengths
- tremendous get-off, explodes towards the ball-carrier upon reading the play
- has better than average sideline to sideline speed
- tenacious tackler with good quick hands and feel for going for the strip sack
- versatile and can play inside or outside linebacker
- gap-shooting specialist for added quarterback pressures and tackles for losses
- should benefit and excel playing with the likes of an experienced Clay Matthews, the instinctual Littleton and attention-hogging Aaron Donald.
Weaknesses
- needs improved leg strength at the NFL level
- hand movement/control could be better to help shed blockers
- read-react time radius (though good) will need to be quicker vs pro offenses
- his desire (or what I call, the “how bad do you want it?” factor) needs boosting, mostly on plays he seemingly has little to do with
- coverage awareness/ability can be better (and will alongside Littleton)
New Defensive Coordinator, New Goals
In case you missed hearing it, newly-hired defensive coordinator Brandon Staley has already expressed the importance of having speed on defense in the NFL. If his new unit loses Littleton (and especially if they don’t) you can expect the Rams defense, as a whole, to play faster, if nothing else. After all, quarterbacks are now doing just that on a regular basis. So reading between the lines, slower heads may start to roll off the defensive front seven slope.
One reason, if not the main reason, Staley was brought in is that he has a young and still-molding mind. His vision is born and continues to learn in today’s era of multitask football. He’s not yet set in his ways or any old ways. His focus will be week-by-week during the season attempting to master in-game adjustments. But the offseason is a time for big picture upgrades which, especially now, means getting parts that fit. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks is a part that fits perfectly, at least until it’s time to prove it on the field.
Jordyn Brooks Projection
In 2019, I barked about how the Rams should attempt to move up in that draft to obtain Michigan linebacker Devin Bush Jr (now a Pittsburgh Steeler). Not quite that confident, at this point, in Brooks but it doesn’t mean he can’t be just as good.
On ESPN's coverage of the NFL Combine, Mel Kiper Jr. just had some high praise for #TexasTech LB Jordyn Brooks.
"He's ranked right after Kenneth Murray and a team will get him as a steal in the second round."#WreckEm
— Jon Sokoloff (@JonSokoloff) February 28, 2020
He’s projected to be drafted Day Two of the 2020 NFL draft. I’ve seen him in mocks going anywhere from mid-second round to the forth round (not a chance). This puts him the Rams crosshairs. They should definitely pull that trigger if (and it’s a huge if) they aren’t enamored with their choice of available offensive linemen at that point.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
