Ronald Jones II was limited at the combine after hurting his hamstring running the forty yard dash. He did jump a 36.5 inch vertical but didn’t do any of the running back drills or agility tests.
Today he ran a new forty, managing a 4.48.
I contacted USC to check on his weight and he’s up to 208lbs:
He’s now only five pounds lighter than Kerryon Johnson but ran a slightly faster time (4.48 vs 4.54). Both players are highly explosive and aggressive in their running style.
The only question mark for the Seahawks is size. They’ve had a ‘type’ for a long time — approximately 5-11, 220lbs. They’ve shown interest in Ito Smith and Chase Edmonds this off-season so it’s possible they’re now looking for a different type of back. They seem to at least be considering adding a smaller, dynamic runner.
As we’ve often discussed, Jones II is a fantastic talent. It’d be remiss of them to count him out for size. And as we’ve seen with Russell Wilson, they’re willing to make an exception for the right player.
Even so, the size factor exists. He isn’t 215-220lbs. And it’s part of the evaluation they and other teams have to consider.
One thing to remember though. Alvin Kamara is only six pounds heavier than Ronald Jones II and he ran a 4.56. Kamara is highly explosive. He managed a 39.5 inch vertical and his game is based around suddenness and explosive traits, not straight line speed. Jones II is quicker and a little less explosive — but he’s tougher to bring down.
Re-creating New Orleans’ two-headed monster with Mark Ingram and Kamara wouldn’t be a bad idea for a team looking to fix its running game. One of Chris Carson or Mike Davis could act as Ingram, with Jones II as Kamara.
That would make sense for the Seahawks. Of course, it’s also possible another team takes Jones II off the board before Seattle’s first pick (assuming they trade down).
While teams are starting to conduct their final draft meetings and put together their boards, we’re also seeing players making top-30 visits. Each team is allowed 30 official visits in the pre-draft period.
So what exactly happens on a visit?
Teams are allotted 30 in-house visits with draft prospects. Can bring them in, give them physicals, interviews, put them on the board, but can't work them out. https://t.co/LfEK7bcBMF
They’re also able to have unlimited meetings with local prospects. For example, the Los Angeles Chargers are visiting with Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen and neither is counting against their top-30 quota. Seattle can have any of the Washington/Washington State players come to the VMAC.
So far we’ve come to learn ten of Seattle’s top-30 visits:
Justin Reid (S, Stanford)
Poona Ford (DT, Texas)
Maurice Hurst (DT, Michigan)
Foyesade Oluokun (LB/S, Yale)
Ito Smith (RB, Southern Miss)
Keith Kirkwood (WR, Temple)
Khalid Hill (FB, Michigan)
Devron Davis (CB, UTSA)
Leighton Vander Esch (LB, Boise State)
Josh Sweat (DE, Florida State)
Teams are also allowed to conduct off-site workouts. Three of these have been reported or confirmed:
Christian Kirk (WR, Texas A&M)
Dallas Goedert (TE, South Dakota State)
Demone Harris (DE, Buffalo)
Zaire Franklin (LB, Syracuse)
Abdullah Anderson (DT, Bucknell)
Manase Hungalu (LB, Oregon State)
The Seahawks reportedly met with the following players:
Nick Nelson (CB, Wisconsin) (after pro-day)
Natrell Jamerson (S, Wisconsin) (after pro-day)
Shaquem Griffin (LB, USF) (at the combine)
Tony Brown (CB, Alabama) (pro-day)
Chris Seisay (CB, Portland State) (pro-day)
Ronald Jones (RB, USC)
And they’ve reportedly shown interest in:
Austin Corbett (T, Nevada)
Jessie Bates III (S, Wake Forest)
J.T. Gray (S, Mississippi State)
Tee Sims (DE, Appalachian State)
I wanted to post this list as a point of reference. New names have been added pretty much every day and that will continue.
It was a rather uneven day for the Tigers other running back, Derrius Guice.
I’m told Guice did nothing to move the needle in his favor today and documented off the field issues are weighing heavily on his draft grade. Several teams do not hold a positive view of Guice and some have characterized the talented ball carrier as a “loose cannon.”
Will his on the field talent be enough to offset character concerns?
Time for a new mock draft. This one includes trades (detailed below), a second round projection and a full Seahawks seven-round mock.
Let me know what you think in the comments section.
#1 Cleveland — Josh Allen (QB, Wyoming)
#2 NY Giants — Sam Darnold (QB, USC)
#3 NY Jets (via Ind) — Baker Mayfield (QB, Oklahoma)
#4 Cleveland (via Hou) — Saquon Barkley (RB, Penn State)
#5 Buffalo (via Den) — Josh Rosen (QB, UCLA)
#6 Indianapolis (via NYJ) — Bradley Chubb (EDGE, NC State)
#7 Tampa Bay — Quenton Nelson (G, Notre Dame)
#8 Chicago — Denzel Ward (CB, Ohio State)
#9 San Francisco — Tremaine Edmunds (LB, Virginia Tech)
#10 Oakland — Leighton Vander Esch (LB, Boise State)
#11 Miami — Minkah Fitzpatrick (S, Alabama)
#12 Denver (via Buf, Cin) — Derwin James (S, Florida State)
#13 Washington — Vita Vea (DT, Washington)
#14 Green Bay — Marcus Davenport (DE, UTSA)
#15 Arizona — Lamar Jackson (QB, Louisville)
#16 Baltimore — Mike McGlinchey (T, Notre Dame)
#17 LA Chargers — Roquan Smith (LB, Georgia)
#18 Cleveland (via Sea) — Kolton Miller (T, UCLA)
#19 Dallas — Calvin Ridley (WR, Alabama)
#20 Detroit — Da’Ron Payne (DT, Alabama)
#21 Cincinnati (via Buf) — Justin Reid (S, Stanford)
#22 Denver (via Buf, KC) — Harold Landry (DE, Boston College)
#23 New England (via LA) — Jaire Alexander (CB, Louisville)
#24 Carolina — Rasheem Green (DE, USC)
#25 Tennessee — Sam Hubbard (DE, Ohio State)
#26 Atlanta — Maurice Hurst (DT, Michigan)
#27 New Orleans — Rashaan Evans (LB, Alabama)
#28 Pittsburgh — Jessie Bates III (S, Wake Forest)
#29 Jacksonville — Taven Bryan (DT, Florida)
#30 Minnesota — Isaiah Wynn (G, Georgia)
#31 New York Giants (via NE) — Will Hernandez (G, UTEP)
#32 Philadelphia — Austin Corbett (G, Nevada)
#33 Seattle (via Cle) — Ronald Jones II (RB, USC)
#34 New England (via NYG) — Mason Rudolph (QB, Oklahoma State)
#35 Cleveland — Carlton Davis (CB, Auburn)
#36 Indianapolis — Kerryon Johnson (RB, Auburn)
#37 Indianapolis — Joshua Jackson (CB, Iowa)
#38 Tampa Bay — Derrius Guice (RB, Tampa Bay)
#39 Chicago — Tim Settle (DT, Virginia Tech)
#40 Denver — Sony Michel (RB, Georgia)
#41 Oakland — Hayden Hurst (TE, South Carolina)
#42 Miami — James Daniels (C, Iowa)
#43 New England (via SF) — D.J. Moore (WR, Maryland)
#44 Washington — Nick Chubb (RB, Georgia)
#45 Green Bay — Isaiah Oliver (CB, Colorado)
#46 Cincinnati — Frank Ragnow (C, Arkansas)
#47 Arizona — Mike Hughes (CB, UCF)
#48 LA Chargers — B.J. Hill (DT, NC State)
#49 Indianapolis — Ronnie Harrison (S, Alabama)
#50 Dallas — Malik Jefferson (LB, Texas)
#51 Detroit — Connor Williams (T, Texas)
#52 Baltimore — Billy Price (C, Ohio State)
#53 Denver (via Buf) — Geron Christian (T, Louisville)
#54 Kansas City — Donte Jackson (CB, LSU)
#55 Carolina — Christian Kirk (WR, Texas A&M)
#56 Buffalo (via LAR) — Harrison Phillips (DT, Stanford)
#57 Tennessee — Rashaad Penny (RB, San Diego State)
#58 Atlanta — Courtland Sutton (WR, SMU)
#59 San Francisco (via NO) — Royce Freeman (RB, Oregon)
#60 Pittsburgh — Andrew Brown (DT, Virginia)
#61 Jacksonville — Dallas Goedert (TE, South Dakota State)
#62 Minnesota — Josh Sweat (DE, Florida State)
#63 New England — Brian O’Neill (T, Pittsburgh)
#64 Cincinnati (via Sea, Cle, Phi) — Tyrell Crosby (T, Oregon)
Just missed: Braden Smith (G, Auburn), D.J. Chark (WR, LSU), Arden Key (DE, LSU), Orlando Brown (T, Oklahoma), James Washington (WR, Oklahoma State), Mike Gesicki (TE, Penn State), Lorenzo Carter (LB, Georgia), Dante Pettis (WR, Washington)
Trades
Buffalo trades #12, #22, #53 & 2019 R2 to Denver for #5
Cleveland trades #33, #64 & #150 to Seattle for #18
New York Giants trade #34 & #108 to New England for #31
Cincinnati trades #77 & #112 to Seattle for #64
Today the Rams traded the #23 pick to New England for Brandin Cooks.
Seven round Seahawks mock
R2 (33) — Ronald Jones II (RB, USC)
R3 (77) — Luke Falk (QB, Washington State)
R4 (112) — Shaquem Griffin (LB, UCF)
R4 (120) — Kameron Kelly (DB, San Diego State)
R5 (141) — Quenton Meeks (CB, Stanford)
R5 (146) — Leon Jacobs (LB, Wisconsin)
R5 (150) — Will Dissly (TE, Washington)
R5 (156) — Natrell Jamerson (S, Wisconsin)
R5 (168) — Chase Edmonds (RB, Fordham)
R7 (226) — Poona Ford (DT, Texas)
R7 (248) — Khalid Hill (FB, Michigan)
So, why a quarterback in round three?
We’re just running through scenarios here. This is one we haven’t talked about.
The Seahawks currently don’t have a backup on the roster. That’ll likely change before training camp. A veteran backup is necessary, even if they draft a rookie QB.
In the next 18 months the Seahawks will likely begin negotiating a new contract with Russell Wilson. Last time it ended up being trickier than expected. Wilson didn’t agree terms until right before training camp. I think they were surprised how long it took, how much Wilson’s agent dug in. All’s well that ends well — but they need to be prepared for round two.
The chances are Wilson will agree an extension and will continue his career in Seattle — possibly until he finishes playing. You don’t take a franchise quarterback for granted. It still makes sense for the Seahawks to cover their bases. Draft a quarterback, have them under contract for four years and buy yourself some security.
Quarterbacks generally don’t lose value. Mike Glennon is a good example. A year ago Chicago paid him a fortune to be a bridge to Mitch Trubisky. So even if your young QB isn’t a valuable trade chip, comp picks are a possibility down the line.
Is it a little rich to spend a third round pick on a quarterback during a transition?
Possibly.
However, consistent winning teams have often planned ahead at quarterback. The New England Patriots drafted Ryan Mallett and Jacoby Brissett in round three and spent a second rounder on Jimmy Garoppolo during the Brady era. Green Bay drafted Aaron Rodgers in 2005 as the presumed heir apparent to Brett Favre. Yet in 2008 they also spent a second round pick on Brian Brohm — the year Rodgers took over from Favre. Again, they were covering their bases.
The Seahawks haven’t drafted a quarterback since taking Wilson in 2012. Now might be the time to start some forward planning.
So why Luke Falk?
The main reason is because he’s the best one available in this mock. The top five go in round one as expected and Mason Rudolph comes off the board in round two. After that there’s not a lot left.
Falk is a very different quarterback to Wilson but so was Charlie Whitehurst, Matt Flynn and Austin Davis. Ideally you’d draft a player with a similar skill set to avoid too much change if Wilson gets hurt. Unless Lamar Jackson suffers a dramatic and unexpected fall that isn’t going to be possible here.
I’ve liked Falk for some time. He’s a gutty quarterback, willing to sit in the pocket and deliver accurate throws in the face of pressure. He’s intelligent, measured and has dealt with a lot in his college career. He did have some ugly games but he also elevated Washington State into contention in the PAC-12 North.
It’s not an unfair criticism to suggest he didn’t quite take the next step in 2017, pushing himself firmly into the round two range. Yet he hardly had a bad year either. In the third round you’re not taking much of a gamble. Falk has talent in a league desperate for good quarterback play. If he isn’t starting for the Seahawks in five years, he might be starting for someone else.
Why waste a pick on a QB this early though?
There aren’t many alternatives. Seattle’s lack of picks is a problem and likely a main reason why they’re willing to contemplate trading Earl Thomas for a bounty.
At pick #33 in the mock above a lot of the best pass rushers were gone. So I had them take a running back, addressing their self-confessed biggest need (fixing the run). If I’d had them passing on a runner at #33, they would’ve missed out on the top eight altogether.
Sometimes the board falls this way. Ideally I would’ve had the Seahawks taking a runner and a pass rusher. It didn’t work out. So I had them trading down from #64 and thought it’d be interesting to bring up the possibility of taking a QB.
What happens to the pass rush though?
A few key points here:
— The Seahawks do have Frank Clark, Dion Jordan, Barkevious Mingo and Marcus Smith. Cliff Avril is expected to retire but as of today, remains part of the roster. It hasn’t been completely ruled out that he’ll play again. There’s also at least some possibility Malik McDowell will return this year.
— In 2010-11 the Seahawks relied heavily on Chris Clemons to provide a pass rush, aided by Raheem Brock. In 2012 they added Bruce Irvin. It wasn’t until 2013 that they signed Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. They waited for the right players to become available. They might be willing to roll with Clark, Jordan, Mingo and Smith this year.
— The 2019 draft class looks like it could be a defensive line special. You’ve got the Clemson quartet of Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins and Austin Bryant. Nick Bosa (Joey’s brother) is eligible to turn pro. Houston’s Ed Oliver has already stated he’ll be declaring for the draft. Michigan’s Rashan Gary is eligible. Teams plan ahead and it won’t be a surprise if the Seahawks are thinking 2019 could be the year to focus on pass rushers.
It’s also possible the draft falls a bit differently in round one and the Seahawks find a way to draft a pass rusher with an early pick. I’m not ruling it out — I’m just looking at a different scenario today.
And for what it’s worth, I do have them adding Shaquem Griffin and Leon Jacobs on day three. Griffin is a nickel linebacker and pass rush specialist. Jacobs is capable of acting as a SAM/LEO and providing some edge pressure.
Why Ronald Jones II?
You can make arguments for and against the pick. On the positive side, Jones II is truly one of the most dynamic players in the draft. A legit top-20 talent. His aggressive running style, vision, incredible suddenness and ability to make a deadly cut and explode to the second level is highly impressive. Simply put, his tape is fantastic. He has genuine star potential and the comparisons to Jamaal Charles, as we’ve said many times before, are warranted.
On the negative side of things, he’s only 205lbs. That’s below Seattle’s apparent prototype for the position. He was highly productive and tough at USC but at the next level he might need to be part of a duo. Which is fine. Think Mark Ingram & Alvin Kamara. Seattle’s version could be Chris Carson & Ronald Jones II.
Even so, if you want a reason to be wary of taking Jones II — that’s it. And the Seahawks might prefer someone who is bigger (such as Nick Chubb or Kerryon Johnson). Jones II is incredibly talented, explosive and dynamic and the type of athlete they’ve added in the past. But it doesn’t mean he’s a guaranteed fit.
If the Seahawks were wavering on his size, this could also be a factor:
Now heard from more than one team who has been turned off by how "dismissive" Ronald Jones has been during their discussions with him. Caught both teams way off guard.
When you aren’t an absolutely perfect fit (and Jones II isn’t because he’s not a sturdy 220lbs) — you don’t want to give a team another reason to pass.
That said, he’s not a bad guy. This isn’t a true character ‘flag’. It’s just a thing that, as Lance notes, caught teams off guard. Because he comes across as a good talker and a personable, determined character.
Jones II is a special player with a ceiling that includes greatness. He has to be a consideration.
Why no offensive linemen?
It’s quite simple. In the last two years the Seahawks have spent a first round pick on Germain Ifedi, a second round pick on Ethan Pocic, a third round pick on Rees Odhiambo, a second and a third round pick on Duane Brown and they extended the contract of 2014 second round pick Justin Britt.
The Seahawks have poured resources into their O-line. And alone it hasn’t been a solution. Pete Carroll and John Schneider drafted these players and it appears they still believe they’re capable of forming a cohesive group.
They’ve changed coaches. They’re tweaking the scheme. They’ve signed D.J. Fluker. They’ll be getting George Fant back. More highly drafted rookies aren’t always the solution. This group needs better guidance to execute and communicate and function. Now it’s up to Mike Solari to deliver.
Final thoughts
Predicting what the Seahawks will do is even harder than usual this year because of their lack of picks. We’re not just projecting possible targets — we’re also trying to guess how they’ll move around the board to fill the gigantic hole between pick #18 and #120.
I do think they will target a running back early. It doesn’t have to be their first pick but it’ll probably be one of their first two. I think they will look to add speed across the board. I think they will also target players with strong special teams value.
That’s what I’ve tried to do with this projection. From Ronald Jones II to Shaquem Griffin to Leon Jacobs to Natrell Jamerson — there’s a lot of speed. The Seahawks would be a faster team on both sides of the ball.
I’ve also tried to identify players with grit, toughness and intelligence.
There are always names you’d like to include too. Isaiah Wynn, Austin Corbett, Christian Kirk, Maurice Hurst, Andrew Brown, Jessie Bates III. All intelligent, tough players with high talent. I’ve grown to appreciate Dallas Goedert more after further study this week. Nick Chubb and Kerryon Johnson are both appealing alternatives at running back and there are players like Nick Nelson that don’t fit Seattle’s prototype but still jump off the screen.
With the draft just over three weeks away we’ll continue to look at different scenarios and possibilities.
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When John Schneider spoke at the owners meeting he talked about the type of player they set out to acquire this off-season.
“Smart, tough, reliable guys that love football”
All teams are looking for those characteristics. Sometimes they veer off course trying to fill a need. Or they fall for a particular skill set or profile.
Example: Malik McDowell
The Seahawks wanted an interior pass rusher. They’d been looking for one for a while. Calais Campbell was too expensive in free agency and McDowell had some physical similarities to a young Calais.
It’s easy to see why they took a shot.
The pick ended up being a disaster. McDowell may never play a down of NFL football after suffering an ATV accident before training camp.
‘Smart’ and ‘reliable’? Not in the case of Malik McDowell. Hopefully he’ll have an opportunity to make amends. And yet the warning signs were there. They were just ignored.
“Worst interview we did,” said one team. Added another: “Awful interview. Awful.”
“Does he love football? Is he going to work? I can’t figure out what makes this kid tick. He might be the type who, maybe he falls and it lights a fire under him. I don’t know. But I need that light on more often, and he didn’t like it when we asked him about that. McDowell might never fully show his full skill, but passing on him also means you’re missing out on a potentially rare talent.”
It’s not the first time Seattle has taken a chance on talent. Christine Michael was a similar pick. The Percy Harvin trade was high-risk.
Some of the moves have paid off though. Bruce Irvin was a gamble of sorts. Frank Clark is now the best pass rusher remaining on the roster.
“He had a lot of hype coming in. He’s got a lot of off-field stuff you’ve got to worry about.”
His aggressive running style is extremely similar to Thomas Rawls — a player hand-picked by Pete Carroll in 2015. He’s not the explosive running back they’ve often targeted (and he’s not the same explosive tester as Rawls) but in terms of size and style — he’s a match. If the character concerns are legit, however, they might look elsewhere.
It’ll also be interesting to see how they approach underachievers. Bo Scarborough had a very underwhelming college career. He flashed incredible talent in 3-4 games and disappeared for the rest, playing well within himself. Lorenzo Carter is seen as an underachiever and Connor Williams had a disappointing 2017 season leading some to question his toughness (per McGinn’s sources: “He should have gone back. Really a soft guy. Really good athlete with really good feet and movement. But he gets pushed and didn’t look like he was real tough“).
Are the Seahawks all about competitive fire, having a chip on your shoulder and production this year? Or will there come a point where talent outweighs performance?
We’ll find out in a month.
So who are some of the players that fit the ‘smart, tough, reliable’ description?
There are a few that spring to mind but it’s difficult to judge from afar. This is why ‘draft media’ can never truly get a thorough grasp on the draft. There’s so much information we’ll never have access to.
Nick Chubb competed like crazy to return from a career-threatening injury and return to his physical best. He visibly bristles when people underestimate him and has this inner fire and determination. He also runs hard but he’s not alone. Ronald Jones II and Kerryon Johnson don’t necessarily have the back story or adversity but they run with real aggression.
It’s hard not to be impressed with the way defensive backs Kameron Kelly, Quenton Meeks and Isaac Yidaom speak. Mature, focused, determined. Austin Corbett has battled and fought to reach a level where he could easily sneak into the back-end of round one.
Andrew Brown lost his mother at a young age and plays with a relentless fire. He didn’t necessarily live up to the recruiting hype but he gives everything on the field. Leighton Vander Esch, Rashaan Evans and Maurice Hurst play the right way.
There are also players that overcame personal tragedy like USF quarterback Quinton Flowers or battled for their opportunity like Devante Kincade.
But really, there’s one name that stands out more than any other when you’re talking about ‘smart, tough and reliable’.
Shaquem Griffin will be one of the grittiest players to ever enter the NFL. That’s not hyperbole. I can honestly say I’ve never watched a player perform with his level of intensity, effort, passion and determination. Every drop of adversity he’s faced in his life is taken onto the field with him and punished.
His Peach Bowl performance against Auburn might be the best effort I’ve ever seen from an individual player in a team sport. The only time I can recall a similar effort is when David Beckham dragged England to the 2002 World Cup with an energy sapping solo performance against Greece at Old Trafford.
Griffin gave absolutely everything against Auburn. He chased every lost cause, recorded 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Look at this effort:
👀 STONED LACK DRAFT WATCH – Shaquem Griffin 3/6 👀 Was wir am meisten lieben: THIS GUY IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER! Er hat ein Gefühl für das Spiel…siehe hier: Toller Pass Rush Move, beteiligt am Turnover, legt dann den Block für den Raumgewinn! pic.twitter.com/87OTrno72w
Not only did he impact the initial hand-off with his quickness, he then sprints to the near sideline to deliver one of the best blocks you’ll see on a fumble return.
He’s not just an effort player either. He can disengage:
Watch @Shaquemgriffin (edge defender) shed this block on the edge with his right hand to assist on a goal line stop. He weighs 220, and the tackle (TCU's Joseph Noteboom) weighs 306.#SeniorBowlpic.twitter.com/gWEqyAwyma
Griffin isn’t a great story because he only has one hand. He’s a great story because there isn’t a single player in college football that can match him for effort, determination speed and production. His effort is infectious and there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that this rubbed off on his team mates. UCF were a bunch of BAMF’s last year. Griffin set the tone.
Unquestionably there are things he needs to work on. His zone coverage can be poor at times and he gives up avoidable receptions due to suspect positioning. He may never be able to set the edge against the run and there are going to be plays where he’s driven off the ball. He’s a 227lbs linebacker playing with one hand. It’s going to be quite a challenge to do anything about that. Thus, he possibly won’t ever be an every-down linebacker.
Even so, Griffin is going to dramatically improve the team he ends up with. Through his effort, attitude and ability. He is a terrific nickel pass rusher. He didn’t fluke 33.5 TFL’s in the last two seasons or 18.5 sacks. Put him on the field on third down and there’s a good chance he’ll make a play. There’s great value in that. Teams will have to account for his speed and pursuit whenever he’s on the field.
In a game against a mobile quarterback he could be a useful spy. On special teams he could be an immediate captain. The energy and spirit he brings to a team will be evident. He’ll be the one leading the huddle one minute and then the guy leading by example on the field the next.
Low percentage of snaps? Possibly. Likeliness of impact? High.
I don’t know how early he’s going to go in the draft. You hear all sorts. It’ll depend on how teams see the value of a core special teamer and nickel linebacker. But there isn’t another player in this draft class that personifies grit, toughness, athleticism, strength and reliability better than Griffin. And there won’t be anyone in the next draft either, or the one after that.
If the Seahawks want to go back to punching above their weight, they could do a lot worse than tap into the UCF mentality from 2017. Griffin would provide another pass-rush option and help improve a stalling special teams unit.
Pete Carroll certainly enjoyed his forty yard dash at the combine:
