Author: Rob Staton (Page 46 of 424)

Over the last two years, the Seahawks have made a big point of not reaching for need. They went into the draft with most areas addressed in some form or another. That gave them the freedom to pick for talent, not position.

This is how they ended up drafting a cornerback and a receiver in the top-20 last year. Neither was a striking need but they were able to stick to their board and select the best available players. In the past, such as the 2019 class, we’ve seen what happens when they force needs.

They’ve also doubled down on character, learning from past mistakes where they took risks. ‘Without compromise’ is a term that has been throw around and it rings true. Every player the Seahawks have taken has been of quality individual character with no flags.

I think what we’re seeing at the moment is an attempt to re-create that same environment for the 2024 draft. They are trying to address their needs and fill holes. Jerome Baker is making a visit to Seattle today and could sign, while Brady Henderson says they’re interested in classic nose tackle Johnathan Hankins. K’Von Wallace visited the team earlier this week too.

These three players would fill remaining needs at linebacker, defensive tackle and safety. It’d only leave one glaring void at left guard. It’s hard to know what the Seahawks could do there, especially after John Schneider’s slightly pointed remarks about the overrated cost of the position both in terms of salary and draft range. Guard aside, you can see the team positioning itself for a ‘best player available’ draft again.

I still think the Sam Howell trade is difficult to look at on paper, given it now leaves the Seahawks with only one day two pick. It’s hard to square the circle that they believe they have to make moves like this, in part because they’ve been so reluctant to draft someone like Howell when they’ve had the chance in day three, to produce the kind of salary value they now crave.

Before I get into the mock, some thoughts on the quarterback situation overall. When listening to John Schneider yesterday I thought he sounded a little irked. I wasn’t the only one, as it happens. You don’t have to agree with what I’m about to say but this is how I’m connecting the dots.

I think there’s a reason why, for the first time yesterday, Schneider declared Geno Smith ‘the guy’. He had ample opportunity to do that before yesterday but answered in a very different way. I believe this is because it’s true today but wasn’t necessarily true two months ago.

I think Schneider was open to trading Smith but discovered there wasn’t a market. I think he talked up Drew Lock so much, as did Mike Macdonald and Ryan Grubb, because they knew there was a possibility Smith could depart and they needed a starter. Once it became apparent Smith couldn’t be moved, they re-worked his deal to save money in 2024. At that point, it became likely that Lock would seek a fresh start with a new team where he had a better chance to win a job. The Seahawks settled in with Smith as the starter for this year — thus Jordan Schultz reported the quarterback had been informed he would be with the team this season.

I also think the Seahawks were very minded to draft a quarterback early, potentially trading up to do so. There are enough people reporting or speculating within the national media to believe a ‘top-four’ consensus has emerged — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy. It’s possible the Seahawks align with the view that the quartet are a clear top-four.

With Lock departing, they needed a replacement backup anyway and that could be the sole motivation for the Howell trade. Did they also know, perhaps 24-48 hours ago, that the Vikings were working the phones to try and acquire another first round pick, thus increasing their chances of trading up from #11 for a quarterback? It’s hard to believe they only approached the Texans and a deal was done. They likely pitched to multiple teams between #12-32 about moving up from #42. Thus, it was likely the talk of the league.

If it’s believed the top-three quarterbacks will go #1-3 and now the Vikings will trade up for QB3/4 having acquired the stock to pull it off, it’s possible the Seahawks found themselves in a situation where any viable shot at the consensus top-four quarterbacks was gone.

Therefore, they made the Howell move to get a young quarterback so that they didn’t come out of the off-season empty handed. Now, at least they have a cost-effective young signal caller who — as Schneider pointed out — is the same age or younger than many of the big-name quarterbacks in the draft.

The downside is, if this theory carries any water, that it might mean they’re resigned to not drafting a quarterback again. Or it could simply mean the market for Michael Penix Jr is so unpredictable, they want to be fully prepared. That would fit in with the ‘not forcing anything’ approach. But I do think it’s possible the Howell trade indicates a growing expectation that they might not draft a QB.

Onto the seven round Seahawks mock…

First round — #16 — Trade down

It feels increasingly inevitable that they move down for two reasons. Firstly, this draft is too good in day two to think they manipulated a way to turn three day-two picks into one. They have to be planning to get more stock in this range, surely?

Secondly, I think a lot of their key targets at #16 will be off the board. I think they’d love to get Taliese Fuaga or Troy Fautanu but if I were doing a full first round projection today, I’d have them at #9 and #10 respectively. I also think JC Latham will be gone and Jared Verse will be too. Chop Robinson is the blue-chipper most likely to last, I think, but there’s no saying whether they would stick and pick for another edge rusher.

I have the Seahawks trading down to #25 in a deal with the Packers. Green Bay needs a left tackle, so they move up. They’ve got two second round picks so they give the Seahawks #58 to jump up and select Olu Fashanu at #16 — a player I think will last longer than many mock drafts are projecting.

First round — #25 — Trade down

The Seahawks trade down for a second time as they continue to stock-pile picks. Here’s the thing — once you trade out of the top-20, you trade out of the value range in round one. That’s why I’m not a huge fan of them trading away their second rounder and one of their third round picks. Now, they feel under greater pressure to trade out of #16. Once you get to about pick #22, the value drops. It’s why I think Houston were so comfortable going from #23 to #42 in their trade with the Vikings, for nothing more than a 2025 second round pick. The value between pick #23 and #42 is minimal. So the Seahawks might as well see if they can move down again if they trade off #16.

I have them making a deal with the Panthers. Carolina traded away Brian Burns and they need a replacement. I have them trading the pick they got from the Giants — #39 — to the Seahawks for #25 so they can select Laiatu Latu. In return, the Seahawks get #65 and they send pick #118 to the Panthers.

This means the Seahawks swapped #16 and #118 for #39, #58 and #65.

Second round — #39 — Cooper Beebe (G, Kansas State)

I’m less confident projecting this today after hearing Schneider speak about the guard position — but Beebe just feels like a great fit. Firstly, he’s very athletic for a guard — running a 5.03 at 322lbs. I sense Scott Huff and Ryan Grubb are looking for a degree of athleticism up front. I think they also want extremely physical, punishing blockers. That’s Beebe. He loves to get out in space and run people over.

He also has a flawless character background and he’s experienced. Schneider mentioned recently how much he likes to see players play in their Bowl games and not sit out. Beebe participated in the Pop Tarts Bowl, despite knowing he was turning pro.

Athleticism, performance, playing style and character — Beebe ticks every box. He could slot in at left guard on day one and currently, that would fill a big need. He’s a sure-fire top-45 talent so this wouldn’t be a reach. It would further help establish the kind of team they want to be up front.

Second round — #58 — Javon Bullard (S, Georgia)

I want to continue along the theme of not drafting for need. After signing one safety (and potentially adding a second) in free agency — this isn’t a desperate need this early. However, Bullard is a legit top-60 talent in the draft and you can’t help but love the way he plays the game. He is a tone-setting, heat-seeking missile of a safety who strikes fear into opponents — yet also has enough range to play well in coverage.

He’s versatile and can play in a number of different roles. I think his best spot could be ‘big nickel’ where he can play downfield — but if you wanted to confuse opponents he could easily drop. He has the quickness and field IQ to deceive.

In terms of character, there are again zero flags. Like Beebe, Bullard played in his Bowl game — the Capital One Bowl against Florida State. To me he’s a throwback to what the Seahawks used to be — tough, physical and fast. I like his fit based on what we’ve been told about Baltimore’s defense and think he could become a real asset in the secondary and a possible long-term fixture.

Third round — #65 — Ruke Orhorhoro (DT, Clemson)

When studying tape, I just kept thinking how much Orhorhoro reminded me of Justin Madubuike. Back in 2020, Madubuike was a blog favourite. His upside potential was obvious and Mike Macdonald helped bring out the best in him towards the end of his rookie contract. The comparisons are obvious in terms of playing style and physical traits.

For example, Orhorhoro ran a 4.89 forty and a 1.67 10-yard split at 294lbs. Madubuike ran a 4.83 with a 1.73 10-yard split at 293lbs. Orhorhoro has 34 inch arms, Madubuike has 33.5 inch arms. They ran a 7.37 and a 7.40 three-cone respectively. The one big difference is there were some slight character questions on Madubuike and Orhorhoro has no such problems entering the league.

I’m not convinced Dre’Mont Jones is a fit for the scheme Macdonald will run. Curtis Allen has projected the Seahawks have about $9m to spend in free agency currently. With work still to be done, they need nearly all of that. However, they still need to find a saving down the line to be able to sign their draft class and provide funds for injured reserve, a practise squad and have a little to play with if needed.

I wonder if they could draft Orhorhoro to be their version of Madubuike, then after June 1st they could trade Jones to create $11.5m in cap space. Trading Jones before June 1st only saves $4.8m — so there’s incentive to wait. They could theoretically just move him for a throwaway future pick in training camp or a player swap to create the extra cap space. Adding Orhorhoro not only gives them a player who’s a better fit and has extremely appealing physical and character traits — it could pave the way for Jones moving on in the future.

Third round — #81 — Trente Jones (G/T, Michigan)

Jones had limited starts at Michigan (13) but did enough in those appearances to think he has a far more exciting NFL future than his experience suggests. I thought he was impressive on tape, he’s capable of providing positional flexibility at guard or tackle, he’s a good (not great) athlete and plays with great base and power. I thought he excelled at the combine during on-field drills and constantly stood out with team mate Trevor Keegan.

I think in this range, he’s worth a shot. There are others we could discuss such as Beaux Limmer (who can play guard or center), Mason McCormick (a small-school prospect who tested through the roof and is extremely physical on tape) or Caedan Wallace (a vastly underrated right tackle). I like Jones for this projection though just because he can provide quality depth and competition, his best football could be ahead of him, he has a likeable personality and tapping into the Michigan O-line is no bad thing.

Fourth round — #102 — Fabien Lovett (DT, Florida State)

I really liked watching Lovett on tape and I think in this kind of range he has a chance to be a steal. He’s not a classic nose tackle at 6-4 and 314lbs but his vines for arms (35.5 inches) keep his frame clean and once he plants the anchor in the ground, you can’t move him. He’ll eat up double-teams, he’ll give you a great shift up front in the key early downs and he’ll help repair Seattle’s broken run defense. He also has 10.5 inch hands that act as great big clamps.

The potential signing of Jonathan Hankins doesn’t prevent the Seahawks from adding competition at nose. Lovett will never be a disruptive force creating pressure and blowing up interior lines. However — his toughness and ability to become a big Oak tree in the interior carries early day three value.

Plus — once again — he is considered an elite character player with ‘heart and soul of the locker room’ potential.

Sixth round — #179 — Tyrice Knight (LB, UTEP)

He’s one of Seattle’s ‘official 30’ visits and frankly, he could easily go earlier than this. He plays the run well, he’s well sized, he packs a punch as a tackler and although there’s some evidence of inconsistent discipline monitoring gaps — he generally moves well across the line and delivers the key tackle. There’s definitely a player to work with here and he could provide depth and competition at linebacker.

Sixth round — #192 — Dominique Hampton (S, Washington)

Part of me wonders if I’m being too generous imagining Hampton is still on the board in round six after his great combine. However, he was generally flying under the radar before then and it’s possible only teams with intimate knowledge of his value at Washington will understand how good he can be.

I’m told Hampton was asked to play a complex role in the Huskies defense that required discipline and high football IQ. He executed at a high level and was extremely well liked in the locker room. To me, he feels like the kind of player who would fit in Mike Macdonald’s defense and if nothing else — he could provide core special teams value.

Take him here, stash him on special teams as a rookie and see if he can develop into something more over time.

Seventh round — #235 — Emani Bailey (RB, TCU)

The Seahawks have often taken running backs in the sixth or seventh round to compete for backup and special teamer jobs. Bailey had an exceptional Senior Bowl — flashing quality as a runner and a catcher. His third-down value could immediately replace Deejay Dallas and he would provide excellent competition for Kenny McIntosh.

Full draft

#39 Cooper Beebe (G, Kansas State)
#58 Javon Bullard (S, Georgia)
#65 Ruke Orhorhoro (DT, Clemson)
#81 Trente Jones (T/G, Michigan)
#102 Fabien Lovett (DT, Florida State)
#179 Tyrice Knight (LB, UTEP)
#192 Dominique Hampton (S, Washington)
#235 Emani Bailey (RB, TCU)

Final thoughts

This is one projection so don’t get too worked up. I’ll do others where the Seahawks can potentially still add a quarterback. There are other players I’d also like to pair with the Seahawks in the future — including my recent interviewees Malik Mustapha, Jaylen Harrell, Mekhi Wingo and Brennan Jackson.

This is a very ‘trench heavy’ draft but I don’t think that’s too unrealistic at the start of this new era. I think all of the players tick the necessary character boxes, their playing styles and schematic fits seem to be on point and you could lay the foundations for a tougher, more rounded and balanced football team.

What you’re lacking is that bit of star quality at the top. Imagine this class with #16 thrown in — and that pick being, for example, Chop Robinson. This is the bed the Seahawks have made for themselves, though. They’re either going to need to move around the board, add picks and potentially end up with a class like this — or they’re going to have to live with having very little in the meat of the draft (day two) but coming away with someone who could be more of a X-factor player at #16. It’ll be interesting to see what they decide.

I’m not a huge fan of the Sam Howell trade

When the Commanders signed Marcus Mariota, I thought Howell would just get the Mac Jones treatment. Despite a decent start in Washington last season, things soon spiralled. Admittedly, his situation was not ideal. The Commanders had a Head Coach on the way out, they traded away their two best pass rushers before the deadline and the team fell apart. That said, he also took too many avoidable sacks and had a penchant for turnovers.

Rightly or wrongly, Howell went from being seen as a possible answer for the long haul to a player nobody thought was the future in Washington.

Now, the Seahawks have dropped 24 picks in the draft in round three and 27 in round five to acquire two years of Howell. They’ve gone from #78 to #102 and from #152 to #179.

Is it the end of the world? No, of course not. They needed a backup quarterback and Howell is cheap with starting experience. However, it’s hard to fathom why Adam Schefter, who broke the news, reported ‘Seattle has long liked Howell’ yet in 2022 — immediately after the Russell Wilson trade — they passed on him several times including in round four. That doesn’t exactly scream a great desire to have him on the team, especially when this was before Geno Smith’s resurgence.

Schneider, speaking on Seattle Sports today, spoke about how impressed he was by Howell when the Commanders played in Seattle in November. It was a decent display — but it also came against the Seahawks’ defense at pretty much its worst.

For what it’s worth, I had Sam Howell as a fourth round prospect on my final 2022 horizontal board and was never a big fan.

So what does it all mean in terms of the bigger picture?

It could be that they simply had to hedge for the draft. Going into it with only one contracted quarterback would be extremely dangerous — plus you’d be a Smith injury away from starting a rookie. They needed another player and for that reason I’m tempted to suggest this is just a necessary addition, filling a need.

Further to this, his salary of just over $985,000 is a lot cheaper than all of the veterans being signed in the last few days — many of which are well past their best.

However, the trade compensation feels inflated unless other teams created a bidding war. Schneider said on the radio that several others were trying to make a deal with the Commanders.

You can’t help but wonder if this is indicative of a team resigned to not drafting a quarterback again this year. Perhaps the players they want are not going to be available? If Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy are the third and fourth picks overall (assuming someone like Minnesota trades up), it could become a one quarterback draft for the Seahawks (at least in the early rounds). There’s a chance Michael Penix Jr is taken before the 16th pick too.

Or, they might intend to trade down from #16 and will consider Penix Jr later — but there’s no guarantee you get him. Thus, you need insurance.

It is frustrating to think that the Seahawks might have to endure yet another year with kicking the can down the road at the position. You can’t force things but eventually they’re going to have to be bold and ambitious — just as Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore were to acquire their franchise QB’s.

It’s also true that in a draft rich in day two talent, they now only have one pick in that range. I’d say the chances of trading down from #16 just massively increased. That makes sense to a degree — although in every mock I work on at the moment, there’s a noticeable talent drop from #16 to outside the top-22.

I can see why they might prefer a quantity approach and might trade down several times to fill out their roster. To an extent I can get behind that. It’s also very easy to imagine some of the players they’d miss out on at #16.

They talked up Drew Lock so much, only to see him walk out the door to the Giants. Is this an overreaction to that? Is it an overreaction to Lock’s departure and perhaps the realisation that Maye and McCarthy won’t be within reach and that the draft range with Penix Jr is murky?

Whatever the reason, my conclusion of the deal is such — it feels pricey, I’m a little bit concerned it means another year without drafting a quarterback, but I also appreciate they probably had to do something at the position before the draft.

With everything else, I think they’ve done the right thing

Before the market opened I said I hoped the Seahawks wouldn’t be overly aggressive in free agency. I think they’ve been restrained in a good way (at least up until today’s trade).

We’ve seen how the market is once again fool’s gold. Decent players have been paid like elite players. I want to see the Seahawks invest in their O-line as much as anyone — but not at any cost.

For example, I had a fourth round grade on Jonah Jackson going into the 2020 draft. He was taken in round three. Jackson was a solid college guard with a chance to become a NFL starter. He was PFF’s 34th ranked guard in 2023 with a 61.0 grade.

He’s now earning $17m a year in LA. That is ridiculous.

Robert Hunt graded a lot better with the Dolphins, he was PFF’s sixth best guard with a 76.4 grade. However, he only played 11 games last season. Now he’s on $20m a year.

Damien Lewis, who most people would agree saw his career in Seattle stall out after they made the poor decision to move him to left guard just to accommodate Gabe Jackson, will join Hunt in Carolina on a deal worth $13.25m a year.

None of these players are difference makers, yet two of them are earning difference-maker contracts. Let’s go back to Jackson and the fourth round grade from 2020. There are seven guards on my current horizontal board graded for round three. Zak Zinter, who I have in round two, could last to the third round as he recovers from injury.

The Seahawks don’t need to spend $17-20m on a guard in this market. They need to go and draft a guard in the first four rounds and develop them into a competent or plus starter. It’s not rocket science. This is a quality offensive line draft. Use it to your advantage.

They have finally shifted resource to key areas

I had no problem with the decision to spend big on Leonard Williams. I think he’s a really good player — the type they’ve been trying to find for years. The deal is for three seasons and given the success Mike Macdonald had with Justin Madubuike, I’m fascinated to see what Williams can achieve under the new Head Coach.

Let’s put it this way — give me a player like Williams over the inflated prices being handed out to the guards listed above.

When you put this with the investment in Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed, plus what they’ve spent on the edges in salary (Uchenna Nwosu) and second round picks (Mafe, Hall, Taylor) — this is genuine investment up front.

If you take it to the offensive line, there’s a top-10 pick at left tackle and they’re covered at right tackle with the signing of George Fant (more on him shortly). Hopefully Abe Lucas will also be able to return.

There’s clearly more to be done and that could come in the form of their top pick in the 2024 draft. However, you can’t look at the Seahawks in their current form and say they haven’t committed resource to the trenches.

In the past it was very different. Remember the days where they were paying a fortune to Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, while still drafting Jordyn Brooks in round one? Then they spent a huge amount of money on Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, not to mention the draft capital used on Adams.

Meanwhile, the team struggled up front on both sides of the ball.

The Seahawks should be applauded for finally, seemingly, changing their personnel tactics. They are now following the rest of the league and seeking value and versatility at safety. They haven’t felt the need to panic at linebacker and spend a lot of money for average output — which is what they’ve been getting.

I think people have overreacted to the Ravens’ success with Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton and tried to make it seem like a huge new trend was developing. Based on Seattle’s moves so far, the man who led Baltimore’s defense last year doesn’t agree.

I’m sure if the Seahawks could acquire a Smith or Hamilton, they would. Jordyn Brooks and Patrick Queen weren’t Smith. Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams weren’t Hamilton. You have to play the cards you are dealt. In this instance, that meant re-signing Leonard Williams — a good defensive tackle — and now looking for value at linebacker and safety.

The Seahawks can add talent at safety and linebacker in the draft

I’ve seen a lot of people saying this is a bad class at the two positions and that’s a lazy way of looking at it. There aren’t any sure-fire first round picks, that’s for sure. There are good players set to be available though in a range where the Seahawks are likely to be in the market.

There are seven really appealing safeties that I’ve seen projected anywhere from rounds 2-5 — Tyler Nubin, Javon Bullard, Malik Mustapha Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Jaden Hicks, Kitan Oladapo, Dominique Hampton and Cole Bishop. Some of these players would be positively exciting if they are selected. Mustapha reminds me a lot of Budda Baker. Nubin is tremendously rounded and a ballhawk. Bullard hits like a ton of bricks and has great range. Taylor-Demerson is an elite athlete with fantastic closing speed and he packs a punch. Hicks is very versatile and savvy, Oladapo is an all-rounder with size and Bishop’s testing hints at solid upside. Robinson managed a complex role at Washington, is flying way under the radar and could be a steal.

At linebacker, it’s not impossible that the Seahawks trade down from #16 and acquire a pick that puts them in range for one of Payton Wilson, Junior Colson or Edgerrin Cooper. I don’t think they need to do that though. Trevin Wallace is tremendously fun to watch and plays with speed, intensity and range. Cedric Gray is a very solid player and can cover and run-and-chase. Jeremiah Trotter was disappointing at the combine but clearly has instinct and talent, while Nathaniel Watson is a sack-machine who plays with an old-school edge. Ty’ron Hopper is tough and consistent and UTEP’s Tyrice Knight is going to Seattle for an official-30 visit.

Then you have a bunch of possible early day-three types — from Steele Chambers to Jaylan Ford to Tommy Eichenberg to J.D. Bertrand to Edefuan Ulofoshio. There are plenty of others.

It’s perfectly possible for the Seahawks to draft a couple of linebackers from this group if they wish, with the objective of developing them into competent starters. Big-money investment, or the use of high picks, isn’t necessary if you have the right coaching staff and the right talent evaluators.

Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw were former blog favourites and were drafted in rounds three and five respectively. They were identifiable based on traits and playing style. Demario Davis was a third rounder. Leo Chenal, another blog favourite, was a third rounder. Frankie Luvu was undrafted. Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright were drafted in rounds two and four.

It’s very possible to find contributing linebackers without spending a fortune — and that’s an argument we’ve often made.

So while there may not be an Earl Thomas or Luke Kuechly in the first round this year, there are still plenty of very capable linebackers and safeties in this class. It’s just a shame they’ve dropped 24 spots from the #78 pick, making it potentially harder to get stuck into the players listed above.

George Fant is a wise addition

The reaction to his contract was one of surprise online but the deal — worth up to $14m over two years — is about par for the course for a swing tackle. Look at the amount being paid to starting guards and tackles in free agency. For someone who might need to start for you at right tackle, this is about what you’d expect to spend.

Further to that, he has positional flexibility and experience. Now the Seahawks are adequately hedged for the draft and for Abe Lucas failing to properly recover from his knee trouble. Fant’s addition was absolutely critical. It’s no bad thing to have him as your worst case scenario as a starting right tackle.

Schneider called him a ‘utility’ lineman on the radio. It speaks to the nature of the signing — he’s a draft hedge and quality depth at multiple positions.

Noah Fant is also a wise addition

This is a draft class without a lot of quality at tight end. There are players who have traits to develop — but unlike linebacker and safety, there isn’t a long list of potential early starters.

Fant has always felt like a player with great potential but also great misfortune. It wasn’t ideal playing for a shambolic Denver in his first stop and the Seahawks under Pete Carroll never really worked out how to make best use of a tight end. Now, with Ryan Grubb in charge, he could become a consistent threat for the first time in his career.

Pharaoh Brown is a perfectly acceptable TE2. He grades well for blocking, he’s capable of making catches when targeted. They needed to add a starter and a depth player so it’s job done.

Nick Harris suggests they still have a type at center

As noted a month ago, the Seahawks, Ravens and Huskies have all been using smaller more athletic centers in recent seasons. I did wonder if that would change — especially given the LA Rams’ decision to revamp their running schemes and go for bigger linemen. However, the signing of Harris suggests otherwise.

Alternatively, they could’ve just signed a player who is familiar to Scott Huff and can provide depth, competition and versatility up front. Yet there’s a consistency here between three different regimes that have come together in Seattle.

It does make me wonder if it makes it less likely that they draft Jackson Powers-Johnson — but they could also move him to guard.

I like the Rayshawn Jenkins signing

I’ve always thought he was a very solid player who can do a lot of things at a decent level. Then I saw this statistic and it’s certainly encouraging and suggests, given where Jenkins is ranked compared to Kyle Hamilton, that it’s something Mike Macdonald perhaps pays attention to.

On top of that though, Jenkins comes across as a good leader. His mic’d up segments are fun and you can well imagine he’ll be a popular player with team mates. The Seahawks need some of that given the amount of experience that has now left the locker room.

Darrell Taylor re-signing feels like a shot to nothing

Taylor can be a dynamic edge threat but the Seahawks under Carroll never seemed to be able to hide his flaws against the run and just let him pin his ears back. Bringing him back with minimal guarantee of a roster spot is a savvy move. We’ll see if Macdonald can unleash his pass-rushing potential — something he definitely did with Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy last season.

This could be the fresh start Taylor needs. We can all see the talent is there. If it doesn’t work out, they can move on quite easily with barely any dead money.

It’s no gamble at all on a player with untapped potential.

On top of this, bringing back Michael Jackson and Artie Burns maintains Seattle’s cornerback depth.

No envy for any other moves

I can honestly say there hasn’t been a single other move that I’ve thought, ‘I wish the Seahawks had done that’. Like everyone else I had a list of players I wouldn’t have minded seeing in Seattle. Frankie Luvu and Jeremy Chinn were a couple of names on mine. However, amid a whole bunch of reckless spending and a lot of air time and online space taken up discussing free agency — it’s still true that winning teams are built through the draft.

It’s critical the Seahawks continue to avoid drafting for need and keep adding talent. However, as mentioned, eventually they are going to have to be pro-active in finding a long-term answer at quarterback. They can’t keep putting that off.

Of the players who departed for new teams, I don’t wish any of them had stayed. Jordyn Brooks might have his admirers online but he always felt ‘decent’ rather than ‘great’. It was time to move on from Bobby Wagner, despite Richard Sherman’s nonsensical rant about the Seahawks not showing loyalty because they haven’t signed Wagner ‘forever’ until ‘he’ has decided he’s had enough.

Damien Lewis was way too expensive, Colby Parkinson felt destined to try for a new start and Will Dissly’s contract was too rich for his production. Quandre Diggs’ play regressed in 2023 and there was no way they could justify his huge cap hit.

I’m surprised Drew Lock decided New York was better for him, given the toxicity of that franchise and the major sales pitch from the Seahawks. Perhaps he just felt the writing was on the wall when it was confirmed Geno Smith would definitely be staying (although I think that was up in the air for a while). Regardless, Lock was not going to be the future in Seattle.

What happens now?

I’m pretty sure at least one linebacker will be signed soon — perhaps ending this phase of the off-season for the Seahawks. Perhaps they’ll have enough money to bring in a cheap hedge at guard too. They’ve set up the last two drafts to avoid picking for need so it feels like they’ll do the same this year. It’s a good tactic.

EDIT — The Seahawks today agreed terms with former Bills linebacker Tyrel Dodson. He was PFF’s highest graded linebacker during the 2023 season with a 90.2 grade.

I think it now looks increasingly likely they’ll trade down from #16 to add stock. They should receive a lot of interest — with teams competing potentially for the offensive tackles, cornerbacks and the fourth receiver (Brian Thomas Jr). They might move down multiple times to really fill out their board.

I suspect part of the Howell trade was an acceptance that trading up isn’t viable for one of the consensus top-four quarterbacks. They might still have interest in Michael Penix Jr — but it’ll depend on his draft range. It’s not unrealistic to think he could go as high as 13th overall or as low as day two.

The Howell trade — and the compensation given up — could’ve been with the understanding that they’ll be able to add more day two stock after trading down.

I don’t think the Seahawks are in a position to do any more than they have so far. They have a rookie Head Coach and two rookie NFL coordinators. They are having to install new systems across the board and it’s fair to expect there will be growing pains. It might be unintentional but a somewhat uneventful free agency could end up managing expectations this year — which won’t be a bad thing.

It’s a process and they’ve got to try and grow and develop the players they have while adding to their core. They need to start hitting on players who can be great, not just good or very good.

This year, this is all very understandable. It won’t be for much longer though. They can’t stick around in the murky middle of the NFL — eventually, they’ll need to be more aggressive to find the ingredients needed to produce a Championship caliber team — which mostly means identifying a franchise signal caller.

For more thoughts on the Sam Howell trade and Seattle’s off-season so far, check out my latest video below:

It was a pleasure to speak with LSU’s super athletic and high character defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo. Check out the interview below, I promise you’ll take an instant liking to this player. If you missed my previous interviews with Malik Mustapha and Jaylen Harrell, you’ll find them on my YouTube channel.

I was told Seahawks Twitter had become a little hysterical with the team’s inactivity in free agency. I discovered it for myself when posting that I thought they were doing the right thing.

Apparently the sky is falling. But it isn’t.

So what if Patrick Queen signed for the Steelers? Have we forgotten that up until Mike Macdonald became defensive coordinator in Baltimore, he was considered a bust? Granted, the arrival of Roquan Smith also helped. But this is a player who, by all accounts, has had a lot of assistance to reach a decent payday in free agency. They haven’t just let peak Bobby Wagner go to the Steelers.

A whole bunch of guards have signed elsewhere for enormous salaries. None of them feel like Joe Thuney level free agents. Did anyone really want the Seahawks to spend $20m on Robert Hunt or $16m on a player like Kevin Dotson, who the Rams acquired in a dirt cheap trade a year ago?

Several other players touted as targets (although who knows if they actually were) have gone elsewhere, such as Geno Stone and Jeremy Chinn. Were they really going to make a big impact in 2024? Can Chinn even play at a reasonable level any more, given his dramatic decline in Carolina and lack of interest from Ejiro Evero in making him a part of the future there?

Then there’s the players departing. Most would agree Macdonald did well with the linebackers in Baltimore. Yet he, and the people who invested a first round pick in Jordyn Brooks previously, have decided the contract he signed in Miami wasn’t worth bettering. It seems very few people are willing to trust John Schneider and Macdonald on this decision. Why?

Meanwhile, necessary cuts have been made to get out of overly expensive, bad value contracts. Seattle’s ability to spend is hampered by the fact they’re eating $31m in dead money for Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams this year. They’re taking the short-term hit to feel the benefit next year. That comes with a consequence.

Here’s another reality. Even with the Tyler Lockett restructure, they only have between $8-15m available to spend as a rough estimate. That might mean 2-3 cheapish players. They’re not in a position to spend $5m on a Willie Gay type who, if we’re being honest, was basically a role player in Kansas City.

People are now questioning why they re-signed Leonard Williams and Noah Fant if they’re so restricted. What if both are viewed as critical components for the next 2-3 years or beyond? What if they are perfect fits in terms of talent and character for the new staff? Are you going to let them walk in favour of collecting the Chinn’s, Gay’s and others instead?

Is it really such a bad thing to pay market value for Williams, a player they clearly value? And won’t it be exciting to see what Macdonald can do with him, given the way he worked production out of Justin Madubuike?

Here’s the list of pressures registered by players lining up at three-technique in 2023:

Justin Madubuike — 38
Leonard Williams — 30
Javon Hargrave — 30
Chris Jones — 28
Zach Allen — 27

Haven’t they been looking for that kind of player for a long time?

It’s day two of free agency. Players are still available. Maybe not the players you wanted but that’s OK. Do you think Ravens fans jumped for joy when they signed Kyle Van Noy a year ago for $1.4m? He produced nine sacks. Sometimes it’s the highly motivated, snubbed free agent who produces more than the over-paid average talent on an extortionate deal.

Plus, I keep hearing what a bad draft it is at linebacker and safety (typically from people who haven’t studied the class at all). Admittedly, neither position is ‘loaded’ in this draft. There are still good players to be had though.

It’s possible Junior Colson can’t be reached and Payton Wilson’s injury record keeps him off your board (maybe). There’s still Cedric Gray, Trevin Wallace, Jeremiah Trotter, Ty’ron Hopper and Nathaniel Watson who I’d suggest have starting potential at the next level at a very affordable draft range.

I’d even argue in the later rounds, there are linebackers who are going to be available who aren’t totally hopeless. There’s potential here, there just aren’t any first rounders.

I like this safety class. I think Tyler Nubin, Javon Bullard, Malik Mustapha and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson all have plus starter potential. Bullard will go in round two but the others — who I think all deserve round two grades — get projected anywhere from rounds 2-5. There’s value to be had here. Then there’s the next tier which for me includes Jaden Hicks, Kitan Oladapo and Dominique Hampton — plus others who could provide value on day three.

This isn’t a lost cause. It’s actually better for the Seahawks to have more options in rounds 3-5 at these positions than the class be front-loaded at the top end and everyone have a bunch of names to discuss that they’re familiar with.

Finally, offensive linemen. It’s the best O-line class in years. Where’s the panic? They’ll have options at #16. They’ll have options if they trade down in round one. There’s a great big thick list of linemen for the middle rounds. There are players who could be there in rounds 4-5 with starter potential. On Michigan’s pro-style, Championship winning line alone you’ve got six players in this class and I’d argue three of them are really good prospects.

I actually think this draft class matches up with Seattle’s current needs rather nicely. They can seek value in the veteran market and then go and get good players in the draft. After that, they can circle back to the veteran market and go bargain hunting again.

They have the flexibility with this draft to do their due diligence on the quarterbacks (and they seem to be, Ryan Grubb was at Bo Nix’s pro-day today). If they want to take one — they’ll still be able to address O-line, safety and linebacker. Or, if they pass on the quarterbacks, that just frees up their high pick for the trenches.

This is how they should be operating. Keep and retain what you consider your ‘core’. Look for value on the open market. Keep searching for that all important X-factor player at quarterback. Once you find that individual, on a rookie contract, you can strike in free agency to build a contender.

Until you get to that point, though, the Seahawks just need to keep building. They need to avoid bad contracts. At the moment, it seems like that’s exactly what they’re doing.

Less panic and more patience should be the order of the day.

A final quick reminder — this team still has a collection of well-drafted younger players who could really benefit from a new coaching staff getting to work with them. It’s far more exciting to imagine the potential leaps taken by Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, Charles Cross, Tariq Woolen, Ken Walker, Zach Charbonnet, Devon Witherspoon, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cam Young, Anthony Bradford and others — not to mention possible growth from the likes of D.K. Metcalf — than it is to stress about who plays linebacker and safety in 2024, two days into free agency.

Meanwhile, they could find the future at quarterback in this draft — or they could set up the O-line for years to come. Finally — consider that we’re going to see something different in 2024. New coaches, new, fresh ideas. There’s a lot to be optimistic about.

If you missed my article earlier considering Seattle’s approach to the offensive line, check it out here.

File this in the thinking out loud cabinet for now — but could the way the Rams have re-worked their offensive line influence the Seahawks?

This article in the Athletic outlines Sean McVay’s schematic transition over the last couple of years. The gist is, McVay ran an outside-zone run scheme and meshed it with a lot of play-action. They focused on cheaper, more mobile/athletic linemen for the system.

In 2022 they had a starting line of Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, Rob Havenstein, David Edwards and Joseph Noteboom. Only Havenstein had any serious size. The two guards — Edwards and Corbett — were converted tackles. Allen was an undersized center. None of the players were big-money investments or high draft picks.

Jourdan Rodrigue writes in the Athletic article that, “McVay’s run game became increasingly one-dimensional after the departure of Todd Gurley in 2019. The Rams went from the top of the NFL in production there to near the bottom.” Rodrigue also notes a ‘finesse’ reputation had been developed. Thus, McVay decided to make drastic changes.

Per Rodrigue:

So in spring and summer 2023, McVay committed to adjusting his scheme to feature more gap- and man-blocking concepts — a favorite run became “duo” — with plenty of motion and sifting from tight ends and receivers (they still ran mid- and outside-zone as well, mixing horizontal stretch with downhill power), and GM Les Snead committed to the type of personnel up front it would take to run the more physical plays.

Here’s what that means. They drafted Steve Avila in round two a year ago, he’s 332lbs. He’ll convert to center next season. They traded for and subsequently spent big money on Kevin Dotson, who is 321lbs. They just paid a sizeable sum to Jonah Jackson, who is 311lbs. Rob Havenstein, the right tackle, is 330lbs. Alaric Jackson, who started at left tackle last year, is 330lbs.

That’s an enormous O-line. The Rams have certainly committed to varying their scheme. It makes me wonder if the Seahawks will do something similar.

Now, it’s worth repeating what we’ve already said about the current staff in Seattle. Washington, under Ryan Grubb and Scott Huff, preferred smaller, more athletic centers. The Ravens, where Mike Macdonald coached defense, drafted a similar undersized center in the first round in 2022 (Tyler Linderbaum). The Seahawks have also favoured smaller centers the last two years in Austin Blythe, Evan Brown and Olu Oluwatimi.

However, the Seahawks have faced similar problems to the Rams. They’ve also earned a ‘finesse’ tag, along with — if we’re being honest — ‘incapable’. The run game has collapsed.

They have just appointed Jake Peetz from the Rams to be their passing game coordinator, which suggests they are conscious of what McVay is doing in LA. He’s obviously not involved in the run game but he might share some of McVay’s ideas from last season with Grubb and Huff.

Again, it’s worth noting what Huff had in Washington. There were too very athletic tackles who weren’t massive in size. They had a center listed at 275lbs. The two guards were 327lbs and 311lbs. It would be a pivot to now mimic LA and bring in a monster O-line.

That said, prospective starting right guard Anthony Bradford is 332lbs. There are other accomplished interior offensive linemen in this draft who are in that size range. For example, I’ve been saying Jackson Powers-Johnson might be less likely to land in Seattle than elsewhere because he’s 330lbs. If the Seahawks were leaning towards copying the Rams, though, he would fit the size profile.

So my point really is I’m going to be more open minded about what they might do. It’s not out of the realms of possibility they copy the Rams and go for size. This is a copycat league, after all. Plus the Rams ran well against Mike Macdonald’s Baltimore defense last season — producing 128 yards on the ground.

At the moment, short of any unexpected big splash in free agency, I’d think everything points towards the Seahawks focusing on three possible areas in the draft — quarterback, O-line and pass rusher. If they see a potential long term franchise QB, that has to be a firm focus. That might be tricky with the top-three teams positioning themselves to go QB, with the Giants, Vikings, Broncos and Raiders also in the market. If a quarterback isn’t possible, selecting the best O-liner or pass rusher at #16 (or after trading down) feels a near certainty.

After reading about the Rams, and acknowledging how much Grubb has already talked about creating a line that’ll beat people up in the trenches, it stands to reason the Seahawks might also seek to get bigger and more bullying on their offensive line.

The Seahawks have shown great restraint on the first day of free agency. Despite creating a decent chunk of cap space, they’ve resisted the temptation to waste most of it on elite contracts for non-elite players.

Here’s where the Seahawks are. They don’t have a young franchise quarterback, drafted to produce hope and belief for years to come. They don’t have a top-tier difference making pass rusher. Until they find those two things, it’s absolutely pointless bringing in bad contracts to eat up your cap space. This is a team in transition and we just have to embrace it.

It might provide a dopamine hit to see they’ve spent $20m a year on a player. In two years you may well be looking at Over The Cap to see how much it’ll take to cut that player and whether you can live with the dead money.

This is the fools gold period of the NFL. The Seahawks have had enough bad contracts over the years. They’re constantly eating dead money for one reason or another. It was ridiculous that they ended up on the hook for $48.1m for Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams and now they get to live with $31m of their 2024 cap going on both players to play elsewhere.

They are far better off looking for low-commitment, development deals at this time. Look at the work Mike Macdonald did in Baltimore. He got great seasons out of Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy. He helped turn Justin Madubuike and Patrick Queen into top performers. The Ravens had to cycle through defensive backs and still found success. Geno Stone was hailed by the GM as Baltimore’s best ever seventh round pick — thanks to Macdonald’s guidance.

The Seahawks are better off letting him do his thing in 2024. Take a few low-cost shots. Make calculated moves. Maybe you can hit on some players you wish to extend in 12 months to longer, bigger deals? For now though, what’s the point in splurging?

Look at the guard market. Robert Hunt’s contract looks like it’s basically $20m a year. Kevin Dotson earns $16m a year now. That’s Dotson, by the way, who the Rams acquired for a ham sandwich a year ago. Part of Seattle’s problem in the trenches is a total inability to get players performing or elevating beyond expectations. Scott Huff needs to be able to deliver that, they can’t just throw money at the problem.

It’s also a fantastic O-line draft full of guards you can well imagine coming in and performing at a good standard quickly. That’s not just for the first two rounds either — there are attractive mid/late round alternatives too.

I’m not against spending. Getting Leonard Williams back on a reasonable deal for a soon-to-be 30-year-old non-elite player would be very welcome.

I’m not really bothered that Jordyn Brooks has signed for $10m a year in Miami. Again, he was only ever decent, not great in Seattle. Is that worth $30m over three seasons?

I’ll come back to my original point. Until you have the key facets of a contending team on the roster, free agency feels like a dance worth sitting out. The Seahawks are two years removed from the Russell Wilson trade. They need to identify a quarterback who can lead them to future contention and they need to go and get that player. They also need to do what the Chiefs and others have done and find a difference making pass rusher without picking in the top-five.

Every time I mention this, I’m obliged to qualify how difficult these two things are. I get it. But this is the only way to contend. You get a young franchise quarterback, you give them weapons (they have weapons), you give them protection (this needs work) and you need a game-wrecker on defense. If you can’t get those things, then you’re one of the many teams making up the numbers.

The first phase of free agency is just a wallet-lightening session for very rich people running NFL teams. The Seahawks’ priority has to be the draft. They need to find where that next Chris Jones or Maxx Crosby or T.J. Watt is lurking in this class. They need to ask whether any of these quarterbacks can be ‘the guy’ and if the answer is yes, it’s time to be aggressive.

In the meantime, Huff and Ryan Grubb need to put together a line and when you have the franchise QB in place — by all means spend away.

It’s all about the draft. It’s all about a quarterback and a difference making defender. In free agency, stick to looking for value and let your whizkid defensive coach elevate low-cost players the way he did in Baltimore.

Edit — The Seahawks are re-signing Noah Fant. There’s definitely a player in Fant and hopefully the new offensive staff can get more out of a tight end. Very comfortable with this signing and the terms.

Edit #2 — Leonard Williams is also staying in Seattle. It’s costing $21.5m a year. I like Williams. Defensive tackle is a difficult position to fill. The market rate for a player of his level is about what he has received. I’m intrigued to see what Mike Macdonald can do with him. I don’t have a problem with this signing. And this stat, given he played in a bad defense last season, is encouraging.

There’s only one type of free agent deal worth having. It’s the ‘Bennett and Avril’ type. You get a player who is weirdly underestimated by the league on a cheap contract, they come in and play fantastically well and you wonder how on earth it all happened. This is rare.

Apart from that, free agency is just full of pitfalls and disappointment. The Seahawks will likely not find any serious solutions to any significant problems next week.

Free agency is where second tier (at best) players get first tier contracts. Lesser players come in on cheap deals and fans convince themselves they’ve got a bargain, only to realise that there was a reason all along why that player was available on such a ‘great’ deal.

Fans online will pick their favourites and hope for the dopamine hit that comes with a breaking news alert from Adam Schefter. More often than not, though, they’re out of range in terms of salary and/or they don’t justify their price tag.

A year ago I really wanted the Seahawks to be active in free agency. Looking back, it’s probably because I just wanted some hope as the Pete Carroll era became increasingly stale. When they splashed out on Dre’Mont Jones it was exciting. Look how that panned out in year one.

It’s a reminder that nothing truly gets solved at this time of year. It’s exciting to play matchmaker and see where certain players end up. But unless you’re snagging Chris Jones from the Chiefs, you aren’t adding elite talent. You’re probably just adding a bad contract.

Reflecting on last year has helped shape my thoughts on free agency and team building. I think the only veteran market worth a dime is the trade market. Not expensive trades, either. Calculated deals. The kind that gives the 49ers the NFL’s best left tackle for a mid-round pick and the best running back/swiss army knife in the league. The kind that gives the Seahawks a generational heart and soul playmaker capable of creating seismic activity.

Non-elite picks for blue-chip talent might sound fanciful but it’s amazing how every now and again those opportunities present themselves. Sticking to those types of deal and avoiding the horrendous overpay (see: Jamal Adams, Russell Wilson) or the lousy expensive rental (Sheldon Richardson) is the key.

It’s not even so much for top-level talent. The Browns just took a shot to nothing on Jerry Jeudy, giving the Broncos a ham sandwich to see if their excellent offensive-minded Head Coach can kick-start his career. Previously, they traded a slightly larger ham sandwich to Dallas for Amari Cooper. Those opportunities are out there, they’re low-cost, low-risk, high-upside tosses of the hoop.

I think aggressive trades to push you over the tap are worth considering, provided you have a proper grasp of whether you’re in position to consider it. The Rams, when they dealt for Von Miller, very much were. The Seahawks, overreacting to a three-game losing streak for San Francisco and a fortunate win over the Browns, were very much not in a position to start trading second round picks away last season, only to get blown out by a legit contender (Baltimore) days later.

Other than smart trades, team-building is all about the draft. And you need to have fundamental team building philosophies and targets to set up the kind of teams you need to be successful.

For me, that means the following. You’ve got to find a difference maker at quarterback, give them some weapons and protection. Then you’ve got to find a difference making pass rusher. If you can acquire those ingredients, you can be very competitive. Once you have those key areas filled, you can work around other needs.

At the moment I think the Seahawks only have the weapons box ticked. They need a long term answer at QB. They need better protection. They don’t have a star pass rusher.

I don’t think free agency will provide any answers. This is a draft dilemma for the Seahawks. Their long term quarterback will need to be drafted, possibly after moving up. The interior O-line market has already exploded, with Kevin Dotson getting $16m a year. Good luck acquiring sure-fire solutions there with $33.8m in effective cap space. Pass rushers? Aside from Jones, who’s destined to stay in Kansas City, there isn’t anyone capable of winning you a game.

The Seahawks need to start turning a few singles into grand slam home runs. They’ve had a couple of good drafts, delivering core talent. Yet they need to find some stars in unlikely places, which is incredibly difficult, admittedly, but no less true. They need to find a Maxx Crosby type in round four. They need to go and get that guard in the middle rounds who plays well beyond his draft placing. They need to find their next franchise quarterback.

Chuckling, shrugging and saying, ‘good luck with that’ might be the auto-pilot response — but it’s the only way they’re going to get back into serious contention.

For that reason, I couldn’t care less if the Seahawks spend money next week. If they save money, avoid bad contracts, repair their cap (it’s been broken for too long and littered with bad/dead money) and let the market come to them — that feels like a good idea. You still need to set out to be as competitive as possible and there’s no benefit to being mediocre or bad in year one under Mike Macdonald. Yet if the big personnel additions for the team need to come from the draft and/or opportunistic trades in the future, there’s little sense splurging next week.

That doesn’t mean spending no money either. Leonard Williams is a good football player and bringing him back would be a positive — it just can’t be for a Justin Madubuike contract. It needs to be a deal that chimes with a soon-to-be 30-year-old defensive tackle in the ‘good not great’ category. He needs a ‘good not great’ salary.

Ditto Jordyn Brooks. This is a lousy draft at linebacker. Panicking and throwing money at Brooks and/or Patrick Queen would be an error. Some Seahawks fans might love it — but I don’t think swapping out a bunch of bad money at safety and shifting it to linebacker would be wise.

Big contracts, from now on, need to be reserved for top players — or players with the potential to reach the pinnacle at their respective positions. Prioritise key positions. Third contracts need to be treated with extreme suspicion.

If you can create the structure of quarterback-weapons-protection-pass rusher, you’ll find the overall performance of the team likely elevates, allowing you to ‘fit’ players in. Especially if you have a good staff — and I think most people would agree that the Seahawks now have a good staff.

Thus, I’d sit out the first wave of free agency and a decent chunk of the second and wait for the market to come to Seattle. Opportunity should be the order of the day. I’m not excited for an aggressive tilt at the market.

When I read NFL.com’s list of the top-100 free agents, I started at 100 and worked back. That’s how I’d approach this.

For example, instead of splashing out on Geno Stone — how much will Alohi Gilman cost? He’s #88 on the list but had an 86.1 PFF rating last season. He’s a good tackler, he’s versatile, he has a nose for the ball. PFF projects a two-year contract worth $3.75m a year. That sounds like a deal that could work.

How much would it cost to poach Jordan Fuller from the Rams? He’s #66 on the list and PFF says he could get $4.6m a year on a two-year deal. He’s another good tackler with range and playmaking ability. He’s in the ‘he can do a job’ category at a possible reasonable price range.

Rather than throw big money at Brooks and Queen, what about adding Blake Cashman? His PFF grade was 83.7 in 2023 and he’s projected to earn $4.25m a year for two years. He excelled under DeMeco Ryans. He can rush the passer, he missed only 7% of his tackles (among the best in the league) and his coverage ability is underrated.

The Seahawks need to draft a tight end who can provide value and mismatch opportunities but they also need depth. Rather than splurge to keep Noah Fant, could they just go and get someone like Austin Hooper for a cheap $2m deal to pair with a rookie? He’s 29 and won’t move the needle but again — this feels like a position where they’re going to need to draft someone to save money and try and find an impact skill-set.

If the guard market is exploding, why not try and find a ‘type’ at value? John Simpson hasn’t graded well in Baltimore but he absolutely hammers people. That’s what Ryan Grubb says he wants. Are you prepared to take a hit on overall performance to deliver violence? PFF projects he’ll earn $5.25m a year.

Of course you always look for reclamation projects too. Jeremy Chinn and Devin White have seen their stars fall. Mike Macdonald feels like a good coach to get them back on track, if their markets are weak.

Macdonald also turned late summer additions in Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy into ultra value contributors. That approach feels like it could be what the Seahawks need this year, even if it doesn’t work out.

Look at how the Ravens have been built. They traded up for a franchise quarterback when they sensed an opportunity to strike. They found a playmaking tight end in round four. They found a pass-rushing defensive tackle in round three. They were opportunistic in the Roquan Smith trade. They found value on the market. Everything else has since come together.

What do I think the Seahawks will do? Schneider says they’ve prioritised Leonard Williams. That, in the past, has still meant setting a limit. It sounds, however, like they’re determined to keep him. They’ve created a lot of cap room, including re-working Tyler Lockett’s deal this weekend. Is this to be financially aggressive in a competitive market? I sense it’s because they’ve got a lot to do — with starting roles to fill and depth to improve. I also wonder if their aim is to try and solve as many needs as possible because, as discussed, their intention might be to trade up for a quarterback.

The key to the off-season isn’t next week. It’s the draft. It’s being clear as to whether you see a potentially great quarterback in this class who is acquirable. If so, exhaust all opportunities to get him. If not, then you pivot to getting the best trenches player and they need to hit on some mid/later round guys.

Let other teams win free agency. It’s more important for the Seahawks to find franchise cornerstones via the draft.

I offered some video thoughts on this subject which you can check out here…

With the combine in the books I have updated the horizontal board, making adjustments based on testing, further tape review, fresh study and information gathering. The board is unlikely to change too much between now and the draft. Tweaks are possible but I’m pretty comfortable where I have the players separated. The biggest changes will come from watching players I’m yet to study and adding them to the board.

Here’s the update (click to enlarge):

A few explanations. The players in red either have current injuries, are recovering from injury or have injury histories. I separate the players in the way I have on the board to create graded tiers. The best in class are in the blue-chip category and I part them from the rest of the players I’d take in round one.

This isn’t about slotting 32 players in the first round range, 32 in the second round etc. It’s about individual grading. Some of these players will go earlier/later than I’ve graded. I’m now going to run through some of the key talking points.

Quarterbacks

I feel pretty good about these rankings and will probably keep them as they are until draft day now. I’ve long thought there was a Caleb Williams tier on his own, Jayden Daniels was QB2 and then it was about working out how the rest follow.

I have Michael Penix Jr as QB3 because of his supreme arm talent. I think it’s the biggest X-factor trait among the remaining quarterbacks. I do have reservations about his elusiveness and improv, the fact he had an eight-game stretch where his completion percentage dropped by 15% and I wonder if he’s too reliant on shot-making downfield. However, he makes throws the majority of quarterbacks can’t even consider. I think he’s worth taking a chance on and although I have him in round two on the board, that’s a reflection of the pro’s and con’s. I understand why a team would select him in round one.

Spencer Rattler is QB4 and I don’t think this will be seen as an ‘out there’ take by some in the league. Having watched all of his 2023 games, you can see a multitude of reasons to be upbeat about his pro-prospects. He’s the only player who played in anything like a pro-style system with a prior NFL play-caller. His offensive line was so bad, combined with competing in the SEC you were given a glimpse of how he’d handle a next-level pressurised environment. There are plenty of examples of anticipation throws, out-of-structure completions, high-level arm strength, extending plays, making conversions with his legs and other such positives. Situation matters and while Rattler’s numbers were not of the level of a Bo Nix or Penix Jr, he did enough on an individual level to impress.

The concerns with Rattler come down to size and how teams view his difficult spell at Oklahoma. They’ll need to analyse whether he has truly developed as a person, or whether he’s simply done what he needs to do to extend his career when things appeared doomed two years ago. That’ll likely make or break his stock because the natural talent is very much there. He’d be an excellent pick for someone like the Rams in round two.

Drake Maye has a lot of the tools you look for in a quarterback but he simply isn’t consistent enough with his technique and decision making. I think you can justify taking him a round earlier than I have graded but he’ll need time and development. He has a high ceiling but I think starting early could cause issues.

J.J. McCarthy has genuine intangible qualities and I’m receptive to the importance of his third-down numbers and completion percentage when scrambling. However, I don’t believe he’s a difference maker as a passer and I think his tape generally is unspectacular, as is the arm strength. You see occasional flashes of brilliance but not enough of it consistently. There are also some head-scratching moments on film. Thus, I think a round two grade is fair all considered — but again, I understand why some teams will consider him a round earlier.

Bo Nix I really struggle with. He played well within himself all week at the Senior Bowl and then did the same during the combine throwing session. He didn’t seem to throw with any anticipation or let it rip in Indianapolis. There are throws on tape where he’s shown he can launch passes with velocity across his body so I’m not sure why he’s been so reserved. I fear that Oregon’s system, which was incredibly protective and user-friendly, has created a player who wants to play it safe and pick his moments when to attack. That’s fine and there are systems in the NFL that won’t mind that. I just prefer players who can improvise and play in the moment. I worry Nix can excel but only in a system that is quite strict and sets things up for him and that he won’t ever be an inspired difference maker.

There aren’t any later round quarterbacks that I’d be inclined to draft after this group is off the board.

Running backs

It’s not a special group but there are players I think could justifiably be taken between picks #55-80. Trey Benson’s physical profile hints at major upside potential and it’s the same with Jaylen Wright. With the way Blake Corum tested, I do think in the right system he could be quite an effective high-carry option. It won’t be surprising if the Chargers invest in him. Jonathan Brooks clearly has talent but the injury is a concern.

I also think Marshawn Lloyd, Ray Davis and Braelon Allen offer early day-three value and that in the final few rounds you might be able to find a gem or two. There’s nobody I’d be running to the podium for, though.

Wide receivers

I’ve never had a positional list as long as the 2024 second round receivers. To have 13 graded in that range speaks to the strength of the position — and several of the players have an excellent opportunity to quickly develop into pro contributors.

I think Brian Thomas Jr’s combine workout separates him from the pack as WR4. There was evidence on tape of an ability to separate downfield and make intriguing plays but I didn’t anticipate a testing session like he delivered.

The biggest movers post-combine are Keon Coleman, Ricky Pearsall and the two Texas receivers. Coleman, despite running a slow forty, looked excellent during on-field drills. His game has never been about pure speed and while there’s definitely some lingering concern about his ability to separate at the next level, I think there’s enough on tape to believe his talent will shine beyond this question mark. I think Adonai Mitchell is a superior player to Xavier Worthy, despite Worthy’s record-breaking forty. Pearsall is a far better athlete than I ever anticipated.

I think we might see a mad rush at this position in the top-60 then a fairly steep drop-off.

Tight ends

There’s a decent crop of ‘worth a shot’ types in this group based on the decent testing numbers (10 yard split, agility testing). However, it’s also not a group where you can feel confident of sufficiently addressing a pivotal need. For example, I doubt the Seahawks with their current situation at the position are banking on solutions with this class and will undoubtedly sign at least one veteran next week.

The biggest riser for me is Ben Sinnott. I thought he was one of the most fun and entertaining players to watch in 2023 — yet in the media, there wasn’t even a hint at the testing profile he showed at Indianapolis. When you then discover he has a similar set of physical traits to Sam LaPorta, it brings a whole new perspective to the tape. I think he’ll go in the top-45, possibly even very early in round two.

Offensive linemen

There’s no doubt in my mind that Taliese Fuagu and Troy Fautanu are the best two offensive linemen in the draft. They’re very athletic, well sized, aggressive, extremely physical, versatile and explosive. Although I think Joe Alt and Olu Fashanu deserve to be taken in the final third of the first round based on talent — I’ve never seen either as the top players at their position within this class. Alt is very tall and rigid and I think will suffer some of the same issues as Mike McGlinchey. Fashanu needs major technical work.

I’ll be very surprised if Fuagu lasts to #16 and I think it’s increasingly likely Fautanu won’t make it that far either.

Caedan Wallace is someone I’ve just recently watched post-combine — I think he presents a chance to get a very solid starter in round three and warrants more attention. He’s extremely solid and fundamentally sound — and that’s kind of what you want up front.

At guard, I think there are a lot of attractive mid-round options. I was really impressed with Trente Jones and Trevor Keegan at the combine. Christian Haynes, Jarrett Kingston and Dominick Puni all have starter potential and I really enjoyed watching Mason McCormick’s tape this week — he’s highly athletic, loves to hammer opponents and he’s a very explosive lineman.

I think the round 3-4 range is a good area to look at the center position. Tanor Bortolini, Dylan McMahon, Beaux Limmer and Charles Turner all have very appealing traits. If you want to go earlier, Zach Frazier is the best ‘no-nonsense’ hit you in the face type with supreme grip strength and tone-setting ability. Sedrick Van Pran had a good on-field display to remind everyone of his talent. I thought he looked great at his 298lbs weight. I like Jackson Powers-Johnson I’m just not sure about a 330lbs center.

There’s a strong possibility the best player available at #16 will be an offensive lineman — and that could be the direction the Seahawks take. However, I would also stress that, as the board shows, there are attractive ways to add talent, depth and competition to the offensive line without necessarily having to use a first round pick.

It’s also worth noting that the top O-line prospects are tackles. Some of them are being projected to move inside — but they excelled at tackle. It’s hard to know how the Seahawks will approach this without knowing how they feel about Abe Lucas’ health, or his ability to move inside. That’s a nugget of info that will dictate a lot of the decision making with the top pick, should they not be planning to focus on the future at quarterback.

Defensive linemen

Braden Fiske had one of the best combine performances I’ve ever seen. He was absolutely electric in drills, showed twitch and explosiveness with his testing numbers and he’s just ticking off boxes. He’s high character, his tape is good and he was very disruptive, he’s an elite athlete, he performed well at the Senior Bowl. Yes, the 31 inch arms are a concern and length matters. However, everything else makes up for the lack of length. The only concern is the report from Tony Pauline suggesting he had poor medical results. That’ll need to be monitored. Otherwise, he’s a unicorn as a physical specimen and deserves to be graded as such.

I think Byron Murphy also deserves his first round placing for a strong combine showing. His thick lower body is very appealing for the position — but upon tape review this week, I just wish he was a bit more consistent and could learn how to finish. He also has shorter arms. Ruke Orhorhoro, for me at least, isn’t that far behind the top-two and has Justin Madubuike level potential.

There are high upside defensive tackles on the board in rounds 3-4. These are players with physical tools who didn’t quite excel as much on tape. I think the Seahawks, if they don’t re-sign Leonard Williams, should be able to find a defensive tackle they like in this draft.

I dropped Bralen Trice a round as I didn’t expect him to weigh 245lbs and his 40 and 10 times were disappointing having dropped weight. He didn’t do any agility testing or jumps either.

In terms of edge rushers — there’s a clear top-four who will all likely go off the board before the end of the teens. Personally I didn’t think Dallas Turner’s tape was that impressive, which is why I have him as my third edge. There are obviously injury history concerns with Laiatu Latu too. However, it’s clear all four players have plenty of upside and potential and given the premium nature of their positions, they won’t last very long.

Another thing that’ll play into possibly all four being gone potentially before the Seahawks are on the clock is the lack of alternatives in a second tier. There’s a decent gap between the top four and the rest.

Linebackers

Good luck. This isn’t a draft class to imagine you’re going to solve problems here. The Seahawks, with no starting options currently on the roster, have to look at the veteran market. There are players who could appeal but are you going to be able to target players with starting potential? I would imagine that alongside re-signing Leonard Williams, this will be a priority position next week — unless they’ve decided to place minimal importance on it. That seems unlikely given how critical Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen were in Baltimore for Mike Macdonald — but some teams have gone cheap and cheerful here.

I’ve moved Jeremiah Trotter into round four after a disappointing combine where he looked middling and small. Payton Wilson had an exceptional combine but the injury concerns linger. Junior Colson not doing any workouts was disappointing. I won’t be surprised if a linebacker-needy team without a lot of holes over-drafts Edgerrin Cooper given how well he tested.

Cornerbacks

This is a consistent class with pockets of talent for each round. The thing that excites me, though, are the options later on. I think Ryan Watts has a physical profile, including 34.5 inch arms. Kalen King had a shocking Senior Bowl and didn’t run fast — but he showed in drills he can’t be totally written off.

Quinyon Mitchell is the clear CB1 for me but I thought Kamari Lassiter was the big combine winner thanks to excellent drills and blazing agility testing.

Safeties

Perhaps lost amid all the ‘end of days’ veteran cuts recently is that teams probably see this as a sneaky good safety class. I now have eight graded for day two. With the league moving towards a lot of two-high and three-safety looks, versatility is king. This is a class full of versatile, intelligent, scheme-diverse players.

Javon Bullard running a 4.47 nudged me to go and re-watch his tape and I moved him up a round. He can cover, he can hit, he can play deep or move up and make a tackle. He’s likely a second rounder. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson has been a favourite of mine since the start of the 2023 season — I just had no idea how well he’d test. When I saw those results, combined with the prior tape review, I think he’s a second round talent who might be available a bit later than that. I also thought Dominique Hampton had a superb combine and is capable of doing a job at the next level. He might not go as high as I have graded — but I personally think this range is fair.

Overall thoughts

The depth of talent at offensive tackle and receiver is well advertised. I think there are also good options at safety and the quarterback class will have mixed opinions — but we could see teams prepared to take chances on upside/potential knowing the numbers are thinner at the position for the early rounds next year.

It’s not a deep class at tight end or linebacker and that could shape some of Seattle’s free agent decision making next week.

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