An interview with Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade

I’ve always been a fan of Shaun Wade’s and I I think you’ll enjoy our draft week conversation — check it out below…

82 Comments

  1. BobbyK

    Rob’s Q of what he’s most proud of from his time at OSU and his answer: “Graduating and being a captain.” That’s pretty cool. Reminds me of Sherman in that regard (education).

    Good luck, kid. Especially if you’re drafted by the Seahawks.

  2. cha

    Quiet, calm confidence.

    Love it.

    Well done Rob.

    • Rob Staton

      Thanks man

  3. BobbyK

    Rob,

    I know you basically make nothing from doing a lot of work on this blog. This past year especially, there have been (too) many in the fan base who have “turned” on you because of your (justifiable) criticism of the team. Hell, even Pete Carroll and John Schneider would have to agree with you re: pass rush last off-season in hindsight. If they didn’t, they’d be liars.

    Your content is second to none, which begs the question of branching out. Have you considered an NFL draft blog? Instead of focusing on fans from one team (Seahawks), it’d be something where you could relate the prospects for fans of all teams (and maybe even have team forums). This would greatly widen your net of “customers” if you wanted – due to your track record.

    Granted, I don’t want to personally “lose you” in terms of a Seahawks draft blog – but with the morons of the “fan” base making you a bit jaded (me too)… it’s possibly something to consider for you and the financial benefit of your family.

    All I know is that you’re the best, by far, when it comes to Seahawks/draft stuff.

    • Chris A

      Agreed, 100%.

    • bmseattle

      Yeah Rob, you should spend 32 times the amount of time you do right now, in order to cover every team as well as you do the Seahawks!
      For Free!!!

      ….

      Rob?

      • BobbyK

        Is that what I insinuated? No.

        And if you can comprehend what I wrote (which you obviously cannot), you’d realize I was suggesting a way for him to make a well deserved PROFIT for all his dedication.

        • JJ

          After he talked to Pauline I thought he would do great at pfn.

        • bmseattle

          Ah, I see… a profit.
          Well, that *is* a great idea!
          Rob should totally take your suggestion, then.

          You didn’t really explain how that would work, but I reckon that Rob can comprehend what you wrote…

          “…it’d be something where you could relate the prospects for fans of all teams (and maybe even have team forums). This would greatly widen your net of “customers” if you wanted – due to your track record.”

          …better than I.

          From what Rob has mentioned here before, he already puts waaaay more time (free time) in to this blog than he has to spare.
          Expecting him to expand to the entire league, while maintaining even a fraction of the quality he has produced here at SDB, seems like a pretty tall order to me.

          But I do agree with your kudos to Rob about how amazing he is.
          I too wish he was appreciated with a wider audience and could make more $ doing this.
          I’ve suggested he utilize a paywall in the past, not only to garner some “profits”, but to keep out the trolls.

          I’ve been encouraged, at least, that Rob seems to be getting some play in the local Seattle media recently. Perhaps that can lead to some steady on air appearances locally. At the least, he will be exposed to more fans who can (hopefully) become a patron of Rob and SDB.

        • Ed

          Spot on Bobby. About a month or so ago, I posted to Rob about just being a draft site exclusive. He does so much work on all players and has a good all around knowledge of the league. That way you would have 31 other team fans that are tired of hearing the same old nonsense from the blowhards and local sites that have no original content (fieldgulls anyone).

          I come back (and pay patreon) around draft time every year and then disappear a week or two after.

          Hope that’s the way you lean Rob, not closing shop. Although, nobody would blame you for closing shop. Wife, kids and real job are enough without adding this blog and all the jabronies

    • Rob Staton

      Thanks Bob, appreciate your thoughts on this.

      I’ve considered a few things over the years — from trying to make this a full time thing, to a new site, to lots of different ideas, to wondering whether this might lead to something. Lots of things.

      I’ve found the last 12 months challenging I’ve got to be honest and I have some big decisions to make about what the future holds.

      Thanks for the kind words.

      • Gohawks5151

        This seems ominous. Don’t leave!

      • Spencer

        Hey Rob, just curious, how many hours a week would you say that you put into all this? And obviously that answer will depend on the week, so let me specify…
        From post Super Bowl to the start of FA?
        From FA to the draft?
        Draft to camp?
        Camp to the start of the regular season?
        The regular season and playoffs?

        And feel free to answer however you like…or not at all, it’s you site!

        • Rob Staton

          I would say I spend a good 4-5 hours per day on this on average. Sometimes more, sometimes less. From January until a couple of weeks ago I’d say probably 5-6 hours per day.

          • Gohawks5151

            Make sure to take your offseason break this year Rob! I think that is a huge part of your burnout. Take care of yourself man.

            • Rob Staton

              It’s not that I’m burnt out. I’m just questioning the future.

  4. RWIII

    Excellent interview. Thanks Rob.

    • Rob Staton

      Thank you

  5. Gohawks5151

    Awesome. I love this kid. Anything in your contact with him lead you to the recent content that he may drop? I hope he is a Hawk come Friday/Saturday

    • Rob Staton

      The media is down on him but I think a lot of it is way over the top

  6. Justaguy

    I would be stoked if Wade was our second pick.

  7. Justaguy

    What exactly does this pretext? Is Jimmy G getting traded draft night?
    “Jimmy’s been completely professional, as he always has been with us,” Lynch said. “Jimmy knows — I think one thing we’ve always tried to do with all our players and Jimmy as well — is just be very up front and honest. And with what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, and my experience as a player, when people do that, you can live with that.”

    • cha

      It means they’re capable of having mature, intelligent conversations with their quarterback about his future rather than hiding from the press and sending coded messages to Mike Silver.

      • Rowdy

        If anything it shows there quarterback can be mature and intelligent

      • Paul Cook

        Good one.

      • God of Thunder

        Haha, yes! And not so coded messages.

    • Spencer

      I think that it might also mean that Jimmy has no leverage in the situation so they can say what they like to/about him. What can he even do?

  8. Lewis

    Dammit. After watching this, I’m going to be pissed if we don’t get him.

    • Sea Mode

      Same. What an awesome guy. Possibly the best interview of this draft season.

  9. Mick

    I like the guy. He doesn’t seem to be on a PR trip before the draft, he speaks what he thinks. He would cover a great need for us and he might even end up replacing Jamal Adams 🙂 Thank you for the interview Rob.

    • Rob Staton

      Thanks Mick

  10. DougM

    If he played with injury and that affected his performance, and he decided to play instead of opting out, that should elevate his stock in the eyes of the other teams. He could go earlier than round 4.

    • Bankhawk

      The interview was awesome, as usual Rob. That dude had a winning personality-and man! He sure looked chiseled in that photo (I presume, from his pro day).
      Thanks for continuing to show that, though we may have self-limited, and we won’t be able to have everything, there are still a few possibilities if we make the right moves.

      • Rob Staton

        Thanks

  11. mark

    I increasingly am losing confidence in Jamal Adams getting traded. I think most of this is in part because of Russell Wilson. Wilson called for more superstars in the offseason and the Seahawks got Adams. I don’t think Wilson would take losing a superstar very kindly. Hopefully he gets traded though as I think that is the right thing for this organization.

    • Rob Staton

      I dont think it’s anything to do with Wilson to be honest

  12. Robbie

    I’m sold! First round talent being projected round 5. I want our corners to have chips on the their shoulders, that breaths confidence and leadership. This guy check a lot of boxes! Excellent interview Rob.

    • Rob Staton

      Thanks man

  13. cha

    https://twitter.com/GetUpESPN/status/1387050485761200132

    Get Up
    @GetUpESPN
    .
    @diannaESPN
    thinks the Patriots could deal Stephon Gilmore in order to move into the top 10 of the NFL draft.

    “I did speak to a team in the top 10 who told me that they’ve had calls with New England.”

    • Paul Cook

      I can’t help but think that BB will want to trade up if there’s a QB in that 6-10 range or so that he can envision as being his next multi-year QB. That’s one intrigue I’ve had my eye on that makes perfect sense to me.

  14. AlphaDK

    Rob,
    Sounds like Julio Jones is “available”, whatever that means.

    He’s due 38m over the final 3 years of his contract. Although it’s unlikely they would take the offer, would you trade the Seahawks 2nd round picks in 2021 and 2022 to Atlanta for Julio?
    You could convert Julio’s 2021 salary to signing bonus, and cap hits would be something like $6m, $16m, $16m over the next 3 seasons, which would be doable with an extension for Adams and/or restructuring a bit of Russ’s 2021 salary.

    Would you trade 25 year old Adams (who will likely average $15m over the next 3 years, deferred cap hits due to signing bonus) straight up for 32 year old Julio Jones (who will average $13m over the next 3 years)?

    • Rob Staton

      I want to invest in the trenches

  15. Gaux Hawks

    great kid, natural leader. draft him.

    rob, i’ll hold you personally responsible for breaking my heart this week (again).

    • Rob Staton

      Haha!

  16. Spectator

    Amazing, Rob!! Such a great interview and as many others have said, we are lucky to have you and the content is second to none. I like this kid and would be ecstatic to grab him. If we left the draft with Ode, Wade, and Chris Evans, I will be happy for the future. Obviously, trading down and accumulating picks and grabbing a OT project or G/C would be needed as well, and tapping into the WR depth. Personally, if Walker Little fell and we traded back, we could grab 3 players that were thought of as 1st round locks just a year ago. Little would be a tough one because he hasnt played in 2 years and would then sit another year most likely, but that could just mean he is super fresh lol

    • Volume12

      That’s 1 thing that worries me about St. Juste. The talent is obvious, but he’s gonna b 24 years old this year. If he doesnt become a starter right outta the gate we’re talking about a 25-26 year old rookie essentially.

    • Rob Staton

      Thank you

  17. Sea Mode

    Pretty solid mock actually:

    https://twitter.com/CSimmsQB/status/1387034070782291968/photo/1

    • Volume12

      If Mac Jones doesn’t go 3 and NE passes on him, I wonder how far he falls. Think it could end up being pretty significant truth b told.

      Fascinated to see what EDGE comes off the board 1st.

      Did DJ Reed really change Pete’s mind? Doubtful, but interested to see.

      • Sea Mode

        Can’t see Mac falling past Chicago at #20 if NE goes a different direction.

        EDGE will be interesting for sure. Azeez?

        I think DJ Reed is the outlier and won’t change what Pete looks for at all. Plus, he’s serviceable, but what’s his ceiling realistically? Whereas Shaun Wade’s ceiling… 🤯

    • cha

      Simms and Florio had an interesting conversation this morning about his mock – and maybe Baltimore considering drafting Fields at 31 if he is there.

      Let Lamar leave in FA next year and have his replacement ready to go.

      • Submanjoe

        I’m just itching for this to happen with one of these qbs. Lamar has proven he is an amazing talent. Why would paying him $40 mil a year and depleting the teams resources suddenly enable Baltimore to get the super bowl and win? Seems like putting that much of a teams cap space into one guy would make it harder to win the big one.
        It’s a fascinating conundrum.

  18. Scot04

    Great live PFN draft podcast. Loved Wade interview, could definitely see him as a Seahawks Corner.
    Thanks for making a very difficult year a better one, with everything you do on this site.

    • Rob Staton

      Thanks Scot04

  19. Volume12

    He kinda fits the m.o. doesn’t he? Guy looked like a top 35 pick 2 years ago, turf toe and moving outside made his ’20 season horrendous. He’s rocked up too.

    • Sea Mode

      Absolutely jacked.

    • Rob Staton

      I think he could provide the kind of value a team with only three picks should be looking for

  20. Scot04

    Did my 3 PFN Drafts last night late, but forgot to put up.
    I never had Meinerz as option. So would have taken Rob’s draft with Meinerz.
    Obviously 10 & 11 picks unlikely, but took what was offered.
    Definitely fun as most have said, especially with draft so close

    Option 1 (10 picks)
    Traded 56 & 250 for 74 & 82
    Traded 74 for 93, 161, 174, 213, & 216 (5 for 1 couldn’t say no)
    Traded 82 for 96, 139, & 242

    93.    Kendrick Green          C/G
    96.    D’Ante Smith               OT
    129.  Bobby Brown              DT
    139.  Dayo Odeyingbo        Edge
    161.  Cade Johnson           WR
    174.  Buddy Johnson          LB
    213.  Jason Pinnock           CB
    236.  Kene Nwangwu          RB
    242.  Marquiss Spencer      DT        
    250.  Larnel Coleman          OT

    Option 2 (11 picks)
    Traded 56 for 79 & 80
    Traded 79 & 2022 7th for 89 & 132
    Traded 80 for 83 & 204
    Traded 83 for 97, 159, & 185
    Traded 89 for 91 & 211
    Traded 97 for 98, 218 & 255

    91.    Kendrick Green           C/G
    93.    D’Ante Smith                OT
    129.  Bobby Brown               DT
    132.  Shaun Wade                CB
    159.  Trey Mckitty                 TE
    185.  Tamorrion Terry          WR
    204.  Jason Pinnock             CB
    211.  Marquiss Spencer       DT
    218.  Kene Nwangwu           RB
    250.  Racey McMath           WR
    255.  Larnel Coleman          OT

    Option 3 (6 picks is better than 3)
    Traded 56 for 64 & 95
    Traded 95 for 101 & 153
    Traded 129 & 2022 7th for 146 & 154

    64.    Landon Dickerson           C/G
    101.  D’Ante Smith                     OT
    146.  Bobby Brown                    DT
    153.  Shi Smith                          WR
    154.  Israel Mukuamu               CB
    250.  Chris Evans                       RB

    • Gohawks5151

      Marquiss Spencer is a name I have come to be interested in. Crazy 40 time. at 301lbs. Cool to see him here.

      • Scot04

        I actually didn’t start reading up on him until Rob put him on his board and commented on him. Spencer definitely made an impression on me afterwards though.

        • clbradley17

          What were Marquiss Spencer’s pro day results? I tried looking them up, and they only showed Kylin Hill’s results everywhere I looked.

          • Scot04

            Rob had some of his numbers on the blog

          • DougM

            6’4″
            301 lbs.
            33 1/8 in arms
            4.87 40
            7.28 3c
            4.51 ss

            from nfldraftscout

  21. Sea Mode

    So cringe.

    Ian Rapoport
    @RapSheet
    ·12m

    Remember the chair that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sat in while in his basement during the draft last year? Turns out… that chair is headed to Cleveland! Maybe it’ll be backstage… and could turn up elsewhere throughout the week.

    • DougM

      I wonder how valuable that chair will be in 100 years when it turns up on Antiques Roadshow?

      • Big Mike

        Well you know the old saying…….’it’s worth whatever someone will pay for it……..so whatyya suppose, $42.63?

  22. Sea Mode

    James Palmer
    @JamesPalmerTV
    ·1h

    A lengthy conversation with Russell Wilson had a huge impact on Urban Meyer’s decision to hire Darrel Bevell as his OC after Wilson told Meyer about Bevell’s ability to get him ready to perform at a high level very quickly his rookie season.

    • uptop

      Love the 3D chess from Russell, getting ready for our matchup against them this year

    • TomLPDX

      I’ve always thought it rather curious that both of our OCs are in JAX now…with Trevor being brought in as the new QB.

  23. Trevor

    Great interview Rob!

    Wade looked like a 1st round pick when he was playing in the slot. I would love to see the Hawks take him and use him a slot CB in the mold of Lane and Coleman who were both undervalued components in the Hawks secondary. He would be a great pick IMO.

    • Sea Mode

      Mmmm, I think I’d value him more outside. Think the drop-off in performance was more due to injury than to switching to the outside. Plus, we already have Amadi and Blair as strong options in the slot.

    • Rob Staton

      Thanks Trevor

  24. Troy

    I’m gonna say I doubt that he gives every homeless person he sees a $100 cause if he did that around Seattle, well even Wilson’s salary wouldn’t be able to keep that up lol.

    But he does seem to be a good prospect, hopefully his skills and talent will translate to the NFL

  25. no frickin clue

    Kind of fascinated to see how Pete/John spin the stuff they did in the offseason. The trades made (and not made), the free agent acquisitions, the players extended (and not extended).

    The question I want asked in some form:

    – You have a tremendous number of players rolling off contract at the end of 2021, and only 3 draft picks to help replace them. How do you manage through that?

    • cha

      I can tell you what they’re going to say right now.

      The Seahawks head into the 2021 draft with just three picks—a second-rounder, a fourth-rounder and a seventh-rounder—a total they’d obviously love to see increase between now and the end of the draft. But given that this year’s draft will be more unpredictable than ever, and that the depth is worse than in normal years, this might be the year to have traded away multiple picks ahead of time, if ever there were one.

      The Seahawks gave up a lot last summer to get Jamal Adams, first and foremost because the All-Pro safety is a game-changing player. But they were also comfortable making a move that cost them their first- and third-round picks this year, as well as a 2022 first-rounder, in part because they knew there’d be so much uncertainty when it came to this year’s draft.

      “John pretty much nailed that one,” Kirchner said. “That was talked about when we did it. It was discussed in terms of, ‘The amount of information we’ll have next year, who knows what it’s going to be?’ So looking back at it, you’re looking at Jamal Adams as your first-round pick, you’re elated.”

      The Seahawks also gave up a seventh-round pick last fall to add Carlos Dunlap II, then traded this year’s fifth-round pick to add guard Gabe Jackson, so while they have only three picks, this year’s draft has already landed them three impact starters.

      “Any time you can add players to your team, be it through the draft or trade or free agency, that you know are going to help your team right away, you want to do that,” said Berry. “And in the case of those trades, it’s more expensive, but there’s less uncertainty. We’re jacked up about it. We’re excited about Gabe, obviously Jamal had a great year last year and Carlos last season.”

      https://www.seahawks.com/news/how-the-seahawks-prepared-for-the-2021-draft-amidst-the-covid-19-pandemic

      • no frickin clue

        Christ almighty. Now I’m getting agitated.

        If there’s so much uncertainty about the draft candidates, and if this is true for every team, then it RAISES the possibility of someone you really like falling to you. You’d want more picks, not fewer. Unless what they’re saying is “we cannot build conviction on these players in this environment”.

        And if you’re willing to give up so much draft capital to acquire Adams because he’s such a difference-maker, how about reworking the contract before you trade for him? It’s like we spent a fortune on a fancy razor without buying the replacement blades that go with them.

        • bmseattle

          So true.
          It’s going to be even more aggravating when we hear their justifications.
          To hear them talk, they would have given up even *more* for Adams, they love the guy so much.

          Prepare yourself for lot’s of “we consider Adams, Jackson and Dunlap to part of this draft class” talk.
          Both from Pete/John and the local media.

          • cha

            Also steel yourself for “we’ll have Darrell Taylor this year so it’s like we’re getting an extra pick!”

  26. Styles MP

    Wade is going to be one of the steals of this draft.
    After 2019, was a projected top 10 pick.
    Returned for another season, but didn’t have as a great of a season.
    * Note: he played out of his position (boundary instead of slot & safety), and played injured with 2 separate injuries. He never quit. He didn’t opt out. Now, he’s projected as a day 2 pick … which is crazy!
    Remember, 5 star prospect coming out of high school. 2019 at OSU — which is DBU — was at many times the best player on the field.
    If he goes to the right team fit-wise, and stays healthy…it will be like a top 10 pick.

  27. SamprasSultanofSwat

    Just heard the Shaun Wade interview. Would love to see this guy in a Seahawk uniform. Wade sounds like a confident player.

    Also I have read a lot about Ifeatu Melifonwu. Melifonwu is a physical specimen who flashes ability but must improve the details of his position. Better facing the action, he may ultimately move inside to safety and comes with a large upside.

    Either Wade or Melifonwu would be a nice fit for the Hawks.

  28. Steve Nelsen

    Another great interview Rob. Thank you.

    • Rob Staton

      Thanks Steve

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