Seahawks' Case for Re-Signing LB Jordyn Brooks

The Seattle Seahawks declined the fifth-year option on the rookie contract of Jordyn Brooks, meaning they will have to agree on a new contract by the end of this season.

Could Jordyn Brooks' time with the Seattle Seahawks be coming to an end with his rookie contract set to expire? 

If you were to ask coach Pete Carroll, he'd tell you that he hopes to see the former first-round pick at the second level of his defense for years to come. That comment came after the Seahawks declined the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. 

Carroll made sure to let it be known that declining the option of another year wasn't a hint at what the franchise thought of Brooks. Instead, Seattle didn't want to commit to paying their young linebacker the $12.8 million it'd cost to have an extra year. 

For Brooks, the contract negotiations couldn't have come at a better time, injury aside. Following a rookie season where he started in just six games, he's proven to be a major contributor in the two years since. The former Texas Tech Red Raider has totaled 345 tackles, 13 for loss, two sacks, and one fumble recovery in the last two seasons. 

Brooks played in 16 games last fall before tearing his ACL, which puts him at risk of missing part of this coming season. With that uncertainty in mind, the Seahawks signed Bobby Wagner and Devin Bush in free agency. 

Yet, despite the additions of two starting caliber backers, Bleacher Report still sees the former Texas Tech man as an "important" player for Seattle to re-sign. 

"The 25-year-old showed that he could remain productive in defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt's 3-4 defense last season, and he's young enough to remain a key contributor for several years," Bleacher Report writes. "The challenge would be paying Brooks to stay in free agency next year."

B/R also notes that the perceived one-dimensional approach of Brooks' game could also be weighing into Seattle's decision not to pick up on the extra year. The site points to Brooks' 122.6 opposing passer rating as a cause for concern regarding his coverage ability. 

Even Pro Football Focus' coverage grade of 40.7 doesn't paint Brooks in a good light. Luckily for the Seahawks, they signed a top-15 coverage backer in Wagner, according to PFF.

Yet with Wagner being 32, it would make sense for the Seahawks to go ahead and start planning for a future without him again. Signing Brooks to a long-term extension would mean Seattle would already have one piece of the puzzle solved for when Wagner leaves or retires.

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