Whenever a player is selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, they are typically given significantly high expectations. This makes sense, however, since first-round picks are reserved for the incoming prospects with the highest potential to make an impact in the league.
Back in 2012, the Rams, who were still located in St. Louis at the time, decided to use one of their first-round draft selections (14th overall) on former LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers.
After 11 years in the league, Brockers has announced his retirement from the NFL. The former defensive tackle for the Rams and Detroit Lions shared the news in a recent post on his personal Instagram account.
In his first season with the Rams, Brockers made a significant impact on the team’s defensive line. His contributions helped improve the Rams’ run defense from 31st in the NFL in 2011 to 15th in 2012.
During his rookie year, Brockers recorded 31 tackles (seven for a loss), four sacks, and one forced fumble in 13 games. He built on this performance in 2013, finishing with 46 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
After his first two years in the league, it seemed like Brockers was on his way to possibly living up to the expectations that were handed to him when he was selected in the opening round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Brockers never became one of the league’s superstars, but his career with the Rams and Lions was quite respectable.
Over his 11 NFL seasons, he played in at least 16 games in seven of them. From 2017 to 2021, he consistently recorded at least 50 tackles and one sack each season. He was a reliable part of a Rams defense loaded with talent, including Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Marcus Peters, Robert Quinn, and Leonard Floyd.
Brockers last played in an NFL game during Week 11 of the 2022 season, logging 12 defensive snaps for the Lions. After the 2022 season, Detroit released him. He had a workout with the Tennessee Titans a few months later, but it did not lead to a contract.
Now, at 33, Brockers has decided to retire from the NFL, concluding a very respectable career.
