One NFL personnel exec told me he could envision a team with franchise-type QB pursuing @TheJimmyGraham. Seahawks have need, fit criteria. — Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) March 3, 2014
Jimmy Graham to SEA or NE? Chris Mortensen’s reported they may be interested and it’s clear why: SEA T-27th, NE T-29th in rec by TE in ’13.
Three Tweets from three different ESPN accounts — all linking Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks.
This trade almost certainly won’t happen.
The final tweet in that trilogy above is the main reason why.
ESPN Stats point out Seattle was tied 28th for tight end production in 2013.
That’s not because they have an incompetent starter who couldn’t catch a gently thrown beach-ball.
It’s because they simply don’t throw to the tight ends that often — by design.
The Seahawks are the the most run-centric team in the NFL. Whether it’s Marshawn Lynch grinding up the middle or Russell Wilson scrambling for a few yards, they’ll continue to run the ball with authority.
The tight end in Seattle’s system first and foremost has to be a good blocker. It’s why Zach Miller’s cap hit was $11m last year — higher than anyone else on the roster.
They really value what he brings to the team as a blocker first, catcher second.
Replacing Miller with a guy who can’t block to save his life just isn’t going to happen.
That’s not to say the Seahawks wouldn’t value a player with Graham’s insane size and athletic ability.
But the price to get him out of New Orleans will be two first round picks and a giant contract on top of that.
That isn’t happening.
He also turns 28 in November. So by the time you’re ready to start spending first round picks again, he’ll be into his 30’s.
This isn’t like the Harvin trade. That only took a single first round pick plus change. The 2013 draft didn’t have anywhere near the depth and quality of the upcoming class, so it looked like a no-brainer to the Seahawks front office.
Pete Carroll had previous with Harvin, so did Darrell Bevell. He was approaching his 25th birthday at the time, not his 28th.
Despite my original scepticism, the deal for Harvin made absolute sense.
The Graham suggestion makes very little sense.
How could you look some of your players in the eye after giving up a kings ransom for this tight end?
Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Bruce Irvin — the whole linebacker crew.
These are the guys who shut him down in the playoffs — out-fighting him on every target and making him look pretty ordinary in the process.
All after he initiated a pre-game scuffle with several Seahawks in a bizarre attempt to make some kind of statement.
Talk is cheap, as they say. Graham ended the game with one catch for eight yards.
You’re going to trade two first rounders and dish out an outstandingly massive contract before rewarding the guys (Thomas and Sherman) who helped shut him down in the post season on the way to a Super Bowl victory?
No way.
It’s encouraging that the cap will probably hit $150m by 2016. That’ll certainly help the Seahawks keep hold of Thomas, Sherman and Russell Wilson for the long haul, without having to decimate the rest of their roster (Bobby Wagner and others will also need to be re-signed).
But having already splashed out on Harvin a year ago, they can ill-afford to keep adding sizeable contracts.
They might not a get a player of Graham’s calibre with the #32 pick in May, but they’ll hopefully get a starter who earns no more than $2.1m during the four years of his rookie contract.
Call me a cynic, but this looks like a classic back-scratching job between journalists and agents a week before free agency.
One which I would totally understand, by the way.
But it’s up to us to see through it.
Right now Graham’s a franchise tag player and New Orleans don’t have any major incentive to budge form that position.
Giving the impression someone might swoop in with an offer-sheet perhaps encourages the two parties to talk, with Graham’s representatives pushing for a long term deal.
The battle lines are being drawn too. The Saints have tagged Graham as a tight end. He feels he should be tagged as a receiver. The difference is worth over $5m.
Any edge you can find, you’ll take.
This looks to me like the Graham camp playing their first card.
Seattle (the most attractive destination in the NFL right now it seems) and two other respected franchises (Green Bay and New England) — all with a perceived need at the position — are catalysts to try and get talks moving.
For one first round pick, I could see those teams being interested.
But the Saints won’t accept that.
And there’s no way those teams are coughing up two first rounders. Not with this draft class.
Graham to the Seahawks isn’t happening.
Franchise/transition tag news
Brian Orakpo is officially off the market, after he was one of four players to receive the franchise tag before today’s deadline.
With Greg Hardy one of the others to be tagged, this is good news for Michael Johnson.
For the teams hoping to adding a top tier free agent at defensive end, he’s now the best option alongside Jared Allen.
Don’t expect a dead market for pass rushers this year. Outside of the obvious top prospects, this isn’t a great class for edge rushers in the draft.
A lot of people expect Atlanta to trade up for Jadeveon Clowney. I think there’s an argument to be made that says they’re more likely to stay put at #6, use free agency to get a pass rusher and use the draft to get a much needed left tackle.
The other two players to be given the franchise tag were Nick Foles (K, New York Jets) and obviously Jimmy Graham.
Two players were given the transition tag — Alex Mack (C, Cleveland Browns) and Jason Worilds (OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers).
The Seahawks didn’t make any transactions today, which was to be expected.
They have until March 11th to prevent Michael Bennett, Golden Tate and co. hitting the open market.
He had the Seahawks taking a tight end in round one…
32. SEATTLE: Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech — The Seahawks have a reliable pass-catching tight end in Zach Miller, but he has gotten too expensive. They could groom Amaro to replace him.
He’d be a detachment from previous #1 picks by this front office — emphasising unique physical qualities whether it’s size, speed or length.
Amaro ran a 4.74 at 6-5 and 265lbs. He had the smallest hands (9 inches) among the tight ends at the combine.
He did manage a 33 inch vertical though, which topped Eric Ebron (32 inches). He also has 34 inch arms, meaning quite a sizeable catching radius.
Yet ultimately we’re talking about a player who is more about production than insane physical potential.
He had a historic 2013 season — setting an FBS record with 1352 yards.
But he also featured in a well-oiled ‘air raid’ offense at Texas Tech.
He’s not especially ‘Seahawky’ if you look at his combine performance — but neither is Zach Miller if you look at his measurements.
Seattle’s current starting tight end is not a dynamic athlete.
And yet he took up more cap room than anyone else on the roster last year ($11m).
Clearly they value this type of player, and that’s why they made a big push to sign him as a free agent three years ago.
They probably didn’t run through his combine numbers at the time. He had experience with offensive line coach Tom Cable. They knew he’d fit into their scheme and what they wanted to do on offense.
They weren’t gambling on a rookie, they were buying a proven commodity.
But when they do eventually replace Miller, whether it’s this year, next year or whenever — they might look to bring in a player with similar measurables, with the idea of moulding him into a like-for-like replacement.
And Amaro’s numbers actually compare quite favourably.
He’s 10lbs heavier, but ran a faster forty yard dash by 0.13 seconds. Miller had another go at the forty at his pro-day and managed a 4.74 — identical to Amaro’s.
The vertical numbers are similar (33 vs 34 inches) but Amaro is taller and bigger. He also ran a faster short shuttle (4.30 vs 4.42) but Miller had the better three cone (7.42 vs 7.01).
Plus both players came out of the combine having seen their stock take a bit of a hit.
Seven years ago Miller was competing with Greg Olsen to be the top tight end. His disappointing run and the fact he didn’t do the bench press due to injury drew some criticism. Olsen performed well enough to go in round one to the Bears at #31.
Miller was the #38 overall pick.
Amaro didn’t run quite as fast as people were hoping last week and didn’t look great during catching drills. He went into the combine as a prospective first round pick, but now he might slip into the second frame.
Both players were also seen as prototypical pass catchers.
While Miller’s blocking technique was praised at Arizona State, it was still considered an area for improvement.
Amaro shows plenty of willing as a blocker, but similarly will have to work for it to become a major plus point. He had 28 reps on the bench press, so he has a lot of upper body power.
They both look similar on the field in terms of frame — with comparable body types.
I’m not at all convinced Miller will be released this off-season, although I think there’s at least some chance his cap hit is reduced for 2014 (possibly by adding an extra year to his contract).
But Farmer’s projection isn’t totally out of left field either. If the Seahawks ultimately see Miller as too expensive — Amaro could be a potential replacement in terms of the physical comparison.
I just don’t think the Seahawks will want to make such a sideways (or backwards) step with their first pick. It might save some money, but if you go tight end in round one — you’re not really improving the team.
You’re simply replacing one of your better players with a cheaper alternative.
That seems so anti-‘Win Forever’.
Adding to the offensive line, defensive line or at receiver still seems much more likely.
Cincy's Michael Johnson is an enticing option in free agency
Could it happen again?
Remember a year ago. We all expected a relatively quiet free agency.
Then BANG.
Percy Harvin trade. Cliff Avril signs. Michael Bennett signs.
In the space of a few days Seattle became the talk of the NFL.
And nobody expected it.
We’re unlikely to see anything quite as headline grabbing as that when the market re-opens on March 11th.
But there’s no reason why the Seahawks can’t at least be in the discussion to make a couple of very interesting moves.
With the cap growing by $10m this year, there’s unexpected relief for a Seattle team determined to keep their own free agents.
Michael Bennett is the priority, while extending Earl Thomas’ contract is a must this off-season.
But even if they’re able to achieve both of those goals, there’s no reason why they can’t be in the hunt for at least one prize addition.
Here’s why:
— $10m increase in the cap
— Nearly $3m rolled over from 2013
— Releasing Sidney Rice and Red Bryant saved $12.8m
— The possibility of cutting Chris Clemons and/or Zach Miller could free up as much as a further $12.5m
The Seahawks will have to pay $6.3m in dead money for 2014, plus they were already over the original projected cap before the rise.
You’re looking at the possibility of an estimated $17.8m (number courtesy of Spotrac) to spend without even touching the contracts of Clemons or Miller.
I think it’s unlikely Miller is cut — and Clemons remains safe for now. But restructuring both contracts is very possible.
Miller is a valuable player who does an excellent job for the Seahawks. But at the end of the day, he’s still a predominantly blocking tight end set to earn $7m. That’s off the back of an $11m season in 2013.
The franchise tag number for a tight end is set at $7.035m this year. Miller is earning a flat $7m, having made $4m MORE than the current tag total last season.
That’s an incredible level of investment.
It wouldn’t be unfair of the Seahawks to expect Miller to take a reduced salary, even if they were the ones who asked him to sign the deal back in 2011.
He isn’t going to get close to $7m on the open market. There’s surely a negotiation to be had between the two parties (probably ongoing). Perhaps they extend the length of the deal and spread the cap hit across three seasons?
Whether the contract is cut or restructured, the Seahawks stand to make a saving.
They’ll save $7.5m by cutting the 32-year-old Clemons, who’s owed $9.6m this year. It’s not unrealistic to think they could give all of that money, plus a little extra, to a younger pass rusher in free agency.
I also wouldn’t rule out the retention of a man who during the post season appeared somewhat back to his pre-injury best.
For the sake of this piece, let’s say Clemons is cut and Miller extends his contract by an extra season — spreading the $13m he’s owed into three chunks of $4.3m.
That would give you $28m to spend in free agency.
At this point it’s worth noting the cap is expected to rise above $150m by 2016.
So while some of that $28m could and should be used to keep Earl Thomas for the long haul — there’s no reason why there won’t be enough money in the future to also extend Richard Sherman ad Russell Wilson without worrying about rolling over a substantial sum of that free space.
Some of the money will go towards re-signing players.
Bennett is the prize asset this off-season and a must-keep. He can, quite rightly, point to the +$9m salaries of Clemons and Avril and argue he deserves the same value. The Seahawks can also argue those two players were effectively signed to two and three year contracts — while Bennett will likely be searching for at least four.
You can see why there might be some conflict, and I’m sure Seattle will be willing to walk away if needs be — however much they wish to keep him.
And yet I suspect there’s a middle ground that can be achieved, possibly for an average salary of around $8.5m.
If such a deal is signed, an estimated $28m in cap room becomes $19.5m.
Golden Tate is the next man up. He’s seen Riley Cooper sign a deal worth $22.5m. He’ll earn between $4.8-5.5m over the course of the deal after this year. His cap hit in 2014 is just $1.8m.
Tate should expect a better contract. Cooper’s production, albeit similar to Tate’s, really came in two prolific games last season. He’s also something of a one-season wonder.
Even so, he shouldn’t be expecting mega-bucks in comparison. A contract that pays him around $28m would appear fair. You can limit the year one hit and average it out between $5-7m per year beyond 2014.
Like Bennett, Tate may wish to test the market. But again there’s probably a middle ground that can be achieved before March 11th.
For the basis of this article let’s take $5m off the books — even if the 2014 cap hit for Tate would likely be lower.
That leaves £14.5m to spend.
Re-signing Thomas doesn’t have to come with a major cap hike in 2014. His salary could remain at the $5.4m he’s already due via his rookie contract.
If they do end up with $14.5m to spend — why wouldn’t you at least consider a splash in free agency?
The Seahawks have never been more popular within the NFL world. All we’ve heard since the Super Bowl is how much players want to play for Pete Carroll and this franchise.
And while I appreciate they also enjoy being paid even more than playing for a particular team, it’s not like the Seahawks won’t have money to spend.
He’ll turn 28 at the end of July so theoretically he’s hitting his prime. He had 10 sacks in 15 games last season, with 39.5 in total during his five years in Washington. He’s a three time Pro-Bowler.
There’s no doubting he’s a quality pass rusher and he rebounded statistically after missing most of the 2012 season with a torn pectoral muscle.
Why it wouldn’t happen
Orakpo would command interest from any team in the league with money to burn. His price should sky rocket quickly, and the Seahawks would need to be willing to spend big. It could cost them as much as $10-12m a year.
You’re not going to get Orakpo on a shorter term 1-3 year contract. So would you really want to commit major money and years to a player who turns 30 before the 2016 season?
Michael Johnson (DE, Bengals)
His sack totals were down in 2013 (3.5 in total) — but don’t let that fool you. Johnson had a terrific year, displaying the usual fire and brimstone we’ve come to expect from him.
He slipped in the draft five years ago due to question marks about his effort. Those questions have since been answered. Johnson has been one of the tone-setters on Cincy’s highly rated defense. He’s also a fantastic run defender, listed at 6-7 and 270lbs.
The Bengals used the franchise tag to keep him last season, after an 11.5 sack campaign in 2012.
Why it wouldn’t happen
Again, the competition for his signature could be fierce. It wouldn’t be a total shock if someone like the Atlanta Falcons made a big push, freeing up the #6 pick in the draft to spend on a left tackle.
Mike Zimmer — now in Minnesota — could go back for his former project. Especially if Jared Allen walks.
Johnson’s run defense would likely appeal to the Seahawks after releasing Red Bryant. It could allow them to start Bennett and Johnson at end in four man fronts on early downs.
Jared Allen (DE, Vikings)
I don’t buy all this talk of a decline with Allen. If there’s one player in the league who’s going to keep going for a few more years yet — it’s this guy.
He’ll turn 32 in April, so any contract is likely to be short term. It’s also unlikely to be financially motivated, considering he earned every penny of a $73m contract in Minnesota.
This is exactly the kind of move I could envisage the Seahawks making. Allen plays a ton of snaps and always brings an intensity to the field. He’s a terrific character, familiar with some of the people in Seattle’s locker room (Darrell Bevell, Percy Harvin).
He had 11.5 sacks in 2013 on a bad Vikings outfit. He had 12 sacks the year before, and 22 sacks in 2011. Even at 32, imagine what he could do playing opposite Bennett and Avril.
Why it wouldn’t happen
The Seahawks are mostly a youth movement. They want to have a young roster. Just because I think Allen has at least another couple of years to go, doesn’t mean Seattle’s front office feels the same way.
I just wonder if the Vikings might make a push to keep him. They’ve appointed a defensive minded coach in Mike Zimmer and he’ll be keen to keep his best pass rusher. They have enough holes to fill without adding another. They’re projected to have $37m in cap room so could re-sign Allen and go after Michael Johnson.
Whether he has any interest in staying remains to be seen. They’re likely to be a team going through a minor rebuild. His window of opportunity is dwindling if he wants to win a Championship. Signing a two-year deal in Seattle or with another contender gives him a better shot at that elusive ring.
Arthur Jones (DE, Baltimore)
Excellent run-stuffing defensive lineman who played end in Baltimore but could play in multiple spots for the Seahawks. He’s also capable of making plays in the passing game, recording 8.5 sacks in the last two seasons.
Seattle’s run defense took a hit with Red Bryant’s departure and even if they don’t bring in another 320lbs monster, they’re likely to address the situation one way or another. Jones is 6-3 and 315lbs and could play the five technique in Seattle.
He’s the type of player this team likes — big, with length. He has 35 and 1/4 inch arms. He wouldn’t just make up for the loss of Bryant, he could be even more disruptive.
Why it wouldn’t happen
It’s hard to judge Jones’ true worth. On the one hand, he could end up being an absolute bargain. If his market is relatively cold to begin with, it works to the advantage of a team like Seattle if they have interest.
On the other hand, there’s just as much chance he gets overpaid. Bryant received a big old contract in 2011 — and teams might be wiling to pay Jones $7-8m a year to do a similar job.
In that scenario, the Seahawks might be better off walking away.
Lamarr Houston (DE, Oakland)
I’ve always liked Houston, right back to his Texas days. He was a deserved early second round pick in 2010 and he hasn’t disappointed with the Raiders.
He notched 10 sacks in the last two seasons playing for a miserable team. He’s a ball of energy with decent size (6-3, 300lbs). He’s not as long as Seattle likes (33 inch arms), but he is a solid pass rusher.
If another former Raider in Desmond Bryant is worth a $34m contract, Houston’s going to get paid this off-season.
Why it wouldn’t happen
Oakland are slated to have more cap room than any other team in the league (close to $70m). Even a franchise known for titanic gaffe’s over the years is unlikely to let this one slip through the net.
Houston doesn’t have to accept the contract, of course, but the Raiders need to make sure they don’t lose any existing talent. He’s one of their best players and they can’t afford to let him walk.
The Seahawks found effective interior players in Clinton McDonald and Tony McDaniel without spending big money. Houston projects as a three technique in Seattle, and I’m not convinced that’s an area they’ll want to spend big.
B.J. Raji (DE, Green Bay)
Originally drafted as a nose tackle, Raji eventually moved to end in Green Bay. He’s had a couple of slow years, failing to pick up a single sack since 2011. He had 9.5 between 2010-11.
At one point he threatened to become one of the top big men in the league, yet for whatever reason he’s failed to deliver on that promise. The Packers aren’t huge spenders unless you’re Aaron Rodgers and they’ve let other free agents walk in the past.
Raji can expect a decent pay day on name-reputation alone, probably more than the Packers are willing to cough up.
Why it wouldn’t happen
He’ll probably get overpaid. Teams trying to establish a 3-4 defense will consider moving him back to the nose. He’s still a genuinely rare player with enormous size (337lbs) and quick feet.
I don’t anticipate the Seahawks paying big for a player with this size. Splashing out on an edge rusher just seems more likely.
Henry Melton (DT, Chicago)
Before a torn ACL cut short his 2013 season, Melton had established himself as one of the top interior pass rushers in the league.
A former running back at Texas, the 27-year-old excelled after switching to defense. He recorded 13 sacks between 2011-12, but only played in three games last season.
Without Melton the Bears defense collapsed. It wasn’t all down to his absence of course — the secondary was poor and Julius Peppers is starting to decline. It had a major impact though — and there’s a reason Chicago tagged him a year ago.
Why it wouldn’t happen
First of all, you need to do a medical check. Is he going to be an injury risk in the future?
Secondly, will the injury have any negative impact on his speed and is he expecting a contract to go with his 2013 status? He expressed interest in staying with the Bears last year, and it’d make some sense if they were to re-sign him. They know the extent of the injury, they also don’t need to do anything to weaken that defense further.
For me this signing would be more likely if Bennett departed Seattle. Melton might be able to play a similar role as a hybrid DE/DT.
What? You only picked defensive linemen!
It’s pretty simple really.
I hate the options on offense.
I’ve no interest in Hakeem Nicks or any of the receivers not named Golden Tate. The draft is too good at wide-out to even warrant considering a low-ball offer to any of these guys.
I’m talking about a big splash here. Would you want to pay any of these receivers £8m in free agency?
Not me.
Plus the defensive options will be limited at #32 in the draft, so it just makes sense to invest any free money on the D-line. It allows you to go after the O-line and receiver in the draft.
Out of all the names listed, I think the most likely player they’re willing to spend $7-8m on will be Michael Johnson.
I think the player they’re most likely to add is Jared Allen. But then I can also see them deciding just to keep Clemons instead.
Alternatively, they could save the money and reward Richard Sherman with a nice new contract this year. It’s worth considering.
Yet there’s something tantalising about the prospect of this Seahawks roster — and in particular the defense — being even better next year.
Think about what that might look like, and tell me you wouldn’t be keeping your options open in free agency…
The news was already out there, the moves both inevitable. Sidney Rice and Red Bryant weren’t going to go any further with the Seahawks.
And yet there’s still a sense of disappointment today.
Rice was a big free agent addition in 2011 — at a time when Seattle had very little quality on the roster and needed an instant injection of talent.
When he was snatched away from Minnesota, he was seen as a potential #1 receiver. Unfortunately the injuries that plagued his career with the Vikings had a similar impact in Seattle.
His signature, however, still provided plenty of momentum at a time when it was absolutely needed.
Yet this is where the Seahawks are at right now. This is no longer a rebuild — it’s a maintenance job. Keep the key players you can’t live without. Replace the ones you can.
We talked about it throughout the 2013 season, and there were a few candidates who could’ve been cut.
Brandon Mebane’s contract is just as cut-able as Bryant’s — yet he played as well as any one-technique in the league through the second half of the season and the playoffs. It became no contest.
Rice’s ACL injury made his departure a formality. They paid millions to two injured receivers in 2013, while a bunch of UDFA’s and cheap replacements won a title. Percy Harvin isn’t going anywhere, but Rice’s deal couldn’t be retained.
It’s also possible that neither player will need to be replaced — another key reason why they’ve gone and the likes of Chris Clemons and Zach Miller remain.
Most people expect Seattle to add a receiver with one of their first two picks in the draft. Personally, I think it’s a nailed on certainty.
But even if it doesn’t happen — they’ll have the same crew that were good enough to win a Super Bowl if they re-sign Golden Tate.
In fact the prospect of having Harvin for more than a couple of games stands to add a significant boost to the position.
They can live without Rice if they retain Tate.
Bryant’s size will be a loss to the defense, but this is a unit that has constantly found ways to adapt and evolve. They intend to keep Michael Bennett — and there’s no reason why he can’t feature more prominently at end.
Today’s news could open the door for Bennett, Clemons and Cliff Avril to take more snaps together. This trio wreaked havoc together in the post season.
If they find a way to keep Tony McDaniel — or replace him with a similar sized player — there’s no reason why they can’t thrive without having a 320lbs monster playing early downs.
There’s also a chance Greg Scruggs and Jesse Williams come into the fold — and the later rounds of the draft could offer up a Justin Ellis, DeAndre Coleman or Da’Quan Jones.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Rice or Bryant won’t be replaced. As noted, it’s a great draft for receivers. I also projected 303lbs Stephon Tuitt to the Seahawks in my last mock draft.
But if they’d released Zach Miller instead, they’d have to replace him as a priority. A capable run blocking tight end is vital to this offense. The options in free agent are pitiful, and do you really want to be handcuffed into looking at a Troy Niklas in round one?
You can’t go into the season with just Avril and Mayowa as your edge rushers. And it’s a rotten draft for LEO’s.
Both players could be cut in the future — or they could be asked to restructure their deals.
But they’re very much safe for now.
If either was going to be cut before free agency, it would’ve happened today — at the same time as Bryant and Rice.
In the case of Clemons, one thing could change that of course — the strong options available in free agency.
What if the market is cold just as it was a year ago?
What if there’s an opportunity to talk to a Michael Johnson, Brian Orakpo or Jared Allen?
If there’s a short term deal to be done, just as we saw with Avril and Bennett, Clemons could become expendable — saving an extra $7.5m in cap space.
Things are starting to get interesting — and with other deals now being completed around the league, prices are being set. It wouldn’t be a total shock if we hear something on Tate or Bennett over the weekend.
So where are we at in terms of the cap?
Seahawks save $16M in cash, $12.8M in cap space by releasing Rice & Bryant.
It was revealed today that the budget is set at $133m for 2014. The Seahawks are able to roll over just under $3m from last season, taking the grand total up to about $136m they’ll have available.
With the cap increasing by $10m, the $3m rollover and the $12.8m saving today — there’s plenty of room for the Seahawks to play with here.
With a further increase of around $10m expected in 2015 (plus another $10m in 2016) — suddenly some of the long term problems are easing.
Really, they should have no problem extending the contracts of Thomas, Sherman and Russell Wilson. The annual cap rises plus the departure of other top earners will provide copious amounts of room to get those deals done.
Bennett will be pricey, as will Tate to a certain extent. Retaining the other free agents will really be down to market value and testing the water.
Yet theoretically you could pay Bennett $8m per year and Tate $5.5m per year and still have around $10m to play with.
If you wanted to go after Johnson — who’s almost certain to leave the Bengals — you make an offer knowing you can cut Clemons and save another $7.5m immediately.
So with Bennett and Tate in the bag, you’d be going into the market with a cool $17-18m to play with.
More than enough to at least make a few enquiries and also look into re-signing Steven Hauschka, Breno Giacomini, Tony McDaniel and Clinton McDonald.
Re-signing Earl Thomas this off-season shouldn’t have any impact here. His cap hit is already $5.5m in 2014. You could sign him to an extension that pays close to $10m per year on average, and you could still keep that cap number at around $6-8m in 2014.
The extended cap rise really is a gift from the football gods as Seattle tries to keep a Championship team together.
But the most exciting part is — they could get even better.
And if there’s any further incentive to get busy in the market — remember this. Seattle is the most fashionable place to play in the NFL right now. A lot of free agents are going to want to come here.
Come and be part of the dynasty. Come and play for the team that lets you be yourself.
Come and play for the team that won the Super Bowl and intends to win more.
If you can improve an already productive defensive line going into the draft — it frees you up to target receiver and offensive line with the first two picks.
The only stumbling block could be the amount of free cash elsewhere. Jacksonville has around $60m in cap space. Oakland is in a similar position. With teams like that needing to force major rebuilds, they’ll likely get the cheque book out.
But again — players want to play in Seattle. That’s the joker in the pack.
I’m not sure they feel the same way about playing for the Raiders and Jags. And it’ll test their desire to really overpay in order to land key free agents.
Draft notes
— Stephon Tuitt ran a forty yard dash at a specially arranged pro day today. Nobody seems to be reporting anything about this, but the player himself says he ran a 4.8. That’s an impressive time if it can be confirmed.
— Austin Seferian-Jenkins underwent foot surgery today, according to this report. He’s expected to miss around eight weeks, which sounds generous. With the draft starting later this year (early May), he might be able to squeeze in a pro-day.
— The weirdest story of the day involved the Miami Dolphins, who appear to be shopping Dion Jordan. It’s only a year since they traded up to take him with the #3 overall pick. It’ll be interesting to see if they get any takers. After such an underwhelming rookie season and persistent shoulder problems, I’m not sure I’d be racing to make a deal.
I’d not watched any Nevada games live during the 2013 season and my access to the Senior Bowl was somewhere between non existent and limited this year.
After the combine, I felt obliged to make Joel Bitonio one of the first players I studied.
He’d gained a little momentum in Mobile as the only tackle who had success against Dee Ford. He followed it up by making a major statement at the combine on Saturday.
Here’s what he achieved:
— An official 4.97 forty yard dash, trailing only Taylor Lewan (4.87), Greg Robinson (4.92) and Trai Turner (4.93).
— The second best vertical jump (32 inches) by an offensive lineman. That topped Jake Matthews (30), Lewan (30) and Robinson (28.5).
— A 9.6 broad jump — again ranking second. Only Lewan beat him with a 9.9. Robinson managed a 9.5.
— The third highest three cone drill at 7.37 seconds. Gabe Ikard (7.30) and Matthews (7.34) were the only two to beat him. Lewan had a 7.39 and Robinson a 7.80.
— The third highest short shuttle at 4.44 seconds. Ikard had a 4.37 while Charles Leno Jr had a 4.40. Matthews had the 7th best shuttle and Lewan the 9th. Robinson was way down at #32.
The only area he didn’t grade in the top five was the bench press — managing 22 reps. In comparison Robinson had 32, Lewan 29 and Matthews 24. So he was still in touching distance.
Last years #1 pick Eric Fisher had 27 reps on the bench. Luke Joeckel also managed 27, while Lane Johnson had 28. Nate Solder had 21 reps in 2011
Bitonio’s 22 reps is hardly a cause for criticism.
He measured at 6-4 and 302lbs with 33 and 7/8 inch arms. He’s not freakishly long like Robinson or Morgan Moses, but his arm length compares favourably to Lewan (33 and 7/8’s) and Matthews (33 and 3/8’s).
Essentially, he stands up to all of the top offensive tackles in this class on a physical level. He doesn’t just match up in a couple of categories, we’re talking every single one.
How can we ignore that?
Think of all the praise heaped on Robinson and Lewan for their performance at the combine. Bitonio’s right up there with them.
Of course, it doesn’t mean he’ll necessarily play as well those guys — even if he’s a carbon copy athlete.
So I put on the tape.
Nevada played Florida State and UCLA in 2013 — perfect opponents for a critique.
The BCS Champs with a collection of top recruits on the defensive line.
The Bruins — one of the PAC-12’s best and with a prospective first round pass rusher in Anthony Barr.
How did he do? Judge for yourself:
I kept waiting for the moment where he’d be exposed. The play that showed him up as just a physical specimen without the skills to stand up to 2014’s top tackles.
That moment never arrived.
At one point in the UCLA video, he got beat by Barr and basically tried to tackle him to the ground in desperation. A couple of plays later (around the 5:10 mark in the video above) he drives him deep into the end zone from the 5-yard line. The rest of the offensive line was stuffed at the LOS.
Talk about a comeback.
Here’s what I think he showed on tape…
— Finishes blocks with attitude. Never oversteps the mark but makes his presence felt when going 1v1. Plays through the whistle. Shows plenty of tenacity.
— An ability to mirror and ride off speed rushers. Knows how to use a DE’s speed to his advantage, and will let them run themselves out of the play.
— When he gets his hands on a pass rusher, he’s able to contain and not give up too much ground. Maintains the pocket even when he loses a couple of steps.
— Takes any opportunity to advance to the second level. At times he might be a little too quick to progress and could play with more control, but it’s difficult not to respect any offensive lineman with this level of determination to get to the next level.
— Impressive lateral quickness. Bodes well if he ends up in a ZBS.
— Technique has room for improvement. Looks a bit grabby. Russell Okung had the same issues. He’ll be even better when he gets his hands straight on and into the right areas. Not the lankiest tackle, so he can make leverage work to his advantage with better hand placement.
— Good leg drive. Can push the pile in short yardage situations and also open up gaps for longer runs.
There’s a ton to work with here.
A lot of the talk is he could convert to guard at the next level. I’d love to see him get a shot at tackle, left or right.
To quote Mike Mayock from the combine, “I’d make him prove he couldn’t play on the left side first”.
I ran a Google search to find out more about his character and kept reading the same things. He’s a leader. Outstanding character and work ethic. Responsible individual.
I searched Youtube for an interview. Notice the Russell Wilson style quote early on about “improving every day”…
I’m not sure what else we need to see here to take this guy very seriously.
“I’ve learned two things about Bitonio since Saturday; 1) the feeling is he’s cemented himself as a second round pick and 2) he’s going to be drafted at offensive guard and not a tackle. The latter surprised me a bit. Though I initially graded Bitonio as a guard I thought his performance at the Senior Bowl, primarily the fact he was the only one able to stop Dee Ford, would’ve given him more consideration at left tackle.”
So according to Pauline, he’s likely a second round pick at worst.
I’m starting to wonder if he could be an option for the Seahawks at #32…
— Outstanding physical talent as we discussed earlier in the piece. He has as much athletic upside as any tackle in this class, with the possible exception of Greg Robinson.
— He has the required athleticism to work in the ZBS. His desire to reach the second level and good lateral mobility are a big positive here.
— Tom Cable, like most offensive line coaches, loves a player who finishes and plays with attitude. He also likes players that perhaps aren’t quite the finished article. In the past that’s meant drafting for potential later in the draft or during UDFA. This year, the latest project might be a first or second round pick.
— Bitonio’s versatility should also be taken seriously. Michael Bowie and Alvin Bailey have both been praised for their ability to play guard and tackle. While other teams want to define roles and limit versatility on the OL — rotation and being able to play multiple spots appears to be a positive thing when it comes to the Seahawks.
If Pauline’s right and he’s receiving a firm grade in the second round, is it such a stretch to think Seattle would be prepared to take him with the last pick in round one?
It’s possible. Let’s not get too carried away here, but nobody can argue he doesn’t tick a lot of boxes. It’s certainly worth further tape study over the next few weeks. It’s a legit talking point.
There are enough teams in this draft that need a tackle or guard and Bitonio could get caught up in the first round rush. It’s not just within the top ten this year, Miami (#19), Arizona (#20) and Carolina (#28) are all expected to target the offensive line.
Who knows — he might not be there for the Seahawks.
But if they are open to going OL early, I think he could be a serious candidate for that first pick.
Examples of ‘Seahawky’ prospects
(including players who only have a slim shot of lasting into the 20-32 range)
Odell Beckham Jr (WR, LSU)
Fiercely competitive, X-factor playmaker as a return man and receiver. High points the football better than anyone in this class. Impeccable character. Terrific athlete with strong bloodlines. Big hands.
Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh)
Relentless pass rusher who consistently has an impact. Plays with an edge. Leads by example and the heartbeat of everything Pittsburgh did in 2013. Blew up the combine with his athleticism.
Joel Bitonio (T, Nevada)
Unbelievable physical skills — amazing athlete who compares to the top offensive tackles in this class. Gritty offensive lineman you just know Tom Cable will appreciate. Versatile.
Stephon Tuitt (DE, Notre Dame)
Massive defensive lineman. Freakish size but when healthy still moves well. Can line up inside or out. Capable of commanding blockers on one side, helping to shut down the run.
Donte Moncrief (WR, Ole Miss)
In terms of SPARQ, you have to respect Moncrief’s numbers. Not everyone’s ideal pick but in a way that alone makes him kind of ‘Seahawky’. Ran a 4.40, had a 39.5 vertical and a 1.50 10 yard split. Managed 11-0 on the broad jump.
Justin Gilbert (CB, Oklahoma State)
Length and ball skils. The end. Seahawks style corner. Only 6-3 Keith McGill had longer arms among the defensive backs. Ran a 4.37 and had a cluster of interceptions in 2013. Also an accomplished return man.
Ra’Shede Hageman (DT, Minnesota)
Long defensive tackle (6-6, 310lbs with +34 inch arms). Former basketball player and it showed with a 35.5 inch vertical. Needs coaching but that wouldn’t bother Seattle.
Ryan Shazier (LB, Ohio State)
It’s just a shame he couldn’t run the forty. He had a 42 vertical and 10.10 broad jump. That’s insane. Also managed a 6.91 three cone and benched 25 reps at 6-1 and 237lbs. It’s not a stretch to predict he has 4.4 speed.
Kelvin Benjamin (WR, Florida State)
Pete Carroll likes size at receiver — and he doesn’t have ‘his guy’ right now. He entertains the concept of winning when you get off the bus. Benjamin doesn’t have Megatron athleticism, but he’s enormous and physical. You can win with a guy like this in the red zone.
Lot’s of changes as you’d expect after the combine. I’ve also added a second round.
Scroll down for some thoughts on the key moves, including Seattle’s pick (which is a bit of a u-turn on my behalf).
FIRST ROUND
#1 Blake Bortles (QB, UCF)
If they believe they can build around Bortles, there’s every chance he’s the guy. He did every drill at the combine and reports say he impressed in interviews.
#2 Greg Robinson (T, Auburn)
Robinson made some money at the combine. Every measurement screamed ‘physical freak’. He’s the most exciting offensive tackle prospect to enter the league in years.
#3 Johnny Manziel (QB, Texas A&M)
When the Jaguars met with Manziel, he needed to show them he was the ultimate competitor. I have little doubt he succeeded in that. He’s just not Bill O’Brien’s guy.
#4 Jadeveon Clowney (DE, South Carolina)
With the top two quarterbacks off the board and this insane talent still hanging around, they make the pick and wait on a signal caller.
#5 Sammy Watkins (WR, Clemson)
The best receiver prospect to enter the league since A.J. Green and Julio Jones. You can build around a talent like this. Get a quarterback later.
#6 Jake Matthews (T, Texas A&M)
If the Falcons don’t move up to get a shot at Clowney, this looks like a great match.
#7 Khalil Mack (DE, Buffalo)
The Buccs need an edge rusher. Mack is versatile and can line up in multiple positions. This is another team that could move up for Clowney.
#8 Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh)
Teddy Bridgewater isn’t a Norv Turner quarterback and Aaron Donald probably reminds Mike Zimmer of a certain Geno Atkins. He deserves to go this high.
#9 Taylor Lewan (T, Michigan)
Some believe he’s a bit of a phony tough guy. Others really like him. It’s would be worth a shot here.
#10 Mike Evans (WR, Texas A&M)
Put him alongside Megatron and let it rip. Isn’t this why the Lions appointed Jim Coldwell? To dominate with a great passing game?
#11 Teddy Bridgewater (QB, Louisville)
Nothing Ken Whisenhunt has said makes you think he trusts Jake Locker. They snap up this opportunity and put their faith in Teddy.
#12 Justin Gilbert (CB, Oklahoma State)
Speed, length and playmaking ability. Exactly what New York lacks at cornerback.
#13 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (S, Alabama)
The Rams need to keep adding talent where they can. A rangy safety at the back-end makes a lot of sense here.
#14 Ra’Shede Hageman (DT, Minnesota)
Chicago’s defense was a shambles at times this year. It starts up front, especially if they lose Henry Melton. Hageman has unreal upside.
#15 Odell Beckham Jr (WR, LSU)
Potential stud. Does everything well. Flawless character. Insane competitor. HUGE hands. Absolutely deserves to go this early.
#16 Kony Ealy (DE, Missouri)
His three cone drill at the combine was among the best in recent history. He can play inside and out. Dallas needs to rebuild its defensive front.
#17 Marqise Lee (WR, USC)
Forget the forty time. He did all the other drills perfectly and he’s a fighter. This is what Baltimore needs more of on offense.
#18 Kelvin Benjamin (WR, Florida State)
Adding a massive target like this with a large catching radius would make life so much easier for Geno Smith.
#19 Zack Martin (G, Notre Dame)
An absolutely superb tackle in college, but expected to move to guard in the NFL. Could play left guard next to prospective free agent signing Brandon Albert at tackle.
#20 Morgan Moses (T, Virginia)
If they miss out on Branden Albert in free agency, they have to consider adding a left tackle here.
#21 Eric Ebron (TE, North Carolina)
Perhaps not quite ‘can’t miss’ enough to go in the top-15. He’d excel in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers.
#22 Anthony Barr (OLB, UCLA)
He’s a work in progress, but Chip Kelly appreciates length and they need another pass rusher.
#23 Calvin Pryor (S, Louisville)
Andy Reid made sure he got a good luck at the top two safety’s, putting his big sandwich down to sit in the stands.
#24 Ryan Shazier (LB, Ohio State)
Shazier’s vertical and broad jump were off the charts. Stunning athlete with insane potential.
#25 Xavier S’ua-Filo (G, UCLA)
Major upside prospect who’s separated himself as the top guard. Has the potential to be one of the best at his position.
#26 Brandin Cooks (WR, Oregon State)
What? No quarterback? The Browns can’t force this. They wait until round two for a signal caller and add a partner for Josh Gordon.
#27 Bradley Roby (CB, Ohio State)
Rob Ryan likes competitive, sparky corners who can blitz. This is a big need for the Saints.
#28 Darqueze Dennard (CB, Michigan State)
Just about sticks in round one. Press corner, matches Carolina’s physical defense. Gets dinged up though.
#29 Brent Urban (DT, Virginia)
Missed the combine but we’re talking about major upside here. He could be J.J. Watt-lite. Belichick loves versatility up front.
#30 Jimmie Ward (S, Northern Illinois)
Aggressive, wiry safety. Would fill a need for the Niners. Didn’t work out at the combine due to injury.
#31 Chris Borland (LB, Wisconsin)
Denver needs a tone setter. A leader. A guy who flies around. This would be a smart move.
#32 Stephon Tuitt (DE, Notre Dame)
Size, length and versatility. Disappointing 2013 season but could play the five technique and the three. Size matters in the NFC West.
SECOND ROUND
#33 Houston Texans — C.J. Mosley (LB, Alabama)
#34 Washington Redskins — Marcus Martin (C, USC)
#35 Cleveland Browns — Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, Eastern Illinois)
#36 Oakland Raiders — Terrence Brooks (S, Florida State)
#37 Atlanta Falcons — Jace Amaro (TE, Texas Tech)
#38 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Troy Niklas (TE, Notre Dame)
#39 Jacksonville Jaguars — Allen Robinson (WR, Penn State)
#40 Minnesota Vikings — Logan Thomas (QB, Virginia Tech)
#41 Buffalo Bills — Demarcus Lawrence (DE, Boise State)
#42 Tennessee Titans — Louis Nix (DT, Notre Dame)
#43 New York Giants — Brandon Coleman (WR, Rutgers)
#44 St. Louis Rams — Keith McGill (CB, Utah)
#45 Detroit Lions — Kyle Fuller (CB, Virginia Tech)
#46 Pittsburgh Steelers — Antonio Robinson (T, Tennessee)
#47 Dallas Cowboys — Caraun Reid (DT, Princeton)
#48 Baltimore Ravens — Joel Bitonio (T, Nevada)
#49 New York Jets — Paul Richardson (WR, Colorado)
#50 Miami Dolphins — Timmy Jernigan (DT, Florida State)
#51 Chicago Bears — Ego Ferguson (DT, LSU)
#52 Arizona Cardinals — Martavis Bryant (WR, Clemson)
#53 Green Bay Packers — Deone Bucannon (S, Washington State)
#54 Philadelphia Eages — Jason Verrett (CB, TCU)
#55 Cincinnati Bengals — Marcus Roberson (CB, Florida)
#56 San Francisco 49ers — Ed Stinson (DE, Alabama)
#57 San Diego Chargers — Jeremiah Attaochu (OLB, Georgia Tech)
#58 New Orleans Saints — Ja’Wuan James (T, Tennessee)
#59 Indianapolis Colts — Jordan Matthews (WR, Vanderbilt)
#60 Carolina Panthers — Davante Adams (WR, Fresno State)
#61 San Francisco 49ers — David Yankey (G, Stanford)
#62 New England Patriots — Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE, Washington)
#63 Denver Broncos — Brandon Thomas (T, Clemson)
#64 Seattle Seahawks — Donte Moncrief (WR, Ole Miss)
Seattle’s priority beyond the first two rounds: OL depth
Notable players not included:
Cyrus Kouandjio (T, Alabama) — failed medical/knee arthritis is a major red flag. Will sink like a stone, sadly.
Dominique Easley (DT, Florida) — two ACL injuries are a red flag. Brilliant player, but he’s unlikely to be drafted early.
Derek Carr (QB, Fresno State) — not as good as advertised. Considering which other QB’s dropped last year, a similar fall wouldn’t be a shock.
A.J. McCarron (QB, Alabama) — has given off a very negative, slightly entitled vibe this off-season.
Further notes on the key moves
Jadeveon Clowney to Cleveland at #4
This isn’t a reaction to the over-the-top negativity involving Clowney over the weekend.
It’s becoming apparent there’s a very real chance Houston will draft a quarterback at #1, and Blake Bortles is emerging as a realistic option.
St. Louis simply can’t afford to pass on Greg Robinson if they keep the #2 pick, so Jacksonville would then be deciding between Clowney and, in this projection, Johnny Manziel.
I went with Manziel.
Ultimately, Gus Bradley wants a fierce competitor at every position. He wants someone who’s going to fight until he bleeds.
I get the impression — and I could be very wrong — that Manziel went into his meetings over the weekend and did a heck of a lot of convincing. And then you go back and watch that Duke tape…
People talk about his off-field lifestyle. In Seattle, they don’t try to stop you being yourself — as long as it doesn’t impact the team. Did Manziel’s bizarre time at Texas A&M ever impact on-field performance? Absolutely not.
If Bradley and the Jags adopt Seattle’s way of thinking, they might be all-in on Manziel. And as talented as Clowney is, nobody could ever accuse him of being “pissed off for greatness”.
No quarterback for the Browns in round one
It’s really down to circumstance. Eventually, someone just has to take Clowney.
In this projection, that team is Cleveland.
So we move on to their second pick. The top three QB’s are gone by #26. And despite all the annual debate about teams pinching the second tier quarterbacks by trading back into round one — it rarely happens. Cincinnati got Andy Dalton in 2011 by sitting tight — despite all the bluster about him being a late first rounder.
Cleveland can get a quarterback in round two if there’s a guy they really like. In this projection there is, and that quarterback walks onto a team with Clowney and Brandin Cooks already added to it.
Seattle takes… a guy you said you weren’t crazy about???
I’m not a huge Stephon Tuitt fan based on his 2013 tape.
But then I looked at the measurements at the combine…
Nearly 35 inch arms. 6-5 and a slimmed down 304lbs. That’s hard to ignore. He’s a freak, even if he was overweight last season.
I don’t think the Seahawks will feel like they need to replace Red Bryant (if he is actually cut) because I think they’ll be prepared to adapt and modify their defense.
But imagine plugging a guy with Tuitt’s size into the five-tech.
He’s not a great pass rusher, but it’d be an upgrade over Big Red. He’s supremely strong (some say ‘country strong’) and managed 31 reps on the bench press despite his long arms.
And hey, you need big boys up front in the NFC West. He kind of fits Seattle’s penchant for unique size and athleticism.
If you’re drafting him to be a great pass rusher in an orthodox four man front, forget about it. If you’re willing to play him all over the line mainly as a run stopper and enforcer — I’m willing to reconsider the idea of taking Tuitt in the late first.
Justin Gilbert had the most impressive display among DB's
First, a reflection on what we saw today involving the defensive backs.
Justin Gilbert (CB, Oklahoma State)
The first thing that stood out with Gilbert is just how much of an athlete he is. He looks in fantastic shape and backed it up with the fastest forty yard dash (4.38). He managed 10.6 on the broad jump and a 35.5 inch vertical. Yet the most impressive aspect was his length. He had the longest arms in the DB group at 33 1/8 inches. When people talk about ‘Seattle style’ corners, they think 6-3. That’s not accurate. It’s about length and ball skills. Byron Maxwell was only 6-0 and 202lbs at the 2011 combine. But he ran a 4.46 and has 33 1/2 inch arms. Gilbert is exactly the same height/weight as Maxwell and pretty much the definition of a Seattle corner in terms of physical make-up. Plus he’s a ball hawk (seven interceptions in 2013). There’s only one concern — how dedicated is he to his craft? He admitted during his press conference that he didn’t know who Aqib Talib was. That’s scary.
Jason Verrett (CB, TCU)
The other thing Seattle likes to see is grit. Verrett lacks size at 5-9 and 189lbs. He doesn’t have great length with 30 5/8 inch arms. Yet he’s a tremendous athlete and he plays with a major chip on his shoulder. He ran the second fastest forty at 4.38, had the fourth best three cone (6.67) managed a superb 39 inch vertical and added a 10.8 in the broad jump. That vertical is important — it shows he can high point against bigger receivers despite a serious height disadvantage. In the drills he stayed low in his back-pedal, had decent snap in his transition and moved very smoothly. You expect that with a small corner, but Verrett ticked every box today. And perhaps more importantly, he looked completely healthy. He might not crack the first round but whoever gets this guy will have a terrific competitor who won’t back down.
Bradley Roby (CB, Ohio State)
This was always going to be a nice stage for Roby. A year ago he was considered a potential top-15 pick. He was convinced by his family to stay at Ohio State for another season — and he had a classic down year as a consequence. On tape he has all the physical skills you want to see. Yet his on-field IQ leaves a lot to be desired. He struggles against the double move, he’ll let receivers get in behind and he struggles to recover. Every now and again he’ll peak into the backfield and get caught. The big question is — can you coach him up? Because there’s a lot to like — quick hips, loose runner, capable blitzer, plays the ball. Today he had a chance to show off how much of an athlete he is — running a 4.39 with a stunning 1.47 ten yard split. His vertical (32 inches) and broad jump (10.4) were pretty good. He doesn’t have great length at 5-11, 194lbs and 31 1/2 inch arms. There’s also a character red flag after he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery last July.
Darqueze Dennard (CB, Michigan State)
Deion Sanders told Dennard in an interview he thought he looked stiff during drills. I didn’t really see too much evidence of that personally — although Sanders’ second point was absolutely true. Dennard is a press-man corner. He likes to get into a receivers pads and he’s strong, so he’ll translate well in any scheme that prioritises physicality. I liked his work out and thought he transitioned well, ran smoothly in the open field and did a good job tracking the ball in the air. But here’s the thing — he’s not a ‘must have’ type of player. He’s 5-11 and 199lbs, but lacks length (30 1/4 inch arms) and top end speed (4.51). You can’t bang the table for those numbers. He also didn’t do the vertical or broad jump due to a minor hamstring problem he picked up during drills. Durability is another concern. Is he a first rounder? Debatable.
Keith McGill (CB, Utah)
When he ran an unofficial 4.47 and 4.44 — you sat up in your chair. The biggest defensive back put up two of the fastest times at 6-3 and 211lbs. His official time was later adjusted to a 4.51 — but that’s still mighty impressive. He reminds me somewhat of another former Utah corner — Sean Smith (now with the Chiefs). Smith was 6-3 and 214lbs at the 2009 combine and ran a 4.50. He went in the late second round. McGill actually had a superior vertical (39 inches vs 34) and broad jump (10.9 vs 9.11). McGill’s vertical was the third best on the day among DB’s, his broad jump ranked second. We’re talking about a big-time athlete here, the type Seattle typically shows interest in. I suspect he might go in the same range as Smith, perhaps even a little earlier. People are going to tout a switch to safety — and he did look a little stiff in some of the drills today (it’s tough to stay low and smooth in the back-pedal at 6-3). But before anyone crowns him the next Kam Chancellor — there is one issue. Chancellor is an enforcer, who plays every snap like the Super Bowl’s on the line. On tape McGill doesn’t play with anywhere near the same physicality. He isn’t ‘Bam Bam Kam’. Not by a long stretch.
Bashaud Breeland (CB, Clemson)
He wasn’t as long as he looks on screen — 5-11, 197lbs with 31 3/4 inch arms. It’s not bad size, but it isn’t great either. I noted in the live blog earlier that he had nice length — so it was pretty surprising to see the official measurements. He ran a pretty pedestrian 4.62, had a vertical of 34.5 inches and a broad jump of 10.3. He came into the combine with a bit of positive momentum, but the showing didn’t back it up. Perhaps the national media are trying too hard to find ‘Seattle style’ cornerbacks? Let’s hope other teams try too hard too. At the end of the day, development is king. The Seahawks didn’t just stumble across a cluster of excellent defensive backs. They coached them into productive starters. You can try and draft as many long cornerbacks as you want, but you’ve still got to develop them.
Jonathan Dowling (S, Western Kentucky)
Here’s an interesting prospect. He’s just under 6-3 and 190lbs. That’s slim, but he doesn’t look too skinny and has room to add weight. He had the longest arms in the group alongside Justin Gilbert (33 1/8 inches). He ran a 4.52, which is comparable to Keith McGill. Yet his vertical (33.5 inches) and broad jump (9.10) were both disappointing. In the drills I thought he looked quite fluid for his size. He put in a good performance based on what the NFL.com feed was willing to show us. Here’s the issue though. He’s a former four-star recruit who played two games as a Freshman at Florida. He got kicked off the team by Urban Meyer, and transferred to Western Kentucky. It wasn’t abundantly clear why at the time, but he says it was over a dispute with a positional coach who he found to be too negative. I’m not sure Meyer would give up on a player over that alone, although he admitted he skipped practise as a consequence of the coach’s criticisms. It’s not a good look. I’d do some homework on this guy.
Kyle Fuller (Virginia Tech)
The Fuller family have deep NFL routes — Kyle has already discussed joining his brother Corey on the Detroit Lions roster. I actually really like Kendall Fuller — a 2013 Freshman also at Virginia Tech who had some big games as a first-year starter. He has a ton of potential. But so does his brother Kyle. He’s 5-11 and 190lbs with the fourth longest arms in the group (32 7/8 inches). He had a 38.5 inch vertical — sixth best on the day. His broad jump of 10.8 was the third best recorded among DB’s. In the drills he looked like a natural corner — good technique, sound fundamentals. He might not be the most spectacular player at the next level, but he’ll be a nice addition to someone’s secondary and he should be a day two pick.
Other players of note
Mo Alexander (S, Utah State) — One to monitor for the Seahawks. He’s 6-1 and 220lbs, ran a 4.54 and has nice length (6th longest arms in the class). He also had a 38 inch vertical and a 10.3 broad jump. A definite later round candidate for Seattle.
Brock Vereen (S, Minnesota) — he was one of the big winners with a 4.47 forty, a 6.90 three cone and 25 reps on the bench press. He excelled in drills and the brother of New England’s Shane Vereen is one to keep an eye on.
Jaylen Watkins (CB, Florida) — speaking of brothers, Sammy Watkins’ older sibling ran a 4.41 despite carrying a strained achilles. He’s got short arms, but put up 22 reps on the bench. We know he’s got good DNA.
Deone Bucannon (S, Washington State) — he looked in great shape today and did himself the power of good with a really solid work out. Decent size (6-1, 211lbs) and might be a bit of a safety-tweener, but this was a good day for Bucannon.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (S, Alabama) — he didn’t do anything spectacular. We’re not talking about Earl Thomas here, and I’m not convinced he’s Mark Barron either despite the physical comparisons. But he ran faster than Kenny Vaccaro a year ago and there are teams in the mid-first who really could use a safety upgrade. A lack of depth at the position helps Clinton-Dix.
Calvin Pryor (S, Louisville) — he’s a big hitting safety who’s likely to be a walking yellow flag as a rookie. He ran a 4.58 just like Clinton-Dix and they look very similar — physically and during work outs. This is likely to be a pick your poison situation.
Final thoughts on the DB’s
Overall it’s not a great defensive back class. There’s a lack of obvious first round talent — in fact it’s not unbelievable to think Justin Gilbert might be the only first rounder.
I’d like to be Alterraun Verner or Aqib Talib right now. If they aren’t franchised, they’re both set for a bumper pay day when free agency begins on March 11th.
In terms of the Seahawks, there aren’t a lot of obvious options here for their next later round project at corner. Last year it was fairly simple to identify Tharold Simon — nice length, style of play, 4.5 speed. There’s not a great deal of length/speed in this class.
Justin Gilbert sticks out like a sore thumb. He’s almost too good to be true in terms of physical fit for this team. Of course, he’ll be long gone by #32 unless something seriously went wrong during interviews at the combine.
The one thing Seattle expects is dedication. I’m not talking about the coaches here necessarily — I’m talking about the players. Richard Sherman took it upon himself to become the most prepared cornerback in the league. He critiques his own play, he studies the film.
I’ve no doubt he took his cue from Earl Thomas. Byron Maxwell has been credited for adopting Sherman’s approach to the game. The entire Legion of Boom are film room junkies as much as they are great players.
You can’t expect to survive in that defensive back meeting room unless you’re going to work your tail off. When I hear Gilbert say he doesn’t know who Aqib Talib is, I wonder whether he’s going to know what his next opponent likes to do with route concepts. What are the looks you’re going to get? What does a quarterback like to do to a certain coverage? How can you find the edge, find the way to make a play?
So many of Sherman’s big plays are down to study and hard work. If Gilbert drops into Seattle’s range, it’ll not be because of a lack of talent. It’ll be because he scares the crap out of teams picking early. In that scenario, would they believe he could change with the right influence surrounding him? Or would they merely be the next team to say, “no thanks”.
We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt today. An outstanding work out deserves some credit, and that was a top-15 performance out there.
Further thoughts on the receiver group
Some extra thoughts having sifted through the numbers from Saturday…
Odell Beckham Jr (WR, LSU)
Only eight players recorded a superior vertical jump (38.5 inches) to Beckham Jr — and he’s 5-11. He also recorded a 4.43 forty with a 1.50 ten yard split. His three cone (6.69) was in the top six for receivers. On the field he competes for everything, high points the ball consistently and makes plays as a wide out or return man. Listen to any of his interviews and you’ll come away impressed. In many ways, he’s the perfect Seahawks prospect. It’s just a shame he’ll be long gone by #32.
Marqise Lee (WR, USC)
Many of the headlines discussed Lee’s average forty yard dash (4.52). It could’ve been better, no doubt about that. He’s a hair under 6-0 and sub-200lbs — and players without great size are expected to be able to run. Here’s the thing though — Lee makes up for it elsewhere. He had a 38 inch vertical — like Beckham Jr, among the best in the class. He had the second best broad jump at 10.7. In both those two categories, he beat Sammy Watkins. He’s also a terrific competitor on the field — a real ‘heart and soul’ type. He doesn’t know when he’s beaten and at the back end of the season made some incredible plays at less than 100% health. The forty times aren’t the be-all and end-all for these players. Carroll recruited him and would probably love a shot at him at #32, it’s unlikely though.
Martavis Bryant (WR, Clemson)
Physically this guy is right up Seattle’s street. He’s a shade under 6-4, weighing 211lbs. He runs a 4.42 and his vertical jump of 39 inches was only beaten by two other receivers (Tevin Reese & Damian Copeland). He also recorded one of the best broad jumps at 10.4. You can work with a guy like this. Yet he’s also been labelled a ‘knucklehead’ and just doesn’t seem like a confident character at all. His interviews are shy and retiring, and he doesn’t go into technical detail on routes or defenses like former Clemson team mates Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins. Having seen how competitive those two players are, you’d think it might rub off on Bryant. It didn’t, and his college career was wildly underwhelming. “Pissed off for greatness” just isn’t the vibe you get. And yet athletically he’s so impressive.
Allen Robinson (WR, Penn State)
I was almost ready to dismiss Robinson as an option for Seattle after seeing a mediocre 4.60 forty. Then I looked at some of the other numbers — tied third best vertical (39 inches), 10.7 broad jump, a 1.54 ten yard split on his forty. He’s not an explosive runner, but he’s not a bad all-round athlete by any means. I still don’t think the Seahawks would pick a 4.60 receiver in round one unless he has Kelvin Benjamin’s size, but Robinson isn’t a total lost cause. If he’s there in round two, it might be one to monitor.
Kelvin Benjamin (WR, Florida State)
Personally, I just think Pete Carroll would love to wheel out a 6-5, 240lbs receiver who looks as good as Benjamin. There’s a definite ‘win getting off the bus’ mentality to Carroll’s set-up, and Benjamin carries 240lbs better than anybody you’ll ever come across. He has long arms at 34 7/8 inches and a terrific catching radius. And yet compared to Mike Evans, there’s a little disappointment too. Evans had an incredible 37 inch vertical. Benjamin’s is 32.5. He’s big and tall, but he doesn’t have a ton of hop. Only six receivers had a worse vertical jump. He’s an impressive looking guy, but he’s not mind blowing.
Michael Campanaro (WR, Wake Forest)
I’m not crazy about 5-9 receivers for an offense that highlights chunk plays, jump balls and tries to exploit single coverage — but this guy is different. He ran a 4.46, recorded an outstanding 39 inch vertical (same as Martavis Bryant), had a 6.77 three cone, a 10.4 broad jump and even benched 20 reps at 225lbs. I’ll remind you again, he’s 5-9 and 192lbs. That’s one impressive dwarf.
Players with first round potential who looked kind of Seahawky at the combine
Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh)
Decorated, all-round tackle and possible top-ten pick. Wowed with an athletic display for the ages. High character, high motor individual.
Odell Beckham Jr (WR, LSU)
Basically, the prototype player Seattle goes for. Undersized by conventional wisdom, and yet plays way above those limitations. It also helps he showed he’s a big time athlete with incredible numbers in the vertical and broad jump. Huge hands.
Kelvin Benjamin (WR, Florida State)
Not the other-world athlete we expected. He aint Megatron. But he’s the type of player Seattle loves to field — incredible size. And while his vertical wasn’t great, you can’t help but drool at the prospect of him competing in the red zone with that 6-5, 240lbs frame.
Kony Ealy (DE, Missouri)
We’re led to believe Seattle really looks at the three cone drill, as do a lot of teams. Ealy’s three cone of 6.83 wasn’t just the best this year — historically it was one of the best for a defensive lineman. It’s comparable to Bruce Irvin, Cliff Avril and J.J. Watt. And while he ran a 4.92, Michael Bennett once ran a 5.00. They could possibly get him up to 280lbs and use him as a versatile pass rusher.
Ryan Shazier (LB, Ohio State)
Do the Seahawks need a linebacker? No. But how can you ignore Shazier’s incredible 42 inch vertical (he’s 6-1), an equally impressive 10.10 broad jump and a 6.91 three cone? The Seahawks could lose K.J. Wright and Malcolm Smith after the 2014 season. They like insane athlete’s, and Shazier appears to be one.
Ra’Shede Hageman (DT, Minnesota)
Length, size and a top notch vertical. That’s what Hageman showed at the combine. It’s hard to imagine they won’t have serious interest here, given their penchant for guys that are 6-6 and 310lbs. His interviews will have been crucial though.
Morgan Moses (T, Virginia)
They seem to want length at tackle. Moses flashed 6-6 and 314lbs size, with 35 3/8 inch arms — third longest among offensive linemen.
Antonio Richardson (T, Tennessee)
The other thing they’ve gone for on the offensive line is abnormal size. Richardson was the biggest tackle on display at nearly 6-6 and 332lbs. He didn’t look good during the drills and some pundits have suggested he’s set for a fall. People also said the same about James Carpenter during the 2011 combine. He has 35 inch arms. There’s a lot to work with here.
Justin Gilbert (CB, Oklahoma State)
Just the perfect example of ballhawking skills, raw athleticism and length. He’d fit like a glove, if he had any chance of reaching the #32 pick.
Troy Niklas (TE, Notre Dame)
He looked really stiff during drills and wussed out of the forty. And yet he has the body of a Greek God. The Gronk comparisons are overblown — he’s not a 4.6 runner. But he could develop into an upper echelon blocker with the right guidance. He’ll provide a major threat with his height (6-6) size (270lbs) and reach (34 1/8 inch arms). His vertical jump (32 inches) matched Eric Ebron’s.
Salary cap set for a huge rise?
Source: Salary cap will exceed $132 million this year, possibly by a few million http://t.co/39b6yqsz3c
Initial reports suggested the cap would rise by $7m to $130m. That would’ve significantly boosted Seattle’s chances of keeping the likes of Michael Bennett, Golden Tate and others.
Now Mike Florio is reporting that the cap could go beyond $130m — potentially by millions.
His suggestion is a total of around $135m — a $12m increase from 2013. If the Seahawks do eventually cut Sidney Rice and Red Bryant, they’d be looking at around $24m in cap space.
When you consider the potential savings elsewhere (Chris Clemons, Zach Miller) — Seattle could eventually find itself in a very healthy position in it’s quest to keep the band together.
Essentially the NFL and the NFLPA had to act. The new CBA has absolutely killed the free agent market, as we saw in full view last year. The new deal was supposed to reward proven veterans, while limiting the crippling financial cost at the top end of the draft.
What’s actually happened is teams are making major savings on cheap rookies and they’re not reinvesting the money into the open market.
Under the old system, everyone got paid. Rookies and vets. So paying out for a proven commodity made financial sense.
Now, an influx of players enter the league every year being paid a relative pittance. And it’s revolutionised the market.
Faced with the option of signing Cliff Avril to a substantial five-year contract or waiting to take their chances in the draft, teams are focusing on the draft.
When they are spending, they’re spending on quarterbacks. Teams like Baltimore, Green Bay, Atlanta and New Orleans have given out big contracts to signal callers, limiting how much money there is to spend elsewhere.
The business model as it was planned is failing. And the only solution is to create even more cap space.
It’s kind of like a fiscal economic plan. Speculate to accumulate.
What they’ll hope is — teams paying major money on quarterbacks will still be able to invest in other positions. Teams who were coming into the off-season with major cap room, now have even more incentive to be pro-active.
And teams like Seattle who were up against their budget, can still be financial players.
It won’t surprise me if the total cap increases again and again from here on in. It could be upwards of $150m by 2015.
Whether the plan works or not, we’ll wait and see. But they had to do something — because all the power belonged to the teams. They were having their cake in the draft and eating it in free agency.
The lack of clarity on the final cap for 2014 may also be the reason why Sidney Rice and Red Bryant are yet to be officially released, despite recent national media reports and in Rice’s case a farewell Tweet.
And if the cap increases every year, there shouldn’t be any issues paying Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman.
Why they might keep Chris Clemons for another year
Just look at what’s available in this draft.
Sure, it’s a deep class. But not for ideal LEO rushers.
There are some options later on, such as Louisville’s excellent Marcus Smith.
But unless you plan on moving up for Jadeveon Clowney, you won’t find a solution early.
It might be a case of going with what you’ve got and what you know. The Seahawks had a formidable post-season pass rush with Avril, Bennett and Clemons working in tandem — even if the latter wasn’t quite at his best across 2013.
And finally…
It’s been a long but enjoyable last three days, spending hours sat in front of a computer screen watching and reporting on the combine. But now that it’s over, I need something else to watch in order to unwind.
This ought to do it…
Tomorrow’s assignment: a post-combine mock draft. See you then.
Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward will not work out at the combine, according to Tony Pauline: “Routine Combine medical evaluations revealed a foot issue. Ward is still awaiting more to the exact nature of the injury, and initial reports are the injury is considered relatively minor.”
DB FORTY YARD DASH GROUP 1
Maurice Alexander (Utah State) — 4.44 & 4.57
Ricardo Allen (Purdue) — 4.53 & 4.53
Dion Bailey (USC) — 4.69 & 4.68
Bene Benwikere (San Jose State) — 4.63 & 4.60
Deon Belue (Alabama) — DNP
Nat Berhe (San Diego State) –4.59 & 4.70
Tre Boston (North Carolina) — 4.62 & 4.53
Bashaud Breeland (Clemson) — 4.59 & 4.53
Terrence Brooks (Florida State) — 4.41 & 4.43
Deone Bucannon (Washington State) — 4.50 & 4.50
Travis Carrie (Ohio) — DNP
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Alabama) — 4.52 & 4.50
Ross Cockrell (Duke) — 4.43 & 4.50
Aaron Colvin (Oklahoma) — DNP
Chris Davis (Auburn) — DNP
Darqueze Dennard (Michigan State) — 4.42 & 4.46
Pierre Desir (Lindenwood) — 4.52 & 4.53
Ahmad Dixon (Baylor) — 4.56 & 4.54
Brandon Dixon (Northwest Missouri State) — 4.41
Jonathan Dowling (Western Kentucky) — 4.50
Antone Exum (Virginia Tech) — 4.51 & 4.50
Kyle Fuller (Virginia Tech) — 4.40 & 4.40
E.J. Gaines (Missouri) — DNP
Phillip Gaines (Rice) — 4.34 & 4.34
Justin Gilbert (Oklahoma State) — 4.35 & 4.38
Demetri Goodson (Baylor) — 4.44
Andre Hal (Vanderbilt) — 4.40 & 4.50
Victor Hampton (South Carolina) — 4.62 & 4.50
Marqueston Huff (Wyoming) — 4.47 & 4.47
Bennett Jackson (Notre Dame) — 4.46 & 4.47
The Seahawks box watching the defensive backs run…
DEFENSIVE BACK DRILLS — GROUP ONE
The first drill is a back pedal, transition and sprint.
Kris Richard is helping with the work out, along with a Giants coach.
During the pre-drill huddle, The NYG coach says, “Have you ever heard a DB group this quiet Kris? Are your guys in Seattle this quiet?”
Justin Gilbert looked mightily impressive. Nice long arms, smooth running style. He ran in the 4.3’s.
There’s no denying he’s a playmaker, but this quote over the weekend was pretty scary…
He was asked what he thought about Aqib Talib…
“Who? I don’t know who that is.”
“I don’t watch a lot of football. I mean, we have practice on Sundays, and I didn’t get a chance to watch a lot of games.”
Oh dear.
Dion Bailey looks like a linebacker convert out there. Stiff hips, not a smooth runner.
Bashaud Breeland showed a nice back pedal and transition. He didn’t run a fast time but looked good in the first drill.
Deone Bucannon is an intriguing looking guy. Nice safety prospect out of Wazzu.
Darqueze Dennard exploded out of his turn after the back pedal. He also looked incredibly smooth running the forty. Dennard putting on a really impressive display here.
Phillip Gaines had a really nice 2013 for Rice with five picks. He ran the fastest forty, but didn’t look as polished in his transition after the back pedal.
Jonathan Dowling looked good in the first drill. Former Florida guy who got kicked off the team by Urban Meyer. Perhaps the smoothest runner on the field, nice change of direction. Worth looking at as a project for Seattle.
The next session is an interception drill.
Purdue’s Ricardo Allen just made a spectacular diving catch. Great ball skills.
Bashaud Breeland has really nice length. He also looked good on this drill — nice hips, tracked the ball effortlessly and caught it.
Deone Bucannon got into position so quickly for his throw he had to stop and wait for it to get there.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix fumbled his catch. Darqueze Dennard again impresses on this drill. So smooth.
Jonathan Dowling didn’t do a good job adjusting and locating the ball on his turn. It ended up flying over his head because he was in the wrong position.
I’m not sure what Justin Gilbert was doing on his attempt. Got out of the transition and into the open field. Never tracked the ball and made a has of his catch.
Really though the main thing on these drills are hip movement and recovery speed. Dennard looked the best.
We’re now onto another catching drill. This is a back pedal, sprint and catch on the right sideline — locating the ball and catching it at the highest point.
Ricardo Allen flipped his hips nicely but could’ve done a better job high pointing the ball.
Bene Benwikere just made a spectacular grab. Superb.
Bashaud Breeland looked silky smooth in his transition — and he tried to high point the ball better than anyone else. But he struggled to track the ball in the air and failed to make the catch.
Jonathan Dowling is really long. Just looks like a Seattle prospect.
Justin Gilbert looked good in this drill. High pointed the ball, much smoother transition this time. He and Dennard are separating themselves a little here — but the ball skills overall within this group were poor.
The next session is a double move drill.
Breeland again looked good here. Had a really sharp change of direction and recovery.
Matt Millen poking fun at himself on the feed, while discussing Detroit’s need for another receiver. Guffaw.
Dowling high pointed the ball nicely in this drill. He’s impressive.
Kyle Fuller — superb change of direction, closing speed and a high pointed catch here.
Seahawks coach Kris Richard is running the next drill. It’s two drops, a catch and finish.
Good job Deone Bucannon. Finished on a high note.
Not really sure what to make of Clinton-Dix’s work out. He isn’t Earl Thomas in terms of range and speed.
Darqueze Dennard dropped his final catch, as did Bashaud Breeland.
Kyle Fuller was a little high on his final attempt, could’ve done with bending his knees a little more.
The next drill is an drop and catch. They want to see low bend, smooth hips and ball skills.
Gilbert looked a little high. Phillip Gaines looked pretty good here — very polished.
Clinton-Dix looked really good in this test.
They’ll end with the competition drill. I think this is new. They’ve split the group into two and have a drop counter. The losing team has to do push-ups.
Awed by the total workout of Justin Gilbert/CB/Oklahoma State; testing, drills, everything…interviews will determine top 10..
If you ever wondered how they determine the unofficial times, this is it:
Charlie Casserly with a stop watch.
Bradley Roby had a 1.47 10 yard split on his first attempt.
Sammy Watkins’ brother, Jaylen Watkins, ran in this group.
Keith McGill ran an unofficial 4.44 at 6-3 and 214lbs. Wow.
A quick note on the safety times (with Calvin Pryor running an unofficial 4.6) — Kenny Vaccaro had an official 4.62 last year and was the #15 overall pick.
DEFENSIVE BACK DRILLS — GROUP TWO
The first drill is the turn and go. They want to see the back pedal and hips. Can you stay low?
The first few players didn’t finish the drill properly. These are timed tests. Not sure the coaches made that clear.
Keith McGill’s transition was fine, but he needs to get lower. That’s difficult at 6-3, but he can bend a little more. Stll, very interesting prospect with 4.4 speed and incredible size.
They’ve finally told the guys they’re timing the drills, after Calvin Pryor rounded off the end of his run.
Stanford safety Ed Reynolds looked pretty stiff in his transition.
Bradley Roby looked really polished — nice and low, great snap in his transition. Finished the run.
Jason Verrett the latest prospect not to finish the drill properly. The message is starting to get across though — they’re really finishing the drill in the second go around.
McGill nice and low on his second attempt. He’s looking good out there. Another tape review is in order here.
The feed’s back upstairs for a second interview with Joe Haden, so we can’t see practises right now.
The NFL.com feed is already starting to wind down despite work outs ongoing. We’re now getting adverts for the Rich Eisen podcast.
Now we get a trailer for the film ‘Draft Day’ — which couldn’t look any more cheesy.
Does the film end with a sweaty press conference in the war room?
Now we’re getting Buck Brooks’ review of the last four days. This might be as far as we go for the work outs. Shame.
The official times are coming in…
OFFICIAL FORTY YARD DASH TIMES — DB’s
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix — 4.58
Calvin Pryor — 4.58
Justin Gilbert — 4.37
Jason Verrett — 4.38
Brock Vereen — 4.47
Terrence Brooks — 4.42
Darqueze Dennard — 4.51
Brandon Dixon — 4.41
Phillip Gaines — 4.37
Kendall James — 4.44
Bradley Roby — 4.39
Jaylen Watkins — 4.41
Keith McGill — 4.51
Deone Buchanan — 4.49
Marqueston Huff — 4.49
Kyle Fuller — 4.49
Jonathan Dowling — 4.51
Lamarcus Joyner — 4.51
Ed Reynolds — 4.57
Pierre Desir — 4.59
Stanley Jean-Baptiste — 4.61
Bashaud Breeland — 4.62
Victor Hampton — 4.69
At last, NFL.com goes back to the drills. Just in time for Seattle’s Kris Richard to get back in the action.
One thing I’ve noticed today — Richard is no-nonsense with instructions. Very to the point. He’s leading the ‘W’ drill, back and forth then catch a pass.
I love McGill’s length, but to me he looks more suited to a Kam Chancellor type role at safety. A little stiff in the back pedal here. I’ll be interested to see on tape whether he plays with the same intensity.
Bradley Roby looks smooth here — he’s having a really good work out. Richard screaming “speed” at Florida’s Marcus Roberson, who jogged through his drill.
The feed cuts out AGAIN for more Matt Smith and Bucky Brooks face time, just as Jason Verrett was due to run.
We’re now with the NFL Network, who are showing the drills with Mayock. About time.
Mayock unhappy that the St. Louis Rams Twitter account photo-shopped a picture of him with Les Snead’s hair. Belly laugh.
Onto a deep catching drill.
Calvin Pryor a little leggy in his deep transition. Took too many steps.
Ed Reynolds moving better here. Keith McGill stutter steps on his run — unnecessary steps like Pryor.
Roby continuing to excel, just looks like a natural.
Brock Vereen, Shane’s brother, has had a nice work out with 4.4 speed.
Tony Pauline seeing the same thing…
Gotta say Brock Vereen/DB/Minnesota leaves the combine with improved draft stock…nice workout in all areas…
Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh)
Without a shadow of a doubt, he’s a top-15 pick. He ran an official 4.68 at 285lbs with a 1.59 10 yard split. He had the fourth best three-cone drill (7.11) — superior to Jadeveon Clowney’s 7.27. Let’s just put this into perspective — he’s 19lbs lighter than Clowney, his split is only 0.03 seconds slower, and he has a better three cone. Don’t call this guy undersized. Call him a beast. He ticks every single box — production, athleticism, attitude, relentless nature, he’s a skilful technician. The only thing stopping him being the perfect three technique is an inch or two in height. Which is nothing. Draft the man.
Kony Ealy (DE, Missouri)
He’s one of the toughest players to judge on tape, so today was about finding some clarity. Mission:unaccomplished. I’m still left asking — what is he? He ran a poor 4.92 (with splits of 1.66 & 1.72) at 6-4 and 273lbs. For a player tipped as a possible outside linebacker, that was disappointing. His vertical jump was 31 inches — an inch shorter than Aaron Donald’s (despite a height and weight advantage). And yet despite all this he ran the fastest three cone among defensive linemen. In fact, he ran the third fastest three cone since 2006. Here are comparable performers in the drill since ’06: Bruce Irvin, Barkevious Mingo, J.J. Watt, Cliff Avril. He’s also long — with 34 /14 inch arms. He tests like he plays — sometimes mediocre, with flashes of quality.
Demarcus Lawrence (Boise State)
I came into the combine wondering if he could be an option for the Seahawks. He has great length (6-3, 251lbs, 33 3/4 inch arms). He recorded a 34.5 vertical jump — among the best on the day. Yet his official 4.80 forty is disappointing and a 7.93 three cone was worse than 326lbs nose tackle Zach Kerr. To get into the first round mix he needed to be closer to a 7.05 in the three cone and hit the 4.6/4.7 mark. Players like Marcus Smith at Louisville simply outperformed him on the day. Back to the drawing board here.
Ra’Shede Hageman (DT, Minnesota)
Another player who tested brilliantly in some categories, and not so much in others. He’s a former basketball player and managed the seventh best vertical (35.5 inches) at 6-6 and 310lbs. He had 35 reps on the bench press despite his long 34 1/4 inch arms. His 5.02 in the forty isn’t amazing, but it’s about right. Yet his three cone drill (7.87) was among the worst for defensive linemen. Will Sutton, who struggled badly all day, managed a 7.93 in comparison. His two 10-yard splits were 1.81 and 1.75 — again, among the worst. He coasted through his forty without any real running technique, and he was hit and miss in the drills. He’s going to need some coaching up. If he’s willing to work, he could be fantastic. I still think he’s a first round pick.
Jackson Jeffcoat (DE, Texas)
A lot of people expected Jeffcoat to run in the 4.7/4.8 range. Instead he managed an official 4.63 and had the second best three cone — only beaten by Kony Ealy’s historically good attempt. He had the sixth best vertical (36 inches) and he’s got really good length — 6-3, 247lbs, 33 7/8 inch arms. He’s a former 5-star recruit and he flashed some of those skills today. Tony Pauline really likes this guy. He has NFL bloodlines — his father Jim Jeffcoat was a standout defensive lineman for Dallas and Buffalo. You have to wonder if he’s due for a bit of a rise up the boards.
Louis Nix (DT, Notre Dame)
He admitted he’d dropped 20lbs for the combine — we’ll never now why he let himself get to 350lbs on a compact 6-2 frame. Was it an overreaction from Notre Dame, after getting beaten up by Alabama in the BCS Championship? Was it ill-discipline? He’s not a top-15 nose tackle with unbelievable athletic qualities. He ran a 5.42, only managed a 25.5 vertical, had a lousy 8.29 three cone and didn’t compete in the bench press. Vince Wilfork (6-1, 323lbs) recorded a 5.08 forty, a 7.62 three cone and had 36 reps on the bench. Wilfork went 21st overall. It’s difficult to see Nix topping that, but he might find a home at the end of round one. It’s no guarantee, though.
Anthony Barr (LB, UCLA)
At no point in the last two years has Barr looked like anything but a work in progress. He’s got a great lean off the edge (big positive) — but his hand use is really poor (big negative). He lacks core strength in the upper body and struggles in 1v1 combat. He looks like a guy who made a late transition from full back. 15 reps on the bench press is below average for the position, and he needs to get on those weights. His forty time at 4.66 was OK — but he’s only 244lbs. He did run the third best three cone among the linebackers with a decent 6.82. He’s a project for me — and not an obvious top-ten pick. He should go in round one, but I doubt it’ll be as early as a lot of the mock drafts are suggesting.
Jadeveon Clowney (DE, South Carolina)
The media narrative has been particularly negative throughout the combine. Mike Mayock has been extremely critical of Clowney, while other pundits have questioned whether you can trust him at the next level. I understand those concerns — Clowney is incredibly laid back. You get a vibe of entitlement. And you do have to wonder whether he truly wants to be ‘great’ — or will he just accept being rich and ‘good’? The thing is, it’s difficult to watch him run a 4.53 and not get excited. However critical people want to be about this guy, it’s going to be so hard to pass on him — whether you need a quarterback or not.
Timmy Jernigan (DT, Florida State)
On tape, Jernigan doesn’t blow anyone away. He’s not an explosive speed rusher, and that showed up today with a 5.06 forty (he didn’t run the three cone drill). He’s in between 6-1 and 6-2 at 298lbs — but he doesn’t get close to the type of athleticism flashed by Aaron Donald. He only had a 29.5 vertical and an 8.6 on the broad jump (9th worst). He doesn’t have much length either — with 31 5/8 inch arms to go with a compact frame. I’ll say this though — I kind of like the way he plays. He’s edgy, he has a good motor. He actually tires out sometimes because he tries too hard. He can manage that situation better and it cost him some crucial snaps at the end of the BCS Championship. I just have a really hard time placing him in the first round without the brilliant physical skills or the big-time production.
Players making an impression
Marcus Smith (DE, Louisville) — I’m going to watch tape on this guy tonight. Ran a 4.68 at 6-3 and 251lbs. He’s got 34 inch arms, managed a 35 inch vertical and a 10.1 broad jump. Doesn’t have Bruce Irvin (4.43) or Cliff Avril (4.51) speed, but he’s someone I want to get a closer look at.
Kevin Pierre-Louis (LB, Boston College) — ran a 4.51, made a 39 inch vertical and a 10.8 broad jump. He looked terrific in drills too. This was an explosive performance from the 6-0, 232lbs linebacker.
Larry Webster (DE, Bloomberg) — former basketball player. Lacked polish during the drills, but could be another Jameson Konz project with the ability to try-out at multiple positions (although he’s not a 4.38 guy like the Konz). He ran a 4.58 at 6-5 and 252lbs. Managed a 36.5 vertical and a 10.3 inch broad jump. A 7.29 broad jump is in the Jackson Jeffcoat range.
Caraun Reid (DT, Princteon) — Really shone in the drills — looked smooth, mobile and effective. Ran a 4.91 at 6-2, 302lbs. Nice three-tech prospect. Has 33 inch arms.
Telvin Smith (LB, Florida State) — any team trying to find a rangy, hard hitting safety should think about converting this guy. He’s 6-3 and 218lbs — but ran a 4.52. There’s a lot of potential here.
Anthony Johnson (DT, LSU) — Made the biggest impression during drills when the first group of defensive linemen were working out. Strong, violent hands. Effortless in the club/rip session. Solid looking frame, extremely powerful. Another player I’ll go back and re-assess. Could be a very solid mid-round type who develops into an effective run blocker.
Several big names missing
Stephon Tuitt told NFL.com’s live feed that his medical picked up a stress fracture on his left foot. He says he intends to delay surgery until after his pro-day, which could take place on March 6th.
Dee Ford was advised by combine officials not to participate. The medical exams revealed a problem linked to a 2011 surgery regarding a herniated disc. That could be serious.
Brent Urban hurt an ankle during the Senior Bowl and didn’t take part in the forty or any of the drills today.
C.J. Mosley didn’t run the forty and there were some concerns relating to his medical.
Ryan Shazier pulled out of the forty after hurting his hamstring doing the broad and vertical jumps. He did run a three cone — and made a decent 6.91.
Thoughts on Seattle and the defensive linemen
I think it’s pretty likely they’ll re-sign Michael Bennett, but they’ll lose Red Bryant (discussion coming up below) plus possibly Tony McDaniel and Clinton McDonald. Chris Clemons is also a potential cut.
There are existing players on the roster who will get the opportunity to step up (namely Jordan Hill), but they’ll likely have to re-stock the defensive line — even if they manage to keep one or both of McDaniel and McDonald.
There are players with length and athletic upside in this class that’ll be interesting if they make it to #32. Ra’Shede Hageman is a good example, while Kony Ealy’s three cone effort piqued my interest.
It’s debatable either will be available, while Aaron Donald will be long gone (sigh).
There probably isn’t a LEO you’d take in the first round — and there weren’t any pass rushers running in that 4.4/4.5 range today.
I still see Brent Urban as an option for the Seahawks, it’s a shame we didn’t get to see him work out.
The value in the mid-to-late rounds could be more attractive than what’s available at #32. Can you get an Anthony Johnson to plug into that line as a run stopper? Do you consider adding a Marcus Smith to your pass-rush rotation? Is Urban going to be there at #64 so you don’t have to look at him too early?
Any team wanting a top defensive lineman better get in there early. There’s quite a talent drop after the first 4-5 players leave the board. If we see a little rush early on, this won’t help the Seahawks if they want to go DL in the first round.
I’m loathe to keep ruling out options at #32. Having already poured cold water on a tight end in round one, I don’t want to necessarily do the same with the defensive linemen. I do think there are prospects that would be very attractive to Seattle, but the idea of a mini-rush on pass rushers seems plausible, limiting the options at the end of day one.
This might be an area they address in the middle rounds — where the value is greater.
And maybe this is just me getting carried away, but I think there will be opportunities in free agency similar to the deals for Bennett and Avril last year.
Players want to play in Seattle — and with a deep draft upcoming, not everyone’s going to get paid.
They might be able to find another impact rusher on the open market, on a bargain one or two year deal.
That possibility increases if they cut Sidney Rice, Red Bryant, Chris Clemons and Zach Miller — and the cap is set to increase by $8-9m too.
Free agency begins on March 11th.
Nailed on first rounders
After three days of combine work outs, these are the players I think are assured of being first round picks:
Eric Ebron, Greg Robinson, Taylor Lewan, Jake Matthews, Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr, Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Jadeveon Clowney, Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack.
Which takes me on to my next point…
Unpredictable first round?
This is a very deep draft, and things might settle down over the next few weeks.
But I think this is going to be one of the more unpredictable first rounds this year.
After the top 10-12 players, there’s about 30-40 players who probably have very similar grades.
It’s a draft that has a bit of everything, too — so we might see teams attacking needs early knowing they can still find starters in the middle rounds.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be that shocked if it happened.
I’ll do a new mock draft on Wednesday where we’ll go into this in a bit more detail.
Pauline: Seahawks covet Beckham Jr
According to Tony Pauline, “If the Seattle Seahawks had their choice of player with the last pick of round one it would likely be Odell Beckham Jr.”
I guess you could say there are 31 other teams who’d be willing to draft Beckham Jr in that range too.
He’s a terrific player, a definite top-20 talent and has no business being on the board when Seattle’s on the clock. Speed, competitive nature, a playmaker, capable of high pointing the football and competing in the air. You’d be shocked if the Seahawks weren’t all over Beckham Jr.
Ultimately though he isn’t going to be there, as Pauline admits.
Cutting Bryant would save $5.5m. Add that to the saving made when Sidney Rice is officially released and you get a total of $12.8m.
Bryant’s departure wouldn’t be a huge shock. He averaged 29 snaps a game, playing in less than 30% of the Super Bowl snaps.
He’s been a valuable role player and leader, but they clearly believe he’s just not worth the $8.5m he’s due in 2014.
There’ll be more decisions like this to make in the future.
The Seahawks could afford to splurge in 2011 to try and get the rebuild going. Keeping Bryant and Brandon Mebane was key — and so was adding the likes of Zach Miller and Sidney Rice.
At the time they had plenty of cap room and were on the verge of adding starters in the later rounds of the draft. Overpaying a little for Bryant, Miller and Rice wasn’t a problem.
But is it now.
This is all about paying the people who are having the biggest impact on what is now a Championship team. Michael Bennett is criminally underrated — he did as much as anyone to take Seattle’s defense to another level in 2013. Losing him would be devastating, and the Seahawks know it.
Bryant’s role as a two-down run stuffer just cannot compare to the impact Bennett provides as a relentless pass rusher. So it’s pick your poison time. Where you going to spend the money?
On the pass rusher, of course.
The Seahawks spent four years trying to get their rush right. Now they’ve finally achieved it, they aren’t going to let it slip away.
They’ll face similar dilemma’s soon. Zach Miller is a great run blocking tight end, but a great run blocking tight end isn’t worth $7m. If you can keep Miller and do everything else you need to do, fine. But if you can save money on that position and pay an Earl Thomas for example, you’ve got to do it.
Releasing Chris Clemons also saves $7.5m — but it’s interesting that despite speculation relating to Rice, Miller and Bryant — none of the national pundits have name-checked Clemons as an expected cut.
I wonder, after four years of trying to get the pass rush right, whether they want another year of Clemons, Bennett and Cliff Avril working in tandem?
Going back to Bryant, the debate now is — how do you replace him?
I’m not convinced they’ll go in search of a cheaper big man. I’m also not sure they’ll look to promote a Jesse Williams into the same role (and really, he just has to get to a point where he can take the field again).
I think they’ll adjust and adapt. They found a role for Bryant and made it work. They’ll have a plan to move forward, and when the draft and free agency have been and gone — they’ll simply work out a formula that suits their personnel.
This is a team that’s constantly evolving. It might not be a case of looking for another 323lbs lineman. It might be more about continuing to look for length, power and the ability to play the run particularly well — whether you’re 290lbs or 320lbs.
Brandon Coleman met with the Seahawks
Rutgers wide receiver Brandon Coleman (Bishop McNamara) met with the Packers, Patriots and Seahawks, had an informal meeting with Redskins — Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) February 24, 2014
No big surprises here.
We’ve talked about Coleman a lot, so we don’t need to go over old ground. I suspect they’ll have a degree of interest in him — really it’s just about the grade he gets. Do they see him as a first round option, or would they only take him later on?
We’ll be back for the final day of the combine tomorrow, featuring the defensive backs.
Join us for the final time for the Live Blog from 6am PST.
Some key news before we get underway today. Stephon Tuitt has a foot fracture (just like Austin Seferian-Jenkins) and won’t participate. It’s a big blow — he had an opportunity to regain some momentum today after a poor 2013 season.
Dee Ford also won’t take part. An unknown medical issue flared up. When interviewed by the NFL Network, he admitted he wasn’t aware what the issue was.
No Tuitt and no Ford is a big deal.
We’re off and running with the forty yard dashes for groups 7 & 9.
I’ve included some of the unofficial 10-yard splits in brackets for key players.
That 4.47 (unofficial) is why Jadeveon Clowney is going to be nearly impossible to pass on with the #1 pick.
Aaron Donald had an unofficial 4.65 with his first run — and a 10-yard split of 1.59. That’s very, very impressive at 285lbs. He’s a top-15 pick.
Not a great time for Kony Ealy. Datone Jones was the #26 pick in a weaker draft last year. He ran a 4.75 at 283lbs with a 1.61 10-yard split. Ealy’s about 10lbs lighter and only managed an unofficial 4.84 with a 1.72 split.
Ra’Shede Hageman was slower than expected. Jackson Jeffcoat was quicker than expected.
Demarcus Lawrence looked really good on his runs — it was surprising to see the times he clocked. That’s slow for 250lbs.
Some more info on Dee Ford not participating:
Thanks to @wyche89, more details emerge on Auburn DE Dee Ford's withdrawal from combine workouts. http://t.co/1Febn4FK66
So apparently it’s a herniated disc for Ford. That’s not good news.
Jadeveon Clowney says he’s not going to do any field drills after running a good forty time.
That’s very frustrating. It would’ve been good to see him out there competing.
DEFENSIVE LINE DRILLS – GROUP 1
Aaron Donald in the movement drills (stepping over and between the bags). He looks like a running back. How high is he going to go?
Kony Ealy not quite as impressive. I wanted to see what kind of athlete he is, but he looked a little stiff.
James Gayle continues to move well, he’s a possible later round option. Ra’Shede Hageman did a better job on the movement drill than he did in the forty.
Demarcus Lawrence looked stiffer than expected getting in between the bags. Jackson Jeffcoat did OK, but was a little slow to finish — jogging home.
Now we’re onto the club-rip drill.
Scott Crichton looked good in this drill — nice hips, good sharp rip. No surprise that Aaron Donald continues to impress.
James Gayle needed to be compact here, he struggled a bit. Ra’Shede Hageman could’ve been more violent on the club.
Anthony Johnson is having a really nice work out — defensive tackle out of LSU. Nice compact frame. He’s as impressive as anyone out there in these drills. Howard Jones is a small school guy who has a lot of quickness. One to monitor as a later rounder.
Timmy Jernigan’s legs were all over the place. He nearly fell over and ran way too wide on what is essentially a quick lean, good hips drill.
Donald called out by the coaches for not striking the second bag on his second attempt.
Gayle struggling on this drill, just looks really stiff and awkward. Jernigan tried to punch the life out of the bag and just looked silly.
Man, Anthony Johnson is having a DAY. I know who I’m watching more tape of tonight.
The next drill is a three point stance, punching the bags with two hands. They want to see quick hand movement — shuffle, punch, shuffle, punch.
The thing I love about this drill — the football on a stick they get out to mock the snap.
Kony Ealy too deliberate, didn’t show much power on his punch.
I want to see a team hand the ball off to Aaron Donald next year as a running back. He can do it.
Jackson Jeffcoat looked pretty smooth in this drill.
This was Jernigan’s best drill so far. Lot’s of power on his punch.
Now onto the last session. Jim Tomsula, the 2015 Niners Head coach, is running a cone drill.
And the NFL Network goes upstairs to talk about Clowney. Of course they do.
Oh great. Greg Cosell is on the set now. And he’s already been introduced as a demi-god. Ugh.
Greg’s already used his favourite word, “I”, several times.
Timmy Jernigan is walking around singing, “I want to be like Clowney.”
Cosell spending a long time discussing what Johnny Manziel can’t do. Spending no time on what he can do.
Matt Millen has been especially condescending to Scott Hanson on the feed over the last couple of days.
Jadeveon Clowney had a 37.5 inch vertical jump. In comparison, Mario Williams had a 40.5.
Ra’Shede Hageman had a 35.5 vertical.
Clowney gets 10.4 feet on the broad jump. Aaron Donald managed a 9.8 broad jump, which is superb.
Hageman gets a 9.6 on the broad.
Pitt DT Donald owning pre-draft process. What's not to like besides lenght? Productive, dominated Sr. Bowl and elite workout #'s to match!
Kareem Martin (North Carolina) — 4.73 (1.60) & 4.68 (1.53)
Daniel McCullers (Tennessee) — DNP
Tevin Mims (USF) — 4.95 (1.69) & 4.95
Jonathan Newsome (Ball State) — 4.69 (1.62) & 4.75 (1.66)
Louis Nix (Notre Dame) — 5.35 (1.85) & 5.37 (1.87)
Jeoffrey Pagan (Alabama) — DNP
Tenny Palepoi (Utah) — 4.94 (1.72) & 5.12 (1.75)
Kelcy Quarles (South Carolina) — 5.00 (1.81) & 5.10 (1.87)
Kaleb Ramsey (Boston College) — DNP
Caraun Reid (Princteon) — 4.90 (1.69) & 5.00 (1.69)
Michael Sam (Missouri) — 4.79 (1.72) & 4.84 (1.75)
Chris Smith (Arkansas) — 4.54 (1.59) & 4.69 (1.63)
Marcus Smith (Louisville) — 4.63 (1.57) & 4.65 (1.60)
Shamar Stephen (Connecticut) — 5.17 (1.81) & DNP
Ed Stinson (Alabama) — DNP
Will Sutton (Arizona State) — 5.37 (1.75) & 5.47 (1.82)
Robert Thomas (Arkansas) — DNP
Stephon Tuitt (Notre Dame) — DNP
George Uko (USC) — 4.90 (1.75) &
Brent Urban (Virginia) — DNP
Larry Webster (Bloomberg) — 4.62 (1.63) & 4.60 (1.57)
Ethan Westbrooks (West Texas A&M) — 4.97 (1.75) & 4.85 (1.75)
Chris Whaley (Texas) — DNP
Disappointing that Brent Urban isn’t healthy enough to work out. He picked up an injury at the Senior Bowl.
I’ve never been a big fan of Will Sutton. He ran a terrible first attempt in the forty and his second go-around was even worse. Ryan Mallett ran a quicker forty by .10 seconds.
Larry Webster looked good running the forty. Small school guy out of Bloomberg — ex-basketball guy. One to monitor.
Kareem Martin — nice length. 35 inch arms. Decent runs today.
After running well, I’m going to check out the Marcus Smith tape tonight.
DEFENSIVE LINE DRILLS – GROUP 2
Louis Nix is moving well for 330lbs in the first drill — a mobility session focusing on change of direction and footwork.
Kelcy Quarles was a little stiff and didn’t run well. Princeton’s Caraun Reid is having a good day so far — another athletic gem.
I have no idea what Larry Webster’s tape is like, but he looks damn smooth running around out there.
The bags are coming out for the agility drill. Kareem Martin looked really good to kick things off. He’s having a good work out so far.
Louis Nix is working too high on this drill, he also stumbled on a bag.
Caraun Reid again with really quick, nimble feet. Agile guy at 6-2, 302lbs.
Onto the club/rip — Kadeem Martin strong again. Daniel McCullers didn’t run but he’s working this drill.
Kelcy Quarless had his best session on the club/rip. Violent hands, the best so far. Very smooth.
Chris Smith showing a nice punch in the bag drills. George Uko showing the exact opposite — very weak punch. Larry Webster also struggled a bit on this drill.
Louis Nix not a fantastic athlete, far from it. A big man, but not that rare nose tackle type.
OFFICIAL FORTY YARD DASH TIMES
They’re starting to filter through…
Jadeveon Clowney — 4.53
Aaron Donald — 4.68
Kony Ealy — 4.92
Jackson Jeffcoat — 4.63
Howard Jones — 4.60
Kareem Martin — 4.72
Chris Smith — 4.71
Marcus Smith — 4.68
Michael Sam — 4.91
Larry Webster — 4.58
Webster, the last guy on that list, just looks like a Seattle prospect. Great athlete. Ex-basketball. Could probably play defense or become a Jameson Konz style athlete.
Disappointing 4.92 for Kony Ealy. That aint great. I’m not sure why there’s so much talk about him going in round one.
That’s a good time for Jackson Jeffcoat.
Aaron Donald is being interviewed on Camera A. Very level headed guy, good talker. The kind of player you want on your team.
He’s going in the top-15. Book it. It’s a shame, he keeps using the word “compete”. He’s so Seahawky.
Clowney official 40 time = 4.53. The 5-yr average of wide receivers at the combine is 4.54. WRs average 202 lbs. Clowney checked in a t266
If the Seattle Seahawks had their choice of player with the last pick of round one it would likely be Odell Beckham Jr. Chances are Beckham won’t be available to the Seahawks at the end of the first frame. I’m told look for the Seahawks to go offensive line heavy in the draft.
I trust Pauline, who does great work, but Seattle almost never lets anything out during these combine events. So we’ll digest this information, but not take it literally.
Assuming this is a non-Seahawks source, the reference to the offensive line might just be a perception based on what a lot of outsiders perceive to be the teams greatest need.
At the same time, I think it makes sense to consider they spend multiple picks on the OL. It won’t necessarily be the #32 (see: the interest in Beckham). But they’ll likely add 2-3 guys by the end of the draft.
But it’s very easy to see why Seattle would love Beckham Jr. He’s a fantastic player.
Stephon Tuitt says on air he has a stress fracture in his left foot and was held out of the combine. He wants to do a pro day on March 6th and have surgery after that date.
Khalil Mack just recorded a 40-inch vertical. Wow. And a 10.8 broad jump.
Ryan Shazier had a 42 vertical and a 10.10 broad. That’s very impressive.
Adrian Hubbard probably isn’t a fit for the Seahawks, but he’s moving really well here after a solid forty time earlier. Nice hip movement, low shape.
C.J. Mosley didn’t run the forty but is doing the drills. He looked really smooth in the mobility drill. Great shuffle, quick burst. Looking good.
I’m not really sure why Trent Murphy is running linebacker drills. Surely he’d have been better with the D-liners?
Got to love Scott Hanson as a presenter. Does a great job on red zone, having some fun here too.
Adrian Hubbard struggling in the bag mobility drill — while Christian Jones didn’t even jump over the bags. Cal’s Khairi Fort looked good in this session — nice agility and quick feet.
Khalil Mack is in great shape, but he did look a little stiff here.
Linebacker official forty’s
Kevin Pierre-Louis — 4.51
Telvin Smith — 4.52
Lamin Barrow — 4.64
Khalil Mack — 4.65
Ronald Powell — 4.65
Anthony Barr — 4.66
Anthony Hubbard — 4.69
Anthony Barr not in the top five there. He needed to run well, because he lacks technique and doesn’t have great upper body strength. Hard to picture him in the top ten after today.
They went upstairs very quickly on the linebacker drills, cutting the work outs from the feed. I’m going to close the live blog for today, but I’ll have a big piece up later discussing everything we’ve seen with the DL/LB and a thought on Red Bryant’s potential release form Seattle.
