Author: Rob Staton (Page 276 of 424)

Seahawks predictions

Julius Thomas (TE)
The Seahawks cut Zach Miller yesterday and they’re unlikely to find a replacement in a weak draft class for the tight end position. They need a mismatch at the second level. Thomas is a 4.63 runner with a 35.5 inch vertical and 10 1/4 inch hands. He had 24 touchdowns in 19 games for Denver. He’s special. He’s #3 to Gronk and Jimmy Graham. They earn $9m and $10m a year respectively — Thomas is worth $8m of anyone’s money. Seattle didn’t need a blocking tight end when Miller got injured last year. They used a lot of 11-personnel with an extra offensive lineman and started Luke Willson at tight end. The identity of the team didn’t change. When Thomas splits out wide he takes a linebacker or a safety out of the box (helps the run game). If he draws the top cornerback that creates a match-up for one of the receivers. Thomas is just the kind of weapon Seattle is crying out for — and it’s probably why they tried to trade for him during the season. Jordan Cameron is the possible consolation prize.

Tramon Williams (CB)
John Schneider played a big part in Williams’ success story in Green Bay and he’s set to hit the open market on Tuesday. He’s 31 so won’t command the big bucks — but he’s a plug-in-and-play corner with length who can play press-man and zone. He might cost you $5m for a year or two. That’s just the way it is. The Seahawks need a starting cornerback who can act as a stopgap until the next young prospect comes off the LOB production line. Schneider’s familiarity with Williams, the scheme fit and the opportunity to play in Seattle’s much vaunted defense makes this a fit for all concerned. He’s a better option compared to the other Williams (Cary) who recently met with the Seahawks. The alternatives in free agency are unremarkable. This is one of the few opportunities to get a legitimate starting corner and a known quantity. It also takes away the desperate hope that one of the top cornerbacks falls your way in the draft (increasingly unlikely).

Dwight Freeney (DE)
The Seahawks have reportedly shown interest in Trent Cole. They’ll be hunting for value just like last year when they spoke to Henry Melton and Jared Allen. This year they at least considered a move for Darnell Dockett. They’re not going to pay big sums for a rotational cog. Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril got the cash to play edge rush in Seattle. Very few teams pay three edge rushers big money. The Seahawks also have Bruce Irvin as a hybrid linebacker/pass rusher. Cole and others like Brian Orakpo will likely get decent starter money elsewhere. This probably needs to be someone who understands he’ll be a role-player and will take a salary in line with that standing. Freeney is well suited to a support role aged 35 and would replace some of the experience lost if Kevin Williams retires. Apparently they’re also showing interest in Adrian Clayborn. Who’s willing to come in and compete at a cheaper price for a Championship? That’s the question. If it isn’t Freeney, I expect another experienced DE to come in at a modest cost.

Can they afford these moves? When I asked cap expert Davis Hsu about a realistic approach to free agency, he told me they could make a couple of moves at around $6-7m APY. If Thomas receives $8m APY and Williams $5m on a one year deal, it works out at as a $6.5m average for the pair. So it could be possible. It shouldn’t be hard to fit a modest salary for Freeney onto the books (essentially replacing O’Brien Schofield).

They could also make other savings. One of the reasons I’m touting Stanford’s Henry Anderson as a possible second round target is he’s a very similar size-match to Tony McDaniel. Cutting McDaniel saves another $3m. Anderson’s run defense, size (6-6, 300lbs) and athleticism is a good fit for the defense and he would be able to start quickly.

This plan would allow the Seahawks to target wide receiver and offensive guard within the first three rounds. At #31 they could take Jake Fisher, Cameron Erving, Ereck Flowers or La’el Collins and covert them to guard (whoever is available). They could select from a vast array of receivers in that spot. Alternatively, the depth at receiver is strong enough to wait until rounds 3-4 and Ty Sambrailo is a Seahawks guard in the making in the middle rounds.

NFL predictions (I chose 15 players)

Ndamukong Suh (DT) to Miami
How can you bet against this? The Dolphins are cleaning house today to create cap room. Owner Stephen Ross is determined to make a splash. The tax-benefits of South Florida vs California make too much sense for a player determined to be the highest paid non-quarterback. This feels like it’s going to happen.

Devin McCourty (S) to Philadelphia
The Pats are currently $4m OVER the salary cap. They had to cut Vince Wilford just to have any chance at keeping their better free agents. It might come down to McCourty or Darrelle Revis — and Revis has to win that battle. The Eagles swoop in to get a long needed upgrade at safety.

Randall Cobb (WR) to Oakland
There’s talk he could get offers worth $12m APY. He has a Super Bowl ring so he can afford to think about his wallet. If the Raiders miss out on Suh and Thomas, they’ll need to spend big on someone. Cobb and possibly Kevin White or Amari Cooper would be a nice pair of targets for Derek Carr.

Greg Hardy (DE) to Cincinnati
The Bengals are always willing to give a player a second (or third) chance. Hardy is damaged goods with a reputation some will run a mile from. Someone is going to employ him, though, and the Bengals need to bolster a tepid pass rush.

Jerry Hughes (DE) stays in Buffalo
The Bills want to maintain a dominating defense and after David Harris signed a contract to stay in New York, Rex Ryan should do what it takes to keep Hughes in town.

Byron Maxwell (CB) to Philadelphia
It seems inevitable. Philly just wiped out several big names to create masses of cap room. While the likes of Atlanta will probably show interest, the Eagles are in the driving seat for a lot of free agents. They will be aggressive, before trading possibly their entire draft to get at Marcus Mariota.

Jabaal Sheard (DE) to Jacksonville
He’s an ideal LEO fit. Let’s say the Eagles trade up to #2 to make sure they get Mariota. The Jags can take Leonard Williams with the #3 pick and still get a quality edge rusher in Sheard. The Jags have to pay somebody, it might as well be Sheard.

Stephen Paea (DT) stays in Chicago
They have the money to keep him and he’s a terrific run blocker. Re-signing Paea allows them to target an outside rusher with the #7 pick instead of needing to target Danny Shelton.

Rodney Hudson (C) to Oakland
Hudson was a Seahawks Draft Blog favorite building up to the 2011 draft. He was fantastic at Florida State and he’s been terrific for the Chiefs too. He’ll get a big contract somewhere. The Raiders have been linked and it makes sense.

Pernell McPhee (DE/OLB) to Indianapolis
He played for Chuck Pagano in Baltimore so obviously he’s a scheme fit. The Colts have a ton of cap room and will spend it somewhere. They need to upgrade their defense badly.

Brian Orakpo (DE) to Atlanta
The Falcons are likely to add an edge rusher at #8 but they need more than one. Orakpo was reportedly a target for Atlanta a year ago before he received the franchise tag.

DeMarco Murray (RB) stays in Dallas
I just have a feeling Jerry Jones is going to work this one out. It took him a long time to establish this teams identity with the run game. Murray tests the market and re-signs with the Cowboys.

Jordan Cameron (TE) to Jacksonville
They need more weapons for Blake Bortles. Even with the concussion issues — a rancid class of tight ends and the diminishing market at the position could lead to a big contract for Cameron.

Torrey Smith (WR) to Cleveland
They have to do something at the position. This move would also weaken a division rival. Smith would be a decent acquisition for a team in Cleveland’s sorry state but they might have to overpay.

Darrelle Revis (CB) stays in New England
I just can’t see Revis bouncing back to the Jets after collecting a ring with a hated division rival. He’s become a rent-a-cornerback and needs some consistency. The Pats probably can’t afford McCourty and Revis — so you stick with the better player.

Spotted on plane on way to SEA, Marshawn Lynch has decided to return to NFL; he and Seattle have reached agreement on new deal, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2015

Finally, we have an answer on the Marshawn Lynch saga.

For several weeks during the regular season, it felt like his time in Seattle was coming to an end. Several reports claimed the Seahawks had simply had enough. That was probably an accurate portrayal of the teams position in October.

This is how Chris Mortensen put it:

“The organization has grown tired of his ways, including pulling a no-show at the White House Super Bowl ceremony, his training camp holdout and his possible contribution to locker-room distractions.”

Lynch’s reaction was a not-so-gentle reminder that he’s pretty important. He recorded a career-high 17 total touchdowns in 2014 and a near 4.7 YPC average (second best in his career). He ran all over the Giants and Raiders, helped set up the big win in San Francisco and capped the regular season with Beast Quake II.

Credit the Seahawks for softening their position, albeit at some cost (a $31m, three-year contract), although his 2015 cap hit remains at $8.5m). Many teams wouldn’t tolerate Lynch’s act. There are times when some of us wonder whether the Seahawks should. He has to accept Russell Wilson is going to be the highest paid player on the team in a few weeks. He has to understand Wilson will be the focal point of the offense for the long term.

There can be no more talk of conspiracies. No more unrest. No more hold-outs. One of Seattle’s motto’s is “all-in”. That’s the way it has to be — including with the coaches.

Let’s not downplay Lynch’s importance to the Seahawks, however. They have a star-studded defense but only two genuine stars on offense — Lynch and Wilson. Taking away either player would leave a massive void. It might be easy for other teams to plug in a replacement running back — but Lynch is no ordinary player. This is no ordinary pass-based offense. This is a team built to run and run well. ‘Beast Mode’ is so much a part of the make-up. Replacing him is going to be one of the biggest challenges of the Carroll/Schneider era.

It’s not just on the field either. Letting him walk off into the sunset could’ve caused a mutiny. Look at the reaction of the other players on Twitter to today’s news. Read the quotes when the speculation emerged on a possible Lynch departure.

Whatever possible unrest Lynch dishes out to the ‘suits’ (as he would call them, although he probably has other words in fairness) — not paying him to play in 2015 could’ve created chaos within that locker room. He’s immensely popular.

Now everyone can move on — hopefully — with some degree of harmony. They don’t need to draft an instant replacement in the first two days of the draft. They don’t have to call DeMarco Murray’s agent tomorrow. They can start to add weapons to the offense, not replace weapons.

And that brings us to this:

Don't be shocked if the Seahawks emerge as a viable option for TE Julius Thomas.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 6, 2015

We’ve talked about this possibility a lot and there’s been a lot of speculation in the media.

There’s often no smoke without fire. Why would it be a decoy if this information is being tactically leaked? It’s not like you can sneak up on other free agents unnoticed. If it’s about the draft, how does this possibly help? I think it’s fair to say the talk of Thomas-to-Seattle is either flat out wrong or completely valid (more likely).

That doesn’t mean they’ll get him of course. There are teams out there (Oakland, Jacksonville) who have to spend big in free agency. Part of the new CBA involves a minimum-spend cash threshold. The Raiders and Jags have no choice but to spend money in free agency. Thomas would be a good fit for both teams.

But look at it this way — unless either is willing to offer ridiculous money (for example — $12m APY) — who are you going to join? The perennial loser breaking in a young, largely unproven quarterback? Or the Super Bowl contending machine planning a third consecutive trip to the big game? If the money is similar, you could even call it a no-brainer.

Adding to the likelihood of a Thomas move is this news:

Non-Marshawn Lynch Seahawks news: the team has released TE Zach Miller.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 6, 2015

Miller doesn’t just leave a big hole at the position, he creates an extra $2m in cap space. The Seahawks also waived Jesse Williams and Garrett Scott. Essentially they extended Lynch’s contract, cut Miller, Williams and Scott and gained a decent chunk of cap space today.

And tight end just became a huge need.

For me Thomas is borderline underrated. Fans and the media love to point to Peyton Manning as the reason he was successful in Denver. They also like to highlight how banged up he was last season.

The debate often moves on to reported bad-mouthing by anonymous Broncos players in the uniquely team-friendly Denver media. You know, after it was revealed he wasn’t coming back…

The biggest concern is the injury history. He played very little football during the first two years of his rookie contract. Last year he played in 13 games. Nagging injuries limited his yardage production but he still put up 12 touchdowns. It doesn’t matter what offense you play in — 24 touchdowns in two seasons isn’t easy. He nearly had a touchdown-per-game in 2014 at less than 100% health.

There just aren’t many players like this available. Every team wants the big move-TE. The modern-day mismatch at the second level. The guy who demands attention snap-to-snap. It’s what Seattle has always lacked since drafting Russell Wilson — a target who draws coverage and makes plays even when he’s covered.

Thomas is a 4.64 runner at 250lbs. He ran a 1.62 split at his combine and had a 35.5 inch vertical. He has 33 inch arms and 10 1/4 inch hands. If he was part of this draft class we’d all be touting him as a potential late first rounder or early second rounder. That’s how much the game has changed since 2011.

Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham were both drafted in 2010. They are responsible for this shift towards the phenomenal big athlete at tight end. Thomas is #3 behind those two players. That’s how good he is. And that’s the type of player you’d be acquiring.

A salary worth around $8m APY has been touted. It’s worth noting Gronkowski is earning $9m APY and Graham $10m APY. So really, that’s a fair salary. You get what you pay for.

The injury history means there’s a risk involved. The Seahawks have shown they’re willing to take that gamble. They gave Sidney Rice a $41m contract despite a catalogue of injuries. They awarded Percy Harvin a $67 million contract with $25.5 million guaranteed after spending a first round pick on the often-injured enigma. They recently drafted Paul Richardson, Justin Britt and Christine Michael with second round picks — all three tore ACL’s in college.

When you consider they’re not scared away by injury history, you’re basically left with a dynamic X-factor with unique size/speed and mass production.

The Seahawks reportedly tried to trade for Thomas during the season and that is also understandable. They need a big target to act as a safety net, third down converter, red zone receiver, mismatch at the second level and seam-buster. They need someone who will prevent teams from selling out to attack the offensive line, knowing if they shut down Lynch and pressure Wilson they have a chance to stop Seattle’s offense. The first half against Green Bay in the NFC Championship game probably doesn’t happen with Julius Thomas on the field.

Do they need a blocking tight end? To be honest, no. They coped without Miller for most of last season despite breaking in rookie right tackle Justin Britt. They used an extra offensive lineman to compensate with Luke Willson starting at tight end. The same applies moving forward.

He’s also a good age. Unlike the Andre Johnson’s or Brandon Marshall’s (traded to the Jets today) — Thomas doesn’t turn 27 until late June. He’s hitting his peak. It would’ve cost between $7-8m for a 31-year-old Marshall. it might cost $6-8m for a 34-year-old Johnson. Thomas being in the same salary ballpark if anything makes this even more attractive.

The move also sets up the draft. You can replace James Carpenter at any point. Round one? Jake Fisher or Cameron Erving, if not Ereck Flowers or La’el Collins. Beyond? Ty Sambrailo, Terry Poole. You can afford to use rounds 2-4 to add a receiver or two. You could even go all-in on supporting Wilson with a receiver at #31 to really make a statement of intent for the offense.

The tight end class on the other hand is thoroughly mediocre. It won’t be a shock if Seattle intends to ignore it completely. If they can’t sign Thomas — don’t be surprised if they make a move for Cleveland’s Jordan Cameron.

And let’s be right here — it’s the offense that needs the most attention. The defense, minus Byron Maxwell, is virtually intact. The same defense that ranked #1 in yardage and scoring for the second consecutive season last year. They’ll probably add a veteran corner at some point and probably some defensive line depth too. There are players in this draft that can help the defense without costing major bucks. It’s the offense that needs the big splash if it’s going to happen.

Imagine the defense of 2013 and 2014, supported by an all-firing offense?

The words ‘Win Forever’ spring to mind.

Former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cary Williams is visiting the Seattle Seahawks today, according to a league source

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) March 5, 2015

On top of the interest in Cary Williams, Bob McGinn is reporting that the Seahawks are interested in Green Bay’s Tramon Williams (set to hit the open market on Tuesday).

We’ve discussed the possibility of a veteran stopgap solution at cornerback, with Byron Maxwell set to depart on a projected $10m APY contract. This would allow the Seahawks to continue drafting developmental cornerbacks in the later rounds. It’s what they’ve always done under Carroll and Schneider.

It could also be a review of the situation. Receivers are more popular than ever in the draft, but so are cornerbacks. Are the two linked? Possibly. In the same way that pass rushers and pass blockers are equally vital to a team — it’s getting that way with wide outs and corners. A lot was made of five receivers being drafted in the first frame last year — five cornerbacks also left the board in round one. Four were drafted on day one in 2013. That’s nine in the last two years.

It’s not really surprising given the cost of a good veteran cornerback, receiver, pass rusher or offensive tackle. Teams are hunting for talent and value at the key positions.

There’s every chance we could see four or five cornerbacks go early again this year. If you don’t take one in the first round you could miss out. Trae Waynes and Jalen Collins are near locks for round one. Byron Jones is in the conversation following his explosive combine performance. Marcus Peters is talented enough and he’s saying all the right things this off-season (take note, DGB). Kevin Johnson is being touted as a first round pick by many different pundits (including Mel Kiper in his updated mock today).

If there’s a first round rush, it’s going to be difficult for the Seahawks to get at the second wave without reaching. We could see the next group going in rounds 2-3 — and that might be a bit rich to take an Eric Rowe or an Alex Carter. So for Seattle — and several other teams — it might be a case of ‘needs must’. Go hit the veteran market.

Titans, Jets trying to set up visits for Cary Williams, per a source. Steelers, Ravens among other interested teams in good market for him

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) March 5, 2015

Free agent CB Cary Williams (#Eagles) tentatively sked to visit #Titans on Monday. He's in Seattle now, also sked to visit #Jets next

— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) March 5, 2015

As you can see, the Seahawks aren’t the only suitor for Cary Williams. They might end up forking out $5m to bring in a 31-year-old. I guess this is what happens when the LOB production line finally has an off-year and you get a few serious injuries. For some teams the draft will provide a solution. Even perhaps Kansas City — who everyone assumes will go receiver in the first round. They’re actually in a good position at #18 to get a cornerback (another need) and take a receiver on day two.

You might say it’s unrealistic not to have someone like Jaelen Strong going to the Chiefs. I watched a couple of new Arizona State games this week. Yes, he had a tremendous combine. No, that combine performance doesn’t translate on the field. He really struggles to separate. The Chiefs can reach for him at #18 or they can fill another hole and use rounds 2-3 for the wide out. The options on day two are going to be phenomenal and it just makes sense to wait.

The Seahawks might kick off something of a rush if they do decide to take a receiver at #31. It won’t be totally unbelievable if every wide out not named Kevin White, Amari Cooper or Devante Parker is available. In 2012 the first pass rusher taken was Bruce Irvin at #15. Seattle launched a run that year and chose ‘their guy’. They could have some nice options in the late first this year. It’s the kind of scenario I think we need to at least consider. There are a lot more teams in front of Seattle with offensive line needs. And the cornerbacks going early could also have an impact on who’s available.

It could also lessen the need to pursue veteran receivers in the open market. Ultimately it’s a good draft for receivers and a bad draft for tight ends. Why fight it?

Andre Johnson is on the brink of being cut by Houston but he’s 34 this year and won’t be cheap. He’d need to be replaced in a year or two. The Bears are reportedly trying to trade Brandon Marshall for a mid-round pick. Good luck with that. If he’s cut perhaps he would be an option — but for all his talent and competitive nature, he’s also a possible distraction (when hasn’t he been?). The Seahawks don’t need another distraction. Dwayne Bowe is going to be released by Kansas City — but he’s also 31 this year and hasn’t done anything for four years.

Everything points towards the draft. The Seahawks need a receiver who can grow with Russell Wilson as he becomes a $100m quarterback. Ideally you get a couple in this deep class, whether it’s #31 and later on or two in the middle rounds (eg Tre McBride & Darren Waller).

Again, it’s a good draft for receivers and a bad one for tight ends. Which problem are you going to solve in free agency and which in the draft?

My projection is they go after Julius Thomas and Jordan Cameron to try and add a dynamic tight end. They sign a veteran pass rusher (interior or edge). Matt Barrows is reporting the Seahawks have interest in Trent Cole. Based on the news regarding Cary/Tramon Williams, they also look to add a veteran stopgap starter at corner.

If any of this is correct, it opens up the draft to go WR and OL early (in whichever order) filling two other key needs. And as we’ve discussed, that’s where the value might be at #31 and #63.

Pete Carroll and John Schneider’s Seahawks haven’t drafted a cornerback with sub-32 inch arms. They love height and length at the position. Yet the 2015 class isn’t filled with long, tall cornerbacks. We listed some of the fits in this piece. You’re limiting yourself to basically Jalen Collins, Alex Carter, Byron Jones and Adrian Amos (a safety who might be able to play corner).

There were, however, a couple of interesting prospects with 31.5 inch arms. How important is half an inch? Are you going to strike a player off your draft board because of half an inch?

This is where wingspan comes in to play. According to Zach Whitman, an authority on SPARQ and measurables, the Seahawks have generally drafted cornerbacks with at least a 77.5 or 78-inch wingspan. So if they have 31.5 inch arms but have a long wingspan, they could still be in contention.

(Wingspan is the length between the tip of your middle finger on one outstretched arm to the other)

Clare Farnsworth did a piece on how wingspan translates to length and how it makes the Legion of Boom even taller when you include wingspan and height to create an overall reach:

“Browner checks in at 6 feet 8, fingertip of extended arm to fingertip of extended arm. Sherman is at 6-5½, Chancellor at 6-4½ and even Thomas “gains” 4½ inches to 6-2½.”

It’s not easy to find wingspan details for cornerbacks. A quick Google search revealed Jalen Collins has a 78 inch wingspan, but he already passes the 32-inch arms test. What about the two intriguing players with 31.5 inch arms?

Eric Rowe was given 32.5 inch arms at the Senior Bowl but they were measured slightly shorter at the combine (31.5 inches). Apparently these things change depending on who’s doing the test. Either way, scanning the internet revealed Rowe to have a 77.5-inch wingspan. So I guess we can include him as a contender. All of Rowe’s other characteristics were a fit (4.45 speed, 39 inch vertical, 10-5 broad jump, excellent three-cone and short shuttle). He isn’t an overly physical player but neither is Byron Maxwell. You don’t see great recovery speed on tape and he’s more of a toolsy developmental project who can be coached into a scheme.

Marcus Peters has 31.5 inch arms but plays like a Seahawks corner (physical, ball hawk, confident bordering on arrogant — in a good way). You can imagine him playing for the LOB. I couldn’t find a wingspan total for Peters, but this Tweet is intriguing if accurate. That would put him a notch below Brandon Browner in terms of overall length (if true). That would also surely put him in contention to be drafted by Seattle. Peters’ overall workout ticks all the right boxes for Seattle — 4.53 forty (faster than Sherman’s), 37.5 inch vertical, 10-1 broad jump, decent three-cone and short shuttle. I thought he handled his press conference very well at the combine — taking responsibility for his actions. He’s allowed to perform at the Washington pro-day — a significant development.

We’ve talked about the possibility of a veteran stopgap solution at corner or even just drafting ‘your guys’ in rounds 4-5 and opening up the competition. What about the possibility Seattle drafts a corner in round two or three to come in as an instant starter?

They could trade down from #31 to the #40 range, accumulate another pick or two in the process (just like last year) and take a cornerback in the first half of round two. They would have plenty of picks to attack the loaded depth at receiver in rounds 3-4. They could potentially use the #63 pick on a starter at guard to replace James Carpenter (eg Ty Sambrailo).

Jalen Collins and Byron Jones will likely be off the board — but Rowe and Peters could be available. In Rowe’s case he could stick into rounds 3-4, but we know the Seahawks are willing to go a round early to get their guys. Peters could still go in the first given the high demand for talented cornerbacks, but the early second round is a reasonable projection.

Taking either on day two wouldn’t prevent you returning to the position later in the draft to take a prospect like Alex Carter.

I still believe the Seahawks are likely to pursue one of the two dynamic tight ends in free agency (Julius Thomas and Jordan Cameron). I think there’s a chance they’ll find a way to add some depth to the defensive line. This will leave them needing, as a priority — WR, CB, G. They could spend multiple picks filling these holes.

I could be wrong on that projection, but this is a good draft for receivers and there are plenty of athletic offensive linemen you can pick and develop. it’s not a deep class at corner. And if they don’t (somehow) find a starter to replace Byron Maxwell in free agency, they might be inclined to go early on the position in the draft (day two).

One final point — and I think it’s an important one. We can talk about height, length, speed or whatever. I don’t believe the Seahawks are a slave to ideals. Starting a 5-10 quarterback isn’t an ideal and yet the Seahawks have done it because Wilson is a difference maker for many other reasons. The offensive line is full of different shapes and sizes — from the massive (James Carpenter), to the long (Russell Okung), to the athletic (J.R. Sweezy) to the big-with-short-arms (Justin Britt). The receivers are generally smaller across the board but all play with ‘grit’.

Of all the positions, cornerback probably provides the strictest set of ideals. They know what they like and what they can develop. Pete Carroll is a secondary coach at heart. But that doesn’t mean they won’t bend the rules for a corner who isn’t over six foot and only has 31.5 inch arms — IF they are a good fit for other reasons.

The Seahawks are expected to have around $25m in cap space this year. It’s middle of the pack. In comparison the Colts have $45m to play with, Jacksonville $65m and the Raiders $55m. They’ll be able to spend the big bucks. The advantage Seattle has? They’re in the midst of a legitimate Championship window. Some players will value that over a little more cash in the hand.

The remaining cap space will be slightly impacted by Marshawn Lynch’s pay rise (assuming he agrees to it). They can save over $5m by cutting Zach Miller and Tony McDaniel. If they wanted to be even more ruthless, they can save $5.5m by cutting Brandon Mebane (a possible candidate for a pay cut).

They need to save room for Russell Wilson’s new deal (although the cap hit in 2015 won’t be too extreme) plus, potentially, a new contract for Bobby Wagner and/or J.R. Sweezy.

When you look at the numbers, a move for Ndamukong Suh is a pipe dream. Not impossible, but almost certainly too restrictive. He could easily be the best paid defensive player in the league in eight days time. He’d have to be willing to accept a sensational pay cut or a stunningly creative deal to end up in Seattle.

Suh wasn’t given the franchise tag by Detroit (no surprises there). Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Justin Houston, Stephen Gostkowski and Jason Pierre-Paul were tagged today. Miami gave tight end Charles Clay the transition tag — meaning he can negotiate with other teams and the Dolphins can choose to match the contract or let him walk (Cleveland did this with Alex Mack a year ago). If nobody offers him a contract — and if he doesn’t sign a new deal in Miami — he’ll earn $7.071m in 2015.

So who’s in play for the Seahawks in the open market?

I reached out to cap expert Davis Hsu to gauge what kind of free agents the Seahawks could realistically acquire:

@robstaton they can get one decent sized one on either side at minimum

— DAVIS HSU (@DavisHsuSeattle) March 2, 2015

@robstaton with cap cuts they could potentially do more tho

— DAVIS HSU (@DavisHsuSeattle) March 2, 2015

@robstaton but at least one medium to high one on either side of ball (with more possible)

— DAVIS HSU (@DavisHsuSeattle) March 2, 2015

Hsu suggests $6-7m APY as a projection for a medium-to-high type free agent acquisition. As he notes, with further cuts you could stretch higher. For example, if you go after one of the two high profile tight ends you’re unlikely to keep Zach Miller, creating another +$2m. Likewise if you wanted to try and improve the interior defensive line with a big name, cutting Tony McDaniel adds $3m to the stash.

This article on NFL.com lists the top 101 NFL free agents. Here are perhaps some of the more realistic options:

The dynamic tight end
Available: Julius Thomas (Denver), Jordan Cameron (Cleveland)

Ask any NFL fan about this pair a year ago and the response would’ve been extremely positive. Thomas had a breakout season in 2013 as a dominating force at tight end — piling up touchdowns. Cameron put up 917 yards and scored seven times despite playing with Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell at quarterback.

The mere thought that either player would test the market in 2015 was unrealistic. What a difference a year makes. Both players had injury plagued 2014 seasons. Thomas still recorded 12 more touchdowns but halved his yardage total. Cameron spent a large portion of the year out with a concussion.

In terms of pure talent they’re arguably #3 and #4 behind Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. Very few tight ends have their ability to line up pretty much anywhere, create a size/speed mismatch and make consistent plays. Both players are dominant in the red zone — an area Seattle can dramatically improve. The Seahawks have never truly had a dynamic chess piece like this to draw coverage away from the run game.

Thomas turned down a contract worth $8m APY last year because the guarantees weren’t to his satisfaction. He’s likely to receive major interest in the open market. Can the Seahawks compete? And can they convince him to join another contender instead of a team breaking in a young quarterback (Oakland, Jacksonville)? Cameron is likely to be cheaper but carries a greater risk with the concussion problems.

Signing a prolific tight end will take some of the pressure off drafting a receiver early. There’s also a dearth of TE options in the draft. The best way to provide a significant boost to the passing game is probably to sign one of these two (and then hope they stay healthy).

Seattle reportedly tried to trade for both players during the 2014 season.

The young defensive linemen hitting their peak
Available: Greg Hardy (Carolina), Jabaal Sheard (Cleveland), Stephen Paea (Chicago), Karl Klug (Tennessee)

Hardy is going to play football again, although nobody really knows when and who for. He missed last season due to a domestic abuse case, but the charges were dismissed on February 9th. A cloud still hangs over the player and in light of the Ray Rice/Adrian Peterson situation last season — a brave team is going to go all-in on Hardy. Such is the need for quality pass rushers (Hardy recorded 26 sacks in 2012-13) he might get a nice offer somewhere. Or he might be left to prove he’s totally focused on football in the form of a one year contract.

Some fans will not welcome Hardy to their club. I’m not entirely comfortable with it. But if Richie Incognito can get back into the league, so will Hardy. Eventually.

Sheard was a Seahawks Draft Blog favorite going into the 2011 draft. He enjoyed a productive start in Cleveland but is/was an ill-fit in the 3-4 at outside linebacker. He’s a LEO. Pure and simple. He only turns 26 in May and started his career with 21 sacks in three years. John Schneider once stated the #25 pick in the 2011 draft came down to James Carpenter, Andy Dalton and Sheard.

The thing is — Sheard isn’t that far off the talent level of Hardy without any of the character concerns. Teams like Atlanta and Jacksonville would be wise to invest major stock in his ability to rush the edge. He’s likely to garner significant interest, pushing the price up. Aside from the bizarre 2013 free agency where Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett faced an ice-cold market, talented pass rushers have been paid a kings ransom. Even the average pass rushers are getting paid. Do the Seahawks really want to carry three expensive edge rushers on their roster?

Stephen Paea is another favorite from 2011. He entered the league as a powerful brick wall of a run blocker. Last year he added a pass rushing angle — recording six sacks (a career high). He’s a really dependable, consistent force who could excel in the right scheme. Any team missing out on Ndamukong Suh could make Paea their second option. He wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize.

He’s a better player than Clinton McDonald who received a contract worth $3m APY last year. He can expect to earn $4-5m APY on the open market, if not more. He could drift into Brandon Mebane territory ($5m APY). I suspect if the Seahawks are going to add to the defensive line it’ll be for an interior pass rusher. Paea is probably best suited for the Mebane role in Seattle’s scheme. He isn’t a three technique. If Mebane isn’t cut — and there’s no reason to think he will be — Paea might just be a bit of a luxury for this team.

I’ve always liked Klug and he could operate as a hybrid interior rusher in Seattle’s defense. He had seven sacks as a rookie for the Titans but never quite lived up to the early hype. A fresh start is required and he could offer a much cheaper (and potentially much more productive) alternative to some of the bigger name interior defensive linemen.

The veteran pass rusher
Available: Brian Orakpo (Washington), Henry Melton (Dallas), Dwight Freeney (San Diego), Darnell Dockett (Arizona)

Washington would like to keep Orakpo but at what price? Season-ending injuries in 2012 and 2014 have stalled a once promising career. He’s never topped 11 sacks in a season and he turns 29 in July. It’s tough to work out what kind of market he’ll receive.

At his age he really wants to cash in — but he has no momentum after suffering a torn pec in October. He was franchised a year ago at great expense. Now he’ll test the market. A one-year prove-it deal in Seattle isn’t out of the question if he wants to play for a great defense, regain some momentum and take on free agency next year. By that point he’ll be pushing 30, however. And for that reason he might seek less money for a longer term deal elsewhere.

The Seahawks wanted to sign Melton a year ago and at one stage a deal looked close. He eventually chose Dallas and put in a thoroughly mediocre season for the Cowboys. On a no-frills Dallas defense, he barely registered apart from the occasional play. It’s no surprise he was released and is again testing the market. He too is 29 this year and you have to wonder if his best football is in the past. He tore an ACL in 2013. Still, at the right price he could be an option. He fits the three technique.

Freeney is merely a situational pass rusher at 35-years-old and he only collected 3.5 sacks in 2014. He lacks the length Seattle likes at defensive end — but he is one of the modern greats in terms of production (111.5 career sacks). The Seahawks kicked the tires with other ageing pass rushers like John Abraham previously. Freeney needs a team where he can spell the starters and play a support role. In that sense he’d fit, but he wouldn’t be playing for much money. Has he still got enough juice to make it worthwhile?

Dockett is meeting with the 49ers today (having already been released by the Cardinals) and he might not leave. He’s also nearing his 34th birthday and coming off a torn ACL. He might be the most attractive option at the right price. For starters, he’s a fantastic interior rusher who competes like crazy. The type of warrior you need in the NFC West. He’s already stated his intention to win ‘comeback player of the year’ in 2015. The Seahawks will probably need to replace Kevin Williams and Dockett has the experience and talent to make it work. We’ll see if Seattle has any interest in competing with the Niners for his signature.

The veteran stopgap cornerback
Available: Perrish Cox (San Francisco), Walter Thurmond (New York Giants), Charles Tillman (Chicago)

Working out how the Seahawks will replace Byron Maxwell isn’t easy. Will they wait until the later rounds of the draft or be pro-active in the earlier rounds to identify a starter? Will they look for a veteran stopgap? In all cases the options aren’t great. And that’s why they might go the stopgap route.

Cox had a short spell in Seattle before joining the 49ers. 2014 was a career year for Cox — even though he played in 15 games for Denver back in 2010. Last year he took his play to another level and that could warrant a decent short-term contract with a team. He’s 28 years old and unlikely to get anything substantial or long term.

Thurmond possibly burnt bridges in Seattle. Remember, he was the player tasked with replacing the suspended Brandon Browner in 2013. With the team chasing a Super Bowl, he initially flourished. Then he got suspended himself. Byron Maxwell got an unlikely opportunity and never looked back. Thurmond paid for his mistake. Maxwell is now expected to be offered $10m APY on the open market. Thurmond will be scrambling around looking for a team. If the door remains open in Seattle, he has scheme familiarity. He also has a long list of injuries.

Tillman is long, competitive, passionate and an all-time great. The idea he’ll be playing for anyone other than Chicago is almost upsetting. And yet the same was said of Antoine Winfield in 2013 when he departed Minnesota to join the Seahawks. Sometimes the game just moves on. Tillman is 34 and missed most of last season with an injured triceps.

NOTE — I didn’t include a list of receivers. The draft is loaded with depth at the position — there really isn’t much need to consider making a big splash on a veteran receiver unless a player like Brandon Marshall is released by Chicago.

Elsewhere…

Mike Mayock has made a handful of changes to his ‘top-5’s’ list. La’el Collins is now the #1 ranked tackle, while Jaelen Strong is now the #4 receiver.

Gil Brandt says Eli Harold bolstered his stock at the Virginia pro-day: “Harold, who measured at 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, performed a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump and did 24 strength lifts of 225 pounds at the pro day. He stood on his other numbers from the combine.”

Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch claims Washington is interested in Harold: “They sent three scouts to U.Va. on Monday for the school’s annual pro day, including Director of Player Personnel Scott Campbell, who has overseen the team’s drafting in past years.”

Todd McShay appeared on the Brock and Salk show on ESPN 710 today to discuss the possibility of the Seahawks drafting Todd Gurley.

The answer to the title is most definitely yes. They’re one of only a few who can justify a luxury pick. While we discuss, debate and (occasionally) fret about who will replace Byron Maxwell next season — it’s easy to forget the Seahawks have a good thing going.

They’ve already re-signed K.J. Wright and Cliff Avril for the long term. The only two significant starters they’re likely to lose (not including any imminent cuts) is Maxwell and James Carpenter. They could use reinforcements elsewhere but put it into context. More than half the teams in the league are going through some form of relevance-chase. Then there’s a cluster of teams like Detroit, San Diego, Carolina and Arizona that are close to contending but still seem pretty far away.

The Seahawks are part of a very small and elite group. The clan of legit contenders. New England is in the club. So is Green Bay. Baltimore is close but are they included? What about Dallas and Denver?

Very few teams in the league have it as good as Seattle — even without Maxwell and Carpenter. They have eleven picks in the 2015 draft and enough cap room to not feel completely restricted going into free agency.

A few problems will be solved in the open market. Darnell Docket has just been released by Arizona and could offer interior line depth while improving the pass rush. Julius Thomas or Jordan Cameron could provide the dynamic big target Wilson badly needs in the passing game. Those two additions alone would allow the Seahawks to enter the draft feeling confident. And they might even add a veteran corner or offensive lineman in the second wave of free agency.

With their eleven picks they can get a receiver or two, a replacement for Carpenter at guard, a cornerback or two with length, further depth at linebacker and safety, another defensive lineman. They can manipulate the board and fill out the roster.

They can save a pick for a ‘luxury’ and not jeopardize the short term goal of the team (to return to the Super Bowl next season).

So what would constitute a ‘luxury’ pick?

Todd Gurley. There’s your luxury.

In 2013 the Seahawks gave up a first round pick for Percy Harvin. They weren’t on the clock until the late second round. Even then, they traded down before selecting Christine Michael — a SPARQ demon with incredible physical skills. He wasn’t likely to challenge Marshawn Lynch for snaps and would have a job on replacing Robert Turbin as the #2 running back. This was a shot. The kind of move a team rich in depth (as the Seahawks were in 2013) can make with confidence. They were planning ahead at the running back position.

The depth isn’t quite the same these days — mainly because the 2013 and 2014 drafts haven’t thoroughly replenished the loss of certain individuals. The Harvin fiasco robbed the Seahawks of a first round talent and a third round pick in 2014. But it’s still a deep group. How else could they survive an injury plagued season to return to the Super Bowl?

There’s no reason to believe they won’t be bold again, with an eye to the future.

Todd Gurley probably won’t play football in 2015. He tore an ACL on November 15th in a game against Auburn. He didn’t work out at the combine and admitted he won’t be ready for the Georgia pro-day on March 18th. Unlike other prospects in recent years, he’s doing the sensible thing. Don’t rush back just to make a token performance pre-draft. Let the tape speak for itself and get healthy.

Scientific advances mean ACL injuries are no longer the career death sentence they used to be. Adrian Peterson made a spectacular comeback from a similar injury. Chris Clemons also returned for the Seahawks in 2013 with almost no obvious side effects. Dr. James Andrews is working on Gurley’s knee and recently stated he was ahead of schedule. He also shot down speculation over the health of the knee, after Gurley refused to be examined by medical teams at the combine:

“I heard some fuss that Gurley wouldn’t let teams examine him and that’s just totally misleading… The team physicians I have spoken with who are there — and I have spoken to a bunch of them — were all happy about what they saw. I mean, they’re smart enough to know you can’t have 32 teams pulling and tugging on a knee just 3½ months removed from surgery. But the doctors I spoke with said he looked great and I’d say he’s probably six weeks ahead with his recovery.”

Gurley needs to go to a team that is prepared to let this process play out. Rushing him back in 2015 is not the answer. Accept the situation for what it is, let him build up strength and prepare for a long career. That approach is significantly going to impact his draft stock, but it’s totally necessary. He could’ve been a top-15 pick without the knee injury. Instead he’s going to fall to the late first round or even the second round.

I think it’s fair to assume the Seahawks are going to get a deal done with Marshawn Lynch. A fairly relaxed appearance on Turkish Television (yep) this weekend didn’t feel like the final days of a players career. Despite denials from the players agent, Jason La Canfora continues to report a deal will be done. It feels like a matter of time. The Seahawks need to know if he’s accepting the offer before March 10th when free agency begins.

Even with a new contract in his pocket, there’s going to be an annual ‘will he or won’t he’ discussion on Lynch retiring until the decision is finally made. He’s the new Brett Favre. Eventually he will retire and it’s going to leave a massive void.

Robert Turbin is a free agent after the 2015 season. The market for running backs isn’t great financially, but Turbin has very little tread on the tires. He might be a difficult keep unless the Seahawks intend to make him the starter after Lynch.

You might lose both Lynch and Turbin in a years time. I’m not convinced this team has anywhere near enough faith in Christine Michael to become a starter. They don’t even trust him to contend for the kick returners role — a position he filled for Texas A&M.

Gurley would be a luxury pick in terms of 2015 — he wouldn’t take the field. But in 2016 he could be a vital addition — either in support of Lynch or as the bona fide starter.

The decision to draft or pass on Gurley really comes down to four things:

1. Do you believe he can make a full recovery?

2. Is he special enough to warrant a redshirt season?

3. Can you live with another first pick in the draft providing minimal or no impact as a rookie?

4. Is the running back position vital enough to draft one for the future?

The first question we’ll never know the answer to as mere observers. The second question? I certainly think he’s special enough. You just don’t find many players with Gurley’s combination of size, speed, patience, home-run hitting ability and pro-ready skills in the passing game. I think the third question, ultimately, is the big one for Seattle. Having received virtually no return from their first and second round picks in 2013 and only a minimal return on their first pick in 2014 — this would be a big decision.

The answer to the fourth question would probably be ‘no’ for most teams. Yet the Seahawks want to run the ball with style and substance. It’s their identity. Replacing Lynch is going to be one of the biggest challenges in the Pete Carroll/John Schneider era. Having the opportunity to draft a player as talented as Gurley to eventually replace Lynch is attractive. That doesn’t mean they’re necessarily going to do it — but you’d understand it if they did.

Nate Liss at Field Gulls has written an article arguing the case for Gurley in Seattle:

“Would you take him? With all the damage to our secondary and players leaving in free agency I wouldn’t put up a fight if you decided otherwise, but I think deep down inside the idea of transitioning from one Marshawn Lynch to the next sounds like a pretty incredible prospect to all of us.”

I wouldn’t be surprised by the move. The Seahawks are projected to receive compensatory picks in the fourth, fifth (x2) and sixth rounds. If you’re able to land Julius Thomas and some D-line help in free agency, you can target receivers, offensive linemen, cornerbacks and defensive linemen with the seven picks you have between rounds 2-5.

We’ve seen talented players drafted in the late first/early second round while recovering from ACL injuries. Dominique Easley would’ve been a top-20 pick — instead the New England Patriots drafted him at #29 a year ago. The 49ers drafted Tank Carradine with the #40 pick in 2013.

There’s also this:

.@robstaton also if NFL team deems Gurley injury "NFI" which they can- I believe he would NOT accrue a season in 2015 I believe…

— DAVIS HSU (@DavisHsuSeattle) March 1, 2015

It’s possible, due to the injury, that 2015 wouldn’t count as an accrued season. Meaning if you draft him at #31, you can control his contract for six years.

If the Seahawks are going to remain contenders for several years, they’re unlikely to get a shot at a talent like Gurley without some kind of red flag forcing him down the board. This would be an opportunistic pick — a calculated risk for the long term benefit of your running game. They were willing to roll the dice on Christine Michael with an early pick — a player with character flags and an injury history.

At the same time — this is a team looking to remain on top in the NFC. Their four first round picks between 2010-12 (Okung, Thomas, Carpenter, Irvin) all started or had an impact in year one. 2012 feels like a long time ago.

Do you need to plan for the long term at running back? Do you need a player of Lynch or Gurley’s quality to establish a top running game? Can you afford to wait out the Lynch situation and simply address the problem in 2016, 2017 or whenever he decides to retire?

Lynch reportedly took offense to Darrell Bevell’s suggestion of a ‘running back by committee’ approach in 2014. Given the fractious nature of the relationship between player and coaches/front office, would drafting a running back with the first pick open up old wounds?

“Hey — sign the new contract we really need you! By the way, meet your replacement.”

Gurley has a tendency to get banged up. Aside from the ACL tear, he missed three games in 2013 with an ankle injury and finished the season playing hurt. He was spelled in two other games due to ankle and hip issues. Lynch is a freak of nature with the strength of two men. He’s avoided serious injuries as a consequence. Gurley played at around 230lbs at Georgia but slimmed down to 222lbs for the combine. He’s marginally taller and 7lbs bigger than Lynch. It remains to be seen whether he can be as durable.

Running back is a short career. A redshirt year is unlikely to have much impact on Gurley playing into his 30’s — rare for most players at the position. Stashing him for an entire season might be a hard sell if you don’t think it’s likely to extend his career.

College football always churns out running backs. Yes — 2014 provided a disappointing crop. But this year there’s depth and quality. Next year’s class will likely be fronted by the excellent Ezekiel Elliott of Ohio State. How important is it to take Gurley compared to waiting until 2016 or beyond?

Will he be there at #31? The Baltimore Ravens could redshirt Gurley and re-sign Justin Forsett for another season. Arizona, Dallas, Denver and Indianapolis could also be in the market for a running back. How determined are the Seahawks to trade down from #31 to accumulate further picks in the middle rounds? I still think a trade down from #31 is the most likely scenario as explained here.

Will they ever spend a first round pick on a running back? Some teams flat out refuse to. I suspect it’d take a special talent to warrant the investment, but that’s the same for all teams in this modern pass-happy NFL. I think it’s pretty clear Gurley is ‘special’ — but the injury situation clouds the situation.

You can make a strong case for or against drafting Gurley. The Seahawks are one of the few teams who can justify it — but they might be more interested in adding an immediate impact player. It’d be a luxury for 2015 but a possible life-saver for the running game when Lynch hangs up his cleats.

He’s good enough to warrant the pick. But how keen are the Seahawks to add a ‘running back of the future’?

In yesterday’s Field Gulls Podcast one of the things we touched on was the 2011 trade involving Mark Ingram. The New Orleans Saints traded their second round pick (#56 overall) and a 2012 first rounder to New England for the opportunity to take Ingram with the #28 pick. The Pats essentially traded down 28 spots and acquired what turned out to be the #27 pick in the following draft.

Isn’t this just John Schneider’s perfect trade scenario?

It makes you wonder if he harbored hopes of a similar deal last year when Teddy Bridgewater was still on the board. No mad scramble ensued and the Seahawks ended up moving down a few spots for a fourth rounder. He’s already made it clear he’d be open to trading down again this year.

A deal similar to the Ingram trade is unlikely of course. It’s rare to see a team place that much faith in a player that they’re willing to trade a future first rounder. Atlanta did it in 2011 but that involved moving from #26 to #6 to select Julio Jones. The Saints were buying back into the first using a late second rounder. Cleveland did something similar in 2007 to select Brady Quinn.

Let’s entertain the thought for one moment. If there is a possible scenario where a similar deal could materialize this year, I think this is. And it involves another running back (because there’s surely no way anyone is trading back into the first round for a quarterback this year).

Melvin Gordon didn’t have the kind of explosive workout we expected. But he is a coveted player with fantastic character and work habits. He should be a first round pick, but a few teams might be second guessing his value after the combine. If he drifts and is available at #31 — would a team be willing to move up and get him?

We’ve talked about the possibility of only 15-20 players being awarded first round grades this year (and that might be a generous review). Gordon will be rated as a first rounder on several boards. If you’re a team like San Diego — eager to win in a closing window under Phillip Rivers — would you be willing to go offensive tackle or defense at #17 and then trade back into the first for Gordon? The Chargers own the 16th pick in round two (#48 overall). Would they be willing to offer that pick and their 2016 first rounder to get another playmaker?

It’s very unrealistic given the depth at running back, but not totally ridiculous either. There weren’t too many people criticizing the Saints four years ago. If the Chargers intend to win it all next year or at least make a deep playoff run, they’d be aiming to be picking between #28-32 anyway. Gordon is a terrific player at a position of need.

It’s the teams in a ‘win now’ mentality that are more likely to be aggressive. The Chargers know time is ticking away to win a title in the Rivers/Antonio Gates era before the inevitable reboot. They’re not really that close right now, so a bold move to try and close the gap is something to consider. Whether they feel a running back is the the way to make it happen, well I’ll let you be the judge of that.

The Seahawks would be extremely fortunate to receive such an offer — just as they lucked out in 2009 with Denver’s bizarre move for Alphonso Smith. But it’s sometimes the team determined to make a deal that receives the deal. Everyone knows New England likes to move around and that’s perhaps why the Saints negotiated with the Pats in 2011. Schneider pretty much walked around Lucas Oil Field wearing a cut out shouting “Pick #31 for sale”.

Trading back into the late 40’s or 50’s would still allow the Seahawks to bring in a solid receiver, offensive lineman or defensive lineman. You might even move back up in the second round — Seattle traded back into the second to select Max Unger in 2009 after the Denver trade.

There are so many things that would have to connect for this to happen. Gordon slipping, a team wanting him badly enough, Seattle being the chosen recipient of the offer. But it’s something to consider as we move through this process. And you just know they’d love to move down 20-30 spots to get another first rounder next year.

Darnell Dockett is a free agent

Cardinals announced they released Darnell Dockett.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2015

A week ago Dockett tweeted he’d be playing in Arizona next season one way or another, adding “think about it”. He was clearly insinuating he would be joining a NFC West rival if he was cut. It doesn’t have to be the Seahawks, it just feels like that way. I’m not sure he’d be making such a excitable remark about joining the Rams or 49ers.

It could be a major assumption on his behalf or just a playful tease. He’ll turn 34 in May and he’s coming off an ACL injury. If the knee clears, he’d still be a terrific addition for this team. The Seahawks need a proven interior pass rusher to add to their rotation. They also need experienced depth up front. Kevin Williams is probably going to move on or retire. They met with Ricky-Jean Francois yesterday before he signed with the Redskins.

A healthy Dockett at the right price would be a coup for the Seahawks. And that’s the key. Is he healthy?

No matter the logo Im gonna win that comeback player of the year….

— DARNELL DOCKETT (@ddockett) February 23, 2015

Daniel Jeremiah’s updated mock draft

It’s good to break down some of these mock drafts, compare them to the ones we do and see what players were available to the Seahawks at #31. You naturally have a tendency to overrate the players you like and take them out of contention for the late first round. So I had a look to see who was available in Daniel Jeremiah’s mock that wouldn’t be available in my own (both published this week).

The answer? Cameron Erving and Jake Fisher. The two players I have going at #31 and #32. Jeremiah’s top 30 players were the same as mine, just in a different order. It might be a similar reaction to the combine (eg Byron Jones in the first round) or it might be that obvious this year.

Jeremiah projected Dorial Green-Beckham to the Seahawks and Carl Davis to the Patriots:

“The Seahawks were a play away from winning consecutive Super Bowls. Green-Beckham is a play-making machine. If he passes the character tests, this would be a great value selection.”

I understand why Green-Beckham gets projected to Seattle. There’s a feeling within the national media that the Seahawks are willing to take chances. It’s an overstated feeling. Bruce Irvin was not a character concern entering the 2012 draft — in fact he’d turned his life around through football and kept his nose clean in the JUCO’s and at West Virginia. They traded for Percy Harvin — but that ill-fated move at least came from a position of experience (Darrell Bevell worked with him in Minnesota, Pete Carroll recruited him at USC).

There’s a bit of a difference between those two moves and taking a chance on Green-Beckham. Right now the NFL is embroiled in controversy over its handling of the Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy cases relating to domestic abuse. You can argue about DGB’s case being dropped but I would urge everyone to read this article and assess the situation. It makes for a difficult read.

Personally I don’t think any team needs to deal with this right now. I suspect he’ll be crossed off several boards. A Randy Moss-esque combine performance would’ve helped but he didn’t have a great workout. He has an odd body shape — big and tall (6-5, 237lbs) but with shorter arms (32.5 inches) and small hands (nine inches). He ran a decent 4.49 but only managed a 33.5 inch vertical and a 9’11” broad jump. In comparison, 6-5, 305lbs Laurence Gibson also managed a 33.5 inch vertical and had a 9’5″ broad jump. So he has the size and some speed, but he doesn’t jump well and hasn’t got the long reach or big hands.

There’s a real thirst to talk him into physical freak status (I sense based on his history as a top high school recruit). In reality a player like Darren Waller is a much more exciting physical specimen. I don’t think he handled the media well at the combine. I don’t see any reason why the Seahawks would take a chance on him in this draft.

Who could be there at #31?

While we’re talking about mock drafts, I thought I’d quickly run through some of the players I think could be available at #31 that I had off the board in my post-combine projection:

Jaelen Strong (WR, Arizona State)
He had a surprisingly good overall workout, running a 4.44, posting a 42 inch vertical and a 10’3″ broad jump. He also had a good 1.57 ten yard split. Taking all that into account, why couldn’t he separate in college? He has every physical skill you need to win in the short game with suddenness. And yet he looks almost sluggish at times. He’s also only 6-2 (not the advertised 6-3) with nine inch hands. He could go in the top-20 but it’ll come down to whether you believe he can be coached up to take advantage of that explosive lower body power.

Byron Jones (CB, Connecticut)
‘Senator Jones’ as he’s known at UConn broke records at the combine with his 12’3″ broad jump and remarkable 44.5 inch vertical. He isn’t even 100% because he’s still recovering from a torn labrum. He could easily be a top-15 pick because you just don’t see that level of explosion in the legs. He also has ideal size (6-1, 199lbs) and length (32 inch arms). He’s the complete package physically. His tape is boom or bust though. He can cover for sure, but he wasn’t a lockdown corner and that’s why nobody was really talking about him until the combine.

Eli Harold (DE, Virginia)
I’m a big fan of Eli Harold’s but I also really liked Jabaal Sheard in 2011. He ended up going in the early second round and Harold could too. He had a nice combine but didn’t do anything extraordinary (35 inch vert, 4.60, 10’3″ broad jump). He did post a really good ten yard split (1.56) and an excellent short shuttle (4.16 — #3 among defensive linemen). To compare, Cliff Avril and Bruce Irvin both ran 1.50 over ten yards. He’s far better than Dee Ford who went at #23 last year. But I also believe Sheard is/was much better too.

I put out an updated mock draft yesterday — but to be honest, I have very little faith in it. I think they’re going to trade down from #31.

The Seahawks manipulated the board in 2014 accumulating picks along the way. It seems they always intended to draft Paul Richardson with that first pick and knew the range they could move into to get him. I suspect the plan to draft Richardson was as much to do with trading down (and getting a guy they liked) as it was to draft any particular prospect with that top pick. Why? Because their main intention in round one last year was to use the #32 selection to make sure they got more picks for other targeted players later on.

Seattle traded down twice — acquiring an extra fourth rounder from Minnesota and a seventh from Detroit. They also swapped a fifth for a fourth with the Lions. That deal essentially allowed them to take Cassius Marsh, Kevin Norwood and Kevin Pierre-Louis in the same round. A calculated move — because all three screamed ‘Seahawks’ pre-draft. This wasn’t done on a whim. And you can’t draft all three without the carefully orchestrated trades.

I’m not sure Marsh or Norwood necessarily go in the fourth round unless Seattle takes them. They made sure they got the guys they liked. There are other examples. They knew at #64 they had to take a tackle or risk missing out altogether (they had no third round pick because of the Percy Harvin trade). So they took Justin Britt — a move that, in fairness, seemed like quite a reach.

Garrett Scott provided a physical upside at tackle (a SPARQ demon) in round six. Eric Pinkins was a total unknown, but also a total fit for what they look for in a defensive back. Does Jimmy Stated get drafted if the Seahawks don’t pick him in round five? Moves to get physical ideals onto the roster or obtain players they’d struggle to attract in UDFA.

There weren’t a lot of ‘big names’ on the 2014 list of draftees. There were a lot of players that made you say, “of course!” right after the pick when you looked at the measurables.

I suspect we’ll see something similar again this year. It’ll be a combination of hitting certain positional needs (and possibly reaching a little) in targeted rounds and selecting physical/character fits in other spots.

There’s every chance they’ll trade down again from the #31 pick to give themselves a chance to draft more of their ‘target list’. We get caught up names, we see players we like. The reality is there’s probably only 15-20 players in this draft that the teams will grade in the first round. Which means the player taken at #22 (for example) might not be graded that much higher than the player graded at #35. So if you’re John Schneider picking at #31, the motivation is there to move down.

Another lesson from last year — don’t overrate the combine too much. I think I’m already guilty of that, as I’ll explain in a moment. Donte Moncrief’s workout in Indianapolis a year ago was exceptional. Most people believed he’d be a third rounder before the 2014 combine. With a perfect blend of size, speed and vertical leaping ability — you had to mark him up. You go back to the tape and watch with a positive eye and you see what you want to see. I mocked him in the first round on more than one occasion, eventually settling on a second round grade. He went in the third — the original mark everyone expected.

It’s easy to sit here today and wonder if Tre McBride will go in the second (as I have) or whether Darren Waller with his Vincent Jackson physical comparison will get pumped up the board (guilty, again). It might happen, but is it more likely both players will settle into rounds 3-6? If they like either player enough they might be willing to go a round early. But that’s a big if. Just because they each had a good combine doesn’t mean they’re going to sky rocket into round two or higher.

So while we sit here and wonder what Seattle might do at #31 — it’s probably more worthwhile to simply identify a group of players that could be taken at any point. Prospects Seattle might like and will work out a way to collect.

Receiver might even be a position they’re willing to wait on. If they’re able to pull off a move for a free agent like Julius Thomas — they’ll be adding that elusive dynamic, tall receiving threat to the team. A guy who can work the middle, create a mismatch wherever he lines up, produce in the red zone and convert third downs.

If you sign Thomas as a free agent, you can afford to wait on ‘your guys’ because you’ve added the missing piece to the offense. And you can perhaps afford to develop McBride and Waller (if they’re on your target list) over time. It took V-Jax four years to post a 1000 yard season in San Diego.

They could take two receivers (Pete Carroll and Schneider looked particularly busy in their booth during the WR forty yard dash runs), two corners, two offensive linemen, a linebacker, a safety, a running back and a couple of defensive linemen. That’s a pure guess. The tight end class offered very little to get excited about — and if you sign Julius Thomas (or Jordan Cameron) it’s much less of a need.

Of course, if you’re trying to manipulate the board — you also might trade up for a certain player. They did it for Tharold Simon in 2013. I think it’s unlikely in round one, but certainly is a possibility from the #63 pick onwards.

Players they might manipulate the board to target:

Henry Anderson (DT, Stanford)
Similar size to Tony McDaniel at 6-6 and 294lbs — 33 1/2 inch arms. Ran a 5.03 with an impressive 1.63 ten yard split. He aced the short shuttle with a 4.19 — quickest among defensive linemen. Anderson performed very well at the Senior Bowl. Can play the five technique or work inside. Typical Stanford lineman, great attitude. He’s projecting in rounds 3-4.

Alex Carter (CB, Stanford)
One of the few corners in this class to tick the right boxes for Seattle. He’s 6-0, 196lbs with 32 1/8 inch arms (the Seahawks have not drafted a corner with sub-32 inch arms). He ran a 4.51 (Richard Sherman ran a 4.56). He tested well in the short shuttle and posted a 10’1″ in the broad jump. According to reports he aced interviews at the combine. He’s projecting in rounds 4-5 but might need to be taken earlier due to the weak overall cornerback class.

Ty Sambrailo (T/G, Colorado State)
Active blocker who will be a good fit in a zone scheme. Showed off his movement skills with a terrific 4.58 in the short shuttle (fifth overall among offensive linemen). 6-6 and 311lbs so compares to Carpenter/Britt in terms of size. Short arms so has to play guard. Tony Pauline reported in January that Seattle had interest in Sambrailo. He’s projecting anywhere from rounds 2-4.

Tre McBride (WR, Williams & Mary)
High character receiver. 6-0 and 210lbs with 32 1/8 inch arms. Smallish hands (nine inches) aren’t ideal but they’re bigger than Paul Richardson’s a year ago. Ran a 4.41 with a 1.51 split. Posted a 38 inch vertical and a 4.08 short shuttle. Kick return experience. Plays big on tape — high pointing the football and making contested catches downfield. Sparky on the field and respectful off it. Made ‘wow’ plays even against big school opponents. Recently projecting in rounds 3-4 but rising.

Zack Hodges (DE, Harvard)
Pass rusher with a relentless motor. 6-2 1/2, 250lbs with fantastic length (34 1/2 inch arms). 4.68 forty isn’t ideal for a LEO but a 1.61 split is intriguing. Showed explosiveness in the broad jump (10’5″). Incredible back-story. Lost his mother in high school after losing his father aged six and then his grandfather aged 14. Fought to get to Harvard. Will not quit on or off the field. Touted as a day two pick going into the Senior Bowl, a more modest expectation is mid-to-late round.

Rakeem Nunez-Roches (DT, Southern Miss)
Missed the entire 2013 season with a knee injury but bounced back in 2014 to lead the team in TFL’s (14). Declared early after finding a way to impact games. He’s 6-2 and 307lbs with a shade under 33 inch arms. Ran a 5.02 and posted a nice 34 inch vertical. He could sneak into the later rounds as a priority UDFA. Moved well at the combine.

Rob Crisp (T, NC State)
Handled Vic Beasley better than any tackle in college football last season. Injury history is concerning but he’s 6-7, 301lbs and has 34.5 inch arms. Ran a 5.26 and posted a 32.5 inch vertical (same as T.J. Clemmings). Short shuttle was in the top-eight for offensive linemen at the combine. Could be a steal in the later rounds or UDFA.

Laurence Gibson (T, Virginia Tech)
Only started full-time for the Hokies in 2014 and considered a bit of a surprise invite to the combine in the media. He’s 6-6, 305lbs with vines for arms (35 1/8 inches). Ran an impressive 5.04 forty, posted a 33.5 inch vertical (best among offensive linemen) and a top-five short shuttle. Combine invite hints at respect within scouting circles. Could be a nice later round option ala Garrett Scott a year ago.

Terry Poole (T/G, San Diego State)
Another player linked to the Seahawks by Tony Pauline. Moved well in drills and looks like a big, mobile guard prospect at the next level. 6-5 and 307lbs with a good body shape. Ran a 5.09 forty with a good 1.79 split (Jake Fisher’s split was 1.75). 31 inch vertical and another lineman who put in a good short shuttle. Possible later round ball of clay for Tom Cable.

Kurtis Drummond (S, Michigan State)
Not the fastest (4.68) but showed explosion in the vertical jump (39.5 inches). 6-0 and 208lbs. As good as any safety not named Landon Collins in this mediocre class at the position. Showed genuine range on tape and seen as the organizer within Michigan State’s secondary. Performed well at the Senior Bowl before picking up a slight hamstring strain. Instinctive. Graded in the later rounds — the kind of range Seattle could target a safety.

Nelson Agholor (WR, USC)
Better athlete than people realize — click hear for evidence. Didn’t do the jumps at the combine after dislocating his finger during catching drills. Ran a 4.42 which is quicker than Marqise Lee and Robert Woods. Mr. Reliable for the Trojans. Chose to go to USC specifically to compete with Lee and Woods. Former big-time recruit. Tremendous 1.53 split. 6-0 and 198lbs — but the Seahawks will take receivers in that range. Productive return-man. Could be a top-40 pick.

Darren Waller (WR, Georgia Tech)
Almost identical size, speed, length, jumping ability to Vincent Jackson. It’s quite unbelievable how similar they are physically entering the league. 6-6 and 238lbs and still ran a 4.46. One of only two players in the NCAA not to drop a single catchable pass in 2014. 37 inch vertical with 33 1/4 inch arms — tremendous catching radius. Still growing into his body and production was poor in the triple option (no surprises there). Seen as a tight end project for some teams. Has the upside to go day two, more likely a day three selection.

Josh Shaw (S, USC)
The guy who lied about saving his drowning nephew. He doesn’t have the length to play corner in Seattle (6-0 but only 30 3/4 inch arms) but he could be a mobile safety project. He ran a 4.44 forty at 201lbs, jumped 37.5 inches in the vertical and 10’10” in the broad. Will go in the tail end of the draft if not UDFA.

Adrian Amos (CB, Penn State)
Is he a corner or a safety? He has the size, length and speed to play corner in Seattle (6-0, 32 1/4 inch arms, 4.56 forty). He is 218lbs though and that’s big. Jumped a 35.5 inch vertical and a 10’2″ broad jump. Passionate about the game. Apparently the Seahawks contacted his old High School coach to ask about him. This has legs it seems. Graded mainly in rounds 4-5 it seems.

Mitch Morse (T, Missouri)
6-5, 305lbs lineman with guard length (32 1/4 inch arms). Ran a 5.14 but more impressively posted the third best short shuttle (4.50) among linemen. Would be a later round guard project for Tom Cable. Missed the Senior Bowl after undergoing surgery on his index finger. Replaced Justin Britt at left tackle for the Tigers but also has experience at center.

Tony Lippett (Michigan State) & Nick Marshall (Auburn)
I’m listing both players together for a reason. I highly doubt Seattle drafts either to play receiver (Lippett) or quarterback (Marshall). But both players could be converted to cornerback. Marshall worked out at corner during the Senior Bowl. Lippett is 6-2 1/2 and 192lbs with nearly 33 inch arms. He ran a 4.61 with a 36 inch vertical. Marshall is 6-1 and 207lbs with 32 1/8 inch arms. He ran a 4.54 and posted a 37.5 inch vertical.

Chris Conley (WR, Georgia)
The combine freak of the year until Byron Jones showed up. On tape he actually makes some nice plays — but he clearly lacks refinement. Seemed to be one of the players leading the way at Georgia. He’s nearly 6-2, 213lbs with just under 34 inch arms and ten inch hands. He ran a 4.35, benched 18 reps, posted an insane 45 inch vertical and an 11’7″ on the broad jump. Going into the combine he wasn’t on anyone’s radar. Now? You wonder if he’ll be over-drafted.

Cameron Erving (G/C, Florida State)
Intelligent, edgy player and a converted defensive lineman (like J.R. Sweezy). Had a year and a bit at tackle before moving inside to center. Unlikely to go back to tackle but can easily cover three spots in the interior. 6-5 and 313lbs with 34 1/8 inch arms and ran a 5.15 in the forty. Managed 30 reps on the bench press, a 30.5 inch vertical and a 9’4″ in the broad jump (top five among offensive linemen). Also had an excellent three cone (7.48) and short shuttle (4.63). Would start at left guard you’d imagine. Expected to go in the top-50.

Eric Rowe (CB, Utah)
How long are his arms and how much does it matter? At the Senior Bowl he was measured with 32.5 inch arms. At the combine? 31.5 inches. Again, the time Seattle drafts a corner with sub-32 inch arms will be the first. Wingspan also matters — Rowe isn’t short or small (6-0, 205lbs). Another prospect who could play corner or safety. Ran a 4.45, jumped 39.5 inches in the vertical and 10’5″ in the broad. Originally considered a round 4-5 type prospect, Rowe’s impressive combine could lead to a rise.

Davis Tull (LB, Tenn-Chatt)
It’s a bad class of linebackers but this guy is athletic enough to warrant later round or UDFA consideration. He’s 6-2 and 246lbs, jumped a 42.5 inch vertical and posted an 11 in the broad. He played defensive end in college but should convert to the SAM linebacker spot at the next level. Didn’t run the forty at the combine due to injury.

Jake Fisher (T, Oregon)
Converted tight end who lit up the combine last Friday. 6-6 and 306lbs but ran a 5.01, recorded a 32.5 inch vertical, posted incredible three-cone (7.25) and short shuttle (4.33) times. Had a 1.75 ten yard split. Arm length a shade under 34 inches. Tape isn’t as good as Joel Bitonio’s but they’re similar athletes. Could play guard or tackle. Following his workout in Indianapolis it’s probably #31 or bust if you want Fisher.

Buck Allen (RB, USC)
Cut-and-run specialist who had the best ten yard split among running backs at the combine (1.58). Ran a 4.53 at 6-0 221lbs. Doesn’t come close to the raw athleticism Christine Michael showed in 2013 but he’s a more technically sound runner. Only managed 11 reps on the bench press. Had a 10’1″ in the broad jump (top-five for running backs).

Kenny Bell (WR, Nebraska)
Ran faster than people expected (4.42) and also had a 41.5 inch vertical and a 10’9″ in the broad jump. Probably the best run blocking receiver in the draft. That won’t be reason enough to draft him, but the physical upside could make the entire package intriguing as a day three project. He’s 6-1 and 197lbs. He only had seven reps on the bench press with 31 5/8 inch arms.

Players not included because they’re unlikely to be available to Seattle: Eli Harold (DE, Virginia), Byron Jones (CB, Connecticut), Jalen Collins (CB, LSU), Jaelen Strong (WR, Arizona State), Ereck Flowers (T, Miami).

Getting a player like Cameron Erving at #31 (as projected yesterday) is all well and good, but the Seahawks might prefer to get as many players on a list similar to the one above versus just drafting one big name at #31. Especially if they are able to make a splash in free agency — beginning March 10th.