Panthers Select Jonathan Brooks RB - 46th Pick, Round 2

[Bear Hands]

We've got a new centerpiece RB:

Jonathan Brooks

Texas | 6'0 207 | 4.45 | All-Around Workhorse Back w/Receiving Skills

I've seen comps to Gurley and Charles.  Some copy pasta:

PFF:

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Brooks is an ideal blend of size, speed, strength and agility. Though limited in snap totals, he has good vision in both gap and zone run schemes. If he can get back to form following his torn ACL, he has all the goods to be a starting running back in the NFL.

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• Impressive wiggle for a back of his size.
• Nice footwork and change-of-direction for a back over 200 lbs.
• Good vision/feel for zone-blocking schemes.
• Contact balance is great at high and low speeds.
• Natural instincts for forcing missed tackles.
• Long speed isn't elite, but the burst is at his size.
• Natural hands in the receiving game.
• Has the footwork and strength/balance to be a reliable blocker.

10 TDs, 1400 total yards in 11 games

Brooks, a decorated Texas high school football player, had to wait his turn behind the likes of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson before taking over as the Longhorns’ lead back in 2023. The wait appeared to be worth it, as he looked like a future NFL star as just a redshirt sophomore.

While his footwork isn’t quite Robinson’s level, he can cut/change direction/avoid tacklers very quickly and has an explosive first step. He isn’t a nuanced route runner, but he has good hands and showcased his ability to force missed tackles as a receiver. The only glaring negative on his scouting report is a torn ACL in 2023 that ended his lone season as a starter.

[PanthersGTI]

Nice. Weapons. 

[Saca312]

Good pick. Best RB available. We've been needing a stronger run game for a while now.

Love the focus on tooling up the offense for Bryce.

Edited April 27 by Saca312

[jayboogieman]

[DeeJay]

Get rid of miles sanders now 

[OldhamA]

Just now, Bear Hands said:

We've got a new centerpiece RB

Coming off ACL surgery.

[Tr3ach]

I like him a good bit as a prospect but our strategies and picks feel like 90s and early 2000s football.  Definitely dated.

Edited April 27 by Tr3ach

[CarolinaRideorDie]

I like this pick! He is a great talent and RB will be a need next year. Might as well get your future right now

 

 

[Fenrir]

Couldn’t go into the season with our RB room, but trading back up for a RB is head scratching. 

[RJK]

 

And he’s not ready to play…

[Wolfcop]

2 minutes ago, DeeJay said:

Get rid of miles sanders now 

Might want to hold off on that until Brooks is ready.

Also, I want to see how Sanders runs with better blocking this year. 

Edited April 27 by Wolfcop

[sonburst4]

[Ted Ginn Jr.'s Hands]

If we can get a 7th for miles, do it

[hepcat]

I did not like the legette pick but I like this one. Brooks was very good until he got hurt. He’s not Bijan but he’s going to be a versatile bell cow RB.