As well as today’s piece, here’s a podcast on the draft prospects in the National Championship game plus some Seahawks thoughts…
I want this piece to feature players who might, realistically, be available.
For that reason I’m not going to include prospects who will obviously be gone.
For example, South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw would be an ideal addition. His ability to wreak havoc from the interior, win with power and quickness and take over games is exactly what Seattle needs. He’s the only player who bossed Georgia’s offensive line, leading his team to an upset win on the road. He’s the complete package.
He won’t be available to the Seahawks. Especially during a down year for disruptive, playmaking defensive linemen. If they were picking at #10 he’d probably be the first name on the list. Instead they’re picking at #27, so he isn’t.
This group will grow during the process. As always, the Senior Bowl and combine play a huge part in highlighting potential targets. I don’t even really look at cornerbacks until we discover combine measurements and body type.
Cesar Ruiz (C, Michigan)
For me Ruiz is a top-25 talent. Michigan didn’t have a great start to the 2019 season and a big part of their turnaround was the performance of Ruiz next to Ben Bredeson anchoring the O-line.
He was the best SPARQ tester at center in 2017 with an overall score of 97.92. He’s 6-4 and 319lbs. PFF crowned him the best pass-blocking center in college football — he allowed just eight pressures in 447 snaps.
He handled Raekwon Davis against Alabama, is incredibly effective as a run blocker opening up lanes and he has the pass-blocking skills to be a long-term feature in the NFL. He has impressive character and grit having had to deal with the death of his father at a very young age.
The Seahawks may or may not be in the market for a center, depending on Justin Britt’s health and cap hit. Nevertheless, Ruiz is one of the top offensive linemen in this draft and should be a first rounder.
Jalen Reagor (WR, TCU)
This is going to be a draft class defined by the talent at wide receiver. Reagor is one of the best — if not the best. He hasn’t received much hype in part because TCU’s quarterback situation was a mess in 2019. However, he has everything needed to be a top NFL target.
Reagor has extreme speed and quickness. He runs electrifying go-routes and posts but he also creates easy separation on shorter routes. He’s sturdy with a good looking frame at about 5-11 and 195lbs. He ranked second only to Jaylen Waddle for punt return yards (20.80) and scored two touchdowns.
He’s surprisingly good in the red zone, using explosive athleticism (he jumped a 38.5 inch vertical at SPARQ) to leap above defenders to high-point and win jump-balls. He could run in the 4.3’s. I can’t find any flaws. A superb talent who should go in the top-25 but if he didn’t, would be a steal.
Willie Gay Jr (LB, Mississippi State)
Before the college football season I had Gay in my top-50 watchlist. In practically every 2018 Mississippi State game he made a huge play. Interceptions, forced fumbles, sacks, improbable coverage, hard hits. He was a sensational playmaker.
His 2019 season was a disaster. He was ineligible to start the year then suspended for breaking team rules. The Bulldogs floundered, ended up firing their coach and now he’s turning pro.
I suspect his stock will rapidly grow later in the process. He’s too good. He ran a 4.53 at SPARQ and on tape looks like he could crack the 4.4’s. His short shuttle is a 4.26. He jumps a 40-inch vertical. There aren’t many athletes who can do what he does. Find a way to get him and work with his potential.
The Seahawks invested a lot at the linebacker position a year ago but Gay just has an ‘it’ factor about him. Seattle needs playmaker on defense, impact players. I believe he can be one and he could come at a discounted price.
Isaiah Wilson (T, Georgia)
Wilson was one of the first players I properly studied this year and was wowed by his potential. I’m not sure why he’s not being talked about as a high first round pick, considering how much people are rushing to hype up Jedrick Wills and Mekhi Becton.
He’s 6-7 and 340lbs but carries the size superbly. He’s not carrying any bad weight and cuts an intimidating presence on the right side.
When he locks his arms into position defenders can’t disengage. There’s evidence of effective combo-blocks and he’ll drive defenders back in the running game. There are occasions where he gets his drop wrong and loses balance and leverage. He drops too deep against speed and gives faster rushers an opportunity to attack from within the pocket, eliminating space and freedom for the quarterback. He needs to play more inside-out. That said, he has massive potential and I think teams will love him.
Georgia’s O-line performance in 2019 was incredible. Andrew Thomas is a sure-fire top-10 pick. I don’t think Wilson will be too far behind and he declared as a redshirt sophomore which suggests he received a very good review from the draft committee. He’s being severely underrated.
K.J. Hamler (WR, Penn State)
Penn State didn’t have a great collection of skill position players in 2019. They basically had one dynamic playmaker and it was Hamler. He’s incredibly sudden, highly competitive and challenges defender’s at every level.
He also provides a special teams value, averaging 21.38 yards on kick returns. Hamler ran a 4.43 at SPARQ and will likely get into the 4.3’s at the combine. He shares some of Tyler Lockett’s ability to get open across the middle and make improbable catches. Yet he’s slighter and possibly quicker than Lockett.
He will go quite a bit earlier than many are projecting. It’s very possible he will go in the top-25. He’s not as explosive or sturdy as Reagor but speed matters in the NFL. Easy separation matters. Teams will love his ability to get open, impact games and contribute on special teams.
Logan Stenberg (G, Kentucky)
He’s a pancake machine who dominates opponents with extreme physicality. I’ve not seen a guard manhandle blockers like Stenberg in a long time. He connects, locks-on and drives defender’s off the ball. He’s a punishing finisher and will hammer opponents to the turf, judo-toss them to the ground or plough them off the LOS.
He’s a pure finisher who sets the tone and batters defenders. If you like physical, aggressive run-blocking then this is the guy for you. He’s also adept at the turns and twists and good hand-placement needed to achieve easy wins where he doesn’t have to flat-out dominate with power. He allowed only one pressure in 2019.
I’ve seen some people mention a lack of mobility and athletic limitations but there was nothing glaring. Holding penalties were apparently an issue at Kentucky. That said, the Seahawks love physical run blockers with great size. Stenberg looks like one of the toughest players to enter the league in a while. For me he’s a second or third round value pick who could rise.
Bryan Edwards (WR, South Carolina)
He’s a former four-star recruit and you see that athleticism on tape. He can separate with ease despite a bigger frame (6-3, 215lbs). He looks like a very solid 4.4 runner. That wouldn’t be a surprise because he ran a 4.53 at SPARQ and with combine training he can shave a few tenths off.
On top of his straight-line speed he also jumped a 38-inch vertical and ran a 4.31 short shuttle. His overall SPARQ score was an 111.96. He’s mature, determined and he’d fit the culture in Seattle.
He broke records at South Carolina with 234 career receptions, 3045 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s not the most physical receiver when a defender gets his hands on him but he can work on that. It’s a lot harder to develop foot-speed and a good release which he has. He’s a YAC threat with the ball in his hands, he’s good on screens. He can get downfield with his quickness to deliver the big play. He can win contested catches and had a good win in tight coverage vs Florida’s C.J. Henderson.
Brandon Aiyuk (WR, Arizona State)
Ranked by PFF as college football’s best runner of the post-route in 2019, Aiyuk is massively underrated by the media. Jim Nagy told us recently he was being graded higher than N’Keal Harry in NFL circles. It’s easy to see why.
Aiyuk has electrifying speed. His ability to accelerate away from defenders is quite stunning. He looks bigger than he is (6-1, 206lbs) but he’s big enough to make contested catches and do all of the stuff you’d expect from a player attempting to win at the red line.
However, it’s his ability to take a simple screen 70-yards for a touchdown or run by everyone on a deep route that will really appeal to teams. He’s an X-factor. As a bonus, he also provides special teams value. He averaged 31.86 on kick-off’s, 16.14 on punts and had one return touchdown to go with his eight as a receiver. He will go in round one.
Ben Brederson (G, Michigan)
I mentioned his team mate Cesar Ruiz earlier but Brederson also warrants attention on this list. PFF rated him as college football’s best pass-protecting guard. In 451 pass-protection snaps he allowed just seven hurries with no QB hits or sacks allowed. He only allowed two pressures against Ohio State.
He’s a former four-star recruit who received interest from Alabama and Auburn before opting to go with Michigan. We know the Seahawks like player’s from UM.
He’s not a finesse pass-blocker though. He’s 6-5 and 325lbs and can lay the wood too. There are some very attractive O-line prospects in this class. The focus might be mainly on other areas (Pete Carroll has already talked about keeping continuity on the OL). However, with Mike Iupati a free agent, Justin Britt’s injury situation casting doubt on his status given the cost and D.J. Fluker only on a short-term deal, the Seahawks would be wise to at least look at some of these options.
Anthony McFarland (RB, Maryland)
Maryland ended up being a bit of a hot mess this season and that had an impact on McFarland’s production. However, he’s an incredibly dynamic running back with the quick feet to avoid contact and the toughness and balance to get yards after contact.
He’s only 5-9 and about 205lbs yet he’s just so incredibly dynamic though when Maryland are rolling. He accelerates through contact, breaks tackles, has home-run ability and if he finds a crease he can make a good play a scoring play. He reaches top speed so quickly and yet has a weaving cut-back style that has defender’s reeling. He gets to the perimeter with ease but he’s patient in the backfield and assertive when a lane emerges. He can push the pile in the red zone. McFarland is so difficult to tackle — in fact he might be the hardest and most dynamic and quick running back I’ve seen during my time writing this blog. He has star quality.
Watch the Ohio State game from 2018 for a flavour of him at his best. He’s a former four-star recruit who ran a terrific 4.04 short shuttle at SPARQ to emphasise how good his foot-speed is. He jumped a 33-inch vertical which is good but not outstanding. Overall he was one of the better SPARQ testers in his class with a 112.11.
He also had a 40-yard kick return in 2019 so there could be some untapped special teams potential too.
Nick Harris (C, Washington)
He’s not the biggest lineman at 6-1 and 302lbs but it simply doesn’t matter. When you watch him play his tenacity, power and intensity jumps off the screen. He was the best performer on the Washington line. He shows good leverage, strength and you can’t drive him back.
I recall one game where he pulled to the right hand side, located a man to block yards downfield and delivered in the open space to spring a screen play for a big gain. He’s very capable of reaching to the second level.
I think he will rise during the process. Perhaps not as much as Garrett Bradbury did a year ago. After all, Bradbury had a great combine. If Harris shows well in the agility testing or displays a high degree of power then teams could consider him a lot earlier than the media are currently projecting. He did score a perfectly decent 90.6 at SPARQ.
Rashard Lawrence (DT, LSU)
Nothing particularly jumps out about Lawrence’s 2019 production, even on LSU’s incredible National Championship winning team. He only had 2.5 sacks and six TFL’s. He forced one fumble and broke up three passes.
However, you always noticed him on the field. He was disruptive, rushed from different angles and was able to flash power and quickness to get into the backfield. It was also pretty clear that LSU was getting every ounce of effort from Lawrence. His motor was relentless. Winning mattered to him. Being part of the way they won mattered to him.
He’s well sized at 6-2 and 308lbs. He just looks like a NFL defensive tackle. On top of that he has the first-step quickness to provide a pass rush but his leverage is also good and he doesn’t give up huge lanes in the running game.
I just think he’s a player you take a chance on if he fits. If he has the 33-inch arms and if he can translate the quickness to a good short-shuttle time (a key test seemingly for the Seahawks) then he’s worth a mid-round pick to try and find someone at value who can contribute and help the D-line quickly.
If you missed Monday’s ‘annual start of the off-season’ piece, click here. I also posted a piece touting a possible Von Miller trade here.
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One other receiver I really like is Henry Ruggs. Sharp routes, explosive speed. He didn’t have great overall production, though. Not sure if that’s due to the other great WRs at Alabama or if his game has some deficiencies that aren’t exactly obvious on YouTube.
I like Ruggs too. I sense when he runs a 4.2 he’ll be well out of reach.
There is a lot to like about Reagor. But nobody ever mentions his fumbling problem???
He has 6 fumbles in 77 total touches this season. That’s Receptions, Rushes and returns. That’s the 2nd most fumbles for ALL wide receivers in college football.. The only “receiver” with more fumbles than Reagor is Lynn Bowden JR out of Kentucky, who actually played a little bit of everything and has WAAY more touches than Reagor. Like 3x as many.
I’m coming around on Aiyuk. I only saw him a homerun threat in the games i saw him in but his screen game is great as well (though I already wonder why DK doesn’t get 3 bubbles a game…). I guess my question is, what is Seattle looking for in a reciever and does he match? People have talked about suddenness which he has but I haven’t seen a lot of easy separation. I prefer a guy like Reagor for this team.
Good shout out on Lawrence. Can’t wait for the combine. A lot more story to be revealed for the DL/DE
The big plays on returns have just evaporated the past few years. I believe PCJS will try and address this—perhaps with WR. Special Teams is too important to Carroll-ball, and if this season is about “rounding out” a championship team, then that has to be remedied. Will keep my eye, as you have Rob, on WRs who thrive at the return game.
I think Ugo has some potential there. He just has to earn the level of PC trust to get a shot.
Not muffing punts might help.
I’m for giving Ursua a shot.
Rob. What are your thoughts on Becton? I think he has a massive ceiling.
I think he needs a lot of work. I get the appeal based on the size and you could easily pull off five or so clips of him throwing someone to the turf for Twitter and he’d look great. Is he doing that in the NFL though? Unlikely. Technique wise I saw a lot of issues. And we need to see him test.
Know of a Hatian footballer named Derek Etienne and pronounces it Eht-tien, so I say that out of habit
How else would you pronounce it?
Rob was musing at the different ways he’s heard it pronounced in that fieldgulls pod.
Could have a missing accent on a letter (or more) in his name, with it being French looking, would totally change the pronunciation….. (Grave Accent / Aigu Accent)
I think we really need a shakeup in the return game. Obviously it is a very difficult to be continually effective on returns but I can’t remember the last time there was even the slightest bit of excitement in the return game. Even those extra 10 or 15 yards gained can be so valuable. Fast and sudden, that’s what type of receiver I’d love for us to take.
On a slightly different note. Do we see any potential QBs being taken by the Seahawks in the later rounds?
Loving the Willie Gay JR call and wondering if we can get him in the 2nd?
Has size, speed and is a BAMF!
Perhaps a Kendricks replacement in the 3LB alignment and digging this on his Bio:
“ … One of the best linebackers in the conference in coverage, earning a 90.6 grade over his 156 coverage snaps … Allowed a passer rating of 25.8 when targeted … Did not allow a single touchdown over his 20 targets … ”
Seems like the standouts (listed below) at this years Shrine game are DTs and *shocking* WRs. Should produce some good day 3 options as usual.
DT:
Nebraska’s Khalil Davis
Arkansas’ McTelvin ‘Sosa’ Agim
Utah’s John Pelisini
Baylor’s Brayvion Roy
WR:
RI’s Aaron Parker
Oregon’s Juwan Johnson
Ohio St’s Binjimen Victor
Wazzu’s Dezmon Patton
Also…
LB:
Fresno St’s Mykal Walker
DB:
Michigan’s Jordan Glasgow
OL:
Oregon’s Calvin Throckmorton
USC’s Drew Richmond
WR:
Misouri’s Johnathan Johnson
Word is Juwan Johnson will have to add about 10lbs and switch to TE. He just doesn’t have the athleticism to play WR.
All of these guys with the exception of Throckmorton seem like 7th round or UDFA’s. Agree?
Patmon. For future reference, not Patton
This dude is a real burner with size. Maybe under-achiever a bit, but there could be some untapped potential. Kinda feels like when I scouted Kenyan Drake. (not a comp, just that kind of situation)
John Penisini not Pelisini
Arkansas’ McTelvin ‘Sosa’ Agim – Would normally be a day 3 development type but given how poor this draft is for speed rushers he could move up.
Parker at 6’3″ could be very interesting if he can run in the 4.4’s but I’m afraid he’s a 4.6/7 guy.
Victor has talent and potential but hasn’t been able to really shine compared to the NFL talent he’s played with at Ohio State. I’m not sure that bodes well for his NFL outlook.
Could start day 1…
Solomon Kindley – OG – Georgia – from that amazing Georgia offensive line.
CJ Henderson – CB – Florida – Long arms, like Flowers except more polished at CB.
Myles Bryant – CB – Washington – not an edge corner but could solve nickel with Budda Baker type impact. He’s just a baller that feels the game well. Underrated.
Neville Gallimore – DT – Oklahoma – DT that can get into the backfield and pressure QB
These guys have the speed and bend needed to produce pressure but all three need development
Darrell Taylor – DE – Tennessee –
Alton Robinson – DE – Syracuse –
D.J. Wonnum – DE – South Carolina –
Reggie Flloyd – SS – Virginia Tech 222 lbs can bring the lumber
Lamar Jackson – CB – 6’3″, 215 lbs… big bodied corner or is he a safety
Where does Salvon Ahmed fall on the scouting spectrum?
Great testing numbers. 4.3 40 and 127 SPARQ
Not a tough bruiser but I could see him in a Prosise type 3rd down role.
I really like AJ Dillon. He runs through some pretty big holes in BC’s scheme, but is an absolute unit and if he gets into the secondary he does have home-run speed. Definitely a Carroll kind of back that seeks out contact and delivers punishing hits
Definitely agree on Dillon. I been waiting on this guy since his beast of a freshman year. He has only run against stacked boxes and always produced despite no help. He is a monster and I actually think he may test better and go earlier than he is currently mocked. I’d love to have this kid though. If we aren’t going to pay Carson he should be considered a little earlier (4th?)
Probably 5th down or later. He’s fast but that’s about it for now – he needs to do a lot of work on his catching ability and his run vision is really maddening at times. He’s not a third-down back at this stage. I think a one-cut system like SF would suit him well, he just needs to get better at picking his one cut.
Sounds like USMNT winger Tyler Boyd might be heading to Sheffield Wednesday on loan. That’s an explosive player out wide! Good get, wonder if they’ll include an option to buy
Where’s that been reported?
Nowhere reliable. It makes sense, but I’m not holding my breath. The guy really needs a move away from Besiktas, but yeah this hasn’t been confirmed by a reliable source or anything.
And you’d probably hear about any potential deal before I do!
The only “other football” news that matters to me right now: Valverde is finally gone! Hurray! Goodbye to boring Barcelona soccer!
(shoutout to king. for mentioning it totally out of context the other day too…!)
And Xavi turned down the job! You know why??
Absolutely know why. IMO he made an excellent decision.
1. He doesn’t even have a full season of coaching under his belt (and even that is in Quatar League; not exactly top flight…). Sure, he is a club legend, but growing to become a great coach requires a minimum of experience as well.
2. Not sure if this was a consideration, but he played with a lot of players still playing at Barça. Can be hard to command the respect from guys who see you as their peer.
3. Coming in January is a lot tougher: little chance at putting in transfer requests, shaping the team as you want, and having pre-season to work out line-ups, squad rotations, tactics, etc. And tons of pressure right away to perform in the CL knockout stages and stay ahead in La Liga.
4. I’m sure he could never say this, but I don’t think he wants to coach under the current president/board. He knows they are phonies and are just trying to bring him in as a PR move to get votes for upcoming board elections.
I think his best course of action is to finish his season in Quatar, then consider taking over Barça B for a year or two. Then, after elections in summer 2021, and depending on how Setien is doing, he can consider his options.
Oooh and Schalke got Todibo on loan
Huge potential there.
It was pretty clear he needed to be loaned out to be developed (Barça notoriously bad at developing defenders in-house), but the buyback clause Barça set up is just absurd: Schalke has purchase option for €25m + 5m variables, and Barça can buy him back for a whopping €50m + 10m variables!
So, good that they will have incentive to develop him, but bad that we would have to pay so much to get someone back who is already on our team.
Plus, he came as a (basically) free transfer with the hopes of getting minutes and developing into a starter, and Valverde hardly played him at all despite promising performances in the limited minutes he got. So what kind of message does that send to other young players looking to be developed at Barça? Kind of like if the Seahawks recruited all the UDFAs but none of them ever got a shot on the final roster…
If it gets McKennie off the back line, I’m here for it
Lmao now seeing a rumor that Antonee Robinson of Wigan is a target for AC Milan.
Forgot it was silly season. 🐑
A Vol12 favorite (iirc):
Bad decision. He is going to get 3 carries a game now.
Bummer. Harris & Hill choose to be kings on campus for another year.
As a Seahawks fan in Cincinnati.. would love to see you do a breakdown of Burrow.
I probably won’t have time but I will say that I think he’s freaking awesome.
His play versus multiple top defenses in CFB this season was outstanding. He never seemed like the moment was too big for him. He may have had one of the greatest CFB QB seasons in a long time. Bengals better find some weapons and coaching to really make him shine in the years to come.
Maybe they should just draft Jefferson with the first pick of R2…
Well, I just watched the game and caught up on Rob’s articles, will get around to all the comments soon.
I think this team went further than any of us expected them to this year, especially after all the injuries, and I’m hella proud of them and the culture PC has built. Heck, with a healthy Chris Carson or Will Dissly, we very well might have won that game.
Agree with Rob, it’s time to make the moves to take the next step and I think this will be an exciting off-season with all the cap space and picks at our disposal.
I like the young secondary. Fix the pass rush and everything falls into place on defense at all levels. Look forward to the discussion with y’all. And the Sr. Bowl Week is only a week away!
I agree that the DE position is weak this year, and you don’t think Yetur Gross Martos is anything special. But is there a specific reason why? He seems to have a lot of untapped potential. And tho I think he will be over drafted and taken in the first, if he falls to the early-mid second and we trade back, would you see that as good value and his spot in that range good?
He has long stretches during games where he doesn’t do anything. He gets spelled a lot too. And what I want to see from an early pick at DE in college is someone who tests offensive tackles constantly. Because at the next level it’s so much harder.
I don’t see great quickness either. His best wins are hand placement and disengage which is good in itself. But the guys who go early generally have that burst and quickness. At SPARQ he ran a 4.75 short shuttle at 238lbs and that kind of backs up what he’s shown. Not a major amount of twitch or quickness but some decent technique, ability and length.
And when I see people say round one all I ever seem to read is ‘potential’ but where’s the evidence really? We’re not talking about an uber athlete here who just needs time. He kind of is what he is.
Listen, I hope the best for him. I saw that video on ESPN like everyone else and he has had a tragic young life so far. I will root for him to have major success and I think he can have success. Me not thinking he’s a R1 doesn’t mean I think he’s bad or won’t succeed. But I don’t get the R1 talk on a lot of these players, YGM included.
Rob, how critical is the TEF score to edge rushers? After Chase Young nobody really pops with exceptional speed.
Not critical at all. TEF merely highlights potential OL targets because there’s a trend of them valuing an explosive physical profile for their linemen.
Recruiting opportunity…
I thought that immediately after it was announced.
I feel like Reagor could end up being like McLaurin in the last draft. I doubt Reagor falls to round three like McLaurin, but sometimes those players who check most boxes somehow fall for reasons we don’t know. Even though someone above mentioned his fumbling problems, it’s a problem that can be fixed. All I know is Reagor is seriously underrated by the media.
Bryan Edwards is becoming a favorite of mine. As long as he runs in the 4.4’s then he should be a target. He could be an option for the Seahawks in the 2nd round if they end up drafting a center in the 1st round, or trading the 1st round pick.
Are these guys similar or entirely different than future HoFer Steve Hutchinson?
Logan Stenberg (G, Kentucky)
Some of the traits you mentioned made me think of Hutch. Mash people was what stood out to me. Once he got his hands on a guy, he put them of skates. Hell, that seems a bit like Walter Jones. Once he got his hands on you, it was over. Most likely a LG fit for Seattle?
Ben Brederson (G, Michigan)
I like the idea of trying to draft CFB teammates, since they would already have chemistry…. and you could really stack some youth on the OL… to keep RW upright for the next 4-5 years. Is the strictly a LG or RG prospect?
Perhaps Haynes is the real deal already, since he didn’t look too bad in the final game of the season, which was the first look we really got of him all season. So, maybe Center is a better target for us to consider as we move along through the combine and pro days and all the other fun off season times.
*rubs hands vigorously*
http://thisisbelieveland.com/adam-henry-potentially-leaving-browns-is-a-bad-sign/
I would like to try to pry Landry out of the Browns for Seattle……
Plus 1 for sure.
Hey, Rob4q, well lookie here…
How can they not already know this? Complete negligence from the medical team if so. Best case scenario is that they actually did know, but refused to list the injuries in classic Hawks fashion, and he’s been playing hopped up on painkillers for an entire season – which is still a pretty grim case.
If a player hides it because he thinks he can play through it and doesn’t want to run the risk of being benched, how would the medical staff know? It all starts with the player.
Yeah, I was reading that earlier…you could just tell he wasn’t himself out there. Probably played at about 75%…and was still really good! But he definitely missed some plays he normally makes.
Get well Bobby, we need you healthy!
It’s crazy how many turns free agency could take in terms of what they’ll be looking for in the draft. What if they got AJ Green and a couple of DL? What if they retain their OL and add to the DL? So many scenarios to consider.
But one thing I wonder about is the OL again. I think, overall, it’s in decent shape if the pieces are retained (Britt and either Ifedi/Fant) but if Pete desperately wants to establish the run game in the first half of games with this defense (he’ll probably never have a LOB defense because they have rarely happened in NFL history) or an improved version next season – If you want to run the ball the way he wants, you really need to consider a guy who is a legit stud. A mauler. I know Steve Hutchinson types don’t grow on trees, but this could be a class to consider one of these stud guards (or centers) early. It’s not sexy, but if you want to run the ball and impose your will – you can’t lose at the point of attack as often as other teams and, plus, with Lockett AND DK for next year – they are really going to be able to burn teams if they stuff the box. I’ll be fine with a LB, DT, DE, WR, RB, or whatever. But I hope they’re a good football player.
All good points Bobby. It truly is useless doing these mocks so early even though they are fun as hell. Free agency changes everything as far as holes to fill. John usually does a great job at plugging holes so when it comes to the draft its wide open. The combine can change things as well.
Thanks for the distraction Rob. Twitter is still stuck with war on Pete.
My pleasure.
Tomorrow is free agency targets.
Looking forward to those. For whatever reason I believe that Quinn will be a serious target.
+12
I don’t think so. They’ve never shown any interest in him before and the back issues are concerning even if he had a good 2019.
After going over Rob’s thoughts, I know what I want:
Resign Clowney, Fant, Jefferson, and Reed.
Keep either Britt on a reduced contract or Iupati, but not both.
For our first three picks I would love to see a G or C (depending on which OL you keep above), WR, and TE.
Then the usual late picks — secondary, particularly. How about a QB this year?
Then go get Dante Fowler (or settle for another FA like Griffen).
Does that sound realistic, or am I asking too much?
Rob, what’s your prediction for Collier? Any hope?
What would be the market price for Fowler? (10-12M+?)
What would be the market price for Griffen? (8-10M?)
Why I’m asking, why not try to bring both guys in as well as resign Clowney (20M range).
Then you would have 3 quality rushers / disruptive potential players on the DL.
All said and done, you would be committing around 40M to 3 players.
This doesn’t address Reed, but it does fix one of the glaring needs on defense.
Perhaps they could draft a DT and bring in another vet or 2 that would be for modest cost, if they chose to not sign reed or he gets a better deal on another team (such as Atlanta).
Fowler was on a 14M prove it deal this year and he proved it. I think he’s going to command 18.5M+ APY on a 3-5 year deal. He is a young, athletic, healthy and productive pass rusher. Fowler is getting paid.
His contract was 12m not 14m.
Nobody is talking about Shaq Barrett. He is on a one year deal with the Buc’s…
A player I like a lot is Lynch DE from Wake. MAMF
I could see Clowney, Quinn, and Griffen getting around $40 APY. I think Fowler could get more in the Trey Flowers range due to his youth.
I firmly believe Clowney will get close to 100M with about 50M guaranteed.
I don’t have a good read on the other guys yet….
Market price for Fowler should be equal to Shaq Barrett plus age bonus, around 18m. (The whole idea of Fowler settling for a proove-it deal is complete bonkers. My bro is a Rams addict, Fowler didn’t want to commit to a multiyear 10m a season deal in his prime, so he made a bet and ultimately played for 14m; 2020, he’ll get more chicken)
Griffens current contract is 13m. Cannot see him settling for less.
Clowneys market base value is 20m, possibly he is seeking and finding more. IMO, he is not playing franchise changing 20m football.
That makes 51m of cap, much of that guaranteed, and leaves 14m for all the other holes in the roster and rookie contracts.
We need to find other players.
Btw, the Rams cannot keep both Fowler and Littleton. Here is solution #1.
Nobody knows what these guys are going to earn or the ways Seattle can be creatively aggressive.
This. I think what JS pulled off last year with Houston and Clowney has been overlooked a bit. This was not just a great deal; it required a player to trust Seattle not to franchise him, it required JS understanding that Houston was looking for some core special teams players (btw did anybody notice Barkevious Mingo on the blocked punt in the last game?), it highlighted the Seattle locker room culture as a positive in recruiting potential FAs.
JS came up with a way for Houston to get more than a 3rd round comp pick for Clowney, a way for Clowney to get to free agency without a costly holdout, and a way for Seattle to replace Frank Clark’s production for 2019 which made us much more competitive than was projected.
I think that there is potential for this type of deal to be replicated. Maybe even this offseason.
As long as we don’t know, we could use sensible projections that have worked in the past. So, I take the Spotrac market value numbers as a best guess.
The only reason for Clowney to take a cut to his value is feeling well in Seattle, getting a deal shuffling expenses into the future. But, he did a lot of bargaining to test the market, to optimize his value.
The only reason for Fowler to leave LA is a lot of chicken. He is a young speed rusher in a league that screams for pass rush talent, in a year, where the draft is thin.
Btw, even if those players sign to their 2019 contract, that still makes 42m.
I’ll say again, none of us know. Saying things ‘can’t’ happen is futile. This is a time for discussing options not asserting what won’t happen.
Sure. There’s no need to write him off after one tough year.
Former LSU wide receiver and current Cleveland Browns player Odell Beckham Jr. was seen on video counting then slapping cash into the hands of junior wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jontre Kirklin. Jefferson declared Wednesday for the NFL Draft.
Quarterback Joe Burrow, a senior who won the Heisman Trophy, said in a “Pardon My Take” podcast from Barstool Sports that he received money from Beckham.
**This incident could be a violation of NCAA rules since players are not allowed to accept cash, according to NCAA bylaws.
DOOOOOOOOOOOH
Cant he help in personal capacity?
What a fool. It kills me when people just dont get it.
One of the reasons I’ll pass on trading for him …. because I think he would cause problems on the Seahawks. On the field, Locker-room or more importantly, off the field…. he just doesn’t get it. Along with Antonio Brown, I want no part of these guys on the team.
Surely the NCAA are a bigger issue here than Beckham. How would you even legislate against being allowed to accept cash from friends.
Has a former D-1 athlete, I can attest to you that the NCAA does care about even friends giving you money. It’s an insane rule, but even family members (uncles, cousins, etc) you are advised not to accept money from. Not saying it doesn’t happen, but as far them having to “legislate against” this type of thing, they don’t have, because they make the rules. Heck they have even made it difficult to have a job while being a student-athlete. It’s whatever they perceive as getting a benefit from your status as an athlete. Look up Jeremy Bloom who was an Olympic skier, and they were forcing him to get rid of his endorsements for skying in order to play college football.
This incident is high profile, and the players are receiving money due to their status as a football player, I would find it hard to believe the NCAA won’t look into it.
Agree.
However, both the NCAA and Beckham are using college athletes for institutional/commercial/personal gain. Gross all around.
Shame that OBJ needed to steal the spotlight, become the story, but I suspect that’s as close as he will get to a championship.
Congrats to LSU.
At least he’s paying them.
If aggressiveness is the name of the game this year, I wonder if there’s a player PCJS would trade up for?
Doubt it. This isn’t a situation where they are ‘one player away’. They have a number of areas to fill.
Take care yalls mentals take care of y’alls chickens
And go to my web shop and spend y’alls chickens on the gear I just created and promoted for free…
He’s a lot smarter man than many people think, or will ever give him credit for. What a brilliant advertising campaign, all for free! And people will rush out to buy these $40 t-shirts!!
Maybe I should wait until your FA targets piece, but I had some thoughts that I’ll just toss out there in case you want to address any of it ahead of time in the piece itself, since I know Dante Fowler will be at/near the top of the list.
I was just thinking that it might be good to take into account that Fowler’s production has seemingly only come on really good DL. In Seattle, he won’t have Aaron Donald wreaking havoc and drawing triple teams for him. (maybe Clowney can do enough?) Also, does this past year show he is perhaps simply a better fit in a 3-4 defense than a 4-3? (2019- 11.5 sacks, 16 TFL, 16 QB hits)
Even in his only non-underwhelming year in JAX (2017- 8 sacks, 7 TFL, 10 QB hits), he was playing on a really good DL alongside Campbell, Malik Jackson, and Yannick Ngakoue.
Is that a concern for him coming here, especially on a potential long-term, semi-rich contract, or is it:
a) not really a concern because we plan to pair him with a good DL anyway, not counting on him to “make it happen” on an island.
b) a concern but doesn’t really matter because he’s one of the only young, healthy options available right now on the market.
c) not a concern because more than scheme fit and talent around him, 2019’s production shows he has really taken the next step as a pass rusher in the NFL?
I think you make valid points. I’m just not sure there’s a better option out there.
I suspect you can say this about any prospect the Hawks will be considering, that any one of them would look better on a top tier DL. There’s not a whole lot of guys out there who can “make it happen on an island”, and those guys are almost always retained by their teams, and at top of the position money.
I do agree though that Fowler doesn’t appear to be a lead dog, he’s a very good complimentary piece though. And in today’s NFL these complimentary players get paid very well (guessing around $18m/yr for Fowler).
Looking forward to Rob’s piece today, should be plenty to think about and discuss!
I like Fowler as well but I would be very surprised to see him signed to a long term lucrative deal as that isnt the Seahawks MO. I would guess they would go with a shorter term option that really only commits you for one year even though it might be a two year deal but who the hell knows. I just wish it was mid March already.
Yes, I like Barrett from TB better than Fowler.
If you could choose one of them, who would it be and why? Is Barrett the best edge that will be available?
Go Hawks!
Barrett played in the ultra aggressive TB scheme that appears perfect for him. Seattle loves length and he doesn’t have it.
Highly doubt he accepts any short term deal. This year was his prove it deal, and he balled out. Now it’s time to cash in.
What do you think about Jack Conklin?
Piece rolling tonight will include JC
😍😍😍 one of my favorite prospects ever
I wonder if something like this is realistic?
Sign Clowney for 4 years $80 mill ($20 APY…$15 first year cap hit)
Sign Reed for 4 years $40 mill ($10 APY…$7 first year cap hit)
Sign Quinn for 2 years $24 mill ($12 APY…$11 first year cap hit)
Sign Griffen for 2 years $24 mill ($12 APY…$11 first year cap hit)
Sign Fant for 2 years $12 mill ($6 APY…$6 first year cap hit)
Trade 2nd round pick for OJ Howard…$2 mill cap hit)
Trade pick 27 for say 41 to gain an early 3rd
Day 1 & 2 picks could be two second rounders and two third rounders
Could target DL, OL, WR with those first 3 picks.
First year cap hits for those six players would be about $52 million.
Not sure they would add both Quinn & Griffen? Could be one or the other then a lesser pass rusher, just some thoughts.
I like the aggressive approach.
I think Reed will get far less. More like a 1 or 2 year deal and less APY.
I think Fant will get much more. Starting tackles will get $10m floor in FA.
I think it will come down to Quinn OR Griffen, not Quinn AND Griffen.
I dont think it would be Quinn and Griffen either. It would most likely be one or the other like you said. There is also some guys who you could bring in on lesser deals as well but Im assuming they would want proven. Who knows what will happen but its fun to talk about it.
I know the DL needs more bodies, but I think we should be reasonably able to expect continued improvement from Green, Poona and Collier in 2020. Plus let’s figure in the standard issue 2nd wave DT veteran plugger addition.
Plus I think Shaquem has more use as a complementary speed rush weapon. Not that he’s going to be an every down rusher, but he was effective when used in pass rush packages.
For sure i see Greene taking the next step and hopefully Collier can do something similar to what Green did this year.
FA market is so unpredictable, hard to guess anyone’s value at this point. Those seem like good guesses though. I would be really happy if we could keep Reed for $10m.
I think we have a very attractive situation and guys will want to come to Seattle if the money is decent. Guys like Duane Brown and Clowney and Diggs coming in from outside and speaking so highly of our culture does a lot for word to get around the league, and everyone sees how close we are to contending with Russ at QB.
Stephon Diggs Will be coached by PC at the Pro Bowl. That might be a good opportunity for some mutual interest to happen…
The Seahawks are as close to a co-op as there is in the NFL. Is there a team/organization that’s even close?
The relationship between Allen Trust, Carroll, Schneider, players and 12s has created a unique, special, attractive culture.
I like Reed and in way it’s good he is modest to not so good season. It’s gives some chance to sign back with decent amount else we have seen DL get over paid by some team. At the best hawks has chance and Reed may agree to it.
Counting on at least one team to pay him stupid money (>$10m/year OR more/longer than the Hawks are willing to pay), so the Seahawks will have to decide whether to franchise (and maybe trade) him.
Likely and happy to be wrong.
Rob you’re on fire. Great content, thanks as always for keeping things constructive and fresh
Quick question for all
If it comes down to it, having a shot at both, is it Fowler or Jones??
If Fowler gets too pricey, I’d wonder about paying up for C.J. instead?
Fowler for me. We need speed off the edge yes or yes. I can sit with Jarran Reed for pressure up the middle, but we need another guy on the edge to open up the pass rush lanes for everyone.
If Fowler gets really out of all reasonable price range, then start looking to be more aggressive in the trade market.
Would you prioritize Fowler over Reed? Could they go after Fowler, franchise Reed, draft DT?
Just gut, but I don’t think they’ll offer Reed a long term deal.
My gut (and PC/Jim Nagy raving) tell me just the opposite: they love him and will look to retain him.
I think they will know his market value once he tests FA and can make a call whether they want to pay up or not. I guess the tag is not impossible, but they have always said they prefer not to use it if at all possible.
Yeah, but do they love him, love him?
Wanted to edit to add, ‘long term deal at APY that he’ll prob be offered.’ I think they’ll balk and he’ll walk. Desperate for DL talent, so might franchise to buy time, get things sorted.
Anyway, since we don’t ‘know’ anything, no sense discussing it.
What about considering Jamie Collins in FA??
Guy is a BAMF and a freak, 1,56 80% 10 yard, strong, explosive 41” vert,( 3 cone soso$
Could play LEO? or MKs role, Spotrac says his MV is only ~$8m perhaps based on age.
7 sacks and good pressures last year…
Thru week 11
Tweet in full format:
Most pressures among off-ball linebackers through week 11:
t1. Jamie Collins – 22
t1. Dont’a Hightower – 22
Anthony Barr – 20
Erick Kendricks – 19
Mychal Kendricks – 18
Collins is a great athlete for sure.
What about our old friend, Spencer Ware as a FA RB?
He’d be available and reasonably priced and a solid #2/3 hedge re Penny
Could be an option, Mike Davis could be as well. I just think the RB position is such a young young mans game that the draft makes the most sense.
I like all those three Michigan OL players a lot, Jon Runyon being the third. Think, Ruiz will go early R2, Bredeson R3 and Runyon R5.
My favorite IOL player is Gage Cervenka, a true leader in Clemsons OL. If there were a metric WAR, he would kill it.
At WR, Tyler Johnson, Minnesota is the guy to me. Sized between Lockett and Metcalf, can go vertical, outside, slot, go-routes, well developed route tree. Had no drops the whole season, then some in Aztec stadium SD. If teams are skipping on him because of one game, they are insane.
Early round edge and my personal top pick remain Yetur Gross-Matos. Huge guy with huge range. While Okwara to me is a OLB, GM is a real 4-3 DE, who can make an early impact. Has speed and body strength where it matters… first steps, lower body. The rest time will tell.
Late round edge, possibly mid rounder, Carter Coughlin. Really, this Minnesota D killed it all year. Coughlin was a big part of that, and while I see the occasions when he is considered too soft… IMO, he plays intelligent football, not depending on strength only. (Which is the problem I see with certain players being picked due to one bull rush at Senior Bowl)
I think, Derrick Henry and Marshawn Lynch just made the case for durable, mobile heavyweight rushers. AJ Dillon, Boston College to me is the player in the draft that has smashing effect and is agile and smart enough to find gaps.
Finally, the backfield. Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State. May lack an inch here and there, bjt you won’t notice. Gets the scheme reading and adaption side of things really well, and finds easy ways to position himself between ball and receiver. Can play zone and press coverage.
At safety, Ashtyn Davis is my guy. Not aggressively athletic, but hell of a presence all over the field. Cal played him deep at occasions, and this is not what he is. You need him play backfield general from SS.
Favorite LB is Evan Weaver. Angry BAMF with lots of production, that may or may not translate to pro level. Insane range, but needs work at not occasionally dropping in coverage. He has the work ethic and IQ to make get it, fast.
UDFA crushes… Nurse, CB, Utah or Zuber, slot WR, Mississippi State.
Weaver is interesting. Put up monster stats, but when I watch him – I wouldn’t be shocked if he ran a 4.9 40. He is one of those players I really like but really don’t want in Seattle. We are in dire need of better athletes and I just don’t know if he’s it.
Nice post with great insight despite my opinion on Weaver.
Also don’t think Weaver will end up in Seattle. Still like the player and his BAMFiness.
Regarding Ashtyn Davis. The Justin Herbert vs Cal tape is some of the best safety tape I’ve seen this year. Dude is everywhere! In the box, single high, in the slot, on TE’s, filling alleys, flashing his ball skils, reading Herbert.
I’m not sure that versatility is something you want to bottle because I don’t think he’s anywhere near maxed out. Dripping with upside.
And he absolutely lays the wood too and will be a ST demon, but I have questions about his athleticism that I want answered at the Combine.
He’s a track guy so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him turn in a good one.
I cringed watching Ashtyn Davis, have to be honest.
What are your guys thoughts on Zack Baun from Wisconsin. I think he might be a consideration in late round 1 or with a trade back early in round 2.
I do think Seattle wants a LB out there who can also double as a pass rusher. Pete’s defense even going back to USC was amongst the elite with one on the field.
Just a guess, but I like to think they woulda pulled the trigger on Jahlani Tavai had he fell a bit more. Watching Detroit this year and he screamed Seahawk LB at me.
The have never replace Bruce Irvin and I think this defense has really missed a SAM linebacker like that who can rusher the passer as well. That is why I like Chiasson from LSU so much.
Sign a free agent LEO like Fowler and then draft Chaisson to play SAM and rush on 3rd down would be ideal IMO if they plan to keep Clowney and Reed.
I watched two more Chaisson games yesterday and I still don’t get the clamour.
Queen is a far better prospect for me. Not the same type of player but that’s a BAMF you can build around.
Would not surprise me if Queen is the 3rd off-ball LB off the board. Length, speed, and the range he has is special.
He made a smart decision declaring in a weak LB class. Not to take anything away from him.
Chaisson has splash plays that hint at a latent pass rushing talent. But there’s no consistency, not even almost sacks. He either makes the play entirely or he’s entirely out of it.
IMO he’s riding the coattails of previous LSU EDGE rushers like Danielle Hunter.
I too much prefer Queen.
I just don’t understand what people are seeing. Sometimes I think if a player is deemed to be ‘athletic’ and has a bit of production (and in his case throw in the #18 jersey) suddenly they end up becoming really coveted and talked about in R1. I just see a guy who probably needs to be a situational rusher and develop some linebacker skills.
And then you watch Queen flying around the field and you might as well just have him. I think Queen could be a player in a couple of years time who ends up being one of the better LB’s in the league and everyone congratulates whichever team takes him for their steal.
I like Queen too but as a MLB or WIL.
I think you are off on Chaisson but I guess time will tell. If he goes to the combine and weighs less than 240 or does not test well then I will stop banging the drum but I dont think that will be the case. He had a great freshman season then had the knee injury and missed as year then missed the beginning of this season, So is he a finneshed product of course not but I think he has so much upside and I guess the combine will give a better idea wether or not he is athletic and explosive enough.
Yes I see Queen the same way.
I don’t think it matters if Chaisson weighs 235lbs or 250lbs. He’s still going to be a SAM and situational rusher — who needs to learn the SAM role and will have to make his rush snaps count.
Again, I just think people see athleticism and a bit of production sometimes and that equates to potential. I just see a pretty average college pass rusher with a fairly modest ceiling as a SAM type.
Against Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and Clemson.
4 games / 22 Tackles / 6.5 TFL and /3 Sacks
In the biggest games he was productive and made plays.
Plus all his sacks and TFL were against SEC teams or in the playoffs. He never played against the cream puff teams. When you look at his production you have to take those things into consideration I think.
Why?
He had three sacks and two came against Oklahoma. Zero against Alabama or Clemson.
He had a five game stretch during the season with zero sacks.
He only had 6.5 for the whole season despite playing on a team that led early and big in nearly every game.
I also say this — most of his sacks are stunts not pure edge rush. And one of the two sacks vs Oklahoma came when they put a receiver on him as a blocker. A receiver.
Barkevious Mingo 2.0
Very possible. But I liked Mingo as a high pick! He was more of a natural rusher but… well… we’ve seen the results in the NFL.
I also thought Mingo was a “better” prospect coming out of college. Even Arden Key was more promising. Neither panned out, though in fairness to Key, he’s young yet.
Either way I’m not a fan of Chaisson’s game.
https://twitter.com/JacksonKJR/status/1217648280491851777?s=19
He looked short to my eye, but they would’ve lined up and got it anyways. Seattle couldn’t stop them on how many 3rd & longs?
Texas WR Devin Duvernay.
Watch the play at 1:04. He runs over a great safety in Grant Delpit. Watch the speed and acceleration at 1:56. The first 2 or 3 plays of this clip is stuff I like to see. Can you go across the middle against SEC defenses and make those grabs? More inportantly. Are you willing?
https://youtu.be/TY27h6Ec2es
I don’t know why, but I don’t like him. Watched his highlights few days ago and its just not it for me
That’s fine if ya don’t. There’s gonna be some guys we’re all higher on and some we’re all lower on. At least give me a reason.
I really like duverney. I think he is a high effort competitor. He obviously lacks traits, which will likely push him into the 5th or later. Would love him in the 5th personally. Him and KJ Hill are my mid-late round WR wants.
Here’s my offseason wish list:
Free Agency:
-Clowney: Not much to say – DE extraordinaire.
-Leonard Williams – Jarran Reed replacement.
-George Fant – Cheaper Ifedi option, might be better in Pass Pro.
-Matthew Judon – Nice Pass Rusher – think he fits as a LEO.
-Emmanuel Ogbah – Buy low candidate.
Rationale: Big money spent on Clowney and Williams. Instead of spending on Fowler I went with Judon/Ogbah combination. Fant instead of Ifedi – I think Fant provides more upside in Pass Pro with the ability to play LT (great insurance with Brown’s age).
Restructure: KJ and Britt. They are great leaders so I think you try to lessen short term cap hit and give them more years than they probably deserve. Either way, great locker room guys you want on this team. Key point with Britt – not a huge fan of creating a hole just to have to fill it with premium draft capital.
Draft:
-R1: Jalen Reagor (WR)
-R2: Antoine Winfield (S/Nickel)
-R2: Jaylon Johnson (CB)
-R3: Davon Hamilton (DT)
-R4: Harrison Bryant (TE)
-R5: AJ Dillon (RB)
-R5: Cameron Brown (LB)
-R6: Steven Montez (QB)
Rationale: With the heavy reliance on FA for Pass Rush (and including Green and Collier); I decided to focus on other areas in the draft. Reagor is a difference maker and with the depth of this WR class, there’s a chance that we can get a guy who really belongs higher in the draft. The next 2 picks are curveballs – Winfield is a stud with Pedigree. You have to get a better Nickel player who can make plays. AW can also play safety at a premium level. Jaylon Johnson immediately challenges Flowers. We need better play out of that spot and Johnson can probably take over on Day 1. DT Davon Hamilton is a remarkably underrated DT that I think has a nice NFL career as a 3T. He can probably provide in a rotational role in year 1. Harrison Bryant is Dissly insurance that can also provide better athleticism. Basically Jacob Hollister on steroids. AJ Dillon is a bruiser – lessen the workload of Chris Carson without losing that physical edge. Penny and Homer have valuable but different roles to fill. Cameron Brown is a great athlete at LB that has the frame to potentially grow into a LEO. I see him as a redshirt to let him put on weight. Montez is an intriguing QB prospect who has some incredible tape (and awful tape). It’d be nice to take a chance on a QB to see if we can develop a guy for future capital.
I know this is aggressive. I tried to be realistic about Free Agency spending as well as draft position for these guys. Obviously won’t happen but I’d love this offseason and would absolutely prefer 2 good pass rushers over paying for what you hope is a premium one (I view it like the Bennett/Avril offseason in that regard). Russell gets another premium playmaker. I envision another R6 or R7 pick being spent on the OL. I think we have really good depth there with Jones and Haynes.
Thoughts?
Something different. I can ‘preciate that.
Even though I’m not convinced Seattle will add any DBs before day 3, I Love, love Winfield, jr. Would pound the table for him.
Agreed – I’m not convinced either, but I think they need to re-evaluate their reluctance in that regard. Tre Flowers is really, really bad. They need to upgrade him and it’s a position I think they don’t need to spend money on (FA) but also can’t just rely on a day 3 project. Flowers should absolutely be viewed as a draft success, but at this point, he should be relegated to “experienced depth.”
Winfield Jr just screams Seahawk IMO. I think he’s the type of guy that forces his way on the field.
The Leonard Williams acquisition is the one that I think would be massively underrated. He is only 25 and has had some nice seasons. I think a DL of Judon-Ford-Williams-Clowney is a formidable front. On Pass-Rushing downs, you bring in Ogbah for Ford.
Any ways – appreciate the comment. I wanted to provide a little different take on the offseason.
Word on the street is Judon will be tagged.
Rob,
Two positions we haven’t talked about much but you bring up in your article are RB and LB.
I do not expect the Seahawks to sign Prosise and Homer seems like he could fill the 3rd down role. Both Carson and Penny are coming off serious injuries and I think they would want to add some competition for Carson at the very least. Who do you like besides McFarland?
I know that RB is a spot where you can find value in the draft but I saw a recent mock with Etienne from Clemson going to Seattle in Round 1 and that intrigued me.
Wagner, Wright and Kendricks are all closer to the end of their careers than the start and Kendricks is free agent coming off an injury. Barton looks like a potential starter but they need to add at least one more guy. Gay could be a Day 2 steal and fill a need.
I think it’s a decent looking RB class. I’m not too worried there. They will find someone at some point — day three, UDFA or cheap FA would be my guess — to compliment the group. They love Carson, he is their guy. Now it’s about depth. Homer showed he has some value and Penny will come back. They’ll just chuck one more into the mix. I’d be in favour of re-signing Mike Davis if possible. But McFarland is also a player I’m tempted to put into a ‘got to have’ list. So dynamic, potentially special.
I mentioned Willie Gay Jr as a linebacker I like a lot and I also like Patrick Queen. Worth remembering though we’re only months removed from Wagner signing a big extension and them drafting Cody Barton and BBK. Plus Pete said he wants Kendricks back.
It’s hard for me to picture the Hawks taking a WR in Rd 1 with so many other needs on the board. A first rounder feels like someone who needs to be in the starting lineup and I don’t see how either Lockett or Moore gets bumped in base O. Adding more depth in later rounds for guys with specific skillsets as a 3rd receiver (Turner, Moore, etc) seems like a better use of resources.
IMO, we need depth on O and top end talent on D.
But nobody is saying WR is the priority. Everyone is saying to solve the biggest needs in free agency. Because the FA strength is defense and the draft strength is receiver. And consistently, they’ve got after the draft strength and not fought the board.
Plus Wilson needs more weapons too. There’s no reason for them to avoid this WR group. It will be an option.
I really like the idea of the Seahawks turning over some fresh blood on the OL.
I would really hope that George Fant could be retained to play Right Tackle until Duane Brown relinquishes the blindside (which, if we’re being honest, may be sooner than later…) but otherwise the Seahawks would be well served in letting the fair-to-middlin OLmen (especially those earning significant money) find opportunities elsewhere.
Germaine Ifedi isn’t nearly the pariah he was a couple of years ago, but he also not somebody I’d want to invest an 8 figure “going-rate” salary in. Some of the fundamentals have improved, but the penchant for poorly timed bone-head penalties still remains.
Similarly, Justin Britt isn’t the disappointment he was tabbed as since he transitioned to Center (though calling him a pro-bowler while technically correct, is probably a little generous.) That said, the fact he’s coming off a significant injury while also earning significant dollars is probably a luxury a team with extensive defensive liabilities can ill afford to maintain.
You might argue that the Seahawks inability to draft plug-and-play Offensive linemen should engender caution, but I’d argue that these are exactly the flawed players the Seahawks would be replacing–With players who are cheaper and offer more ceiling.
I don’t think any of your points are unfair but I’d also caution people that this OL is far better than it was just two years ago. The offense, for the most part, has been very productive. Continuity is important. And major changes up front could change all of that —- especially if the replacements are young or unproven.
I think cutting Britt is inevitable but he might return. I think Fant will return. I think with Ifedi they will see what happens in the market but I think it’s possible his market is cool and he returns (like Fluker a year ago). Even Iupati might be back. I think it’s better to draft and develop rather than necessarily draft to start on the OL. And there are nice OL options in this draft.
Thanks for gathering these players. To be honest based on this, I’d go for Ruiz with 1/27. We could use a really good C, Britt will only get older, he cost a lot and he’ll be back from a major injury. Hunt is OK, but he has limitations due to his size. I’d cut/trade Britt (almost 9m plus), tender Hunt (2-2,5m) as a backup and/or safeguard, and probably go for G (Stenberg or Brederson) in the 2nd. We have Fluker and Jones did a good job. We also have Haynes. But not sure if we’ll retain Fluker after next year, and we didn’t see Haynes play. Fluker has some injury concerns so we could use depth and potential starters after 1-2 years. I know this team now go for vet OL, but seems like this draft is solid for OLs and week on DL
Other potential route I see could be WR. Potentially a guy who’s great after the catch, has speed and great in space. Someone who could return punts/kicks and has somewhat similar style to Deebo Samuel. DK can take of the top, Lockett the middle. We could use a guy that can work as a safety blanket, but has the potential to turn a 3-5 yard dump off pass into a 10-15 yard gain. I like all 4 WRs listed, but mostly Reagor.
Based on your description I love Lawrence. You might get faster by trimming some bad weight. You might get stronger, by lifting more. But it’s hard to get “bigger heart”. Attitude and motor makes a mediocre player good, and a good player great