Here are three possible landing spots for “Lateral” weapon NFL Draft prospect and former Texas running back, Jonathon Brooks. He is the next best product for the league next to Texas’ best, Bijan Robinson who was drafted last year. Brooks is expected to go in the second round of the draft, however, he suffered a torn ACL last season so his draft stock is down. This doesn’t seem to matter since Brooks won the starting role with the Longhorns, notching 1,139 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns before injury.
It’ll be interesting to see where he lands since most teams have been able to sign most running backs this free agency. However, some teams need a running back and Brooks could be an intriguing prospect to make headlines like Robinson has. He was able to fill the shoes for Robinson once he left for the NFL so there’s no secret that he could do the same in the league. According to Pro Football Network, he has a three-down utility and the skills to accommodate the gap, counter and zone schemes.
His primary function is that he looks instinctive as a runner across multiple schemes. However, he can excel at slashing upfield with his bend, build-up speed and flexibility using his angle awareness. The only hurdle he’s going through is the injury but that shouldn’t be a problem come week one. Brooks is recovering well from knee surgery despite not working out for teams.
He’s bringing a lot of strengths to the league such as being dependable in pass protection and sense for the boundary. Brooks also uses good lateral movement which is critical for his vision and reaction time. According to Bleacher Report, he’s compared to a young Jerome Ford. Here are the three possible landing spots for Brooks.
Three Possible Landing Spots for “Lateral” Weapon Prospect
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are doing their work in this year’s running back Draft class. The release of Tony Pollard and only re-signing Rico Dowdle to a one-year deal just won’t cut it. This means Dallas will need to find their next starter after Pollard still put in a 1,000-yard season last year. It wasn’t enough for the Cowboys to keep him after the team released Ezekiel Elliott last season.
They put their time and energy into Pollard but the load was too much for him. They could have probably brought him back but they didn’t have the cap space. However, the good news is Draft class is so deep that they could select one in the second round. The running back room at Dallas is starving for elite presence so they could see that in Brooks.
He could be a tone-setter for the team when he returns to full shape for week one in Dallas. According to a report, he was a part of the top 30 visits for Dallas and was named the “best fit” for the team.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are continuing to host prospects days away from the NFL Draft. Kansas City is hosting a pair of Longhorn talents, including Brooks. He’s one of the best pass-blocking in this year’s class so he could fit nicely alongside Patrick Mahomes. Brooks didn’t allow a single pressure in pass protection which would be crucial for Mahomes to continue throwing darts.
The running back position isn’t the biggest need for the Chiefs but they need some depth. With Jerick McKinnon not yet re-signed, Brooks could fill that role. Brooks can be an eventual successor to Isiah Pacheco.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are looking to build a new foundation under new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and General Manager Joe Hortiz. They could have an opportunity to draft one of the best Texas products despite the injury. There may be speculation that he’s out of the question for the team but this all can change on day two. There are other running back prospects but the replacement of Austin Ekeler is something they need to address.
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