The Green Bay Packers have spent the past few seasons searching for a reliable addition to the defense. The league has talent, but the unit has lacked consistency at the point of attack. In main games and in short-yardage moments, the run lanes have opened, and pressure has come in streaks rather than waves. Now, as the team moves to the offseason, the crew need answers from younger players. One name is rising in importance. Karl Brooks. He has not yet been a full-time starter, but his firm production is forcing league circles to rethink the interior rotation.
Brooks enters his third NFL season at a moment that feels decisive. The defense still messes up with the line of scrimmage for four quarters. The pass rush flashes, then disappears. Brooks stands right in the middle of that shift. His production, growth curve, and opportunity now connect in a way that could reshape Green Bay’s D-line future.
Why Karl Brooks Now Sits at the Center of Green Bay’s Defensive Plans
Brooks was a sixth-round pick by the Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Bowling Green. In 2023 and 2024, he played in all 17 games each season, posting four sacks as a rookie and 3.5 sacks in 2024 with 24 tackles and six quarterback hits, according to official team stats. He also had team-leading three fumble recoveries in 2024. Those numbers stood out because few interior linemen produce turnovers at that rate.
Despite his playmaking, Brooks has room to grow in run defense. Pro Football Focus data shows his run-defense grade was lower than many peers at his position in 2024, and his 2025 run-defense grade stayed middling even as his snap count climbed.
That does not mean he lacks effort. Star-DL lined up all over the interior, and his snap count in 2025 ranked among the top third of DL. But consistency against downhill RBs still lags his pass-rush growth.
By 2025, Green Bay had reshuffled its defensive lineup. Starting roles opened up for Brooks, who stepped into seven games across the full sixteen-game slate. His numbers fell short, though - just a single sack alongside 28 total stops, according to deep-dive stats. Around that same stretch, late in November, Devonte Wyatt went down with an ankle issue that ended his year, clearing space up front for less experienced players.
Kenny Clark still contributes, but age and snap volume point to a transition. Green Bay’s defensive inconsistency in pressure and run-stopping makes internal development a priority. Brooks is now at the right point in the roster cycle to take on a bigger role.
Brooks has shown flashes of impact, durability, and playmaking since Day One. Now the opportunity to grow into a core defensive piece is real. If he tightens his run defense and builds on his production, the Packers may have found their next interior force.
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