Month: March 2018 (Page 1 of 4)

Firstly, if you missed today’s podcast check it out. Keep an ear out for a (slightly heated) discussion on the value of running backs.

Seahawks set up further meetings

Reports have suggested Justin Reid, Keith Kirkwood and Poona Ford will be taking ‘official 30’ visits to the VMAC. We also know Christian Kirk has a workout planned with the Seahawks (another possible VMAC visit).

Now we can add three new names to the list.

Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, Yale LB/DB Foyesade Oluokun and Southern Miss running back Ito Smith are also reportedly set to visit the Seahawks.

On top of this Seattle interviewed Josh Sweat at the Florida State pro-day, had dinner with Natrell Jamerson and Nick Nelson after the Wisconsin pro-day and according to Tony Pauline they’ve shown interest in Austin Corbett and Jessie Bates III. Pauline also reported the Seahawks had a ‘notable presence’ at the Fordham pro-day to watch running back Chase Edmonds and they met with Shaquem Griffin at the Combine.

I was told about another private meeting with a prospect but I’ll keep that under wraps because it hasn’t been reported anywhere.

So what can we learn from this? Here’s a few quick thoughts:

They seem to be tracking smaller running backs

They checked out Chase Edmonds and will workout Ito Smith, plus reportedly spent some time with Akrum Wadley at the Senior Bowl. It could be due diligence. We know they need to fix the run. Or they could be looking for a specific type of runner.

Both Edmonds and Smith had explosive testing performances. We’ve often highlighted how important this seems to be for the position. Edmonds had a 34 inch vertical and a 10-2 broad jump at the combine. Smith managed a 37.5 inch vertical at his pro-day.

They might be seeking a committee that blends two different running styles — perhaps similar to the ones used in New Orleans and Atlanta.

And as we connect the dots here, it’s also worth suggesting that maybe Edmonds and Smith are alternatives to Ronald Jones II if they don’t draft him early (assuming they’re interested). Jones II was 5-11 and 205lbs at the combine (and jumped a 36.5 inch vertical). Edmonds is 5-9 and 205lbs. Smith wasn’t invited to the combine and is believed to be 5-9 and 195lbs.

If they want a dynamic ‘smaller’ back it’s possible they could be looking at Jones II early and Fordham/Smith as later alternatives. It’s also possible they’ll draft more than one running back.

Seahawks might still be looking for interior defensive linemen

The signings of Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen added depth at defensive tackle and they might be looking for more (Bennie Logan also met with the team). A heavy rotation at defensive tackle seems like the aim this year, with different players taking on specific roles.

Poona Ford is a competitive nose tackle who might fit that ‘chip on the shoulder’ mentality they’re looking for. At 5-11 he’s often been overlooked and wasn’t invited to the combine. He does have 33 inch arms so he has the length and anyone who watched Texas regularly seems to rave about him. He didn’t stand out at the Senior Bowl but managed an impressive 9-3 broad jump and a 4.47 short shuttle at his pro-day.

Maurice Hurst is a pure one-gap pass rusher. He’ll shoot into the backfield with speed and quickness and he was highly disruptive for Michigan. He was one of the players who jumped off the screen last year, collecting 14.5 TFL’s.

He’s one of the better players in the draft. The only problem is — is his role limited? Some teams will be wary of asking him to handle two gaps at his size (6-1, 292lbs) and defend the run on early downs. He lacks length (32 inch arms) and really could be limited to the Clinton McDonald/Jordan Hill role of specialist interior pass rusher.

One thing to remember though — Geno Atkins was only 6-1 and 293lbs at his combine with the same 32 inch arms. Here’s an extract from his NFL.com blurb:

“He’s undersized as a defensive tackle lacking adequate height and bulk. Doesn?t have the power to consistently hold up at the point of attack against the run and is overpowered by bigger blockers. Must become more consistent with his hand use.”

It sounds very similar to the concerns noted about Hurst. Atkins has since gone on to become one of the more prolific interior pass rushers in the NFL. Hurst has that potential too — he is a terrific pass rusher who plays with quickness and explosion.

The visit makes sense because Hurst didn’t test at the combine after being diagnosed with a heart condition. They might want to let their doctors take a look at him and do some of the positional testing at the same time.

Defensive backs getting a look

With Earl Thomas’ future still up in the air they need to cover their bases. Taking a closer look at Justin Reid and showing interest in Jessie Bates III isn’t a surprise. Neither is the meeting with 4.40 runner Natrell Jamerson.

The meeting with Nick Nelson was interesting though. Don’t write it off just because he has short 31 inch arms.

Nelson might be the best cover corner in the draft. He’s a shadow in the secondary, tracking receivers across the field and shutting them down. He dominated his match-up against Maryland’s D.J. Moore and didn’t give up a single reception against a potential top-40 receiver.

With Justin Coleman’s contract expiring in a year and Jeremy Lane now an afterthought, adding some competition at slot corner would make sense. They won’t want Coleman to be comfortable — and they might prefer not to pay big money to keep him (a big new deal didn’t work for Lane after all).

As for Foyesade Oluokun — I can’t tell you much about him other than he’s a tremendous athlete and a ferocious hitter. He’s described as a linebacker/safety prospect and ran a 4.48 forty at 6-1, 230lbs. He also managed a 37 inch vertical, a 10-3 broad and a 4.12 short shuttle. Those are really strong numbers.

Here’s a highlights video:

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Christian Kirk revealed at his pro-day yesterday that he’ll be working out for the Seahawks.

It’s an interesting nugget of info because it puts another prospect on our radar. Kirk, a receiver, isn’t likely to be an early round target at the expense of aiding the running game or adding a pass rusher. There is a scenario, however, where he could become an option.

Unfortunately, it means bringing up the possibility of an Earl Thomas trade again.

The Seahawks are extremely limited with just the #18 pick and then nothing until #120. They’ll almost certainly move down in the first round but what they’ll get in return is debatable. In recent years they’ve been able to collect third and fourth round picks. That kind of a return isn’t going to shift the early round focus from fixing the running game (Pete Carroll yesterday reaffirmed it’s the off-season priority).

If they traded Earl Thomas to gain a pair of second rounders — or an early second and an early third (to potentially move back into round two) — it opens things up.

The second round is where a lot of the value is going to be in this draft class. Picking twice or even three times in that round would be a huge boost for a re-tooling team.

Getting two picks for Thomas and then potentially moving back from #18 could be a plan of sorts. There’s a lot of draft fantasy going on here I know. And we’re no clearer to knowing if a trade for Thomas is a.) likely b.) a good thing or c.) going to get the kind of return to make this possible.

Two or three picks in round two, however, would enable you to address the running back position in the sweet-spot for that group (25-50). You could look at the options on the defensive line and at safety (Jessie Bates III and Justin Reid are considered borderline first or second round picks). And the offensive line would remain a possibility.

Receiver could be an option too.

It’s not a good draft for the position overall. Seattle’s willingness to look at receivers in free agency is testament to that. Reportedly they’re set to meet with Brice Butler next.

So why would Kirk be a fit?

For starters, it comes back to what we were discussing yesterday. Attitude and being all about football.

Here’s a section from Kirk’s NFL.com bio written and sourced by Lance Zierlein:

“Scouts like his mental makeup and desire to compete…”

“Kirk is a well-built, mentally tough slot target whose game is built around pace more than explosiveness.”

So in terms of being a competitor with grit, Kirk ticks that particular box.

It’s very difficult to find a negative review of his game. For example, Bob McGinn’s anonymous sources describe him as a ‘big time player’, adding he’s ‘well-built’ with ‘good hands’ and ‘extends and lays out’.

He’s graded in rounds 2-3 by Zierlein and McGinn’s sources seem to consider Kirk a borderline first or second round pick.

The Seahawks have regularly drafted receivers that run in the 4.4 range. Kirk ran a 4.47 at the combine. They’re not tied to a particular size or frame — drafting a wide variety of body types over the years. You can’t get much different than Kris Durham, Tyler Lockett, Paul Richardson and Amara Darboh. They all ran the same kind of forty, however.

He’s a deep threat, capable of getting open while also offering some special teams dynamism as a returner. If he’s as competitive as the reports suggest, he might be a willing blocker (important in Seattle) although it’s not something he had to do in college.

One area he also seems to excel is the scramble drill. Quite often he was able to break coverage and become invisible downfield, often presenting a wide open target for a quarterback on the run.

He seems like a very focused individual during interviews.

It’s very easy to see why the Seahawks are showing interest. He’s an X-factor playmaker with good character.

Seattle appears to want some game-breakers at receiver to compliment a running game and make the most of play-action opportunities. Kirk would fit into that category. If they wanted to bring him in, however, they might have to do some further roster re-shaping first to gain further draft stock.

Why are the Seahawks looking at quarterbacks?

Last week John Schneider was stood in the rain watching Sam Darnold’s pro-day. He then took a private jet to Wyoming to go and see Josh Allen.

A year ago Ian Rapoport posted this tweet during the 2017 draft:

#Packers considering a QB at No. 33. #Seahawks may have taken Mahomes. Chiefs traded way up to take Mahomes. The Ron Wolf tree loves QBs.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 28, 2017

And now this tweet from Bucky Brooks via Rob Rang (left in to add some context):

Former Seahawks scout who is still tight with plenty in that building… Interesting… https://t.co/bEIvlJHJmU

— Rob Rang (@RobRang) March 28, 2018

So what’s going on?

Probably nothing all that spectacular really. At least not yet.

The Seahawks have a big negotiation coming up in 12 months. Russell Wilson will be in the last year of his contract. Seattle has turned over a significant chunk of the roster in an attempt to get younger, cheaper and more competitive.

Cap space won’t be a problem. They’re set to have about $100m next season. They’re unlikely to want to go absolutely nuts on a Wilson extension, however.

Jason La Canfora recently wrote an article discussing the situation:

“… from afar this still seems like some sort of feeling-out process is going on, that maybe both parties are still sizing each other up, perhaps, and trying to determine what the future holds.

“In the next year we’ll learn a lot more about the direction of this team, how quickly they can get back on track, how heathy Wilson emerges from the 2018 season, how confident he can be in the group of men entrusted to block for him. Will the Seahawks be talking about a five-year deal worth $30M a year for Wilson come this time a year from now? If not, will there be trade rumblings? (Given the supply/demand problems in the quarterback market, a hypothetical Wilson trade would have to be the blockbuster to end all blockbusters, right?) Is Carroll, the oldest coach in the NFC, inching closer to retirement by then if this team is outside the playoffs again?

“Personally, I have a hard time seeing a generational talent at quarterback like this leaving the team that originally drafted him in his prime, and Schneider has displayed the ability in the past to kickstart a rebuild with a single draft. I wouldn’t bet on him being down for long, but with the draft just over a month away and spring finally upon us, the Seahawks can’t be considered among the handful of Lombardi favorites for the first time in a long time, and much work remains to be done to return to the lofty perch their fans have come to expect during the Carroll/Schneider era.”

So there’s a lot to be decided. And John Schneider is working the pro-day circuit.

A lot of this seems to be the Seahawks covering their bases. They’re not going to draft a quarterback at #18. It’s about being ready for all eventualities. Let’s say Jackson dropped into round two and Seattle, somehow, had multiple picks in that round. Suddenly it might be a more viable pick. And then you create leverage. You have a Plan B. You can make a decision on whether you want to pay Wilson $30m a year or whatever it’ll be by the time talks come around.

Green Bay benefitted from planning ahead with Aaron Rodgers. So did New England with Jimmy Garoppolo.

This is the time you prepare for all eventualities. This is when you do your homework.

Otherwise you just end up being the Panthers in 2010 — taking Jimmy Clausen in round two without even knowing all that much about him.

It doesn’t mean they’re about to trade Russell Wilson. It doesn’t mean they’re set for a divorce in the next year or two. It does mean the Seahawks are leaving no stone unturned. Which is a good thing.

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In 2018, improving the run game will be “hugely important." #GoHawks

📰 | https://t.co/jg1eqbMrI9 pic.twitter.com/g0Bkwbo4nt

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) March 27, 2018

Unless you weren’t already aware, Seattle sees fixing the running game as a priority.

And it’s no wonder really. The last two years have been a disaster.

Teams treat their running games differently. For some it’s a compliment or even an afterthought. For the Seahawks, it’s crucial. It connects everything together.

Pete Carroll made it abundantly clear again today at the Owners Meeting how vital it is they fix the run:

“Our formula of the running game being an integral part of it is really the focus… We’ve got to get that done. Without that, then we’re still kind of in a mode where we don’t feel as comfortable as we want to be. So it’s hugely important. Somehow we’ve got to keep our running backs healthy. In the last few years it just has not been the factor for us, and it’s been a problem even going back two years when Russell (Wilson) was hurt the whole year. So that needs to emerge as a significant part of our program, and everything else I think will fall into place. We know what the formula is, we know what it takes, we just have to get ourselves back and feel that continuity. So that’ll be a big focus again, and the challenge begins. Here we go.”

The Seahawks are in a transition, a re-tool or whatever other way you want to describe it. They’re not going to be able to fix every need in one off-season.

Does the defensive line need help? Absolutely. Yet with limited draft stock (and a loaded D-line class ready and set for 2019) it might be an area where they go for competition rather than a big splash.

Do they need talent at receiver? Almost certainly yes. Tyler Lockett will be a free agent next year and they’ve already lost Jermaine Kearse and Paul Richardson. Yet this isn’t a strong class of receivers either. Again, this might be an area where competition wins.

This draft class is tailor made to bolster the running game. It fits perfectly. It’s a beautiful coincidence but maybe the Seahawks deserve a bit of fortune? At the time they most needed some help in improving their run attack, here comes the 2018 draft.

It seems pretty clear. This is the focus for now. And if they can fix the run and find balance on offense — they will be competitive. Russell Wilson and a running game gives you a chance to win. Even as you make changes to the defense.

Carroll also spoke about the existing running backs:

“You can say (Chris Carson is the starter) because of where he was when he got hurt, but Mike Davis did a really nice job for us last year… Mike finished and sustained throughout the season, unlike some guys in the last couple of years, and he showed us consistency and toughness and production. I think Mike really comes back getting the ball first, and the competition is on. That’s the first handoff, then after that it’s dead even.”

And he spoke about the offensive line:

“This is the best we’ve been in some time. A little quietly it’s emerging that it’s a very good group and it’s going to be one that we’re going to look forward to seeing some real progress made… It hasn’t been mentioned that much, but we feel like we have continuity. We haven’t said that in so many years, but we feel like we have some continuity on the offensive line, so we’re looking forward to it.”

It’s difficult to project what the Seahawks are going to do because we don’t know what’s happening with Earl Thomas. That lingering situation will hopefully come to a conclusion, one way or another, very soon. The mystery isn’t really doing anyone any good. If Thomas remains in Seattle, a fairly obvious projection would be:

1. The Seahawks trade down from #18
2. They trade down just far enough to put themselves in position to address the running game

Whether you’re a fan of Ronald Jones II, Nick Chubb, Kerryon Johnson, Derrius Guice or another — it feels likely the Seahawks will pick their guy. After that, the other needs are clear — D-line, tight end, cornerback, linebacker, receiver. All likely to be addressed, perhaps too the O-line and special teams.

But it all starts with fixing the run. This is the year to do it and the draft class to do it with. With so few early picks this year, they can’t afford to wait on addressing that vital need.

Bob Condotta also produced a series of quotes from John Schneider. He discusses everything from free agent departures, what happened with Richard Sherman and the possibility of an Earl Thomas trade.

All of those topics will be covered elsewhere. I noticed a theme, however, in Schneider’s answers.

The words “all football” kept coming up.

For example, when discussing the addition of D.J. Fluker:

“He’s all football. When he came out, everyone knew he was an all-football guy. If you look at all the guys we’ve signed and re-signed, we know they all have a chip on their shoulder, they have something to prove, and they’re all football guys, so we’re excited about it. All these guys, every single one of them we signed.”

On if there’s a theme among the collection of players they’ve signed so far:

“Smart, tough reliable guys that love football and have a chip on their shoulder.”

On the Maurice Alexander signing:

“Just a real fast, tough all football guy… We’ve got another fast, tough all football guy.”

On re-signing Mike Davis:

“Again all ball.”

It’s not uncommon for a General Manager to use terms like ‘all football’ or make reference to wanting players committed to the game. It’s a football buzz-word that often gets thrown around to describe virtually any type of player or personality.

It’s also quite common to hear the Seahawks talk in these terms. One of Pete Carroll’s big things is ‘all in’ and buying in. So again, it’s not that surprising to hear Schneider speaking like this.

Yet this is a very different off-season. More than ever these references seem to really mean something. They’ve released outspoken personalities. They’ve dramatically reduced the number of highly paid players on the roster and they’ve balked at paying a high price for anyone in free agency.

Two or three years ago the Seahawks might’ve been ‘all-in’ on a Marcus Peters trade or signing Ndamukong Suh. They would’ve been the ones looking at an $8m salary for Sheldon Richardson as a great opportunity.

Only a year ago they gave Luke Joeckel $7-8m.

This is a different plan now. This is about players with something to prove and a need to earn everything.

It could also be indicative of the Malik McDowell pick a year ago. McDowell might never play a snap of NFL football after hurting himself in an ATV accident during the off-season. There were already concerns about his focus and effort pre-draft. Who can forget John Schneider’s words on the phone when they picked him. “Remember what we talked about?” They knew they were taking a shot.

It’s unlikely they’ll suddenly become risk-averse. But this year, more than ever, they might pick their battles.

The theme of free agency is likely to continue in the draft.

So what will that actually mean?

It could be another indicator they’ll trade down (which already seems pretty certain). There’s an entitlement that comes with being a top-20 pick. So unless you’re getting an absolute must-have prospect (seems unlikely this year at #18) they might prefer to move down and get a player who dropped a bit — or is grateful for the opportunity of going in the 25-45 range.

It’s not cast-iron though. Bruce Irvin certainly appreciated Seattle believing in him as a top-15 pick. Irvin never carried a sense of entitlement and just became one of the guys.

It probably means you can forget about players like Arden Key. The risk is too similar to McDowell.

It doesn’t mean they’ll snub their ideals and physical preferences. Those will likely remain. They’ll just want the players that fit to be gritty, determined and have a point to prove.

It’s hard for us mere observers to properly judge who does and doesn’t have a chip on their shoulder. We can read backstories and watch interviews. It’s not enough really. And that’s the stark reality of any draft coverage. Blogs like this and the media simply have no chance of getting a proper read on these players. We don’t meet with them, we don’t track them from High School to college to the combine.

We can only make assertions and projections.

I think a lot of the top running backs in this class play with the kind of aggression and attitude that suggests they’re ‘all football’. It’s pretty hard not to watch Ronald Jones II and get that impression. Or Kerryon Johnson. Or Nick Chubb. Or Derrius Guice.

They all play hard and tough. It’d be difficult to separate them as a quartet really. However, I think Chubb in particular has the biggest chip on his shoulder.

Case in point. Watch this interview by Terrell Davis (a former Georgia running back). Keep an eye out for Chubb’s change in expression when Davis notes he was ‘surprised’ by his quick feet and the way he answers that question:

‘Guys like you who don’t know’

Ouch.

He also gave Davis a little look at the end of the interview. You can see the fire in his eyes.

A lot of the interior offensive linemen we’ve discussed are also ‘all football’. Isaiah Wynn, Austin Corbett, Billy Price, Will Hernandez, Frank Ragnow. There’s absolutely no question there. And especially not with Quenton Nelson.

Some of the tight ends in the draft also fit in that category. If you’re playing the position in 2017 and are willing to block as your first duty, you’re committed to the game. It’d be difficult to question Dalton Schultz, Durham Smythe and Will Dissly in that regard. Whether they grade well enough for the Seahawks, we’ll see. But they likely need to add another tight end at some point in this draft class.

On the defensive side of the ball it’s a little easier to judge. Pursuit, intensity, motor. These are all easily identifiable. B.J. Hill and Justin Jones for example, with their motors and the way they carry themselves, likely grade well in this area. You’re not likely to question the commitment of any of the Ohio State, NC State and Wisconsin defenders. They all play with attitude.

You see it in Andrew Brown, Josh Sweat, Harrison Phillips, Rashaan Evans, Ronnie Harrison, Maurice Hurst, Leighton Vander Esch, Josey Jewell, Leon Jacobs, Isaac Yiadom, Nick Nelson, Kemoko Turay and others.

This draft class has its faults. Yet for a team like the Seahawks — seeking to fix the run and get young talent on defense — there are options. For a team also seeking guys with good motors and chips on their shoulder, they should also be able to find players that fit.

It’s been tough for Seahawks fans recently. Seeing the Rams add players like Peters and Suh. Watching Richard Sherman move to San Francisco and Michael Bennett to Philadelphia. Earl Thomas could still depart too.

Yet when this draft class is put together and you get to camp — the excitement will be back. This draft is well suited for Seattle’s needs and they’ll have an opportunity to put together a newly competitive environment.

Finally, it seems Texas A&M receiver Christian Kirk will workout for the Seahawks:

Christian Kirk says he has private workouts with Dallas and Seattle. Visits planned for New England and Carolina https://t.co/BtO2iNgqgT

— Billy Marshall (@BillyM_91) March 27, 2018

Kirk is a highly dynamic, X-factor type receiver. It suggests they’re still looking for downfield speed for the offense (a theme with the receivers they’ve added so far). It also suggests they might be trying to acquire multiple second round picks (the range Kirk is expected to go).

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The top-20 defensive end that could tempt Seattle

Recently we’ve focused on the running back and defensive end positions. The Seahawks need help in both areas, whether it’s to fix the running game or get another pass rusher.

They’ll likely need to trade down to address both positions — unless of course they trade Earl Thomas and get a top-40 pick in return. That could potentially free up the #18 pick to be used (although there’s every chance they’d still trade down).

A player who could be of interest at #18, if available? Marcus Davenport.

We analysed Davenport in this piece back in December, so check it out.

But why would he be a player they’d consider taking?

Simply put, at his best he’s a game wrecker. The type you often need to spend a high pick on. He’s not quite got the freaky athleticism and length of a Ziggy Ansah and that’s why he might not go in the top-10. Even so, he tested well at the combine:

Height: 6-5
Weight: 264lbs
Arm length: 33.5 inches
Forty: 4.58
10-yard: 1.63
Vertical: 33.5 inches
Broad: 10-4
Bench: 22 reps
Short shuttle: 4.41
Three-cone: 7.20

Two of these numbers stand out, the rest is just solid across the board. His 4.58 forty is in the 94th percentile for an EDGE. The 10-4 broad jump is in the 91st percentile. So he’s quick and explosive.

Is that ‘special’ enough for the Seahawks? It’s a difficult question to answer. After all, Frank Clark ran a incredible 4.05 short shuttle at 271lbs and jumped 38.5 inches in the vertical. That’s special. Bruce Irvin ran a 4.50 at 243lbs and managed a 4.03 short shuttle plus a 6.70 three-cone. That’s special.

Even so, Davenport is the only pass rusher in the class not named Bradley Chubb where you put the tape on and you’re just wowed by his ability to get after the quarterback.

Personally I don’t think he’ll make it to #18. With pass-rush options so limited this year, you’d have to imagine someone will take him off the board. It could be Oakland at #10, Buffalo at #12, Washington at #13, Green Bay at #14 or Baltimore at #16.

There are reasons why he might last, however.

Draft Analyst’s Tony Pauline today published an unnamed teams ‘top-15’. The team, understandably anonymous, owns a pick in the first half of round one. Davenport was not included in the top-15.

It’s only the opinion of one team (and considering they have three quarterbacks at the top, presumably it’s a team needing a signal caller). It’s still food for thought. It could be a consensus.

There’s also this. Bob McGinn has quoted an unnamed scout who offered the following take: “He is going top 20 but I wouldn’t take him in the first round… He scares the crap out of me. He’s a renaissance man, writes poetry and (bleep) like that. I don’t know if football is really that big for him. There’s times he can be soft.”

It’s not the most glowing review if you’re hoping to see him in Seattle. Having listened to interviews with Davenport, he’s clearly a deep thinker. I’m not sure I saw any softness on the field. It’s possible he heard that opinion a little too often at the Senior Bowl. Davenport didn’t really attempt a speed-rush in the early 1v1’s and seemed to try to prove he could bull-rush and win with power.

During the Senior Bowl game, Davenport did what he was doing at UTSA — winning battles and impacting plays. He even scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery.

He might need time to find his groove at the next level. The scout above might be right about some of his concerns. Yet if the Seahawks want to take a chance on a pass rusher — Davenport could be an option if he lasts.

Of course, it’s still more likely than not they’ll trade down from #18 and look in a different direction. Namely, fixing the run.

One other quick point to make — The Seahawks in 2010-2011 relied almost solely on Chris Clemons as a pass rusher. In 2012 they added Bruce Irvin. It wasn’t until 2013 that they signed Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril.

While they’ll likely want that type of rotation again in the future, they did take their time to find the right guys. They’ve already got Frank Clark, Dion Jordan, Barkevious Mingo and Marcus Smith. So while a pass rusher could be an early draft priority — if the options aren’t there they probably won’t force it. And 2019 is set up to be a very good D-line draft.

Guard back on the table?

The signing of D.J. Fluker seemed to indicate the Seahawks might look away from the guard position in the draft. After all, they only spent a second round pick on Ethan Pocic last year.

If Fluker was being pencilled in at right guard, Pocic was the presumed starter at left guard. It would’ve been hard to justify yet another high O-line pick, especially if it just forced Pocic onto the bench.

That still remains relatively true. Yet today’s news on Fluker’s contract is interesting:

Offensive lineman D.J. Fluker's one-year deal with the Seahawks is worth up to $1.5 million, according to ESPN's Roster Management System. Fluker got a $300,000 signing bonus, which is his only guaranteed money. He has an $800,000 base salary and a… https://t.co/NMzvAXmfUD

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) March 26, 2018

Considering he’s only guaranteed $300,000 — they have the flexibility to cut him at any point. He’s not a lock to start on this contract. He’s not even a lock to make the roster.

Fluker, essentially, is a hedge. If they’re open to taking a guard but the draft works a different way, they’ll be covered. If they end up selecting, for example, Isaiah Wynn, Will Hernandez or Austin Corbett — they could just open up the competition and see how it goes.

And that would be a good thing. Wynn in particular is a fantastic prospect and possibly worthy of the #18 choice. Corbett and Hernandez are also very intriguing.

In an ideal world they’d be able to take one of the top O-liners plus a running back in the sweet-spot range of 25-45. Sadly with their lack of early picks there’s no ‘ideal’ situation this year. They have to prioritise. And Fluker provides the kind of experience at guard that Mike Davis and Marcus Smith cannot at RB or DE.

Yet it’d be unwise to rule anything out given today’s news on Fluker’s contract. I won’t mock a guard to Seattle any time soon — but I wouldn’t completely rule it out either.

A final note — this is a really great interview by the NFL Network’s Steve Wyche with Pete Carroll. In under three minutes Wyche asks all the questions that needed to be asked and even pushes Carroll on his future. Well worth a watch:

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pic.twitter.com/M7mE8Z3fCb

— Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) March 24, 2018

“I want to be a Seahawk. I want my jersey retired in the ring of honor with the other greats that came before me. The winning culture we have established, I want to be a part of it for life.“

The Seahawks are clearly open to trading Earl Thomas.

Let’s not pretend that isn’t true. It is.

They’re reshaping the team in an attempt to create a new competitive environment. They’re dumping many of the big contracts.

This will be a much younger team in 2018.

Thomas wants a new contract. He’s made that clear. It’s understandable because he’s the best safety in the NFL and like all players, he seeks long term security.

It’s also understandable that the Seahawks have some trepidation over a new deal. They’ve avoided paying anyone big money so far in free agency. They’ve let a number of established names depart.

Based on the current plan, giving a new contract to Thomas is a non-starter. So seeing what you can get in a trade makes sense. Who knows what a team would be willing to pay? You’d be silly to ignore a great offer.

Yet here we are on March 24th and so far, that offer hasn’t arrived. In total, 24 players have been traded this month. Big names like Marcus Peters, Jason Pierre-Paul and Jarvis Landry have switched teams for mid-round compensation only.

No big trades. No first or second round picks exchanged.

It’s still possible a big offer is forthcoming but as every day passes, it seems less likely.

Increasingly it feels like teams are waiting out the Seahawks to see if they lower their demands (reportedly at least a first round pick).

Mike Fisher, a well sourced Cowboys reporter for Cowboys HQ wrote this piece titled: ‘Patience Right Play On Thomas’

The Seahawks are counting on someone panicking. They’re counting on that someone being the Cowboys. Because, if you look around at other reporting, there doesn’t seem to be another team connected to these trade rumors. The Cowboys are the only team I can find. So while there can or maybe will be others, this feels to me like the Seahawks are trying to drum up interest in a player that know is not interested in coming back. The belief is that the Cowboys are moving Byron Jones to corner, which opens up a spot at safety and there’s pressure on the Cowboys to make a move, which is the worst time to make a move.

So the Cowboys are playing this right. Let the price come down, because a first-round pick for Thomas is not worth it. If the Raiders could only extract a fourth-round pick from the Patriots for Randy Moss a decade ago, well, the price has not gone up for a veteran safety. If the Seahawks become willing to part with Thomas for a third, then we’re talking. If you’re worried about the money, don’t worry. Fish has explained in multiple ways the levers the Cowboys can to flip to create more cap space.

We’ll ignore Fisher describing himself a.) as ‘Fish’ and b.) in the third person and concentrate on the point he makes. The Seahawks want a team like the Cowboys to make a move. The Cowboys are inclined to wait for the price to come down.

You end up in a metaphorical staring contest waiting to see who blinks first. The Seahawks can’t be the ones to blink.

So we continue to wait. The owners meeting this week could be a turning point. Everyone will be in Orlando at the same time. If a deal’s going to happen it’ll probably be off the back of conversations taking place over the next few days.

A deal on draft day would seem improbable purely because any prospective buyer would want to agree terms on a new contract. It’s why you never see big-name players traded during the first two rounds of the draft.

Uncertainty about the situation isn’t going to do anyone any good. The Seahawks need to be able to make plans. Earl Thomas deserves to know what’s happening. And so do the fans.

Setting a deadline and making it clear this is the week to get it done — at the owners meeting — would be best for all concerned. Don’t let this drag on any more.

If nobody matches your demands — commit to keeping Earl Thomas.

He said it above: “I want to be a Seahawk”

Prove it then. No more talk of holding out. Play on the contract you agreed to this year. In 12 months time you’ll either be a free agent or playing on the franchise tag. Considering the frozen nature of the safety market currently, a contract of $11-12m guaranteed for the 2019 season might be an attractive proposition, albeit short term.

Thomas wants to be in the Ring of Honor — this is the chance to prove it.

That’s the commitment he needs to make.

In turn, the Seahawks should set a deadline on a trade and then make their own commitment to Thomas if no acceptable offer comes in. Otherwise teams will wait… and wait… and wait… in the hopes of getting a bargain trade.

A third round pick? If the Cowboys think that’s going to happen, tell them to get stuffed.

Now or never. Or more accurately — this week or never. Pony up.

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The Seahawks are thin on the defensive line. Michael Bennett is gone, Cliff Avril might be going. Sheldon Richardson is in Minnesota and there’s no news about Malik McDowell’s future.

They were able to re-sign Dion Jordan as a restricted free agent (as expected) but no other moves have been made. Simply put, they need to bolster their rotation and add pass rushers.

The options early in the draft aren’t great. That’s not a problem. The Seahawks probably need to focus on their running game anyway. Thankfully there are possible targets later on.

Crucially the options are better at defensive tackle than EDGE. It’s likely one of the reasons, alongside money and culture change, that the Seahawks appear to be showing minimal (if any) interest in Ndamukong Suh.

Senior Bowl review

This week I went back and watched some of the Senior Bowl practises (OL vs DL). NC State’s B.J. Hill and Justin Jones just flat out dominated in the 1v1’s. Both players consistently drove offensive linemen 4-5 yards into the backfield. Power, leverage, great hand placement.

They looked like Alabama linemen in Mobile. They were just bigger and more physical than any one else. They stood out. I’m not sure how easy it’d be to acquire both (especially with multiple needs and limited picks) but Seattle’s interior D-line rotation would be a force. Naz Jones, Jarran Reed, B.J. Hill and Justin Jones would be a quartet of nasty, physical linemen.

If there’s any way at all to get these two, it’d be a huge boost for Seattle’s D-line rotation. Hill in particular just looks like a force. It won’t be a surprise if he goes in the second or third round range.

On a separate note — while re-watching the day-three Senior Bowl practise — Will Hernandez struggled a bit. He was beaten on a B-gap rush thanks to suspect footwork (heavy feet) and then struggled to handle Kemoko Turay rushing from the inside. Turay jolted him backwards and then tried a neat pull-push move. All Hernandez could do was grab his jersey. It would’ve been a holding penalty in a game. It was a bit of a surprise to see Hernandez toil against a smaller speed rusher working inside.

Ohio State’s Tyquan Lewis had a great Senior Bowl and that showed up in the practise re-watch. He dominated Jamil Demby on one snap working at defensive end. He was equally comfortable rushing the left or right side and had a great rep against Brian O’Neil too, just dominated him.

Both Lewis and team mate Jalyn Holmes had to share reps in a heavy D-line rotation for the Buckeye’s. Don’t sleep on either player. Lewis is an exceptional athlete:

Freak of nature @PrimeTime_Lewis #nfldraftprospect #dontsleep #pureathlete #prosourcesports pic.twitter.com/KeAc4zHsMR

— Lorenzo Tobin (@lorenzo_tobin) February 5, 2018

Andrew Brown at Virginia stood out on the Senior Bowl re-watch too. It won’t be a shock if he goes in round two or three and B.J. Hill isn’t far behind. There was one snap where Brown jumped offside and tripped up. He suddenly flipped back up to the turf and got back into position. It was an impressive show of athleticism at 296lbs.

He’s really quick off the snap:

Andrew Brown has unreal snap quickness pic.twitter.com/gxtP0GeMxp

— Billy Marshall (@BillyM_91) January 27, 2018

He also plays like his hair is on fair. There are some general technique things to work on. Sometimes Brown gets a little high and loses leverage. It’s coachable.

If Hill and Jones are just nasty and rich in attitude, Brown has a none-stop motor and plus athleticism/quickness.

What range are they going to go in?

NFL.com’s draft tracker (put together by Lance Zierlein) currently lists the players in the following range:

B.J. Hill — R4-5
Tyquan Lewis — R5-6
Justin Jones — R6
Andrew Brown — R6-7

I’m pretty sure all four will go earlier than projected. Much earlier in some cases (Hill, Brown). If they were all available on day three it’d be a fantastic opportunity to really bolster the D-line depth and it might be one of the reasons why they haven’t really added anyone in free agency.

Do they actually fit the Seahawks?

Yes. As noted in our combine preview, the Seahawks like length and agility. They haven’t drafted a D-liner with sub-33 inch arms. They’ve often drafted players that performed well in the short shuttle, such as Quinton Jefferson (4.37), Jordan Hill (4.51), Jaye Howard (4.47) and Malik McDowell (4.53).

How did the four players above measure and test?

B.J. Hill — 33 inch arms, 4.53 short shuttle
Tyquan Lewis — 34 inch arms, DNP
Justin Jones — 33.5 inch arms, 4.74 short shuttle
Andrew Brown — 34.5 inch arms, 4.48 short shuttle

Hill and Brown in particular stand out here. They’re also the two most likely to go earlier than expected (possibly rounds 2-3).

Jones didn’t actually perform that well in the short shuttle. However, the attitude and way he plays might still appeal to the Seahawks. Naz Jones ran a 4.63 short shuttle so they’re not tied to the 4.4 or 4.5 range.

Lewis didn’t do the short shuttle or many of the combine drills due to illness. He did do the vertical (35.5 inches) and broad (10-2) and tested very well in both jumps. At the Nike SPARQ combine he ran a 4.41 short shuttle.

Two of Lewis’ team mates are worth monitoring too. Sam Hubbard ran a 4.32 short shuttle and had the best three-cone among defensive linemen (6.84). He has 33 inch arms and is a pure 4-3 defensive end with some Patrick Kerney level upside. Jalyn Holmes is 6-5 and 283lbs with 34 inch arms. He didn’t do the short shuttle but ran a superb 1.67 10-yard split for his size.

Ohio State and NC State have some great options to fill out a defensive line in this draft class. They might need to fill out their day two board to have a shot at B.J. Hill or Andrew Brown (plus possibly Jalyn Holmes) but the likes of Lewis and Jones might be there on day three.

There are options here for the Seahawks.

What about EDGE/speed rushers?

It might be difficult to find them in this draft. There are only a handful.

We know the Seahawks like 1.5 10-yard splits from the EDGE. They’ve taken freaky, long, high-ceiling athletes to play D-line. Bruce Irvin, Frank Clark and Malik McDowell were all physical freaks. They’re not going to settle on an average athlete here. They’re going to look for someone with special traits.

Only two pure EDGE rushers ran a 1.5 10-yard split at the combine — Harold Landry (1.59) and Josh Sweat (1.55). That was a bit disappointing. Two SAM/LEO prospects also ran in the 1.5’s (Leon Jacobs and Lorenzo Carter).

The likes of Landry, Hubbard and USC’s Rasheem Green might go a bit too early for Seattle. It’s also questionable whether they’re truly special enough in the way Irvin, Clark and McDowell stood out.

Josh Sweat on the other hand could be exactly the type of player they’re looking for.

Josh Sweat mentions Rams, Titans, Bucs, Seahawks and Giants as teams that have shown interest in him. He said his preference is to rush the passer whether it's 4-3 end or 3-4 OLB. pic.twitter.com/RjTovKlVyT

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) March 20, 2018

It’s not a surprise they’re keeping an eye on him. There aren’t many human beings on the planet with this type of physical profile:

Height: 6-5
Weight: 251lbs
Arm length: 34.5 inches
Forty: 4.53
10-yard: 1.55
Vertical: 39.5
Broad: 10-4
Short shuttle: 4.28

That’s a freakish looking combination of size, length, speed, explosion and agility. If they’re looking for high-upside with rare traits, Sweat’s your guy.

According to Tony Pauline, the Seahawks interviewed Sweat after his workout.

On tape he can be a little frustrating at times. He’s not necessarily the high-intensity player you see with B.J. Hill, Justin Jones and Andrew Brown. He has an injury history too including a severe knee injury in high school and a meniscus tear in 2016.

The feeling is Sweat will go in round two based on upside and the lack of alternatives in this class. If the Seahawks were going to consider taking him, they’d likely need to acquire multiple picks in that range. Quite aside from their other needs (running game) it’d be quite the gamble to take a chance on Sweat staying healthy.

An alternative could be Rutgers’ Kemoko Turay. He also has some of the size (6-5, 253lbs) and length (33.5 inch arms) they like. He didn’t do any of the agility testing at the combine after injuring a hamstring running the forty. He managed a 1.62 10-yard split. Turay really impressed at the Senior Bowl and looked twitchy and capable of playing some SAM/LEO as well as EDGE.

Reviewing the options

In the near future I’m going to put together a ‘targets list’ that we can update as the process goes along. This will include any VMAC visitors, players they’ve met with or players that fit certain physical ideals.

On the D-line I’ll be including B.J. Hill, Andrew Brown, Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, Justin Jones, Josh Sweat and Kemoko Turay.

It might be frustrating for fans at the moment watching the Rams flirt with Ndamukong Suh while other teams make bold moves in free agency. I would stress the need to be patient. This isn’t a loaded draft class rich in legit first round prospects. It might be the perfect draft for the Seahawks though if they want to fix the running game and re-make the defense.

The only position they might struggle to add is at cornerback. There are some options that fit their profile but not many. Re-signing Byron Maxwell could be pretty important.

Quick note on the USC pro-day

Ronald Jones II didn’t do a full workout today. According to Tony Pauline he’s only at 70% health after recently hurting his hamstring. The belief is he will conduct a workout some time in early April.

We’ve been saying it for a few months now — but keep an eye on RoJo for the Seahawks. He’s a special talent, the kind Seattle has added in the past. He’s an extremely physical, tough, aggressive running back with explosive traits and incredible speed/suddenness. He’s a playmaker in the mould of Jamaal Charles and he could easily end up being Seattle’s first pick in this draft. For more on Jones II check out these articles here and here.

Defensive end Rasheem Green did the bench press today, managing 23 reps. It means his TEF score is now confirmed as a 3.20.

Sam Darnold received mixed reviews for his throwing performance. None of the quarterback have really separated so far. I think it’ll be between Josh Allen and Darnold to go first overall, then the Giants will have to make a decision on whether to go quarterback or Saquon Barkley. One way or another we’ll probably see three QB’s off the board in the top four plus Barkley.

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