Terrence

Brooks

Now on the wrong side of 30, Brooks still played some defense in 2021, but he butters his bread on special teams. He figures to land on someone else’s third unit this season.

It’s a standard special teams ace type of contract for the veteran. Recently 30 years old, Brooks played more snaps on kick coverage than defense last season.

The Patriots no longer had room for Brooks with both Jalen Mills and Patrick Chung set to play major roles. Brooks, 29, totaled 528 defensive snaps in New England over the past two seasons.

Barely used on defense throughout his five-year career, Brooks is being signed with a special teams role in mind. Bill Belichick takes the third phase of the game as seriously as any coach in football.

Although Brooks is being informed of the Jets’ decision now, he will not be eligible to sign with a new team until the new league year begins on March 13. Brooks played only 92 snaps as Gang Green’s No. 4 safety in 2018, though he was a core special teamer.

A third-round pick in 2014, Brooks’ career was derailed by a knee injury at the end of his rookie season. He is a nice depth addition behind the excellent starting duo of Rodney McLeod and Malcolm Jenkins. Philly also claimed LB Kamu Grugier-Hill and WR Bryce Treggs.

A third-round pick in 2014, Brooks ended his rookie season on injured reserve with a knee injury. He was able to come back for 12 appearances last season, but the signing of Eric Weddle and position switch of Lardarius Webb hurt his roster chances. He could get a sniff on waivers.

A core special teamer, Brooks played just three defensive snaps last season. The Jets are his third team in as many seasons.

Brooks will open 2015 on reserve/PUP after undergoing ACL surgery in December. He’ll be sidelined for at least the first six weeks of the season, but could have a chance at returning late in the year if he avoids setbacks.

Brooks is a centerfield-type who should give Darian Stewart all he can handle for the starting job next to SS Matt Elam. He’s a plus athlete and should at least contribute on social teams and possibly in some sub-packages in year one.