Why the Seahawks declined their fifth-year contract option on linebacker Jordyn Brooks
The Seahawks — and Jordyn Brooks — need him to prove it this year.
Prove he can come back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee in January. Prove he can fit in Seattle’s defense that has signed two proven veterans at his inside-linebacker position this offseason: returning six-time All-Pro Bobby Wagner and Devin Bush from Pittsburgh.
Prove he’s worthy of a new contract.
That’s a lot of proving to do.
That’s why the Seahawks have decided to not pick up Brooks’ fifth-year contract option for 2024. Seattle’s decision Monday makes this year a contract one for Brooks, the final season of his four-year rookie deal.
The Seahawks drafted him in the first round out of Texas Tech in 2020. Per the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, first-round picks are entitled to a team option of a fifth-year added on to the standard four-year contract for all draft choices.
The deadline for exercising those options for next year is Tuesday.
Brooks’ option for 2024 would have guaranteed him $12.72 million. That was far too expensive for Seattle to pick up now, before the team knows if or when he can return from his major knee injury.
Coach Pete Carroll said last month Brooks is trying to make it back for the start of training camp in late July. That would be early for an ACL injury. A typical return-to-play time for most ACL injuries is nine to 12 months.
“It could happen. I mean, there’s some optimism that it could happen,” Carroll said.
Brooks played his first two seasons at weak-side linebacker outside in Seattle’s 4-3, with Wagner in the middle. Last year, the Seahawks released Wagner to save salary-cap money and moved Brooks to inside linebacker for the first time in a new 3-4 scheme.
Wagner, who turns 33 next month, and Bush, 25 in July, are each on one-year contracts. Jon Rhattigan, a special-teams mainstay and backup inside linebacker, is also on a one-year deal.
Vi Jones and Nick Bellore are the other inside linebackers in Seattle’s 3-4. Bellore is more a fullback and special-teams captain. He is signed through 2024. Jones’ contract ends after the 2023 season.
Derick Hall, the Seahawks’ second-round pick in last weekend’s NFL draft, played some inside “Mike” linebacker at Auburn. But Seattle primarily drafted Hall for his outside pass rushing and ability to set the edge against the run. He had 16 sacks his last two seasons, primarily as an outside linebacker at Auburn.
So the Seahawks have some decisions to make and could possibly be starting all over at inside linebacker in 2024.
This story was originally published May 2, 2023 at 5:01 AM.
