Month: October 2019 (Page 1 of 3)

Following yesterday’s piece about Seattle’s needs, I sat down to write this mock and it really emphasised how unappealing the pass rush options are. That can change, of course. The Senior Bowl is very good for highlighting prospects. The combine will reveal who has the kind of speed and upside the defense currently lacks.

At the moment, however, the numbers appear thin. The Seahawks need more in the pass rush. They can’t have another season like this on defense in 2020.

Jadeveon Clowney is creating pressure and causing problems for opponents. The issue is he’s doing it practically on his own. Re-signing Clowney feels like a must at this stage as long as the price isn’t too unrealistic. Needing to replace him (possibly with a lesser talent) could be even more expensive than re-signing him.

At this stage, Clowney feels like priority #1 in terms of in-house free agents.

He needs some support.

Jarran Reed has an opportunity to prove he warrants keeping and they desperately need him to provide more of a pass rush in the second half of the season.

They might be able to bring in another player. It’s too early to say who might be available. They might need to sign more than one player. Whatever happens, they need more speed in the pass rush to compliment the size already on the roster.

One thing I wanted to suggest before getting into the mock — don’t be surprised if they end up using their 2020 first round pick in an off-season trade. If they feel pass rush is the top need and they don’t like the options in the draft — they could trade for a veteran. They used their first round pick in 2013 and 2015 to fill needs via trade. With two second round picks, using their top choice to get a veteran could be a tactic here.

There’s not much point speculating on possible targets because who knows who’ll be available? But a year after trading Frank Clark for a first and second round pick, could the Seahawks make a similar move themselves? It’s something worth considering because this isn’t going to be a draft class rich in impact pass rushers.

Mock draft #3

Note — in this mock draft I have Tampa Bay trading up to #2 to draft a quarterback. The Bengals move down. They’re giving Ryan Finley a chance to win the job. Let’s assume he plays well enough for Cincinnati to feel comfortable moving down (whether that’s the right thing to do or not — it is the Bengals after all).

#1 Miami — Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama)
Very consistent and accurate but a little robotic.

#2 Tampa Bay (via Cincinatti) — Joe Burrow (QB, LSU)
The more I see of Burrow the more I think he’s the best QB in the class.

#3 Washington— Chase Young (EDGE, Ohio State)
He has 13.5 sacks already this season.

#4 Atlanta — Grant Delpit (S, LSU)
Delpit has the range and tenacity to play safety and the ball-skills, recovery speed and athleticism to play corner.

#5 New York Jets — Andrew Thomas (T, Georgia)
Supremely balanced and consistent, his footwork is superb and he anchors brilliantly.

#6 New York Giants — Jeff Okudah (CB, Ohio State)
He will destroy the combine and was a 142.56 athlete at SPARQ.

#7 Denver — Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon)
John Elways loves big, tall quarterbacks.

#8 Cleveland — Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
A tone-setting defensive lineman with the size, stoutness, quickness and ability to penetrate with speed or power.

#9 Cincinnati (via Tampa Bay) — Prince Tega Wanogho (T, Auburn)
He’s 6-7 and 310lbs but reportedly runs a 4.95 and can jump 32-inches in the vertical.

#10 Miami (via PIT) — Jerry Jeudy (WR, Alabama)
Lean and sudden with YAC ability and downfield talent. He jumped a near 38-inch vertical at SPARQ.

#11 LA Chargers — Jordan Love (QB, Utah State)
Eventually the Chargers have to start thinking about the future.

#12 Oakland — Isaiah Simmons (S, Clemson)
Will be valued for his leadership. Reportedly he can jump a 40-inch vertical, an 11-0 broad and run in the 4.4’s.

#13 Oakland (via Chicago) — Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama)
Moses would be a top-five pick if he hadn’t torn his ACL in pre-season.

#14 Arizona — Ceedee Lamb (WR, Oklahoma)
Kyler Murray is reunited with his favourite target.

#15 Philadelphia — Trevon Diggs (CB, Alabama)
Competitive cornerback who does an excellent job tracking the ball and breaking up passes. Stefon Diggs’ brother.

#16 Jacksonville — Javon Kinlaw (DT, South Carolina)
He’s +300lbs but carries minimal body fat. He dominated Alabama’s O-line a few weeks ago.

#17 Tennessee — Isaiah Wilson (T, Georgia)
Wilson is outstanding and highly underrated.

#18 Detroit — Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)
He could be the next Calais Campbell.

#19 Carolina — Kristian Fulton (CB, LSU)
A physical cornerback who tracks the ball almost as well as Trevon Diggs.

#20 Jacksonville (via Rams) — Henry Ruggs (WR, Alabama)
He’s being tipped to run a 4.2 at the combine. Great catching technique — he extends his arms to catch the football away from his body.

#21 Dallas — Laviska Shenault (WR, Colorado)
We’ve not seen him anywhere near his best so far but he’s a swiss-army knife who can score points as a runner, receiver or returner.

#22 Miami (via Houston) — Nick Harris (C, Washington)
Tenacious, physical, athletic and underrated.

#23 Kansas City — Shaun Wade (CB, Ohio State)
A former 5-star recruit who is excelling in the slot but could easily play outside.

#24 Minnesota — Walker Little (T, Stanford)
Ran a 4.40 short shuttle at SPARQ and scored an overall 107.25 (the top score by an offensive lineman in 2016).

#25 Buffalo — Jalen Raegor (WR, TCU)
Raegor ran a 4.41 at SPARQ but reportedly is capable of a 4.29 now. He also jumped a 38.5 inch vertical and can squat 620lbs.

#26 Indianapolis — DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
Unstoppable on slants, wins at the red line and is incredibly sudden to create easy separation.

#27 Seattle — K.J. Hamler (WR, Penn State)
Ultra-dynamic receiver with speed to burn and creates easy separation.

#28 Green Bay — Tee Higgins (WR, Clemson)
He’s had a quiet few weeks but like most Clemson receivers, he knows his craft.

#29 Baltimore — Julian Okwara (EDGE, Notre Dame)
Productive but he was shut down by Georgia and Michigan. He’ll need to test well.

#30 New Orleans — Jonathan Taylor (RB, Wisconsin)
The Saints have enjoyed using a one-two punch at running back.

#31 San Francisco — J.K. Dobbins (RB, Ohio State)
The 2016 SPARQ king with an overall score of 146.76.

#32 New England — Terrell Lewis (EDGE, Alabama)
Injury history could keep him on the board.

Further thoughts on Seattle’s pick

If the Seahawks do end up picking in the late first round, it’s shaping up to be the ideal range to target a receiver. There are so many sudden, dynamic pass-catchers eligible for the 2020 draft. It might not be the biggest need but it’s certainly looking like a strength in round one.

K.J. Hamler is small and diminutive. It doesn’t matter — he creates easy separation and that’s what counts. There are so many bigger receivers in college who provide big catching radiuses and dominate overmatched cornerbacks. Then at the next level they can’t get open. Hamler has the suddenness Seattle loves on the short range, he can get downfield to make the big play, he does an excellent job disappearing in coverage to get open, he works well when the quarterback scrambles, he has YAC ability and he finishes.

He’s a step below Henry Ruggs, Jalen Raegor and DeVonta Smith for me but not that far behind. Ruggs might run a 4.2 and his ability to extend his arms to catch the ball away from his frame is highly impressive. I was stunned how well Raegor high-pointed in the end zone to win 1v1 matchups and Smith looks like DeSean Jackson sometimes the way he runs away from DB’s on simple routes and turns good plays into great plays.

Hamler might not quite be at their level but he’s incredibly effective and a big reason why Penn State remain unbeaten.

Every year the Seahawks become more and more about Russell Wilson. If there isn’t a way to revolutionise the pass rush in the draft (hopefully there will be a solution one way or another in the off-season) they have to keep making Wilson’s life easier by providing him with the tools to succeed.

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There’s been a lot of talk about Seattle’s propensity to use base defense this year. In 2018 Justin Coleman played 67.81% of the defensive snaps. Lano Hill played 32.29% — not all as a starter. He was occasionally used as a ‘third safety’ or big nickel.

This year it’s all change. Bobby Wagner has played 100% of the defensive snaps. K.J. Wright has played 93.56%. Mychal Kendricks has played 74.62%. Jamar Taylor, the starting nickel, has played just 26.70% of the snaps since re-signing in week two.

I would highly recommend listening to Mark Schlereth on the Brock & Salk Podcast this week (fast forward to 41:38). Schlereth does a fantastic job breaking down why the switch to base is impacting Seattle’s pass rush. I can’t recommend the interview enough — it’s a must listen.

A lot of fans have been asking why they’ve made this switch. I think it’s pretty understandable, even if the benefits are not obvious at the moment:

1. The personnel

Seattle lost Justin Coleman in free agency because the Detroit Lions offered him an excellent contract. At the time it seemed expensive but Coleman has had a terrific start in Detroit. Hindsight is a wonderful thing though and not many people were saying the Seahawks should’ve matched the deal at the time.

It was always expected that Kendricks would return. Most expected that he would replace Wright, who appeared destined to leave for big money. That didn’t materialise for K.J. and an opportunity emerged to bring him back to Seattle.

Putting a roster together isn’t an exact science. Sometimes you have to take the chances that are presented to you. Seattle lost Coleman but had an opportunity to keep Wright and Kendricks. That’s the way it was. Few questioned it at the time.

With Wagner, Wright and Kendricks all signed — it’s not a surprise the Seahawks have tried to find a way to get all three on the field. If the key is to put your best 11 players out there, that would include the trio of linebackers. The plan made sense even if the execution so far is questionable.

2. Improve the run defense

The Seahawks actually did a pretty good job rushing the passer in 2018. Frank Clark and Jarran Reed both had excellent production. Other players chipped in. They needed more in 2019 but overall, it wasn’t a negative.

The run defense, however, got gradually worse as the season went on. They went from limiting the likes of Ezekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley and Marshawn Lynch to giving up big gains too frequently. It was surely an off-season priority.

Playing base could’ve been an idea to try and solve this problem. You keep a bigger body on the field (Kendricks) instead of a nickel corner. Pete Carroll has talked-up Kendricks in coverage and we saw some of that with his interception in Atlanta. Again the plan makes sense even if the execution is suspect. You have a dynamic, athletic linebacker on the field instead of a nickel. You give up some coverage ability to be bigger in the front seven and hope you see a positive balance. It seems they were hoping Kendricks could replace Coleman.

Schlereth points out why this is impacting the pass rush based on the technique’s they’re using up front, how opponents can double team the end on one side and why they aren’t creating pressure. The Seahawks will already know all of this, of course. I suspect they thought that with Jadeveon Clowney on one side and Ziggy Ansah on the other, they’d be able to rush with four consistently. That hasn’t been the case because Ansah has looked like a busted flush and Clowney has been completely isolated — essentially operating as a one-man-band as a pass rusher.

In the glory days of the LOB Seattle could rush with four thanks to Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. They also had the speed and talent elsewhere to give teams almost no time to pick apart the defense. Everything had to be quick because Seattle’s defense was even quicker. The pass rush, the coverage, the hitting. You had no time.

It’s the total opposite now. They’re not creating pressure, teams have time to develop routes to expose flaws at the second level. Only since Marquise Blair has been starting have they had any big hits.

Is this a problem due to being in base or is it a personnel problem? It’s probably a bit of both. With their existing personnel Schlereth identifies some of the problems they’re having because they can’t pressure with four rushers. At the same time — they’re unlikely to fair any better with this group if you simply play Kendricks at WILL instead of Wright and put Jamar Taylor on the field for 75% of the snaps.

Unfortunately the Seahawks are more or less stuck with this until the end of the year.

We might see Kendricks and Wright move on in the off-season. Ansah and Clowney are both free agents (and we can safely assume Ansah, at least, won’t return). There could be a completely new plan.

Whatever happens they need more speed up front. They’re utilising big bodies at defensive tackle, big bodies at defensive end and based on what we’ve seen so far — Wagner and Wright aren’t as quick as they once were.

An absolute priority in the off-season has to be speed on defense.

The Seahawks will improve immensely once they’re able to rush with speed, create more pressure and can fly around at the second level.

Everything will be boosted by more speed. If they’re starting Quandre Diggs and Blair at safety and Tre Flowers and Shaquille Griffin in the secondary, they’ll have speed (and hitting). At linebacker they might be able to get their speed and quickness from Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven. The pass rush needs more though. They need to go out and find that dynamic EDGE who can play some LEO, play some SAM and really threaten with speed.

They’ve always had quickness off the edge. Avril complimented Bennett. Bruce Irvin complimented Chris Clemons. Frank Clark had speed and incredible explosive physicality.

Now the pass rush is just big — Clowney, Ansah, L.J. Collier and Rasheem Green. None of them are known for speed. They need more.

It’s hard to see where it’ll come from though. The early signs are this won’t be a good draft for speed rushers. Chase Young is likely going to go in the top-five. Yetur Gross-Matos is more about hand-use and quickness than pure speed. Curtis Weaver used to weigh 300lbs. It’ll be interesting to see how Julian Okwara tests but he was a non-factor in Notre Dame’s two biggest games — both losses — to Georgia and Michigan. Jabari Zuniga is more of a base-end. Terrell Lewis is intriguing but look at his injury record. The Seahawks pay a lot of attention to durability with high picks and Lewis would be a serious gamble.

Other names could emerge. We need to see the Senior Bowl and the combine to get a full picture of what is available. With a fair amount of cap space available, they could also look to free agency.

It shouldn’t just stop at the pass rush either. They need to be faster and more intense across the defense as a whole. They need to be able to impact games as a unit. Russell Wilson and the offense need and deserve a compliment. The 2019 season was essentially stage two of a reset but we might look back on it as a great year from Wilson somewhat wasted because the defense was so poor.

We’re half-way through the regular season already so it’s fair game to assess overall needs for the off-season.

Improving the pass rush and speed on defense is going to be pretty hard to top between now and January. There are some other positions to consider too.

The Seahawks will only have Will Dissly contracted at tight end for next season. There’s no way they’re going to pay Ed Dickson $4,266,668 in 2020. He’s basically played half a season in 2018 and 2019. He’ll be 33 in July.

Dissly has suffered two serious injuries in the space of little over a year. They need some insurance. It’s also a position they’ve taken very seriously over the years when you consider the Jimmy Graham trade and the mega-contract (for the time) that they gave Zach Miller.

Whether they sign a veteran free agent, make a trade or use a draft pick — they have to add at least one prominent tight end. It’s a sure-thing.

There could be some holes on the offensive line. Germain Ifedi, Mike Iupati and George Fant are all free agents. Considering Fant’s ability to play numerous roles, it’d be a bit of a surprise if they don’t work hard to keep him. Iupati is likely a one-year rental and the drafting of Phil Haynes felt like an ‘heir-apparent’ project. Jamarco Jones equally could replace Ifedi at right tackle or even D.J. Fluker at right guard.

There will also be a question about Justin Britt now. His cap hit is $11,666,668 for 2020 and he’ll be coming off a serious knee injury. With a dead cap hit of only $2,916,668, they might prefer to move on and see if they can make a saving there. Britt has been an excellent starter for Seattle but the injury is a game-changer in a cap-tight league. The rest of the year will be an audition for Joey Hunt to make the role his own. If not, they might look elsewhere.

They seem to have adopted a new philosophy on the O-line since Mike Solari replaced Tom Cable. They’ve consistently signed veteran starters and then drafted players in the mid-to-late rounds as development prospects. They’ve sought to acquire quality depth and competition.

There’s little reason to change that approach now. The O-line isn’t perfect but it has improved. College offensive linemen frequently struggle to make the transition to the pro’s. There are a lot more early-round busts than people perhaps realise.

If they lose Ifedi and don’t see Jones as a ready-made replacement, they might prefer to sign a veteran starter. If Hunt doesn’t win the center job and if they cut Britt, they might make a move for Alex Mack (who might also be a cap casualty in Atlanta).

That doesn’t stop them from drafting an O-liner in the early rounds, of course. They just might be more inclined to wait as they did with Jones and Haynes. The 2020 draft does have some intriguing offensive line options though.

At center, personally I think Washington’s Nick Harris is the best prospect. He’s a little undersized but incredibly tenacious and physical. He can get to the second level or execute a screen downfield. He’s a terrific looking prospect with first round potential. Wisconsin’s Tyler Biadasz is the bigger name but I think he’s more of a top-50 type than a sure-fire first rounder. He leans too much and defenders often jump back so he loses balance. When he locks on he can control linemen and he succeeds.

In terms of offensive tackles — there are question marks across the board. Stanford’s Walker Little is out for the season with a knee injury. TCU’s Lucas Niang is out for the rest of the year with a torn labrum. Tristan Wirfs is said to be seriously considering returning to Iowa for next season. Washington’s Trey Adams has battled a number of injury issues.

There are positives too. Georgia’s Andrew Thomas looks like a top-10 lock at left tackle. His team mate Isaiah Wilson is enormously underrated and has been superb this year. He’s a massive right tackle but could easily find a home in the top-20 himself. Auburn’s Prince Tega Wanogho is equally well-sized and has some good tape. It’s debatable that any of the trio would last into range for Seattle — thus meaning they might have to take a chance on an injury.

This seems unlikely with a high pick, even if the plan is to draft-and-develop. They’ve never spent a first round pick on a player they knew wouldn’t feature in year one. It has happened for various reasons. L.J. Collier for example hurt his ankle in camp, limiting his development. They’ve not deliberately red-shirted a first round pick however within seconds of calling the pick.

Pass rush and speed on defense, tight end and offensive line (if players depart) feel like the biggest needs at the moment. However, one more position warrants a mention.

The 2020 draft seems set to be loaded at receiver. It’s strong at cornerback too — but that’s a position the Seahawks are yet to draft earlier than the late third round. When there’s been a clear strength in a draft class, Seattle has often tapped into it.

This year it was a great draft for defensive linemen and they drafted L.J. Collier. In 2018 it was the year of the running back — they selected Rashaad Penny. In 2017 it was a deep draft for cornerbacks and they took one (Shaquille Griffin) earlier than they had done previously in the Pete Carroll era. In 2016 it was a good class of offensive linemen and they took Germain Ifedi. They traded their top pick in 2015 for Jimmy Graham but in 2014 it was a top-drawer class of receivers and they selected Paul Richardson.

Every year, consistently, they’ve looked for the strong areas positionally within the class. The 2020 draft is gearing up to be excellent at receiver.

Here are some of the names eligible to declare:

Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)
Ceedee Lamb (Oklahoma)
Henry Ruggs (Alabama)
DeVonta Smith (Alabama)
Laviska Shenault Jr. (Colorado)
Jalen Raegor (TCU)
K.J. Hamler (Penn State)
Tee Higgins (Clemson)

This is just a handful of names with first round potential. There’s depth too — with Minnesota’s Tyler Johnson, LSU’s Justin Jefferson, USC’s Michael Pittman Jr, UCF’s Gabriel Davis, Ohio State’s K.J. Hill and Binjimen Victor and Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk warranting a mention. Tony Pauline has also recently been talking up Liberty’s Antonio Gandy-Golden.

Yet it’s the names on the initial list that really stand out. Suddenness and quickness wins in the modern NFL. Jeudy and Lamb will probably be gone by Seattle’s pick (maybe Shenault too). The idea of upgrading Jaron Brown for Ruggs, Smith, Raegor or Hamler, however, could be extremely appealing.

Taking a receiver with the first pick wouldn’t be most people’s first choice. You can’t fight a draft though. This is a clear strength in 2020 and while the Seahawks do need to improve the defense dramatically — they also need to do everything they can to support Russell Wilson.

A trio of Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and the speed of a Ruggs, Raegor, Smith or Hamler is a mouth-watering proposition — especially if they can secure the long term future of the O-line and improve the tight end situation.

It’s also worth noting that when they traded up to draft Lockett in 2015, that was only a year removed from drafting Paul Richardson and came shortly after they’d traded for Jimmy Graham. Clearly this is a team never afraid to add another weapon.

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I’ve managed to catch up with Saturday’s college football (thanks YouTube) so here are the week nine notes…

— TCU receiver Jalen Raegor had another dynamic touchdown, this time in an impressive 37-27 win over Texas. Raegor is lightning quick and ate up the large cushion provided by the cornerback and just burned him off. The DB kept his eyes in the backfield too long and never felt the threat of Raegor’s speed. It’s testament to Raegor’s quickness that he had to play-off so much in the first place. He finished with two catches for 55 yards and the score, plus three runs for 15 yards. He’s not just a sprinter either — he’s shown plenty of evidence of sound catching technique, the ability to high-point and he’s had some impressive red zone catches.

— K.J. Hamler had a similar performance in an easy win for Penn State against Michigan State. He found a soft spot working from the slot to exploit the zone coverage, creating an easy pitch-and-catch. He still had to finish with some YAC and beat a DB to the goal line. Hamler had five catches for 57 yards and a score plus a run for five yards. He also had a third down drop. He’s diminutive but electric. Pass rusher Yetur Gross-Matos shared a TFL and had two QB hurries in the game.

— Alabama has three receivers with first round potential and they all excelled against Arkansas. Henry Ruggs caught a TD pass that seemed to be thrown to DeVonta Smith but was too high and still, somehow, found its way perfectly to Ruggs (who showed good concentration to make the completion in bounds). Smith is the master at slants, driving off the the break to create separation. On one play on Saturday he created so much separation he turned a simple slant into a 44 yard gain. That’s what he does. Jerry Jeudy had two touchdowns including getting in behind the defense for a 40 yard score. He can do it all — YAC, downfield, tough grabs. On defense Trevon Diggs had a pick six where he read the play perfectly and flashed his athleticism to finish. Diggs has massive potential.

— LSU’s Joe Burrow continues to impress, this time against Auburn. He completed 32/42 for 321 yards, a score and an interception. He also had a 31 yard touchdown run on a QB draw. With every passing week he looks like the top quarterback in college football. Bring on ‘Bama. In the same game (won 23-20 by LSU), Auburn’s Derrick Brown had a sack and two TFL’s. LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. also had one of the best interceptions you’ll see this year to take points off the board right before half-time.

— Chase Young had an incredible performance in Ohio State’s 38-7 win over Wisconsin. He dominated throughout with four sacks and five TFL’s. He now has 13.5 sacks for the season already and will be a very high draft pick. J.K. Dobbins also excelled with 163 yards on 20 carries and three catches for 58 yards. He also had two touchdowns. Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor struggled to 52 yards on 20 carries and tight end Jake Ferguson was held to one catch for five yards.

— Minnesota hammered Maryland 52-10 and receiver Tyler Johnson had four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown. Anthony McFarland only managed 38 rushing yards on 10 carries, with 20 receiving yards on three catches. His best football will come at the next level.

— Tee Higgins had another quiet game for Clemson as they brushed aside Boston College 59-7. As his stock loses momentum could he return next year for one more season with Trevor Lawrence? Higgins had two catches for 36 yards. Travis Etienne had 109 rushing yards on 16 carries plus three touchdowns — while also adding three catches for 33 yards. Isaiah Simmons had 1.5 TFL’s and two QB hurries.

— Oklahoma receiver Ceedee Lamb had another incredible touchdown play in a shock 48-41 loss at Kansas State. Lamb took a bubble screen 70 yards as be bobbed and weaved through traffic like he was returning a kick. He finished with five catches for 135 yards. He looks like Cordarelle Patterson but with actual receiving skills. Jalen Hurts had a 395 yard passing day (19/26) with a passing touchdown, no interceptions, 96 rushing yards on 19 carries and three rushing scores. Oklahoma still can’t defend though and once again it has cost them.

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I’ve often said a win is a win. That was a particularly unsatisfying win and will likely provide more concern than enjoyment for Seahawks fans.

Russell Wilson, Tyler Lockett and Chris Carson are all playing at an exceptionally high level. Shaquille Griffin has taken a big step forward and Jadeveon Clowney is doing his best to provide something — anything — on the defensive line.

The rest?

Today they faced an Atlanta team on its knees. They were 1-6 coming into today and without key players, including quarterback Matt Ryan.

Seattle rolled to a 24-0 lead by half-time and the rout was on. Finish the game. Go back home. No stress, for once.

Assert your will. Dominate. Show some teeth. Set the tone.

The Seahawks lost the second half 20-3. They were less tiger and more kitten. Matt Schaub ended up throwing for 460 yards. Atlanta had thirty first downs.

Where was the resistance? The defense had absolutely no answers. The game just drifted and drifted away. If it wasn’t for an extremely fortunate and bizarre call on a Devonta Freeman fumble forced by Marquise Blair, they might’ve even lost.

The defense is a mess. Sure, Blair threw himself around and had some hits (and also some whiffs). Clowney and Griffin are doing their best. But what do they do well on defense? What’s working? Where’s the pass rush and how do they create pressure? Why is the tackling so bad? What exactly is the plan here? Has the defense had a commanding performance this season? Where’s the speed?

How on earth did they allow Atlanta to claw their way back into this?

We’re half-way through the season now. It’d take a supreme optimist to imagine major improvements at this stage. Seattle’s defense simply isn’t good enough.

Ziggy Ansah looks like a spent force. Players like Rasheem Green just aren’t cutting it. The linebackers aren’t close to living up to expectations. Jarran Reed needs to get back to his best pronto. Now Tre Flowers has a neck injury.

Good luck to Quandre Diggs trying to help turn this unit around.

It feels like they need an off-season this week to completely revolutionise things.

The Seahawks lurch from explosive and exciting on offense to timid and passive as an entire team for long stretches. The great is exhilarating. The bad is bewildering.

The current record of 6-2 looks good. It’s half-way to 12-4. Yet the 2017 Seahawks started 6-3 and ended 9-7. Seattle’s next run of games includes arch-nemesis Bruce Arians (Tampa Bay), unbeaten San Francisco and Philadelphia on the road, Minnesota at home, the Rams and Panthers on the road, then Arizona and the Niners at home to finish.

They can’t expect to play this badly on defense and keep winning through that gauntlet of games.

Wilson magic always gives them a shot. Wouldn’t it be nice to offer him even a little bit of help on the other side of the ball? Imagine what they could be with even an average defense? And with another weapon (they badly miss Will Dissly)?

What do they do? Hope desperately there’s a turn? Keep on the longer term vision? Accept their fate for this season?

Do they need to be aggressive in the next 48 hours and make some moves to avoid wasting this 6-2 start? (I wrote more on the trade deadline earlier today here)

What are the answers?

Because you want to sit here and enjoy 6-2 but it feels like a mirage. And yet they’re 6-2. That’s the frustrating thing. If they were 5-3 or 4-4 it’d be easier to accept. They’re rebuilding. The defense has regressed this year and it needs a change of plan for 2020.

But they’re 6-2. With every win it’s harder to accept the situation. It’s like driving closer and closer to the cliff-edge — knowing you’ll fall off but hoping you won’t. We can all see this problems. We can all anticipate how costly they’ll be down the line.

And we kind of have to just accept it.

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The comments section has been pretty active during games this season so I’m starting an open thread this week.

Before kick off you might want to comment on reports via Mike Garofolo (through Ian Rapoport) that Rashaad Penny could be traded before the deadline on Tuesday.

I touched on this subject on Friday. So far, it just hasn’t worked for Penny. He’s had injuries and doesn’t seem to be adjusting to Seattle’s scheme. Chris Carson has separated as the clear starter. If an attractive offer became available, it makes sense to see what’s out there.

Detroit reportedly tried to trade for Penny during the 2018 draft immediately after the Seahawks made the pick. They just lost Kerryon Johnson to IR. Could they be a prime candidate to make a move? The Seahawks already made a deal with the Lions this week for Quandre Diggs.

If the Seahawks did trade Penny, they’d need to add a running back. They can’t rely on C.J. Prosise as the primary backup. With Mike Davis on the periphery in Chicago, it’d make complete sense to try and bring him back to Seattle. He’s a great scheme fit, he was productive and he’d be cheap. The Bears aren’t using him. It might take as little as a 2021 seventh rounder or some kind of conditional pick.

What could they get for Penny? Realistically they shouldn’t expect more than a third rounder. That would be fair for a player only 18 months removed from being a first rounder with no tread on the tires. He also has good club control for 2-3 more seasons.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on Tre Flowers. He’s not playing today with a neck stinger. Seahawks fans know how damaging they can be (Kam, Cliff).

With Darius Slay not playing for Detroit today, could they swap Slay for Penny? It’d be a more realistic proposition if the Lions had depth at corner. Sadly, they don’t. So unless they trade for Aqib Talib (who is reportedly available), it’s possibly unlikely. Adam Schefter is reporting that Slay could be available but it’d be a costly trade. They’d have to really like Penny to make that deal.

In other news, Adam Schefter is reporting that Austin Hooper will not be traded by Atlanta. Scratch his name off the list of targets. The Bengals reportedly want a third rounder for Tyler Eifert which is a total nonsense and they won’t get anything like that. O.J. Howard isn’t playing today and remains a realistic target (but the price is likely to be high).

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Possible trade targets?

It’s interesting to see who is/isn’t practising this week — and who is/isn’t likely to play this weekend. It’s too close to gameday for a deal to be completed before Sunday. With the deadline on Tuesday, however, it’s possible teams (and players) won’t risk any potential deals for the sake of one more game.

We’ve already spent a ton of time talking about O.J. Howard. He didn’t practise today and has already been ruled out of Tampa Bay’s game against Tennessee. He remains the best possible target for the Seahawks. They need a tight end who can block and provide a dynamic weapon to replace Will Dissly. He’s under club control for two more seasons, is at a good age, has a high ceiling and would be an investment for the future not just the rest of 2019.

The only problem is price. If the Bucs were in selling mood he’d have been dealt by now. Clearly they want a good price, having already reportedly rejected an approach from New England. It might cost a first round pick to get him, or at least a second and change. Are the Seahawks willing to go that big for him? Is anyone?

Adding Howard would re-energise the offense. It would provide Russell Wilson with another weapon. It would give the Seahawks major security with Dissly out with his second long-term injury in the space of a year. It’d address a key off-season need months before the end of the current season.

It’d be an ideal fit — as long as the price is right. It’s hard to project what makes sense though. A second and a fifth would seem palatable — but is that enough for the Bucs? Do they want a first?

Tyler Eifert has been suggested by some as an alternative. His injury history and suspect blocking makes a deal unlikely I think. The Bengals, for some reason, also seem determined to hold onto all of their assets. Austin Hooper would be a good option in Atlanta but considering he’s on pace for a 1200-yard, nine-touchdown season — he’s the type of player the Falcons should be trying to keep not trade away.

The secondary needed bolstering — as shown by the recent Quandre Diggs trade. Pete Carroll insisted yesterday it was simply a response to the injury issues with Lano Hill out and Bradley McDougald suffering with back spasms. Yet we all know they needed more. The Diggs deal was a perfect storm — a good price, a deal to be made with little long term risk.

Diggs’ team mate Darius Slay hasn’t taken the trade particularly well. When asked about it yesterday he said he’s feeling “like s**t” before adding, “Anybody can get traded. I personally wouldn’t care.”

Today, he didn’t practise due to a hamstring injury and has been declared out for Sunday’s game against the Giants.

According to some Lions fans, Slay hasn’t performed quite as well this year as previous seasons. The entire Lions secondary has seemingly taken a step back in 2019. Yet there’s no doubting his talent. In 2017 he had an eight interception season. Last season he had three picks and he has one so far this year. The Seahawks are crying out for a defender capable of that kind of turnover production.

Slay is a bit older than Diggs and turns 29 in January. He’s contracted through 2020. Could there be a deal to be done? Possibly. It depends on how the Lions feel about their cornerback depth. They moved Diggs to promote their younger players. Their corner depth on paper doesn’t look great. Trading both players would be an admission of the white flag coming out.

Yet the Lions are being run by the Michigan branch of the New England Patriots. The Pats are never shy on moving a player who isn’t all-in (see: Michael Bennett). Slay has seen Diggs move out and we’re living through a time where player power has never been stronger. You can force trades in the modern NFL. Will Slay do that now? Was missing training today the start of that process?

He’s 6-0 and 190lbs with 32 1/4 inch arms. He ran a 4.36 at the combine in 2013 and jumped a 35.5 inch vertical. He has the length, athleticism and production Seattle would surely love in their secondary.

It’d be harsh on Tre Flowers considering he’s just had two of the best games of his career. The Seahawks may wish to continue his development — and their scheme doesn’t call for big investment at the cornerback position.

If there was an opportunity to prize Slay out of Detroit at a bargain price, however, why wouldn’t you consider it? And with Diggs and Slay on board, it would potentially fix some of the flaws on the defense.

Some may suggest Chris Harris Jr to play in the slot. I just think, rightly or wrongly, the Seahawks are committed to playing their three linebackers this year. Whether they’d spend a decent pick for a nickel corner who is 31 next June and wanting a new contract is a big question mark anyway.

The pass rush, of course, still needs major work. Most of the options out there are either expensive reclamation projects (Vic Beasley, Leonard Williams) or older veterans (who might cost a lot in terms of picks). If there was an opportunity to get Geno Atkins on the cheap, great. Mike Brown (the most stubborn owner in the league) isn’t going to play ball, however. The Bengals need a rebuild. The owner, for some reason, is refusing to budge.

Perhaps even more important is gaining some speed off the edge. The Seahawks are big in their front seven but lack dynamic quickness. Short of taking on Beasley’s massive contract after years of below average production, this feels like a need that’ll be addressed in the off-season. Finding some EDGE speed is a must though.

As for selling — I’m not sure there’s much scope for players moving out. Ziggy Ansah has provided very little but is surely immovable at this stage even for a seventh rounder or a player-for-player exchange. It wouldn’t be the worst idea to move on if possible and try and add a different pass rusher — but this has a feel of the Seahawks having made their bed and now they’ll have to sleep in it in 2019.

Some will question the possibility of trading Rashaad Penny. I don’t agree with the criticism of Penny or the pick itself. He was a dynamic playmaker at San Diego State in all three phases (runner, returner, receiver). His combination of size and speed surely gave the Seahawks the impression they could add a player capable of being a poor-man’s Todd Gurley. If you check his stats when he has played — they look good. He has provided glimpses with some special, highlight-reel plays. Unfortunately he doesn’t seem to be adapting to Seattle’s scheme and he’s had injury issues.

I don’t think the Seahawks will give up on him this early. Especially given their preference to run a lot. You don’t want to be relying on C.J. Prosise as your principle backup and the only other runner on the roster is Travis Homer. The only way I think they should entertain trading Penny is if Chicago was willing to broker a deal for Mike Davis to return to Seattle.

If that was possible and a team was willing to pay a third round pick, it might be worth considering. Penny was coveted in the 2018 draft. So much so Detroit tried to trade for him immediately after Seattle made the pick. The Lions just lost Kerryon Johnson for the season and could be a possible trade partner. There would be others. Penny’s stock won’t be any higher than a third but teams who liked him 18 months ago are unlikely to be writing him off after so little game-time for the Seahawks.

Who knows — maybe the Lions would even be willing to make a deal involving Slay and Penny?

It should be an interesting few days. The Seahawks aren’t likely to be making any knee-jerk aggressive moves to ‘win now at all costs’. Calculated moves that can help now and in the future, however, make sense. Diggs was a good example. If they can add a tight end and/or another defender before Tuesday — they will be in good shape for the rest of the year.

As with the Diggs trade, there’s always a chance of a surprise or two.

Updated top-50 2020 NFL draft watch-list

I’m currently on holiday in Dubai so won’t have access to college football this weekend so will do the usual Saturday review if I can — if not I’ll do it when I return next week. In the meantime here’s an updated top-50.

#1 Grant Delpit (S, LSU)
Delpit has the range and tenacity to play safety and the ball-skills, recovery speed and athleticism to play corner.

#2 Andrew Thomas (T, Georgia)
Supremely balanced and consistent — Thomas looks the part of a NFL left tackle. His footwork is superb and he anchors brilliantly.

#3 Jeff Okudah (CB, Ohio State)
He will destroy the combine and was a 142.56 athlete at SPARQ. Sticky in coverage but packs a punch as an open-field tackler.

#4 Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama)
Suffered an ACL injury before the season started but he’s in the Devin White and Roquan Smith mould.

#5 Derrick Brown (DT, Alabama)
A physical, tone-setting defensive lineman with the size, stoutness, quickness and ability to penetrate with speed or power.


#6 Joe Burrow (QB, LSU)
Accuracy, poise and control in the pocket, the ability to extend plays and make the improbable happen. Burrow is starting to look like the real deal.

#7 Chase Young (EDGE, Ohio State)
Leads the nation for sacks and while there are concerns about his run defense, he’s a superb pass rusher.

#8 Isaiah Simmons (S, Clemson)
Will be valued for his leadership. Reportedly he can jump a 40-inch vertical, an 11-0 broad and run in the 4.4’s.

#9 Trevon Diggs (CB, Alabama)
Incredibly competitive cornerback who does an excellent job tracking the ball and breaking up passes. Has an injury history. Stefon Diggs’ brother.

#10 Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama)
Very consistent and accurate but a little robotic and lacks the size/improvisation of Love and Herbert.

#11 Jerry Jeudy (WR, Alabama)
Lean and sudden with YAC ability and downfield talent. He jumped a near 38-inch vertical at SPARQ.

#12 CeeDee Lamb (WR, Oklahoma)
Tall, lean and highly productive. He will need to test well and there is some doubt after a so-so SPARQ performance.

#13 Javon Kinlaw (DT, South Carolina)
He’s +300lbs but carries minimal body fat. He dominated Alabama’s O-line a few weeks ago.

#14 Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)
Very physical and athletic — he’s 6-7 and 305lbs defender and his best football is still to come.

#15 Jonathan Taylor (RB, Wisconsin)
Some of his cuts have to be seen to be believed. He finds a crease and is capable of going through the gears to turn a big play into a scoring play.

#16 Prince Tega Wanogho (T, Auburn)
He’s 6-7 and 310lbs but reportedly runs a 4.95 and can jump 32-inches in the vertical. He can squat 560lbs and bench 415lbs.

#17 Isaiah Wilson (T, Georgia)
He’s 6-7 and 340lbs but carries it very well. Great length and power at the point of attack and capable of creating big running lanes.

#18 Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon)
Tall, mobile and with a strong arm. Herbert has all the qualities teams look for in a quarterback.

#19 Henry Ruggs (WR, Alabama)
He’s being tipped to run a 4.2 at the combine. Great catching technique — he extends his arms to catch the football away from his body.

#20 Kristian Fulton (CB, LSU)
Big, physical cornerback who tracks the ball almost as well as Trevon Diggs. Despite his size Fulton does a job kicking inside to cover the slot.

#21 DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
Broke Amari Cooper’s Alabama record for yardage against Ole Miss. Unstoppable on slants, wins at the red line and is incredibly sudden to create easy separation.

#22 Jalen Raegor (WR, TCU)
Raegor ran a 4.41 at SPARQ but reportedly is capable of a 4.29 now. He also jumped a 38.5 inch vertical and can squat 620lbs.

#23 Shaun Wade (CB, Ohio State)
Former 5-star recruit who is excelling in the slot but could easily play outside. Great athlete, excellent cover corner and he hits too.

#24 J.K. Dobbins (RB, Ohio State)
The 2016 SPARQ king with an overall score of 146.76. Dobbins is lightning fast, highly explosive, tough and productive.

#25 Jordan Love (QB, Utah State)
Capable of making all sorts of throws on the run and has the arm/mobility that will appeal to teams looking for the next Mahomes or Murray.

#26 D’Andre Swift (RB, Georgia)
A big play threat with the power to get the hard yards. He looks like Dalvin Cook but with more explosive power and quicker acceleration.

#27 Laviska Shenault (WR, Colorado)
We’ve not seen him anywhere near his best so far but he’s a swiss-army knife who can score points as a runner, receiver or returner.

#28 K.J. Hamler (WR, Penn State)
A diminutive receiver who creates excitement any time he’s around the football.

#29 Tee Higgins (WR, Clemson)
Like all Clemson receivers he’s well coached, understands his routes and he competes every single snap.

#30 Nick Harris (C, Washington)
I thought he was fantastic against Oregon. Physical, bullying and he can set a tone.

#31 Tyler Biadasz (C, Wisconsin)
He leans too much and defenders often jump back so he loses balance. When he locks on he can control linemen.

#32 Terrell Lewis (EDGE, Alabama)
He’s playing very well recently but the injury history has to stall his stock a little.

#33 Marvin Wilson (DT, Florida State)
Ran a 4.56 short shuttle at SPARQ at 6-4 and 332lbs. Combines short-area quickness with extreme power. Excellent one-tech prospect.

#34 Hunter Bryant (TE, Washington)
Was the #3 SPARQ tight end in 2016 after running a 4.35 short shuttle. He’s making as many explosive plays as the top receivers in college football.

#35 Tristan Wirfs (T, Iowa)
He can lift 450lbs in the hang clean (breaking the Iowa record by Brandon Scherff). He’s also jumped a 35-inch vertical and a 9-5 broad.

#36 Yetur Gross-Matos (DE, Penn State)
Has too many disappearing acts in games but his hand-usage is very good and he can work to disengage and create pressure.

#37 Curtis Weaver (EDGE, Boise State)
Simply put — he gets to the quarterback. He doesn’t look physically amazing but his play is consistent.

#38 Julian Okwara (EDGE, Notre Dame)
He was shut down by Georgia and he’ll need to test well. However, as he showed against Virginia he can impact games as a pass rusher.

#39 Walker Little (T, Stanford)
Ran a 4.40 short shuttle at SPARQ and scored an overall 107.25 (the top score by an offensive lineman in 2016).

#40 C.J. Henderson (CB, Florida)
His tackling is inconsistent but he’s a 4.3 runner in coverage. At SPARQ he ran a sensational 3.92 short shuttle. Could be best used in the slot.

#41 Damon Arnette (CB, Ohio State)
Decent size, consistent and he can deliver a jarring hit from time-to-time. Not far behind the two other Ohio State cornerbacks.

#42 Lucas Niang (T, TCU)
Too upright and his footwork is poor leading to off-balance sets. However, he flashes athleticism and he recovers well.

#43 Jabari Zuniga (DE, Florida)
Got off to a good start this season but left the game against Kentucky with an ankle injury. Can run a 7.03 short shuttle and has 7.5% body fat.

#44 Willie Gay (LB, Mississippi State)
What a playmaker. Jumped a 39-inch vertical at SPARQ, ran a 4.26 short shuttle and a 4.53 40-yard dash. Highly underrated.

#45 Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson)
Highly explosive running back with a similar running style to C.J. Spiller minus the elite track speed. Can be a X-factor.

#46 Jake Ferguson (TE, Wisconsin)
He’s starting to impact the passing game. Ferguson has ideal size, he can block as you’d expect and he ran a superb 4.15 short shuttle at SPARQ.

#47 Tyler Johnson (WR, Minnesota)
He’s a bit of a body catcher at times but you do see high-pointing too and he’s adept at creating subtle separation on routes.

#48 Trey Adams (T, Washington)
A prototype left tackle who could go very early if it wasn’t for his injury history. Combine medical checks will determine his stock.

#49 Jake Fromm (QB, Georgia)
He’s very measured without having the fantastic physical skills and that could hold him back.

#50 Anthony McFarland (RB, Maryland)
Former 4-star recruit who ran a 4.04 short shuttle at SPARQ. Diminutive but has great agility and a decisive runner.

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Note the lack of the use of ‘2.0’ to describe this mock draft. For some reason it became fashionable to add a decimal point to mock drafts a few years ago. It’s not an iOS update. It’s a mock. So here’s mock #2.

#1 Miami — Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama)
Very consistent and accurate but a little robotic.

#2 Cincinnati — Joe Burrow (QB, LSU)
The more I see of Burrow the more I think he’s the best QB in the class.

#3 Washington — Andrew Thomas (T, Georgia)
Supremely balanced and consistent, his footwork is superb and he anchors brilliantly.

#4 Atlanta — Chase Young (EDGE, Ohio State)
While there are concerns about his run defense, he’s a superb pass rusher.

#5 New York Jets — Jeff Okudah (CB, Ohio State)
He will destroy the combine and was a 142.56 athlete at SPARQ. Sticky in coverage but packs a punch as an open-field tackler.

#6 New York Giants — Grant Delpit (S, LSU)
Delpit has the range and tenacity to play safety and the ball-skills, recovery speed and athleticism to play corner.

#7 Tennessee (via LAC) — Jordan Love (QB, Utah State)
The Titans trade up. He will appeal to teams looking for the next Mahomes or Murray.

#8 Denver — Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
A tone-setting defensive lineman with the size, stoutness, quickness and ability to penetrate with speed or power.

#9 Cleveland — Isaiah Simmons (S, Clemson)
Will be valued for his leadership. Reportedly he can jump a 40-inch vertical, an 11-0 broad and run in the 4.4’s.

#10 Miami (via PIT) — Jerry Jeudy (WR, Alabama)
Lean and sudden with YAC ability and downfield talent. He jumped a near 38-inch vertical at SPARQ.

#11 Tampa Bay — Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon)
The Bucs are going to move on from Jameis Winston.

#12 Detroit — Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama)
Moses would be a top-five pick if he hadn’t torn his ACL in pre-season.

#13 Jacksonville — Trevon Diggs (CB, Alabama)
Competitive cornerback who does an excellent job tracking the ball and breaking up passes. Stefon Diggs’ brother.

#14 Philadelphia — Kristian Fulton (CB, LSU)
Physical cornerback who tracks the ball almost as well as Trevon Diggs.

#15 LA Chargers (via TEN) — Jonathan Taylor (RB, Wisconsin)
The Chargers replace one exciting Wisconsin running back for another.

#16 Oakland — CeeDee Lamb (WR, Oklahoma)
He has been superb this season and could go higher than this.

#17 Arizona — Prince Tega Wanogho (T, Auburn)
He’s 6-7 and 310lbs but reportedly runs a 4.95 and can jump 32-inches in the vertical.

#18 Oakland (via CHI) — Javon Kinlaw (DT, South Carolina)
He’s +300lbs but carries minimal body fat. He dominated Alabama’s O-line a few weeks ago.

#19 Jacksonville (via LAR) — Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)
The heir-apparent for Calais Campbell.

#20 Carolina — Isaiah Wilson (T, Georgia)
Wilson is outstanding and highly underrated.

#21 Dallas — Shaun Wade (CB, Ohio State)
Former 5-star recruit who is excelling in the slot but could easily play outside.

#22 Miami (via HOU) — Walker Little (T, Stanford)
Ran a 4.40 short shuttle at SPARQ and scored an overall 107.25 (the top score by an offensive lineman in 2016).

#23 Indianapolis — Marvin Wilson (DT, Florida State)
Ran a 4.56 short shuttle at SPARQ at 6-4 and 332lbs. Combines short-area quickness with extreme power.

#24 Minnesota — Henry Ruggs (WR, Alabama)
He’s being tipped to run a 4.2 at the combine. Great catching technique — he extends his arms to catch the football away from his body.

#25 Baltimore — Julian Okwara (EDGE, Notre Dame)
Productive but he was shut down by Georgia and he’ll need to test well.

#26 Seattle — DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
Unstoppable on slants, wins at the red line and is incredibly sudden to create easy separation.

#27 Buffalo — Jalen Raegor (WR, TCU)
Raegor ran a 4.41 at SPARQ but reportedly is capable of a 4.29 now. He also jumped a 38.5 inch vertical and can squat 620lbs.

#28 Green Bay — Laviska Shenault (WR, Colorado)
We’ve not seen him anywhere near his best so far but he’s a swiss-army knife who can score points as a runner, receiver or returner.

#29 Kansas City — D’Andre Swift (RB, Georgia)
A big play threat with the power to get the hard yards. He looks like Dalvin Cook.

#30 New Orleans — J.K. Dobbins (RB, Ohio State)
The 2016 SPARQ king with an overall score of 146.76.

#31 San Francisco — Tyler Biadasz (C, Wisconsin)
What you’d expect from Wisconsin. Could play center or guard.

#32 New England — KJ Hamler (WR, Penn State)
Ultra-dynamic receiver with speed to burn and makes plays every week.

In contention…

Terrell Lewis (EDGE, Alabama)
Tee Higgins (WR, Clemson)

Nick Harris (C, Washington)
Hunter Bryant (TE, Washington)
Yetur Gross-Matos (DE, Penn State)
Curtis Weaver (EDGE, Boise State)
C.J. Henderson (CB, Florida)
Damon Arnette (CB, Ohio State)
Lucas Niang (T, TCU)

I will also publish an updated top-50 this week.

Thoughts on the Seahawks pick

Despite spending three picks on receivers in the 2019 draft, this is a class rich in talent at the position. If they pick late in the first round there could be a number of highly attractive options. And while receiver might not be the biggest need, it’s vital they continue to build around Russell Wilson and give him the weapons he needs to lead this team.

In this mock they’d be presented with a fantastic opportunity to add dynamic quickness to what they already have. Someone who can replace Jaron Brown but be much more of an X-factor. DeVonta Smith, Jalen Raegor and K.J. Hamler all fit the bill perfectly. I’ve gone with Smith because he seems to be the type they would like. He makes plays at every level, is incredibly sudden to create early separation and he plays with an edge. They often go against conventional wisdom and Smith isn’t being talked about much in the media even though he should be.

This isn’t me saying receiver is a bigger need than defensive line or the secondary. If Germain Ifedi and/or George Fant depart they’ll have a big hole at tackle (but they’ve tended to sign veteran replacements recently). They need to do something at tight end in 2020. With three picks in the first two rounds they’ll have ample opportunity to address more than one need. They also have a lot of cap space. This is a really good looking receiver class and there’s a relatively good chance they’ll tap into that with at least one reasonably high pick.

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Earlier today I wrote a piece considering what the Seahawks might do before the trade deadline. That was partly answered today. With a week to go until the deadline, Seattle traded a fifth round pick for Detroit Lions safety Quandre Diggs and Detroit’s seventh rounder in 2021.

Diggs was a sixth round pick in 2016 from Texas. He ran a 4.56 at the combine, a 4.15 short shuttle and jumped a 35.5 inch vertical.

He started his career as Detroit’s nickel cornerback before switching to strong safety in 2017. He finished the season with 55 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, three interceptions and a sack in 11 starts.

He signed a three-year, $20.4 million contract extension in September 2018. His cap hit next season is $5.2m and it’s $5.5m in 2021. He recorded 78 combined tackles in 2018, eight pass deflections and three interceptions including a pick six.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Seahawks move him back to the nickel or keep him at safety.

It’s also interesting because he’s played strong safety in Detroit — which has been Bradley McDougald’s position so far. It’s possible McDougald could move across, or does this suggest his back spasms issue is more serious than initially thought? With Tedric Thompson unconvincing and Lano Hill injured, they possibly felt they needed experience and an injection of quality to the secondary.

Darius Slay, Diggs’ team mate in Detroit, took the news badly. So did ‘Snacks’ Harrison.

Lions fans are not happy about the trade either (check the replies here).

Lions reporter Jeff Risdon is confused by the trade.

Tyler Lockett is pleased, describing Diggs as his best friend on social media.

We’ve been discussing for a while the need to improve the secondary. This could be a calculated move for a player under contract until 2021. The Seahawks aren’t tied to the deal if it doesn’t work out, which is also a plus.

Diggs’ production (six interceptions in 2017 & 2018) is appealing and much needed in Seattle.

SI.com listed Diggs’ as the seventh best safety in the NFL coming into the 2019 season.

Andy Benoit made this video where he argues Diggs is the most underrated player in football.

This is a really good breakdown of his 2018 tape.

Bryce Rossler at the Lions Wire had this report on Diggs before the 2018 season:

Diggs has some obvious holes in his game, but he’s an adequate player who can thrive in certain roles. I don’t think he should be deployed in the box due to play strength issues, nor would I feel comfortable with him operating in the slot on a regular basis, but he can succeed as a deep safety in either one-high or two-high shells. He’s also capable of serving as the high-hole player in Cover 1 and Cover 3 looks.

This is unlikely to be the last move the Seahawks make. They still need to add a tight end and Pete Carroll admitted last week it’s a situation they’re working on. It’s also possible they will seek to move some players this week. The defeat to Baltimore seems to be leading to some action.

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The NFL trade deadline is a week away (29th October, 4pm ET) and deals are being made. This week Gareon Conley was traded from the Raiders to the Texans for a third round pick. Today, the Patriots spent a second round pick to acquire Mohamed Sanu.

The Seahawks have already been linked to a tight end addition by Ian Rapoport. The loss to Baltimore (and the manner of the loss) might make them even more keen to make a move in the next seven days.

So what is possible?

The loss of Will Dissly is big and having already traded away Nick Vannett, the Seahawks are short at tight end. More importantly though, Dissly has robbed them of a weapon. With the 2019 season so dependent on Russell Wilson, they need to support their quarterback. And while some have questioned the need to add to the offense considering how poorly the defense has played, we have to be realistic about the options and the opportunity.

The defensive issues are unlikely to be solved by the addition of one player. A re-shaping of the defense will be required.

Acquiring one weapon to replace the one lost can help the offense now. They need to support their quarterback and give him the best possible opportunity to succeed. The best way to do this would be to acquire one of the following options:

— A player who is approaching free agency who they can add for a third round pick or less, knowing they can possibly gain a compensatory pick in the future

— A player who is able to contribute beyond 2019 (eg a player at a good age that is contracted beyond this season and/or you would aim to extend)

This isn’t about blowing a high pick in an unnecessary gamble. It’s about making a calculated move to help the quarterback. The Ravens game paired with the Saints game might’ve pulled back the curtain on how far away this team is from being a feared, genuine contender. However, that doesn’t mean you have to write-off the season or just ‘hope for the best’ when you sit in position to make the playoffs at 5-2.

The two proposals above would allow the Seahawks to plan accordingly for the future, while also doing something for the present.

One name we’ve often talked about is O.J. Howard. According to Albert Breer, the Patriots contacted Tampa Bay and were told he wasn’t for sale. It seems either Tampa Bay is asking for more than clubs are willing to part with (eg a first rounder) or they intend to keep Howard. He’s wasted in Bruce Arians’ scheme. Is Arians committed to being in Tampa Bay for the long haul though? It hasn’t gone well so far this season. They’re at a crossroads, where they’re likely to move on from Jameis Winston without an obvious quarterback solution on the horizon. Who knows how they see their future?

The Bucs would be right to ask for a first rounder, too. If Mohamed Sanu at age 30 is worth a second round pick, then Howard is worth more than that. Trading a first round pick at this stage seems unlikely but not impossible. The Seahawks are going to need to add a tight end at some point in the off-season and according to Davis Hsu, they viewed Howard as one of the top players in the 2017 draft. If they see him as a player for the long haul, it wouldn’t be improbable. It would be highly aggressive though — and given the state of the team currently, they might prefer to assess the lay of the land in the off-season with a haul of picks at their disposal.

An alternative could be Austin Hooper. Clearly Atlanta is accepting its fate. They’re 1-6 and having traded Sanu, might be in the process of planning ahead.

Hooper turns 25 on the day of the trade deadline. He’s a former third round pick who is playing well this season. He has 526 yards and four touchdowns and is on pace, currently, for 1202 yards. He’s out of contract in the off-season.

Here’s Lance Zierlein’s draft report on Hooper:

Will be labeled as a move tight end, but I see him as being more than that for teams looking for a more complete player. Hooper has a frame that should be able to carry another eight to 10 pounds without much trouble, and he shows enough want­-to as a blocker to see him playing in­line when needed. If Hooper can improve his hands and become craftier with his routes, he could become a solid, 10-­year starter in the league.

When the Seahawks traded for Duane Brown two years ago, they played the Texans days before the deadline. Brown’s last game for Houston was against Seattle. With the Seahawks and Falcons playing this weekend, is it possible they’ve already discussed a deal and are simply waiting for this game to conclude before finalizing a trade?

It’s understandable if Atlanta were to insist they wouldn’t trade Hooper to the Seahawks before the teams play each other. He’d have significant knowledge to pass on for a start. Waiting until after this game would make sense.

It’s difficult to determine what compensation could be. If Sanu is worth a second rounder, is Hooper worth a second rounder? Sanu is contracted through 2020 so that possibly improves his value. This would be a rental with the opportunity of an extension if desired.

His ability as a receiving option and as a blocker would appeal. He could be a name to monitor, albeit after the weekend.

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If you missed the instant reaction post check it out here. I also recorded this podcast shortly after the game with Brandan Schulze…