Category: Front Page News (Page 21 of 367)

Here is my post-combine updated horizontal board. It now includes 227 graded players. I will keep adding and adjusting as the pro-day data comes in.

Click the image to enlarge the board and I’ve got some notes below…

— It’s a top-heavy tight end class. I think if you don’t take one in the top-65 you probably miss out but there are seven TE’s who could justifiably go in that range, which is unheard of.

— I’ve been doing the rounds since the combine asking about positional strengths and a source in the league told me it was a really good safety class for depth. Upon reflection, as you can see on the board, the numbers are definitely there. It’s also worth noting that at the combine the safeties showed better hips and change of direction than many of the cornerbacks. It’s also a really well-built group with good size. There are some serious options here.

— Rounds 3-5 should be where the interior linemen become acceptable. There are some intriguing options but not many. This will likely concern teams in need of interior blockers and it might be why we see the likes of John Michael Schmitz and Luke Wypler get a bump up some boards at center. It’s also likely why the Seahawks moved quickly to re-sign Phil Haynes.

— It’s a strange ‘edge’ class because there are certainly a lot of names on the board but few really stand-out on tape (or their testing was average). We might see some reaching here but it looks like a lot of early day-three types to me.

— Interior defenders? Oh dear. The depth falls off a cliff very quickly. Fill your boots early or risk missing out. The good news is there are good players available early but not many.

— The numbers are really there at cornerback but there’s not a sure-fire top-five pick this year. I think it’s a position you can wait on and get a player who you can mould to be as good as the top guys.

— It’s a very thin offensive tackle class and that could mean we see reaching in round one as teams desperately try to address a premium position.

— Receiver has been a loaded position for a number of years but not this year. It’s a far weaker group. There are some good players but once you get into round three there are a lot of question marks and the position veers towards ‘average’ very quickly. I think it’s a 10 receiver draft where if you don’t get one, you probably just leave it and see what’s left among the veteran pool.

— Running back has depth and there’s a bit of everything depending on your positional preferences — speed, power, explosion, receiving threats, short-yardage. The Seahawks should have no problem adding a couple to their depth chart.

— It’s top-heavy at quarterback. The top-four are assured to go in the top-10, I’m led to believe, with a strong chance four go in the top-five. Hendon Hooker might join the group due to the attraction of the fifth year option, although he’d likely be a late first rounder. Then, there’s no middle tier. All of the middle-tier quarterbacks returned to school. If you’re thinking Seattle can take a flier on someone in the middle rounds, no dice I’m afraid. I have two players in the fourth round but that’s purely because the arm talent is decent. They’re both about 190lbs. There’s not a lot of potential to start in the NFL.

— I’ve interviewed some of the players and I’ve watched press conferences and interviews with most others. I’m pleased to say, with a few notable exceptions, this is a high-character, engaging class of players. There are a lot of very good talkers, a lot of inspirational speakers and many alpha-types — which makes a nice change. From that stand-point, I think teams will be very happy.

Player spotlights

I wanted to touch on some players I’ve revised and re-watched in the process of writing this board.

Devon Witherspoon (CB, Illinois)
His stock might be falling a bit because he didn’t run at the combine or his pro-day. There are fears he’s a 4.5 runner and that could damage his stock. What I will say though is the guy is an absolute psycho on the field (in a good way). He is a taker of souls. There isn’t a tougher, harder hitting player in the class. Furthermore, he just carries himself with this unbelievable swagger. He is going to go out there and compete, leave a mark and he will upgrade the physicality on your team from minute one. I don’t think the Seahawks are going to take a cornerback in round one, especially one who likely runs in the 4.5’s. However, if he lasts to #20, you can make a realistic argument that he’d easily be the best player on the board in that situation. I’m seeing more and more mocks dropping him into the late teens.

Zacch Pickens (DT, South Carolina)
What an underrated player. He was tremendous at the Senior Bowl, he ran a 4.89 at 291lbs and he has 34.5 inch arms. Pickens has a fantastic thickness to his lower body. Big, heavy thighs full of power. He carries almost no bad weight and he’s a pure athlete. In Mobile he would straight-arm to leverage then swim away from contact. He was too quick during team scrimmages and shot gaps numerous times. He can play as a three-technique or a 3-4 defensive end. I get the feeling in four years we’ll be asking ‘how did this guy last as long as he did in the draft?’

Sydney Brown (S, Illinois)
Fantastic character, range, hitting, playmaking. Brown has it all. He flies around the field and gives absolutely everything. He showed off great athleticism and versatility at the Senior Bowl and then ran a 4.47 at the combine, adding a 40.5 inch vertical. Don’t be surprised if he goes a lot higher than people are projecting. You can play him in numerous positions and he’s going to quickly develop into a heart-and-soul type in the locker room. There are several players at this position who ooze ‘alpha’ and Brown’s one of them.

Jonathan Mingo (WR, Ole Miss)
Why isn’t he talked about more? He has great size (6-2, 220lbs) with huge hands (10.5 inches). He ran a 4.46 and posted a 40-inch vertical. He was gliding at the Senior Bowl, easily creating separation. On tape he can line up as a big-slot or split out wide. He can break off big plays downfield and he tracks the ball superbly in the air. He runs such good routes and knows how to gain position or create subtle separation to make plays on the shorter stuff. He can box-out with his frame and he can win contested catches with his explosive athleticism. Mingo also has soft hands and just looks like a class-act. It’s crazy why he doesn’t get more attention.

John Michael Schmitz (C, Minnesota)
I really studied him last week after the links connecting him to Seattle. Schmitz does a tremendous job shooting his hands inside. You want all players at his position to do this but many have to redirect and regain positioning. I was impressed how consistently Schmitz puts his hands in the right place. It’s so advantageous for him when engaging front-on. That’s where he excels. He can get his hands inside, leverage and he has the strong back to bunny-hop to regain control when he’s shoved backwards. Where he struggles at times is when he’s attacked at an angle. He lacks the athleticism to cut off from the sides and I think it’ll be best for him to play next to bigger guards to clog up that space. He’s not the athlete Luke Wypler is but he’s better technically with his hands.

Some Seahawks thoughts

I still think the key to Seattle’s draft is Arizona’s decision at #3. I don’t think they’re going to get an attractive enough offer to move down (unless the Colts basically flip picks at #4). Do they take Tyree Wilson instead of Will Anderson, as projected by Daniel Jeremiah? Wilson is arguably a better scheme fit for Jonathan Gannon but Anderson is the culture re-setter the Cardinals need.

If C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young and Will Levis are the first quarterbacks off the board — which I think is increasingly likely — my prediction continues to be it’ll come down to Anthony Richardson at #5 or Will Anderson if the Cardinals pass on him. I think the Seahawks would take Anderson in that scenario because he’s an ideal scheme fit, he’s an A+ alpha and he can be someone you build around on defense. I don’t think he’s a special talent but he can be a very good player and it would be a safe pick for Seattle.

If that happened, they would likely — in my opinion — push the quarterback situation into the future and embrace a scenario where they have to go fishing for middle-tier options in from 2024. Or they could look at Hendon Hooker, who has some serious fans in the scouting community (I know, having spoken to some of them).

If Anderson is gone and they take Richardson, they will have to address their defensive line in the #20, #38, #53 range, possibly with two picks. Those options will dry up otherwise. If they want an ‘edge’ type they could pivot to Will McDonald instead (he had been training with B.T. Jordan) or they could wait to tap into the depth later. The interior D-line options will run out quickly.

Jalen Carter will not be an option for the Seahawks in round one. I don’t like writing stuff like that because typically you set yourself up for a fall. On this occasion, I am 100% confident. Carter will not be a first rounder for Seattle.

I’m also not convinced Tyree Wilson is a scheme fit. It will depend on testing whether they believe he can play as a bigger OLB/EDGE.

I think what they’ve done so far pretty much sets up the scenario I’m talking about at #5. They haven’t signed another ‘edge’ rusher. They do have Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe and Darrell Taylor but there’s room for one more and Nwosu is a free agent next year. I also think the quarterback situation lends itself perfectly to Richardson.

I don’t know why anyone thought the Drew Lock signing made a QB pick less likely. The whole point with Richardson is he needs to sit for a year. That means a redshirt, not being the backup. Not being a play away from starting at any point in 2023.

You were always going to need a backup quarterback if your plan was to draft Richardson, so he can have his proper redshirt season. Lock, on a cheap one-year contract with minimal guarantees, is perfect. He knows the offense, he knows the team. He can start if Geno Smith gets hurt without the rookie needing to ruin his redshirt season.

Meanwhile Smith’s contract is perfectly structured to move on when the new quarterback is ready, whenever that is. They’ve set-up the ideal situation — the Alex Smith-to-Patrick Mahomes crossover.

I’ve also seen it argued that they can’t justify spending so much on the quarterback position to have someone like Richardson sit for a year. Really? They are literally paying Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams $36m. On top of that, they’ve now added Julian Love and retained Ryan Neal. Are we honestly going to try and suggest you can pay well over $40m for the safety position but can’t carry a redshirt rookie contract at the most important position in football? That’s ridiculous.

The table has been set for either Anderson or Richardson at #5. Personally, I’d be happy with either.

If you missed my interview with Scot McCloughan, check it out here:

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I think the Seahawks have had a masterful free agency so far. They’ve done a good job addressing their key needs, setting up the draft so they can target talent rather than fill holes.

Hopefully they can now go bargain hunting and add even more to their defensive front. My preference would be to pull some levers to create cap space, then add some more beef to the D-line rotation. Unfortunately Greg Gaines has opted to reunite with Vita Vea in Tampa Bay and A’Shawn Robinson is visiting the Giants on Monday.

I’d still be very interested in Calais Campbell or bringing back Shelby Harris.

Generally though, things are set up nicely. So what does it mean for the draft?

What will they do with the #5 pick?

There are four good quarterbacks in this draft and a really good edge rusher in Will Anderson. One of this quintet is guaranteed to be available for the Seahawks. I think they will select whoever it is.

I do still think there’s a chance they draft Tyree Wilson depending on how he tests but it warrants repeating — at 6-5 and 271lbs he isn’t an obvious scheme fit. If he’s that much of an athlete, they might adjust their scheme to accommodate him. But he’s not a quick-twitch, dynamic edge rusher. He’s a powerful, long-limbed bulldozer. He isn’t 291lbs like DeForest Buckner or Arik Armstead. He’s a classic 4-3 defensive end who might be able to kick inside for obvious passing downs.

People are suggesting the Seahawks won’t draft a quarterback after signing Drew Lock but I’m not sure why. The whole point has been to set up a ‘redshirt’ year. That means sitting the quarterback, letting them learn and prepare to start in the future. If you make your redshirt quarterback the backup, what happens if Geno Smith gets hurt in week one? You’re suddenly ripping up the entire plan and starting the rookie.

That would be malpractice. You’re either redshirting or you’re not. If Anthony Richardson is the quarterback most likely to be their at #5 — and I believe he is — then you don’t want him anywhere near the field in 2023. That means you need a backup QB. The Seahawks signed a backup, Drew Lock, for one season. The only thing that would’ve changed the situation would’ve been a multi-year deal for Lock.

It’s also a hedge against the draft. If you don’t draft a QB, you’ll need a backup. The Lock signing was both important and necessary.

There remains a lot of hand-wringing about the QB’s, specifically with Richardson and Will Levis. I’ll keep saying it — if you had to make a ‘typical John Schneider quarterback class’ — it would look like this one. Big, strong, prototypical downfield throwers with extreme physical talent. High character. Athletic.

The one player who doesn’t fit that description is still incredibly creative, plays like a point guard, has a natural talent, has big hands for his size and had a decorated college career. Sounds familiar.

I think John Schneider will be completely sold on Stroud, Young and Levis. The only question mark will be Richardson — simply due to his inexperience. However, the physical talent more than makes up for that. Josh Allen had a stunning pro-day performance — the best I’ve ever watched. If Richardson can do something similar on March 30th, I suspect he will join the other three in the mind of Seattle’s GM.

In that scenario — the Seahawks can’t lose. If someone trades into the #3 spot and Will Anderson lasts to five, they’ll be very happy. If Arizona sticks at #3 and it means a quarterback lasts to five, I think the Seahawks will also be very happy.

If the Cardinals pull off a surprise and take Tyree Wilson at #3, I think the Seahawks would select Anderson over Richardson. He’s not a ‘special’ defender in the mould of a Bosa brother or Myles Garrett but his incredible character, production, talent and scheme fit will make for a worthy addition.

This is why you approach free agency the way they have — to cover all bases, all eventualities, to hedge against the board going against you in certain ways. It feels like the Seahawks have executed their plan perfectly so far.

A best guess at the top-15

#1 Carolina (v/CHI) — CJ Stroud (QB, Ohio State)
#2 Houston — Bryce Young (QB, Alabama)
#3 Arizona — Will Anderson (EDGE, Alabama)
#4 Indianapolis — Will Levis (QB, Kentucky)
#5 Seattle — Anthony Richardson (QB, Florida)
#6 Detroit (v/LA) — Tyree Wilson (DE, Texas Tech)
#7 Las Vegas — Peter Skoronski (G, Northwestern)
#8 Atlanta — Christian Gonzalez (CB, Oregon)
#9 Chicago (v/CAR) — Bijan Robinson (RB, Texas)
#10 Philadelphia (v/NO) — Will McDonald (EDGE, Iowa State)
#11 Tennessee — Michael Mayer (TE, Notre Dame)
#12 Houston (v/CLE) — Adetomiwa Adebawore (DE, Northwestern)
#13 NY Jets — Darnell Wright (T, Tennessee)
#14 New England — Zay Flowers (WR, Boston College)
#15 Green Bay — Luke Musgrave (TE, Oregon State)

— I don’t think the Cardinals will trade down. I think it’s a difficult deal to make. If they drop too far they’ll miss out on the better defenders they badly need. Plus, the teams who might trade up to #3 have leveraged themselves sufficiently that they won’t be inclined to give up a haul. There are teams in the teens (Washington, Tampa Bay) who might be inclined to move up but that would be incredibly expensive. I don’t think Arizona will get a good enough offer to drop down that far.

— With the Raiders signing Jimmy Garoppolo, they can let any situation come to them. That could mean moving up if the deal is right. It could mean drafting someone later on — or even kicking the can into 2024. That was a very deliberate, tactical signing. The Cardinals need a desperate team to get a great deal and I don’t see a desperate team in the top-10.

— I think if the Cardinals decide Tyree Wilson is a better scheme fit for them and take him at #3, the Seahawks would take Will Anderson instead of Anthony Richardson at #5. If Wilson tests very well, it’s not implausible. Philly’s edge rushers under Jonathan Gannon were not 253lbs like Anderson. They bulked up Josh Sweat to 265lbs. Brandon Graham is 265lbs. I don’t think Anderson can carry another 12lbs comfortably — he’s better suited in that 245-255lbs range. So the 271lbs Wilson to Arizona shouldn’t be totally ruled out, which would leave Anderson for Seattle.

— If it’s Anthony Richardson at five it’d be an ideal spot for him to spend a year learning and developing. It’d do him the power of good. Richardson is never going to be a Peyton Manning surgeon-style quarterback. Can he be a Josh Allen or Cam Newton? Yes, absolutely.

— I think Chris Ballard will be enamored with Will Levis, as Jason La Canfora reported recently. If anyone trades up to #3 it might be Ballard, to ensure he gets his guy. That way Arizona still gets the top defender on their board. Levis is best equipped to start quickly, which is important for Indy.

— There’s a lot for teams to consider with Jalen Carter. Let’s just say that. I don’t think there’s much chance of him being drafted in the first half of round one.

— Adetomiwa Adebawore at #12? Here are the facts. Nobody had a better Senior Bowl. He is +280lbs and running a 4.49. He ran a freakish 4.26 short shuttle. These aren’t good numbers. These are elite numbers. This is the testing profile of a once-every-decade athlete. Don’t be surprised if someone decides to take a chance on him with a very high pick, believing they can turn these special traits into a special player. He also has A+ character and some of his production issues can be blamed on Northwestern.

What does this mean at #20?

I think a lot of the mocks are inaccurate projecting the likes of Bijan Robinson and Michael Mayer to be available. They’re excellent players, among the best in the draft. If either lasts to #20, they have to be considered. I can’t see it.

In the second half of round one we’ll see a lot of cornerbacks come off the board, such as Joey Porter Jr, Deonte Banks, Devon Witherspoon and D.J. Turner. I wouldn’t expect Seattle to draft a corner early — that isn’t their thing.

This is also a likely range where a run on defensive linemen starts. Jalen Carter might be taken between #17-30 — although I know teams have a lot more to consider than is being reported. Calijah Kancey, Bryan Bresee, Myles Murphy, Lukas Van Ness and Keion White will also likely be taken in the second half of round one or early picks of round two.

It’s also a good range at receiver — Josh Downs, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison and Jalin Hyatt will likely be targeted by teams.

I think the Seahawks will be really attracted to Downs — a Tyler Lockett clone with exceptional high-pointing skills and character. Keion White has the body for the scheme and the athleticism. You could say he’s less likely to be selected due to the Dre’Mont Jones signing.

This is why Tony Pauline’s report on John Michael Schmitz possibly makes sense. If the Seahawks grade him as highly as Lance Zierlein does (Zierlein has him as the 23rd best player in the class) they can safely drop down to #25 with Jacksonville, guarantee their man ahead of the Giants and Bills (other suggested suitors) and tie-up the position for the future.

Personally I don’t think Schmitz is a first rounder — but the team might.

What about day two?

The Seahawks could still find defensive reinforcements quite easily. It’s a deep ‘edge’ class — so they should be able to find someone they like to add to their rotation if they don’t select Anderson or McDonald in round one.

I like Alabama’s Byron Young as an ideal fit for the defensive rotation up front. He’s adept at reading the offense to control gaps and he’d be an excellent fit in a two-gapping system. He’s also disruptive and powerful and he’s a legit alpha in the Alabama locker room. Mazi Smith is an athletic, powerful nose tackle who could be the heir-apparent to Al Woods.

Zacch Pickens is incredibly underrated. He was superb at the Senior Bowl, he has an outstanding, thick lower base that generates tremendous power but he has the quickness and athleticism to play off that, releasing and exploding into the backfield. I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if, in three years time, we’re all wondering why he lasted as long as he did. Given the Seahawks still need more up front — I think he’d be a great option for them.

Keeanu Benton is another player who can play across the interior D-line. Moro Ojomo is flying under the radar but he’s an ideal 3-4 defensive end with tremendous agility. I’m also a big fan of Cameron Young — he could be a fantastic third or fourth round pick with tremendous upside potential.

There will be cornerbacks available right through to day three and the safety class has some interesting options if they want to plan ahead for the future. What range will JL Skinner be available following his pre-combine injury? How early will Sydney Brown go? Ji’Ayir Brown has outstanding character and production. Jammie Robinson is sparky and coming to Seattle for a top-30 visit. There are others to mention too. There are options at safety.

This is also the range where the linebackers might come into play. My sleeper option here is Tulane’s Dorian Williams — a player who plays with speed and violence. I think he’s better than some of the names being linked to Seattle and would provide better value. That said — I still wouldn’t rule out Drew Sanders being a top-40 option. I just wish we had some testing numbers for him.

It’s a thick, deep running back class so there’s no need to panic there. They can get someone and if it’s Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Zach Charbonnet, Tyjae Spears or Israel Abanikanda with a high-ish pick — so be it. Spears is having an outstanding off-season and oozes talent, quickness and power. Gibbs is just an electric player who can do so much as a runner and receiver. Charbonnet and Abanikanda are also very talented and we all know about Robinson by now.

The receiver I’d put a ring around on day two is Jonathan Mingo — the wildly underrated wide-out from Ole Miss. He is an exceptional talent with soft hands, speed, size and an ability to act as an outside receiver or a big slot. He excelled at the Senior Bowl and just looks the part.

It’s well advertised that it’s a talented tight end class and the Seahawks might plan ahead with Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson both free agents next year. I think it’d have to be a top-talent to make that move early (eg Mayer) but we’ll see. I also think days 2/3 are chock full of interesting interior linemen. Emil Ekiyor Jr, Anthony Bradford, Nick Broeker, Jordan McFadden, Andrew Vorhees — plus even players like T.J. Bass and Tyler Steen — carry some intrigue.

If you missed my interview with Scot McCloughan, check it out here:

If you enjoy the blog and appreciate what we do — why not consider supporting the site via Patreon — (click here)

This week I was able to catch-up with Scot McCloughan, former GM in San Francisco and Washington, former Senior personnel executive in Seattle and one of the best talent evaluators in the business.

Please have a listen — for me it’s a great football education every time I get a chance to speak with Scot.

This is also available via ‘The Rebuild’ podcast.

According to Bob Condotta, the Seahawks have signed linebacker Devin Bush on a one-year contract.

I think it’s a perfectly acceptable signing and the kind that was needed by Seattle.

With the new defensive scheme, they simply aren’t using two linebackers as much as they used to. For example, while Cody Barton played a high number of snaps in the first three games of the season (97% average), between weeks 4-11 he only played 61% of the snaps.

It’s distinctly possible that these numbers would’ve been lower still if Jamal Adams had stayed healthy. Sean Desai liked to use a lot of three safety looks in Chicago and it felt like that influence was coming to Seattle.

So while the ‘LB1’ position remains a key starter for the Seahawks, the ‘LB2’ spot feels far less important — especially if they have three safeties they can utilise properly.

Jordyn Brooks is recovering from a torn ACL and could miss some time but the fact is he remains Seattle’s ‘LB1’. He will return, even if he misses the start of the season (and we don’t have a timeline for recovery yet).

While large sections of the fan base and media petition for Bobby Wagner’s return, he would’ve created a luxury situation that is difficult to justify. Once Brooks returned, one of Wagner or Brooks would likely only be playing, ideally, 50-60% of the snaps.

That’s not really a role you spend a lot of money on. Wagner’s expectation is likely a deal similar to the one he got last year in LA. That wouldn’t be possible for Seattle’s defense. The contract would have to come to the team. They’d need to be able to justify having that linebacker on a cheaper deal.

Wagner might get to a point where he decides he just wants to play in Seattle and will take whatever is being offered. However, the signing of Bush speaks to the reality of the situation.

Now the Seahawks can draft a cheap linebacker. They can let the rookie and Bush compete. If Brooks returns for week one, he starts and the other play replaces Barton. Otherwise, Bush or the rookie fills the ‘LB1’ void until Brooks is ready.

This is a good hedge, therefore, for the draft.

Everything speaks to this being how Seattle is approaching things. A year ago they cut Wagner and didn’t do anything at linebacker. They didn’t draft or sign any serious competition for Brooks and Barton. The two went through the off-season uncontested, with the depth relatively exposed.

We all wondered what was going on — but it spoke to how the Seahawks are adapting their defense.

It’s now been announced that they’ve signed Julian Love to a significant two-year contract worth $12m. He is not some cheap reclamation project. He was ‘the 33rd Team’s’ 28th ranked free agent:

The 2022 season was Julian Love‘s first as a full-time starter. He was voted a defensive captain and thrived in the secondary as a leader and playmaker. Love rarely came off the field, playing 95 percent of the Giants’ defensive snaps. He is a smart, dependable player who is utilized in many roles.

Love can blitz, play as the deep safety and stop the run. He had a knack for making game-changing plays such as his interception in the last 5 minutes vs. the Ravens in Week 6, a timely sack in Week 2 vs. the Carolina Panthers, and he helped clinch a win vs. Jacksonville in Week 7. He should only continue to get better.

He is incredibly well respected by Giants fans and media for his versatile safety role.

They appear to be signing him to cover for the fact Jamal Adams is a big question mark for the start of the season. They might even part ways with Adams as a post-June 1st cut, if he’s not prepared to rework his contract to free up cap space.

Either way — they’ve signed a third safety. They’ve also set up ‘top-30’ visits with safety prospects Jammie Robinson and Jordan Howden.

Do they still need better linebacker depth? Yes. They can’t be in a situation again where someone like Tanner Muse is thrust into battle within weeks of the season starting. They need better depth, even if they are going to go with a three-safety approach a high percentage of the time rather than playing two linebackers.

That’s why the Bush signing makes sense. He’s a former top-10 pick who has had trouble regaining his best form after injury. Yet he has starting experience and a pedigree. The Seahawks are taking a shot-to-nothing to see if he can work out. The worst case scenario is he’s your backup, with Brooks and a rookie leading the depth chart.

It appears his play picked up somewhat in 2022. This article, titled, ‘Steelers Are Finally Getting the Devin Bush They Drafted’ was published last October:

This season, things have changed for Bush, even if it’s not immediately evident in his coverage stats. Bush has been targeted 21 times, allowing 14 completions (67%) for 183 yards and one touchdown.

The opposing passer rating has actually increased, to a career-best 109.8. That’s somewhat alarming, but it also doesn’t tell the whole story. Compared to his rookie year, the average depth of target against Bush has doubled. He defended an average of 3.9 yards from the line of scrimmage in 2019. In 2022, that average is eight yards.

I’m comfortable with this entire situation. I’m not as keen on the nostalgia trip of re-signing Wagner. For all the talk of his continued quality, we’re a week into free agency and the only teams he’s been linked with so far are Dallas (before they quickly re-signing Leighton Vander Esch instead) and Seattle.

There are plenty of contenders out there who need a linebacker — Philly and Buffalo to name two. Yet there’s almost no talk about him.

I would rather the Seahawks pull some levers to create more cap space and keep adding to their defensive line. There are a lot of intriguing players still out there and this is the point where the market comes to the teams.

Stay tuned to Seahawks Draft Blog and my YouTube channel and ‘The Rebuild’ podcast — I’ve got a big interview coming later today with Scot McCloughan.

If you enjoy the blog and appreciate what we do — why not consider supporting the site via Patreon — (click here)

The latest free agent moving to Seattle is Detroit offensive lineman Evan Brown. With 24 starts in the last two seasons, he had a not-terrible PFF grade of 64.8 last season. He offers versatility at guard and center and that’s what makes this such an ideal signing.

The Seahawks are now ideally hedged for the draft. Yesterday we noted connections to John Michael Schmitz — possibly in round one. Both Luke Wypler and Schmitz are ideal scheme fits with a physical profile and background perfectly matching what the Seahawks are looking for.

However, Brown’s signing means they don’t need to force anything.

Although he’s bigger than the other centers we’ve been discussing — he ran a superb 4.46 short shuttle at 302lbs at his pro-day. He could potentially drop weight now that he’s moving to Seattle (he’s currently listed at 320lbs). Either way — the Seahawks have a player who can start, ‘do a job’ and avoid any reaching for need in April.

If the center they want is available in the range they’re comfortable with — perfect. They can select them. If not, they’re not going to be caught short desperately looking for an alternative.

Furthermore — if they draft Schmitz or Wypler and they win the starting job, they’ll still benefit from Brown’s ability to provide depth anywhere along the interior.

This has been an impressive start to free agency for Seattle. Already they appear comfortably in position to draft for talent with their high picks. Yes — they still need more on defense. There are no critical gaping holes though that must be addressed at #5 or #20.

Dre’Mont Jones was the talent injection the D-line needed, while Jarran Reed will provide great solidity. Now, they have an experienced lineman who can start at center or guard. This is all after pulling off a great contract with Geno Smith — full of incentive for the player and flexibility for the team.

It’d be nice to see some levers pulled to create more cap space and take advantage of the names still available who look appealing. If it doesn’t happen though, this has already been a far more effective free agency period than we’re used to seeing. They’re addressing their biggest needs, they’re setting up the draft.

This has been a good start to the off-season.

Other notes

— The Seahawks love a reclamation project so it’s interesting to see Devin Bush coming in for a visit. He was once a fantastic draft prospect with major potential. The Steelers traded up to the 10th overall pick in 2019 to get him. However, injury stalled his progress and nobody in Pittsburgh was surprised to see him moving on (the Steelers signed blog favourite Cole Holcomb instead). He’ll be cheap so it’ll be interesting to see if they bring him in for camp.

— The Seahawks are also visiting with cornerback/safety Lonnie Johnson. These are potential reclamation/development projects too. It’s always good to have a few of these up your sleeve.

— The interesting visit is Julian Love. He had a 70.0 PFF grade last season and is well regarded in New York, after a strong season in the Wink Martindale defense. He’s not a reclamation project. He could be a potential starter. If they sign him, what does that mean for Jamal Adams?

— There are three confirmed ‘top-30’ visits for the Seahawks pre-draft — tackle Dawand Jones and safeties Jammie Robinson and Jordan Howden. It certainly feels like they’re preparing for the future at safety. Ryan Neal is a free agent in 2023 while the future of Jamal Adams is a major question mark. Quandre Diggs has an obvious out on his deal next year too. They’d be wise to plan ahead if they can — so don’t be surprised if Julian Love is signed and/or they draft someone in the middle or later rounds with a view to the future.

UPDATE

The Seahawks have also re-signed Drew Lock today on a one-year deal. Another excellent move. They needed a backup quarterback, regardless of their plans for the #5 pick. Lock knows the offense and has more physical talent than most backups.

Again, it doesn’t preclude anything in round one. It’s a one-year contract. Let’s say the Seahawks draft Anthony Richardson. You want to redshirt him, not make him the backup where he’s a hit away from starting.

This is a good move — securing the QB position for 2023 but leaving the options open for the future.

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According to friend of the blog Tony Pauline at Pro Football Network, the Seahawks are very interested in drafting Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz:

The other center-needy team who really likes Schmitz is the Seattle Seahawks. The franchise has been eyeing Schmitz for the longest time and became enamored with him during the Senior Bowl. Would they pull the trigger on Schmitz with the 20th selection, their second pick in the first round? Ideally, they’d want to trade down, but you never can tell with Seattle.

Tony also reports interest from the Giants and Bills in Schmitz — believing there’s a legit chance he could go in the first round.

It’s a sentiment shared by others. Lance Zierlein has him graded as the 23rd best player in the draft. Jim Nagy called him a “two-contract, high-level starter” and one of the surest things in this class.

The Seahawks are going to draft a center. They stayed out of the relatively team-friendly veteran market, which is a big tell. After the combine I predicted they were certain to draft one of Schmitz or Luke Wypler.

Both players are perfect scheme fits. They have ideal size, wrestling backgrounds and they ran good short shuttles (Wypler — 4.53, Schmitz — 4.56).

I think both players are day two picks. The center position typically isn’t one that you see in round one. Neither player is an outstanding tester like Nick Mangold — the 29th pick in 2006 who ran a 4.36 short shuttle at 300lbs. However, Ryan Kelly ran a similar shuttle (4.59) and was the #18 pick — and the Seahawks were believed to be big admirers of Kelly in 2016.

It’s also worth noting that Schmitz and Wypler perfectly fit Seattle’s refocused approach to character. They are exactly the ‘type’ they are looking for.

It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. Trading down from #20 feels plausible. Yet I fear the Seahawks might fall into the trap John Schneider says he’s keen to avoid. There could be some fantastic value at #20 and unless he agrees with Zierlein that Schmitz is one of the 25 best players in the class, it could end up being a slight reach to fill a need.

One scenario could be to trade down from #20 and trade up from #38 — hitting what might be seen as a sweet spot for value between #25-32. We know the Seahawks were open to trading up in that range last year. Dropping five spots would also keep Seattle ahead of New York and Buffalo — so it might be worth keeping an eye on a deal with Jacksonville who own the #25 pick, with Seattle potentially snagging Schmitz with their second selection.

I’d hope that having two viable centers might give the Seahawks confidence not to force anything. According to Tony’s extremely believable report though, it sounds like Schneider has locked on to his man. The lack of free agent additions at center speak to the distinct possibility Seattle will address the position early in this draft — making sure they land their top target.

If they continue to address the defense in free agency it could also be a sign that offensive picks in round one are very much on the agenda.

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… It’s the sound of a thousand pennies finally dropping.

These are not Ws being posted. The weight is a big concern considering this is the most important job interview of your life. Testing was expected to be a positive and now he's not testing. The slide could be very real for Carter. https://t.co/D88hrzRzNU

— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) March 15, 2023

Here’s an ESPN report on Jalen Carter’s pro-day performance:

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter was nine pounds heavier than he was at the NFL combine about two weeks ago and couldn’t finish his position drills at Georgia’s pro day on Wednesday.

Carter, who was once considered a potential No. 1 pick in April’s draft, weighed 323 pounds at the pro day. He opted to do only position drills and didn’t participate in other aspects of the workout, including the 40-yard dash, cone drills and other physical tests. Carter didn’t finish the position drills because he was cramping up and breathing heavily.

He is not being drafted with the fifth overall pick.

Can the Seahawks make it 3/3?

After consecutive days of defensive line additions, what will today bring? The Seahawks don’t have much cap space remaining but as we’ve seen over the last couple of days, you can make anything happen really.

Although some of the big names are still out there, we’re getting to the point where players will be coming to terms with their markets. It’s the opportunity, usually, the Seahawks wait for. Can they make further defensive additions now, as the market becomes more team-friendly?

I’d still like to see some more beef added to the D-line and perhaps another outside rusher — although I think everything is gearing towards Bobby Wagner’s inevitable return. I hope the Seahawks wait that one out for as long as possible though — Wagner appears to have a very limited market. There’s no chatter about him and prospective suitors such as Dallas have already moved on. The price has to come to Seattle for me — this can’t be a nostalgia-driven signing.

At the end of the day, you’re looking for someone to hold the fort until Jordyn Brooks is back. I still think a cheap veteran and a draft pick can get the job done. But we’ll see what happens.

What do they do at running back?

A few people are wondering this with Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer departing. It’s worth remembering that this is a loaded running back class.

I’m intrigued to see if the change in blocking scheme could lead to a shift in ‘type’ they are looking for. Ken Walker ran a 4.38 at an ideally sized 211lbs. Yet if they are more inclined to go for quickness these days — the likes of the incredibly dynamic Devon Achane could be on their radar. He’s small and diminutive but he runs like you’re playing NCAA on a PS3. He can cut and change direction with ease without losing any speed. It’s a thing to watch.

He ran a blistering 4.32 and while he won’t push the pile — you can well imagine him excelling in a zone scheme. When gets to the second level, watch out.

Jahmyr Gibbs also ran brilliantly (4.36) and while the thought of another high pick at running back will haunt some Seahawks fans — they’d have the most dynamic running duo in the league.

Zach Charbonnet, Tyjae Spears, Israel Abanikanda and Kenny McIntosh all have the potential to be immediate contributors. Then there’s the likes of Chris Rodriguez, Chase Brown, Tank Bigsby and Zach Evans in the mid-range, with Evan Hull, Roschon Johnson, Eric Gray, Deuce Vaughan, Kendre Miller and Sean Tucker likely to be on the board at the start of day three.

And let’s also not totally rule out Bijan Robinson at #20. It’d be an extreme luxury and I don’t think he’ll last that far. But he’s too good to ignore.

There are so many options — they could even draft two of these guys later on and feel good about their running back group.

Today is the Georgia pro-day

Stand by for hype galore — as everyone waits to see if Jalen Carter works out (and speaks to the media). Nolan Smith will presumably get another week of good press out of this event. Most of the teams (if not all) will be on campus. We’ll also hear loads of chatter about who’s interested in who.

Just give me some short shuttles.

Is that too much to ask?

Pro-day notes

According to Tony Pauline, Bryan Bresee ran an excellent 4.43 short shuttle at 302lbs, plus a three-cone of 7.38. We already know that Moro Ojomo ran a 4.56 short shuttle at his pro-day, with Adetomiwa Adebawore running a 4.26.

Meanwhile, Myles Murphy didn’t do anything at Clemson’s pro-day and has arranged his own pro-day for April 4th as he recovers from an injury.

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Well, we did say it wouldn’t be a Seahawks off-season without some former players returning.

And while the fanbase waits patiently for Bobby Wagner’s inevitable return (I’ve already written my article reacting to that, I’m just waiting to publish it) — it’s actually a more unlikely player who returns first.

Jarran Reed left the Seahawks under a bit of a cloud in 2021. He was only a year removed from signing an extension. They wanted to work on his deal, get something sorted to lower his hit and extend his stay. Reed wasn’t happy and they parted with an air of bitterness lingering. He joined the Chiefs for a year and then spent 2022 in Green Bay.

I like this signing, on a reported two-year deal worth $10m (the reported price, so it’ll inevitably be lower in real money). He’s always been a very solid player. He only turned 30 in December so he’s not old. He had four sacks for the Packers in an active campaign. He hasn’t missed a game since 2019. You can trust him to be stout up front, play the run and deliver some pass rush. He has a warriors mentality.

He’ll be a lot cheaper than some of the alternative defensive linemen available and you know what you’re going to get from him. He’ll do a job.

Reed also plays with an attitude and an intensity which is always good to welcome back into the mix. He’s not a shrinking violet.

I think he’s the kind of piece Seattle needs to go with Dre’Mont Jones as they fix this defensive front. Now they have Reed, Jones and Al Woods as a front three — with the potential to draft someone to add to that. Maybe they’ll also find some money to bring another veteran in?

The only reason I didn’t consider Reed in my free agency piece was because I thought bridges had been burned. Evidently not — and kudos to all for coming together because this is a smart fit for both parties.

Either way — this is the kind of start Seattle needed to free agency. It’s also indicative of a team who I continue to think are likely to do one of two things at #5 — draft Will Anderson or one of the top-four quarterbacks. They’re focusing their intention on big-bodied defenders in free agency, which to me is telling.

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