Category: Front Page News (Page 35 of 367)

I’m on a bit of a family day today which means I’ll be avoiding the internet and watching a recording of these games tonight and tomorrow morning —- but these are the initial games I’ve got in the schedule:

Ohio State vs Northwestern
Tennessee vs Georgia
Alabama vs LSU
Clemson vs Notre Dame

I’ve also got some notes from the Washington win against Oregon State already collected for Monday’s article.

It’s a big weekend for college football so feel free to discuss it all in the comments section.

Next Saturday I will also be travelling to Germany for the Seahawks game against Tampa Bay.

It’s still way too early to do a mock draft and I’m going to wait at least a couple more weeks before publishing my first horizontal board. However, I wanted to pair some names of players to ranges where the Seahawks are currently picking.

Current pick — #10 overall (via Denver)

I wouldn’t expect Will Levis or C.J. Stroud to get out of the top five. I think, by April, Anthony Richardson (should he declare) will cement his place in a similar range due to his immense upside. People will question that thought because typically they assess that he has ‘struggled’ this year (when in reality, he just looks like an inconsistent player who is starting his first full season). Given his physical potential, talent and ceiling — I would expect quarterback needy teams to think of this as an opportunity to draft a player with Josh Allen-upside, then try to develop him. Recent reports have suggested Richardson is leaning towards turning pro. If he does, I think he should be an option for Seattle to develop behind Geno Smith. As I said though, I’m not sure he’d last to #10.

Will Anderson will also be a top five pick despite an underwhelming 2022 season.

I think it’s plausible Bryce Young could fall to this range due to his size (5-10, 185lbs). I’m not convinced the Seahawks would select him if he was available. Young is undoubtedly a very gifted, intriguing player. Yet it will be a difficult decision for teams to balance out his natural talent versus the concerns over his durability at that size and whether he will be able to shine in the same way he does in college. People will scoff at that concern but it is a valid discussion.

Jalen Carter and Bryan Bresee could be available. Neither has shown consistent play on tape but in a year without clear-cut top-10 players, their upside potential and flashes of quality could be tempting. Michigan’s Mazi Smith has been the most disruptive defensive tackle that I’ve seen this year and he will dominate the combine. However, his lack of arm length has previously been a turn-off for the Seahawks (they have often sought players with +33 inch arms).

In terms of pure talent, Bijan Robinson and Michael Mayer warrant consideration and could be available. Robinson will top a lot of draft boards in terms of pure grade. Mayer won’t be far behind provided he tests well. It will be a hard sell, however, to justify taking a running back or tight end with your top pick for obvious reasons. However — both players have star, blue-chip potential and in a weak looking top-10 — they might constitute ‘talent value’ in an otherwise tough year to find it.

I think the Seahawks could also consider Quentin Johnston. He has great size, an outstanding physical profile and carries an X-factor. Like Robinson and Mayer, he might provide rare value at the top of the first round (although his play has been inconsistent at times this year which is slightly worrying). I just get the sense he’s ‘special’ in the way Seattle likes.

I also think Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright is being massively underrated and deserves a shout-out here — even if the Seahawks are not going to draft another player at this position.

Current pick — #22 overall

This is a difficult one. There’s time for this to change and the Senior Bowl and combine will help shape the board. Yet this is a ‘black hole’ range where picks will likely be a reach in terms of value.

I wonder if teams picking in the 20’s might consider trying to trade their picks for proven players. After all, this year Philadelphia traded #18 for A.J. Brown, Las Vegas moved #22 for Davante Adams, Arizona dealt #23 for Hollywood Brown and Miami gave Kansas City #29 for Tyreek Hill.

This week we’ve already seen the Dolphins trade away a potential pick in the 20’s next year to Denver for Bradley Chubb.

Seattle’s record of trading for expensive veterans isn’t good and without a great deal of cap space to play with, it might be ill-advised. It is something to consider though, if it proves to be that the #22 range in the 2023 draft carries poor value. I would say it’s a distinct possibility.

Clemson pass rusher K.J. Henry only has two sacks in eight games and if that continues it could limit his stock. However — he is a former five-star recruit with the physical traits you’d expect from a top-level athlete. He has been highly disruptive all season and that shows in an 87.0 PFF grade. Henry has also been described as the emotional leader on Clemson’s defense.

Kelee Ringo hasn’t played well enough to go earlier than #22 in my opinion. The Seahawks might feel they don’t need another cornerback (and they’ve steered clear of drafting them early). However, pairing Ringo (a first class size/speed combo athlete) with Tariq Woolen would be interesting. They’d need to work on his technique though and he’s developed a habit of being targeted (and beat) deep more than you’d expect from such a physically impressive corner.

There could be some value at receiver here and the Seahawks could still use a really excellent WR3. Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt is having a fantastic season and his ability to increase acceleration in the final moments of a route to create separation is eye-catching. I’m not sure Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba is quick enough for Seattle (or perhaps even to go in round one) but he’s a skilled, natural receiver.

A lot of people rate Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy as a top-15 pick but I feel more comfortable giving him a fringe first round grade. He’s very athletic for his size, shows a good burst off the edge and is having a very solid season. I just get a Shaq Lawson vibe from him and wonder about his frame. He lacks muscle definition and is pretty limited to a 4-3 defensive end role.

It might be justifiable to trade down from #22 and pick up extra stock but this is also a tactic that has not played well for Seattle over the years. It’s far easier for me to list appealing options in round two than it is to list targets for #22.

Current picks — #41 overall (via Denver) & #56 overall

Now it gets interesting.

The value on day two feels far better than round one. Obviously if players get promoted into round one, day two will suffer. Even so, there are names I like a lot in this range.

Ole Miss’ Jonathan Mingo is a well sized, dynamic big target with plus athleticism and mobility. The Seahawks appear to be somewhat intrigued by a bigger WR3 type (they’ve taken a look at Laquon Treadwell and JJ Arcega-Whiteside). Mingo is one to watch and is flying under the radar. He glides as a runner despite his 220lbs frame.

A more diminutive option would be Zay Flowers. Don’t be put off by the size — he has better change-of-direction skills and stop-start ability than any other receiver I recall scouting since starting this blog in 2008.

Three other receivers worth mentioning are West Virginia’s tall, athletic playmaker Bryce Ford-Wheaton who seems to be flying under the radar, Tennessee’s other receiver Cedric Tillman (very talented in his own right) and Maryland’s dynamic Rakim Jarrett (who might be a bit too similar to Dee Eskridge).

Tight end isn’t going to be a huge need but Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave is going to be an underrated option for someone in round two with a fantastic combination of reliability, toughness and extreme athleticism.

There should be good O-line options. For me, Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski and Maryland’s Jaelyn Duncan are better suited to kicking inside to guard and I’m not sure I’d take either any earlier than this. Penn State’s Olu Fashanu is incredibly raw as a 19-year-old prospect and his technique is a major work in progress. However, he has natural power and great size and could be moulded into a guard/tackle type. I think he’d be better off staying in college and honing his craft because I don’t think he’s that close to being ready to start at left tackle in the NFL.

There’s an embarrassment of riches at center. None of these players fit Seattle’s and LA’s apparent Austin Blythe/Brian Allen size/style preference (and I think the Seahawks will stick with it, thus the recent return of Joey Hunt for a look-see). That said — John Michael Schmitz, Joe Tippman, Ricky Stromberg, Olusegun Oluwatimi and Sedrick Van Pran all interest me for day two. Tippman and Stromberg are outstanding athletes who will test very well. Schmitz is a powerhouse who plays with violence. Oluwatimi has been a pillar of consistency for Michigan and there’s a lot of upside potential with Van Pran (if he declares).

There are high upside outside linebacker/edge rusher types. B.J. Ojulari is active, long and athletic and has been featuring specifically as a 3-4 OLB. He also wears the famous #18 jersey given to the LSU player who best characterises leadership. Will McDonald has had a poor season for Iowa State but has all of the athletic tools you look for in an OLB/EDGE. He needs a rocket up his arse though.

Michigan’s Mike Morris hasn’t played with a great deal of urgency this year aside from when he ran himself ragged in the Michigan State ‘revenge’ game last weekend. He’s still a big, powerful, athletic pass rusher who can handle power-end duties and could be a flexible EDGE or 3-4 DE.

Alabama’s Byron Young doesn’t get much attention but he has consistently found ways into the backfield this year to disrupt and impact games. He is a potential defensive tackle or 3-4 end. He’s never going to be a spectacular pass rusher but as a steady, consistent performer at the next level who plays with toughness and surprising quickness I think he’s worthy of day two consideration. He has a PFF grade this year of 83.7.

South Carolina’s Zacch Pickens has great size and athleticism at defensive tackle and has the potential to be a very solid, high-upside second round pick. I just worry a little about his stamina and endurance. His motor is good but he seems to get tired. Wisconsin’s Keanu Benton is well worth keeping in mind as another defensive tackle option and as we discussed earlier this week — undersized Pittsburgh pass rusher Calijah Kancey lacks typical measurables (6-0, 280lbs) but he’s a menace with great speed combining with quick, forceful hands to create pressure. He’s expected to run in the late 4.6’s and carries a 90.1 PFF grade.

UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet should be considered in round two. He has fantastic size, contact balance, footwork, he drives through contact, he’s explosive, has good speed and he’s a useful pass-catcher.

Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson isn’t having anywhere near the kind of season he had last year and has been one of the bigger disappointments so far. Even so, he is going to test very well at the combine and with the right guidance could yet emerge as a useful NFL player. In 2021 he was a strong blitzer and a big hitter but we haven’t seen as much of that this year. He only has half a TFL and half a sack in 2022 — despite playing behind the best defensive line in college football.

At safety there are three players I really like in this range.

Christopher Smith at Georgia wears #29 and it looks good on him. He can run to the sideline with great burst and recognition skills. He’ll sprint to the LOS and make good open-field tackles. Smith is a proper free safety who is a good forty time away from being taken in the top-50. His PFF grade is an 83.0 for the season including an 84.8 coverage grade.

Then there’s the two players I discussed earlier this week. Ji’Ayir Brown has an unorthodox, stocky frame but he’s quick, impactful, has nine interceptions in the last 1.5 seasons and is considered the heart and soul, highly respected leader at Penn State. Boise State’s JL Skinner is a violent, big-time hitter with plus run-support skills and the ability to strike fear into opponents on crossing routes and anything short.

Current pick — #87 overall

There are more receivers I like in this range (it’s another deep class). Ohio State’s Julian Fleming hasn’t delivered on his incredible recruiting potential but there’s definitely something there. If he chooses to turn pro, this is the kind of range I’d consider taking a shot on his talent.

Kayshon Boutte has had a tremendously disappointing season for LSU. If it leads to a fall — and I think it should — there will come a time when someone should take a punt on his upside.

A lot of people are projecting Georgia left tackle Broderick Jones in round one. I think he’s arguably more of a guard convert or a swing-tackle. Yet his aggressive style and athletic build would be appealing here. I’d also be interested in Clemson’s Jordan McFadden and Arizona’s Jordan Morgan in this range for the same tackle-to-guard conversion.

Clemson has a fantastic D-line (as noted already) and Tyler Davis deserves some love among the big name players. I’m not sure he’ll go much earlier than round three but he’s a very solid, consistent, disruptive performer in his own right. Florida’s Gervon Dexter flatters to deceive and based on his performances so far, could last into the middle rounds. He has the upside — he’s just never been consistent or that impactful.

I think some big name, slightly overrated linebackers will go in this range. Nolan Smith, for example, looks like a third rounder to me (and has just been ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn pec). Iowa’s Jack Campbell and Alabama’s Henry To’oto’o are also marked in round three for me. I have Arkansas’ Drew Sanders in this range after his hot start quietened somewhat.

I really like Ventrell Miller — a great leader, run defender and a tough linebacker who’s been playing through injury all season. I think he has physical limitations though and an injury history that could keep him in the middle rounds. Is he athletic enough for Seattle? Probably not but I want to keep mentioning him anyway.

I think there will be good value at running back in round three — with Kentucky’s Chris Rodriguez a big, bulldozing, yards-after-contact tone-setter, Auburn’s explosive Tank Bigsby and Ole Miss’ Zach Evans are also potential options.

I have Ohio State center Luke Wypler graded in round three plus a collection of what I’d call slightly overrated pass rushers — Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Isaiah Foskey, Tyree Wilson, Derrick Hall, Jared Verse and Andre Carter. I still think a third round grade is pretty good frankly — and some of these players chose not declare for the 2022 draft in part because that’s likely what they heard from the draft committee.

Current pick — #124 overall

This is where I would personally start considering the next tier of quarterbacks. I appreciate Hendon Hooker is having a great season but he’s also going to be a 25-year-old rookie who plays in a half-field read system in college, often throwing to wide-open (well schemed) receivers. His accuracy is patchy and covered up by the manufactured production. He’s having a great year and deserves a ton of praise — but it’s hard to project him to the NFL.

This is also the range where I’d start to consider Dorian Thompson-Robinson (who I like a lot), Tanner McKee (Mike Glennon II) and K.J. Jefferson.

If you gave me only one choice at quarterback and it had to be retaining Drew Lock to backup Geno Smith or drafting someone in round four I’d probably stick with Lock.

There are three running backs I’d consider in this range (remember — this is all pre-testing and Senior Bowl analysis) — Kenny McIntosh, Sean Tucker and Blake Corum.

This could be the area where TCU’s athletic but inconsistent pass rusher Dylan Horton lands. USC’s Nick Figueroa is a player I think is better than people recognise. He’s a very active defensive end.

At linebacker, Owen Pappoe at Auburn has some absolutely dreadful moments on tape but he’s a superstar athlete. Seattle has often targeted great athletes at linebacker. At SPARQ he ran a 4.47 forty, a 4.00 short shuttle and he jumped a 40 inch vertical. His total score was an elite 147.12. That’s the kind of profile Seattle has gone for in the fourth round range previously.

I think Washington State’s Daiyan Henley could go earlier than this if he tests well. I like him — I just want to see his measurables and testing numbers before committing to a higher grade. Texas’ DeMarvion Overshown will likely not test well enough for Seattle but he’ll have some value if he’s there early on day three.

The final name I want to mention is safety John Torchio. He’s been a real playmaker this year with five interceptions (eight in the last 1.5 seasons). I thought he had a tremendous game in an otherwise miserable night for Wisconsin against Ohio State. He’s gritty, quick and can hit. If nothing else he looks like a core special teamer. I’m intrigued to see his testing results.

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Time to reassess conventional thinking on quarterbacks?

The great thing about the NFL is it constantly keeps you guessing. We all have preferences and ideals — whether it comes to team building, philosophy, positional priority in the draft or a variety of other subjects.

You think you know what you know. Right up until the point something happens that makes you second guess yourself.

The conventional wisdom on quarterbacks is that there are two ways to find a good one. You draft one very early in round one or you get lucky later on. Classic examples are the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert — all recent high draft picks. Then you have the likes of Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott and of course, Tom Brady — taken much later on.

For the most part, this is how you find a quarterback. But often you end up taking a position where this is the only way to do it. I know I’ve felt that way for a long time. I think it’s fair to say most people do shut their minds off once they feel like they’ve established a hard truth.

The success of Geno Smith feels like a personal dig in the ribs that this league conjures up the improbable so many times. It’s why there isn’t one single way to win a football game — contrary to what the analytically minded group on Twitter would have you believe. This is a sport of variety and opportunity.

Smith appears to have benefitted from time, experience and being overlooked (creating motivation). His wiser head and patience seems to have aligned with the talent that had him drafted early in round two. Now we see a player being ranked in the top five at his position based on 2022 performance.

This journeyman backup, aged 32, has delivered half a season of top-level performances. He doesn’t look serviceable or decent. He looks fantastic.

Meanwhile the ‘golden child’ Trevor Lawrence is struggling in Jacksonville. Zach Wilson, the #2 pick in 2021 after Lawrence, just had a nightmare against the Patriots.

Several young highly drafted players have been thrust into starting roles and they’ve struggled badly. Some may come out the other side better for it — just as Josh Allen did. Remember, he was an internet meme for two years before the light switched on. Now he’s the favourite to be MVP (ahead of Mahomes, Derrick Henry and, well, Geno Smith).

Others will fall away. Perhaps some will do what Geno has done? Take their time, reassess, develop and perform later in their careers?

Smith’s rebirth has certainly made me consider a few things:

1. Don’t automatically write-off struggling young quarterbacks. Perhaps the league should look at Geno Smith’s experience and be prepared to either play a longer game with these players, or be willing to offer more second and third chances?

2. The unexpected will happen and players can and will prove you wrong.

3. While there’s a race at the moment to draft quarterbacks and then start them immediately in order to max-out their cheap rookie contracts — is this the great idea we all perhaps thought? If young quarterbacks are coming into the league and for the most part are struggling — you aren’t getting any benefit. You’re just blowing a young career and your own high pick.

4. Should more teams be prepared to take a longer-term view of things? Kansas City, when they drafted Patrick Mahomes, sat him in year one and started Alex Smith. Only when they felt Mahomes was ready did they trade Smith and go with the younger player. I’m sure if Mahomes wasn’t ready in year two, they would’ve retained Smith. It used to be that young QB’s sat for some time before being handed the starting job. Now it’s just assumed they come in and start as soon as possible. Maybe it’s time to be more cautious with these players?

As part of a personal commitment to consider these points, here are two key takeaways I’d have:

1. Perhaps Drew Lock — himself a former second round pick — can reinvent his career down the line? He has the physical talent. He seems to be of good character. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s inspired by Geno. It’d be nice for the Seahawks to retain both players after this season — but I wonder if another team will give Lock a better chance to start with the hope he can similarly turn things around?

2. If that does happen, the Seahawks will need to add a quarterback (assuming they retain Geno). I still think it would be ideal to draft a young, high-upside QB who can be afforded the time to learn and develop without the pressure to start immediately. I still think the best option for this role would be Anthony Richardson. His upside is as high as you’ll see in any quarterback entering the league. He needs time. It would be a perfect scenario and provided you’re willing to accept you won’t get those ‘cheap’ early years on his contract — you could set the team up for success in the short and long term with a Geno Smith/Anthony Richardson plan.

The future of the interior offensive line

This isn’t a hot topic at the moment and neither should it be. Eventually, though, it will come into focus.

Austin Blythe and Phil Haynes are both free agents at the end of the season. It’s virtually impossible to imagine them retaining Gabe Jackson with a $9m cap hit. Damien Lewis is also entering a contract year.

Typically whenever we start talking about the O-line, people are immediately drawn to which high picks they can use or which big-name free agents they can sign.

In order to retain Geno Smith next year, the Seahawks are going to have virtually nothing to spend. Their $32m in effective cap space will go very quickly.

They will need to find savings somewhere. People might not like to hear it but their O-line scheme is set up to prosper without big names at guard or center.

The Rams model, which Seattle is using, has plugged players in based on certain body types and profiles. We’ve been through this a fair bit already but a quick recap. Los Angeles have used a smaller, brawling, wrestling type at center (Blythe, Brian Allen). They’ve also done a good job finding converted tackles to play guard.

David Edwards was a tackle taken in the fifth round in 2019. He has started at left guard. Up until this year they started Austin Corbett at right guard. He was a former second round pick for the Browns. He played tackle at Nevada. The Rams gave Cleveland a fifth round pick for him in 2019 and played him at right guard. He performed well enough to sign a three-year, $26.25m contract with the Panthers in March.

Blythe was a seventh round pick claimed off waivers who became a starter for LA. His replacement, Allen, was a late fourth round pick in 2018.

Ideally the Seahawks would go out and create an all-star O-line but the truth is — with the expectation of retaining Geno and having minimal cap space — that isn’t viable. Neither is spending multiple high picks on interior offensive linemen when:

a.) The scheme has shown it can succeed without such investment

b.) Other areas of the team require investment

For example, it’s not just the O-line that will be missing players next year. Poona Ford is a free agent. L.J. Collier is out of contract. Al Woods will be 36 and they’d need to make a call on his $5m cap hit. Shelby Harris would be 32 and is due $12.2m. Quinton Jefferson is due just under $6m.

You’d like to keep the group together but it might not be financially viable and there are ageing players included here. Some long term thinking would be attractive.

They have enough picks where they could dabble in both areas (and I have absolutely zero issue with investing in the trenches on either side of the ball — I would encourage it). But I also think positional value is key. There aren’t any pure guards I’ve seen worthy of a high pick. You could convert a tackle to guard but do you want to do that in the first two rounds? It is, in fairness, a strong center class — but there aren’t any Tyler Linderbaum types who fit the size or profile for the scheme. They are all bigger blockers.

As such, they might seek to retain Haynes (who might not break the bank) and possibly restructure Jackson’s deal. They could try Jake Curhan or Stone Forsyth at guard. The return of Joey Hunt to the practise squad could be an attempt to see if he can provide an answer at center. After all, he has the body type this scheme calls for.

Or they could look for value on the open market.

I don’t know how viable any of these options are because it’s early. Yet there are a decent handful of out-of-contract NFL tackles who might project inside to guard and have more success.

I’d love to think there’s a chance they could get to Isaiah Wynn — a former blog favourite who always appeared more suited to guard than tackle. Atlanta’s Kaleb McGary is a free agent. Mike McGlinchey is struggling at tackle for the Niners but could make a better interior lineman. For me, Jawaan Taylor has always been more suited to kicking inside. At center, Garrett Bradbury will reach free agency.

I also wonder if the Bengals might be close to giving up on Jonah Williams. I was never quite sure why a player with such modest testing results and less than ideal measurables was so highly coveted as a top-15 pick. He is struggling at left tackle and he always appeared better suited to the interior. The Bengals are sorted at guard already.

Williams might be available in the off-season for a cheap trade. He’d be playing on his fifth-year option and it would allow Cincinnati to pursue alternatives at tackle. He could be a sort of ‘Corbett’ trade option for Seattle — although it would cost you $12m in 2023 so that might not be plausible.

If they wanted scheme familiarity — LA’s Edwards is also a free agent in 2023. He’s been placed on IR twice due to concussions which is a concern for the player. It might mean he’s relatively affordable though, should he make a full recovery.

I suppose the point is they have options and there might be ways to be creative.

In terms of the draft, I’ve currently only got one offensive lineman listed as a likely first rounder (Tennessee’s brilliant right tackle Darnell Wright). I think Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski is a bit overrated and has the measurables of a guard. I also think Maryland’s Jaelyn Duncan, Clemson’s Jordan McFadden, Arizona’s Jordan Morgan, Oklahoma’s Wanya Morris and Miami’s Zion Nelson are suited to moving inside. The draft could provide some solutions here but testing and the Senior Bowl practises will be big in determining final judgements on positional fit and range.

At center — as noted before — there aren’t any ‘size’ fits for the scheme. Yet John Michael Schmitz, Joe Tippman, Ricky Stromberg, Olusegun Oluwatimi, Sedrick Van Pran and Luke Wypler for me all warrant day two grades at this early juncture. Again, testing will be key.

The 2023 D-line class remains a bit of a head-scratcher

There’s a lot of question marks here I’m trying to get my head around.

Why is Will Anderson’s 2022 season a mile away from what he showed in 2021? Is he saving himself? How good is he, actually? Because based on what he’s shown this year, he’s a notch below the Bosa brothers and some other highly drafted defensive ends.

How good is Jalen Carter? When he flashes he looks great but there’s a lack of consistency to his play and he needs to win the leverage battle more often and do the basics right to complement the ‘wow’ moments. Also — what are his measurables because it’s hard to work out how big/long he actually is.

Is Bryan Bresee ever going to be more than a great idea? He’s missed time due to injuries and a personal tragedy but despite his outstanding testing profile at SPARQ — he’s not shown that much when he has played this year.

Myles Murphy is consistently touted in the top-10 but his body lacks refinement. There’s little tone to his arms and for want of a better way of putting this — he appears to have moobs. He doesn’t have a classic edge rusher’s body. He’s clearly very athletic but he gives off a Shaq Lawson vibe at times. Lawson’s never had more than 6.5 sacks in a season as a former #19 overall pick.

K.J. Henry is incredibly impressive and massively underrated but somehow — despite causing havoc every week — he only has two sacks in eight games. Does he have a problem finishing?

Mazi Smith is the most impactful, athletic, disruptive defensive tackle in college and creates pressure every week. He has one sack in eight games. Same question about finishing. He certainly can do a better job timing his get-off.

Calijah Kancey is very athletic and disruptive but he’s 6-0 and 280lbs. Zacch Pickens has ideal size and shows some great skill but he seems to lack stamina and endurance. Mike Morris only seems to play with great urgency when he takes on Michigan State. Will McDonald has everything you want physically in an edge rusher but his 2022 tape is rubbish.

There are lots of players here you want to fall in love with but something always holds you back. As such it’s a class with some potential but also a lot of question marks.

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These are players I’ve recently added to my horizontal board that I wanted to spend a bit of time discussing today…

Calijah Kancey (DT, Pittsburgh)
There are ‘wow’ plays on tape for Kancey, who is an undersized yet dynamic interior rusher. His quickness complements his good use of hands to create pressure through the A or B gap. He can stun blockers with his ability to swipe and slide across the line to wrong-foot guards. He has a fantastic swim move. There are occasions where you can see blockers wary of his quickness and he plays off that. He uses choppy feet to let the guard make his move, then once he’s committed he’ll throw a little head fake, drop a shoulder or just swim by. It’s always exciting to watch a player like this with great skill and athleticism at defensive tackle. The only problem is size. He’s 6-0 and 280lbs. I suspect, given those measurables, he will probably have shorter arms too. It’s a shame because he can reportedly run a 4.69 and jump a 31.5 inch vertical. So he’s fast and explosive. Will it translate at that size though? Aaron Donald, another former Pitt defensive tackle, ran a 4.68 at 285lbs at his combine, then jumped a 32 inch vertical. He also had 32.5 inch arms. So his size shouldn’t be written off — but the chances are he won’t be Donald. After all, Donald had a ridiculous 66 TFL’s and 28.5 sacks in college. Kancey has 28.5/11.5. Even so, the expectation shouldn’t be Donald. It’s whether he can still make an impact. I think he can — but he’s difficult to project in terms of a round grade. At the moment I’m thinking day two simply because the quickness and hand-skill isn’t seen that often.

JL Skinner (S, Boise State)
This was a really fun watch and I immediately plonked a round two grade on Skinner after two games. He’s the kind of safety you fall in love with right away. He’s 6-4, 220lbs and he’s an enforcer. He’s violent. He’s destructive. He has a highlight reel full of massive hits. His closing burst is so good and when he gets you in his sights — bang. He’ll dump you on your arse. Everyone loves to throw around comparisons to Kam Chancellor but this is the first player I’ve legitimately seen who might warrant the tag. He’s not as big as Kam and won’t ever be Kam because nobody will be. Yet it’s a fair comparison for what you see on tape — a big, punishing strong safety who’ll knock your block off. You want him eyeing those crossing routes, creating a fear factor. He’s tremendous in run support. I think he’s faster than Kam and might be more of a chess piece. He accelerates well and he’s no slouch when he gets moving. He’s also well regarded as a strong communicator on the field and he’s all business off the field. I’ve enjoyed listening to his interviews. He is laser focused and no-nonsense. Sign me up for some of this.

Ji’Ayir Brown (S, Penn State)
Another safety I thoroughly enjoyed watching. I wanted to watch him as soon as Jim Nagy tweeted he was the definitive alpha on Penn State’s roster. That’s always something that catches your eye. On tape he’s a quality, playmaking safety. He didn’t disappoint. Brown is constantly around the ball. I’ve seen people claiming he has a lot of opportunistic interceptions (tipped passes etc). So what? He has nine picks in one-and-a-half seasons. He’s doing something right. He’s stocky and reminds me a bit of Quandre Diggs in terms of his frame. Could be a cheaper option (given Diggs is due $18m next year and there’s an easy out in his contract)? There are some differences to Diggs, though. For example — against Michigan he set the edge on a red-zone running play and bulldozed an offensive tackle backwards, stunning the blocker and then wrapping up the ball-carrier as he tried to run to that side. It was more Kam Chancellor-level stuff. He anticipates and reads the field well from deep. He reportedly is capable of a 3.99 short shuttle and a 4.45 forty. Jim Nagy said in his tweet that he also has big 10-inch hands. Watching Brown and Skinner, I couldn’t help but think about the pair of them on the field at the same time. A new tandem. Big, fast, violent, explosive. Brown might not suit everyone because his body type is not typical for his position. I have to say, after watching him, I wouldn’t overthink that.

Quentin Johnston (WR, TCU)
I’ve talked about Johnston before but I wanted to add him to this piece too. He’s a tough one to work out because at times I watch him and think, ‘this guy is the next DeAndre Hopkins mixed with some Larry Fitzgerald’ (which sounds ridiculous but also kind of fits). Then in other games he goes missing or his technique is a little off and then I start to worry about Kevin White vibes. Yet there’s no doubting Johnson has special qualities and a unique frame. His body type is Richard Sherman-esque. He’s long and quite gangly but also incredibly quick and explosive. He makes sudden, subtle moves to avoid tackles. He has a go-to spin move after running a comeback route to break away from the first defender. Johnston makes clutch plays downfield and he’s an electric runner when he gets going. When his legs are churning it’s a terrifying sight — he runs like the T1000. He looks like an outstanding, special athlete and he supposedly will run in the 4.4’s and jump a 42 inch vertical. I’d like to see him make more of his size/speed frankly. He has long arms — use them to high point better. Box-out opponents. Become unstoppable. Even so — he is a freakish athlete and I suspect the league will be lining up to draft him. He will be a first round pick.

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Before getting into the notes for this week, a few general Seahawks/draft thoughts…

The Denver Broncos look like a bad team. I don’t, however, think they’re going to be bad enough to deliver a top-five pick to the Seahawks.

Winning in London where they rode their luck a bit then did just enough at the end was big for Denver. That’s the kind of game a really bad team finds a way to lose.

They do have a tricky schedule to come (including two games against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs) but I suspect they’ll be in the 6-8 win range rather than the 3-5 win range you need to get into the top-five. This year, for example, the New York Giants had the #5 overall pick and only had four wins in 2021.

Increasingly it looks like Seattle will end up with the picks we kind of expected, only in reverse — with Denver providing a pick in the #8-12 range and Seattle picking later in round one.

I’m fascinated to see how this draft class shapes up given the lack of emerging players who we can seriously consider top-10 picks. This is a uniquely light draft — where prospective high picks have been injured or under-performed and very few players have promoted their stock into the top range.

Seattle currently owns the #10 and #22 pick as things stand — it might be that both players they claim with those picks (if they keep them) carry fringe first or second round grades. Or they might be forced to go for talent, just at positions we don’t consider ‘key needs’.

For example, the meltdown that will occur if they take Texas running back Bijan Robinson with a top-10 pick will probably crash the internet. Yet it’s not beyond the realms of possibility he would be light years ahead of any other player available if Seattle picks in the top-10 and the quarterbacks and defensive linemen worthy of early consideration are all gone.

They could trade up — but it’d be expensive and risky.

There are good receivers in this class they might consider. There’s a little bit of a risk factor with Quentin Johnson but I can imagine the Seahawks loving his upside. I’m a big admirer of Jalin Hyatt and Jonathan Mingo (who would be a good second round option). Jaxon Smith-Njigba has missed most of this season but he was incredibly impressive in 2021 (long speed could be an issue, though). I’m really interested to see how the under rated Bryce Ford-Wheaton tests if he turns pro.

There’s one brilliant tight end in Michael Mayer. Would they want to go down that road? Almost certainly not for a tight end but again — how much are you willing to compromise on talent to address positions of greater priority when you’re still only going into the second off-season of a build (even if that build is producing results faster than expected)?

Or it’s possible one or more of the top defensive tackles last. I think Mazi Smith will go a lot earlier than people think and Jalen Carter/Bryan Bresee a bit later. Especially Bresee who, while having an outstanding physical profile, hasn’t played at the level he’s capable of and has a fairly significant injury history.

Will a quarterback be available to them? It’s still possible — and should still be considered if it’s one of what I’d call ‘the big four’. I think we’re seeing the benefit of time with Geno Smith and the folly of being thrown in at the deep end (see: Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson). It might be wise to have ‘one in the chamber’ behind Smith, unless they genuinely believe Drew Lock can essentially do what Geno’s doing now down the line.

It’d be nice to have deeper, more reassuring options (for example a stacked top-20 loaded with talent at various positions but mainly D-line) but at least there are some options — plus some intrigue.

I hope, ultimately, they build on the success of this year by focusing on the premium positions while being ready to capitalise on a great opportunity, as they did with Ken Walker. Needs kindly seemed to match available talent in the 2022 draft. They might not be as fortunate in 2023 but I hope the focus remains on talent acquisition, not position-addressing. The last time they had two first round picks they ended up with L.J. Collier and trading down for Marquise Blair when the likes of Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf were available. I’d rather just get as much talent as possible in the next draft than tick off a wish-list of positions.

Finally, before getting into the scouting notes, I’m glad the Seahawks (so far) haven’t pulled any moves like the Roquan Smith trade to Baltimore.

The Seahawks don’t need to dabble in rental trades for players who are due massive contract extensions in the off-season. Fresh off such an emphatically successful 2022 draft — retaining their picks should be key.

Furthermore — as we’ve discussed a lot already — they don’t have that much cap space in 2023. Adding a player you need to give a big fat contract to in 2023 simply decreases your chances of keeping Geno Smith beyond this season.

Florida vs Georgia

Highly rated Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter returned from his knee injury in this game and had an impact, while also highlighting some of the pros and cons of his game.

He showed flashes of real quality, swimming through the gap to penetrate and collapse the interior. One move in particular created a key pressure on a big fourth down play. He is the closest thing in this draft class to a Jeffrey Simmons type. He has an athletic looking frame (listed at 6-3 and 300lbs) and his quickness and agility — combined with his power — are key reasons why he will be a first round pick.

I also think this game showed again that he needs to become more consistent. You could pull a highlights package of 4-5 plays and use it for the basis of saying Carter’s a sure-fire top-five pick. Yet there were also a lot of ‘nothing’ reps where you’re left wanting a bit more.

This is why I’ve so far couched my rating for Carter. The flashes are great and I’ve no doubt they’d show up at the next level too. But you want to see more than the occasional flash. You want to see evidence of a more rounded game.

Can he be more than a one-gap penetrator? Can he be a plus run defender to warrant any-down value? Can he stack up blocks and draw extra attention at the LOS at the next level? Can he play with better leverage? Does he have the potential to take over a game rather than just flash every now and again? And when he’s given opportunities to shoot into the backfield, can we see more consistent production?

He only has three sacks in college football. It’d be nice to see a bit more production and consistency. I appreciate he’s been injured this year — but prior to jumping to the league, can he take another step in college to end this season on a high?

He has the physical tools to be a formidable force and that could be all that is needed in this light-weight first round to go very early. I suspect he’ll have growing pains early in his career though and there’s going to be some projection on what he can be. How high he goes will depend on a team’s willingness to take a chance on him delivering on his potential and being more consistent.

Elsewhere, UGA safety Christopher Smith was again impactful. He broke up deep passes in this game, ran to the sideline with great quickness, his read/react is very good and he comes up to the LOS and makes tackles. He’s trusty, fast and tough. As I’ve suggested before, depending on how he tests, he can be a second round pick.

Cornerback Kelee Ringo gets beat too often. Yes he has physical tools and that makes him a really intriguing prospect who will almost certainly go in the top-45. Yet at times he’s as close to a liability as Georgia can have. Ringo jumped too early on a deep ball from Anthony Richardson and gave up an explosive play downfield — a habit that we’ve seen a few too many times recently. Ringo’s phsyical tools are through the roof but to max out his draft stock he has to start doing the fundamentals better.

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson was hit in the thigh on his first snap and twisted his knee awkwardly falling to the ground. He played through the pain but couldn’t run in the first half. He still flashed great escapability, physical tools and arm strength. He was very creative to extend plays. Richardson can throw downfield with precision and velocity and he was incredibly difficult to bring down even when defenders burst into the backfield.

There were also some throws where he was a split second too late or misfired slightly.

By now we all know about Richardson — the obscene upside and the need for further development. It was reported over the weekend he is leaning towards turning pro.

I can’t see anything changing my opinion at this point. His physical upside is so extreme — as high as any quarterback I’ve watched entering the league. I think it would be a good use of a high pick to select him, let him develop behind Geno Smith with the possibility he eventually takes over. Richardson has the talent to be a Josh Allen level player. Like Allen, he also needs time, refinement and guidance to deliver on his potential.

I’m not sure he’ll be there for the Seahawks unless they pick very early. Even with his inconsistent play — he’s already performing at a higher standard than Allen did at Wyoming. I suspect someone will take him in the top-five because the upside is simply too good.

Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller doesn’t get much help on a struggling Florida defense but he’s a magnet to the ball carrier and a pillar of consistency. He’s been impactful all season. In this game he showed some ability as a blitzer, played with his usual aggression and did his best to slow down Georgia’s running game. I’m not sure he will have the physical profile or speed to interest the Seahawks but he’s having a very good season. Miller has also been playing through an injury all season and he’s been the heart and soul for the Gators.

Georgia tight end Darnell Washington is a tank. He’s not the quickest but his frame is fairly remarkable. In this game he again showed real potential as an extra blocker who can settle into soft areas of zone coverage and provide a big target on mid-range throws and in the red zone. He had one careless drop against Florida but otherwise provided a nice outlet. He will be a useful player at the next level although testing will determine how early he’s drafted.

Linebacker Nolan Smith is regularly projected as a first round pick but I’m not convinced. He’s a decent player, undersized and I just think there’s nothing particularly special about him. For me he’s a day two pick. I felt the same way about Nakobe Dean and he lasted into round three. The same might happen to Smith.

Michigan State vs Michigan

This was the best game I’ve seen from Michigan pass rusher Mike Morris. In previous games I think he’s played with a lack of urgency despite an increasing buzz in the media. This was a very different story. He led the pre-game speech to the team and came out roaring. He had a nice sack on an inside move before half-time, ran around like his hair was on fire and created pressure from the edge. More of this please.

Defensive tackle Mazi Smith had possibly his quietest game of the season but still looked a class above. There aren’t many nose tackles who come back onto the field for 3rd and long. Smith’s ability to shoot gaps at his size is virtually unheard of. Here he was pushing the pocket, winning with quickness again. He will destroy the combine. He can be even better when he learns to time his get-off to match the snap. He has shorter arms which will put some teams off but he’s a freakish athlete and the most disruptive defensive tackle I’ve watched this season.

Kentucky vs Tennessee

This was an absolute car crash of a performance from Kentucky and one I’m sure will lead to an overreaction from draft pontificators regarding Will Levis’ contribution to said car crash.

It’s absolutely the case that Levis played badly, had three turnovers and he deserves to be criticised for his part in this horror show.

His first interception was just a good play by the safety — hammering the receiver as he caught the ball leading to a tipped pass. That was unfortunate. His next two picks were late throws that were more ‘throw and hope for the best’ than anything close to timing and rhythm. These were mistakes by a pressing quarterback chasing the scoreboard.

What I will say though is I’m not sure any NFL evaluator is going to take even a second look at this tape. You can’t glean anything from a game like this where Kentucky were so hopelessly dreadful in every aspect.

Levis had no chance. He was throwing to overmatched freshman receivers who appeared allergic to contact. His one trusty receiver, Tayvion Robinson, dropped an easy back-shoulder fade on third down when the score was only 13-6. The Kentucky offensive line gave up another four sacks and eight TFL’s in another disaster-zone performance. The scoreboard pressure was constricting almost immediately. Why? Mainly because for whatever reason Kentucky’s secondary kept blowing the same coverage. The safety and corner on the left hand side kept being drawn to the same player, leaving Jalin Hyatt running wide open downfield. It was ridiculous how it happened twice for touchdowns — the exact same issue repeated.

Their punter kept kicking crap punts. There was one play where they had about 15 defenders on the field as they desperately tried to substitute to combat Tennessee’s up-tempo style.

Everything was a mess. The final score was 44-6 but it felt like 144-6.

Tennessee were everything Kentucky weren’t. Their defense, smelling blood, smothered them at the LOS and attacked in numbers. Their offensive scheme is so fine tuned it could win them a National Championship — that’s a distinct possibility now. They have two high draft picks at receiver and their right tackle should be getting mocked in round one.

The quarterback Hendon Hooker will continue to get a ton of praise and hey, he deserves it for the success he’s having. Yet there are so many easy wide open throws for big touchdowns. The scheme and talent makes his life so easy — half-field reads, instructions pre-snap from the sideline, guys running downfield with no defender in sight. In this game Tennessee specifically ran to the line after every play to stop Kentucky substituting and it worked. They couldn’t keep up. I’ve never seen a team use tempo to this extent before.

Levis can only dream of such an environment.

I don’t really blame him for pressing and making mistakes as things spiralled out of control. I’m not sure who would’ve succeeded at quarterback for UK in this game, against this opponent. That’s not to excuse or overlook Levis’ flaws — which we discuss as much as his positives. I genuinely believe though that it’s virtually impossible to take anything away from this game.

I still think if/when Detroit lands the #1 overall pick in the 2023 draft that they will view Levis as an ideal fit for what they want. Everything about his approach and profile fits in with the Lions and their staff.

Elsewhere, Running back Chris Rodriguez ran through tackles and collected yards after contact as per usual. He lacks cut back explosiveness and a second gear. He may have limitations in terms of next level upside but he’s fun to watch and his testing results will be important. He’s a bruising, physical, punishing runner.

I wrote about this last week but I think Tennessee duo Jalin Hyatt and Darnell Wright are destined to be high picks. They’re the best receiver and offensive tackle duo I’ve watched this season.

Stanford vs UCLA

Bruins running back Zach Charbonnet is a tremendous player worthy of at least a second round pick. He’s physical, shows great agility and quick feet to dodge tackles and he has the explosive traits you look for in a running back. He has amazing contact balance and ideal size. He continues to show he has value in the passing game.

I had him in round two a year ago and was surprised he returned to UCLA. He’s been a blog favourite for 15 months. He’d be a tremendous player to pair with Ken Walker as a highly dynamic 1-2 punch.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson was beaten up in this game, played through the pain and laboured throughout with an injury. Even so — he still threw the ball well and made gains with his legs when the situation called for it.

I’ve been a DTR fan for a long time too and although he lacks amazing physical tools and size — his creativity as a runner is an X-factor and he doesn’t have a weak arm. If nothing else, he would be a very useful Tyrod Taylor style backup.

Jake Bobo had a bad drop in the game but was also UCLA’s leading receiver. He’s big, athletic and generally trustworthy. I think he lacks the change of direction skills and suddenness of some of the receivers in this class but even so — he’s had an impressive season and warrants serious NFL consideration as a big WR3 type.

Tanner McKee continues to struggle on Stanford’s hopeless and directionless journey to persistent mediocrity. In every game this year he has 2-3 throws that flash genuine talent but then there’s also a lot of dross. I still think he looks too much like Mike Glennon for my liking but like Glennon, I think someone may take him in round three.

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This was a performance to get excited about.

Yes — there will be tougher opponents on paper than Daniel Jones and a bits-and-pieces group of receivers.

Yet the New York Giants have found a way all season to get the job done. They hang around — as they did today — and then they finish in the fourth quarter. That’s why they were 6-1 — paired with the running of Saquon Barkley and the brilliant coaching of Brian Daboll, Mike Kafka and Wink Martindale.

I watched them beat the Packers in London. They’ve been tough, an upstart opponent and a difficult out.

The Seahawks absolutely handled them today. This was an outstanding performance.

One of the best we’ve seen in a long time.

The creativity of the offense was breathtaking. The ideas, the movement, the formations, the execution. Shane Waldron and Geno Smith delivered a ‘wow’ game that warranted all of those ‘Geno’ chants at the end. This was a masterpiece.

The defense completely shut-down Barkley in the running game and the only touchdown they conceded came after an unfortunate Tyler Lockett fumble on the two-yard line.

Lockett was having a tough day and after that had an unusual drop after the ball bounced off his helmet. No worries. He came roaring back with a vital touchdown. The perfect route, the perfect throw. A magical moment of football redemption.

Ken Walker continued his statement arrival to the NFL with a rumbling touchdown — finding a way to get involved and seal the game on an otherwise quieter afternoon.

The defense has rapidly improved since the early season disaster zone it was showing to be. They fly around and stick in games — helping the surprisingly brilliant offense to deliver three wins in a row.

Yes they clearly lack an X-factor pass rusher who can ensure those long third down conversions aren’t so easy when they rush with four. Yet the likes of Uchenna Nwosu are proving to be great value (that’s an understatement, actually) and Shelby Harris running his arse off to get to Daniel Jones to force a punt was a thing of beauty. The secondary looks vibrant and aggressive. Let’s hope Ryan Neal hobbling off isn’t anything serious (update — it was just cramps).

The whole vibe around the Seahawks was top notch. The sideline looks to be buzzing, Geno is pulling his best ‘BAMF’ face and this was the most enjoyable Seahawks game I’ve watched in ages.

Football doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing. It doesn’t have to be 45 throws and 35 points. It’s often like this. The NFC, in 2022, is often like this.

How can you not fall for this group with the way they compete and entertain in their own special way?

This is far better than many of us ever expected this team would be. Something is brewing in Seattle and it isn’t a coffee.

This is a guest article by Curtis Allen. After the game today tune into the instant reaction live stream which will be available on here and on our YouTube channel

This game highlights what makes the NFL such gripping entertainment — the drama of the unpredictable.

There is simply no way that any reasonable person would have looked at the NFL schedule before the season started and circled this game as the only game in Week Eight that would feature two teams with winning records.

And yet here we are.  Both teams are in the midst of their own individual Phoenix-rising-from-the-ashes stories.  The Seahawks smashing low expectations has been well-discussed here.  

The Giants are reinvigorating the NFC East with their own renaissance — highlighted by some fantastic foundational decision-making from its top brass.  Hiring a bright offensive mind in Brian Daboll to be head coach, pairing him with a deeply respected and successful defensive coordinator in Wink Martindale and drafting talent in the trenches have all proven to be successful moves and demonstrated a great blueprint for rebuilding a franchise.

Both teams have found a way to make this game go from a yawn to good watching.  

There is a lot riding on this game.  Each will want to prove their mettle and keep their forward momentum going.  It may also prove to be a critical point of the season.  A week where these teams prove they are not just having a brief flash of success, only to then sink back into the darkness.

The best way to avoid that?  Beating a team that is also playing good football.

While these two have demonstrated success this year, they do have weaknesses that can be exploited.  Now is an ideal time to truly demonstrate their mastery of coaching, whether they can either strengthen their weaknesses, or minimize them through smart scheming and decision-making.

That is the story this week.  Which team can do that more effectively?

The Seahawks are the fifth-ranked scoring offense.  The Giants are the sixth-ranked scoring defense.

The Seahawks are the 29th-ranked scoring defense.  The Giants are the 18th-ranked scoring offense.

Both teams are top rushing teams with serious threats at running back.  Both teams are bottom-five in defending the run.

The Seahawks can step right on the field and score explosively.  The Giants try to keep your offense off the field and wear your defense down with dink and dunk passes and then enforce their will in the fourth quarter.

The Seahawks are awful in the red zone on offense.  The Giants are amazing in the red zone on defense.

I could go on and on.

These matchups will make for some high drama.

How can the Seahawks come out ahead and go into their rematch with Arizona at 5-3?  One of the ways you will see is by relying on their experience in regularly facing their NFC West opponents.  The Giants have some similar tendencies as their division mates on both sides of the ball.

Do Not Lose Focus

Last week’s victory over the Chargers is their biggest win so far this season, particularly when you consider how badly the Broncos have continued to play.  Going on the road, beating a very talented (albeit banged up) team that has serious designs on a deep playoff run is the best evidence yet for the argument that this Seahawks team is legitimate.

What would strengthen that argument?  A win against a 6-1 Giants team at home this week.

New York might be the best opponent the Seahawks could possibly measure themselves against in the mental aspect of their game.  Why?

First off, the team will get a chance to put a blemish on their record in the rearview mirror.

In 2020, the Seahawks entered Week 13 with an 8-3 record.  Enormously frustrating losses to Buffalo and the Rams were followed with a “let’s do what we do well” win against Arizona and a Monday Night win against the Eagles that featured a dominant performance by D.K. Metcalf.

The top seed and a bye week were within their grasp, and they badly needed it.  Here come the Giants — who without Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones seemed like easy prey.

They blew it.  The defense gave up some big runs, Russell Wilson was sacked five times and the coaching staff made several poor decisions.  After the game, Shaquille Griffin publicly admitted they did not take the Giants seriously and it cost them.

The praise the Seahawks have been getting from the press this season – the last two weeks especially – has been getting louder.  Can they tune it out and stay focused?

One good note to hear:  Pete Carroll has remarked more than once that young players like Tariq Woolen are already focusing on the next game by the time their team plane lands in Seattle.  See you tomorrow for more work.

It is possible that the team still remembers the harsh beating they got in Week Two from San Francisco after the Denver victory hangover and are determined not to make the same mistake again.  We will see Sunday.

Secondly, the way this Giants team plays.  They make you earn everything.  Nothing is given to you.  It will take focus to consistently execute good football plays.

Their offense runs you to death in the ground game and patiently lulls defensive backs to sleep in the passing game.

They do not give you the ball – they only have six giveaways this season, good for fourth-best in the NFL.

They have had as much success as anyone in the NFL in forcing defenses to make mistakes, they have more explosive runs than anyone else and they have gained more first downs by penalty than anyone else.  They get opposing defenses to help them down the field with regularity.

The Seattle defense will need to be very sharp to avoid playing the game the Giants want to play.

On defense, they are incredibly stiff in the red zone.  Watch them swarm to Christian Kirk at the one-yard line to keep him out of the end zone to seal the win as time expired last week.

Now that is defensive desire.  The offense will need to match their intensity and yet keep their focus in order to not make too many mistakes.

They will need a tremendous amount of it to keep New York’s top two offensive players from dictating the pace of the game…

Defend Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones – Particularly in the Running Game

The Giants rely on these two players to make their offense go more than any other duo in the NFL — they account for an astounding 62.4% of the team’s touches, the highest percentage of any two players in the league (and more than half of their total yards).  It would be appropriate for the Seahawks to conclude that they need a proportional amount of their attention from the defense.

The Giants are one of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL with 54% of their plays being runs — so let’s have a look at that area first.

Saquon Barkley provides a supreme challenge.  The Giants are dedicated to squeezing every bit of production out of him this year – he accounts for 46% of their touches all by himself.  Seahawks will need a big day from the front seven in order to keep him from controlling the game.

The interior linemen will need to maintain their gaps and not let themselves be blocked out of position.  The linebackers will need to read and react far better than they have so far this season.  The edges will need their speed to get around pulling guards and make some stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Those players are not alone though.  Barkley’s ability to turn on a dime, reset and accelerate in nearly the same motion means backside defenders need to be just as zealous as the men in the flat in pursuing him.  

You see it time and time again with Barkley – he is able to elude men with a quick change in direction and defenders on the opposite side of the field are caught napping, thinking the play is over.  They are usually the guys spotted on the highlights trying to accelerate to catch one of the NFL’s fastest runners who is already up to top speed.

Barkley is so talented there generally is not one scheme or way of stopping him.  The best thing a defense can do is commit to each player doing their job.  Watching Barkley’s good and bad games, the bad games have one thing in common — when Barkley goes down to the ground, there are at least two or three defenders in the area.  And often four or more.  It is all about winning your individual battle and then swarming to the area you need to be.  Pure effort and desire.

Given his skill and that he takes the lion’s share of touches, I can easily envision Clint Hurtt giving a fiery pregame speech to his guys, telling them their one overriding thought today will be “Saquon Barkley is not going to beat us!”

And Daniel Jones.  I feel safe calling him the most underrated runner in the NFL.  About a third of his plays are runs, and the Giants use him as a real weapon in their offense.  

He is far more effective than you might think.

He currently has more runs for first downs than any other quarterback in the NFL.  Think of some of the great QB runners the NFL has to offer and let that sink in.  Jones has more rushing first downs than any of them.

On an overall level?  He has more rushing first downs than everyone in the NFL except Josh Jacobs and Nick Chubb.  Only…Jones has done it in almost half the attempts as the two runners above him!

Defenders know about his ability to run.  He ran a 4.81 40 in his draft testing.  But they consistently do not take him seriously.  Why not?

Jones is not – to put it politely – a graceful runner.  

Quarterback runners like Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson are sleek European supercars, able to cut and accelerate on a dime and they look so stylish while doing it.  Whereas Jones is a fast but lumbering doofus.  A big heavy American pickup truck with plenty of torque under the hood.  

Defenders have trouble tackling him, just in different ways than the other guys.

Watch a textbook example of this.

Jones sees an opening and takes off.  He makes the slightest of cuts and blows through an arm-tackle attempt by Andre Cisco for an additional ten yards, and then – in typical Daniel Jones fashion – loses his balance and eats it on the turf.

A 24-yard run is a 24-yard run no matter how you get it.  But Jones presents himself in a way that seemingly makes defenders underestimate his ability.  The Seahawks need to consider Jones a serious threat in their minds.

That video demonstrated an unacceptable level of tackling effort.  Defenders need to pursue Jones like they would any other runner.  They need to take good angles, let the sideline be their ally (remember, ‘the sideline never misses a tackle’) and position their body in order to tackle him properly and wrap up.

The Seahawks need to designate a spy on Jones.  If he runs on a third of his plays, and is extremely effective at it, it is necessary.  Be it Ryan Neal, Jordyn Brooks, Cody Barton or someone else, somebody needs to always have their eyes on the backfield and be ready to shoot gaps.  

How does Jones get so many first downs?  The Giants love to spread the field out on third and five or less and then have Jones take the snap in shotgun, take one step back into a drop and then take off running.  Do not let him.

What about the passing game?

Brian Daboll has been able to effectively mask a rebuilt offensive line and Jones’ deficiencies as a pocket passer so far this season.  His sacks per dropback rate is one of the highest in the NFL.  Therefore, he only asks Jones to throw past the sticks three or four times per game.  His passes only travel an average of 4.8 air yards per throw – one of the shortest distances of any quarterback in the NFL.  

They have a much more horizontal than vertical offense, with the quarterback being asked to get the ball out of his hands as quickly as possible, and if his read is not there, to take off running.  So get ready to see lots of slants, screens and short crossing patterns.

Sound familiar?  The Seahawks have faced this offense twice a year for several seasons in the form of the San Francisco 49ers with Jimmy G at the helm.  They should be versed in the principles — be patient.  A quick slant for five yards is not disastrous.  Just get the receiver to the ground and get set for the next play.  Everybody read your keys and react.  Make your tackles and force the quarterback to stay in the pocket and make a real throw and then get after him.

When the Seahawks can regularly get the Giant offense into third-and-longs, their leverage in the game swings heavily in their direction.  Barkley and his explosive ability is taken off the field and the Seahawk offense – explosive in their own right – gains snaps and opportunities to work their magic.

As for Barkley in the passing game, the Giants will send him out in patterns but they also use the passing game as an extension of the running game, a way to get Barkley in space away from the scrum of the line of scrimmage.  Not unlike Alvin Kamara.  How do you defend him in this area?

I would recommend the Seahawks double-cover him, or at the least bracket him in coverage.  Have a man on him that plays between Barkley and Jones and one about 8 yards downfield covering the other side.

Why so much attention?  Two reasons.  Firstly, Barkley is as talented as Kamara, capable of turning the game on its ear with one innocent little swing pass.  Secondly, the Seahawks are once again one of the worst teams in the NFL in defending running backs in the passing game.  If you cannot improve it with player instruction, just throw bodies at the problem.

Again, I’ll reference it:  62% of their plays run through these two.  46% of their plays involve Barkley.

Play the odds and double cover him.

Rising safety outlet Daniel Bellinger will not play Sunday.  The receivers are rarely asked to beat their corners one-on-one deep.  There is help for corners in the center of the field.  And the few times a game Daboll and Jones may feel like taking a shot, the pass rush and the ball-hawking Tariq Woolen should stand ready to help squelch that notion.

If the Seahawks can keep Barkley and Jones under wraps, there are not enough options to mount an alternative attack to get them where they want to go.

It will also put pressure on the defense to control the explosive Seahawk offense…

Use The Tight Ends Wisely to Attack This Defense

The Giants:

-Are the blitzing-est team in the NFL, sending an extra man on 38.8% of snaps

-Are one of the bottom-five teams defending tight ends in the passing game

-Are the worst team in the NFL defending the run, giving up 5.7 yards per carry

-Are the fourth-best defense in the red zone, allowing a touchdown on only 40% of trips (whereas the Seahawks are an awful 31st in offensive red zone touchdown percentage at only 36%)

All these factors cry out for one solution.  Or should I say three solutions:  Will Dissly, Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson.  How can they be the golden ticket for Seahawk success on offense?

Managing the Giants’ blitzes.  Let me describe their blitzing patterns and style and see if it sounds familiar to you.

The Giants blitz a ton.  They love to blitz, not just as a means to sack the quarterback (which they are very middling at it, ranking 21st in sacks and 19th in pressures) but as a way to create chaos and force incompletions or even turnovers.  Wink Martindale will overload one side with a blitz look and then two of those supposed blitzers will drop into coverage when the ball is snapped and he will send a nickel corner from the opposite side.  He mixes and matches these patterns to keep the quarterback focused on where the rush is coming from and away from his primary reads.

Which is exactly what Vance Joseph in Arizona likes to do.

It was effective two weeks ago.  Geno Smith played indecisively at moments and was sacked six times in a low-scoring win for the Seahawks.

Hopefully, Geno and Shane Waldron have learned from that experience and are prepared to handle it Sunday.  Martindale may not run the exact same sequences and looks that Joseph does but the intentions and principals are similar.  How do the tight ends help with this?  

The initial answer is obvious.  More blocking.  If they can pick up a blitzer or two at key times in the game, this would prove tremendously helpful to their playmaking ability.

The other major way they can prove valuable is in providing Geno Smith with hot read options for simple completions.  Here is another similarity to working with Arizona’s defense:  the Giants are vulnerable to tight ends in the passing game.

It is no coincidence that at times the “heaviest blitzing teams” and the “worst tight end coverage teams” are one in the same.  This is how you counter the blitz:  get the ball into your safety valve’s hands quickly.  And with a break or two, you can turn some of those plays into explosives.

As for the running game, the Giants are right in the Seahawks’ wheelhouse.  The Chargers were the #31 run defense in the NFL and look what Kenneth Walker did to them last Sunday.  He almost single-handedly propelled the Charger defense to worst in the NFL, if not for a big day by Travis Etienne last week against these Giants.

More than just pure numbers though, the Giants are strong in the middle and vulnerable on the edges in the run game.  They do not have enough speed at the linebacker position and the edge rushers can be attacked and handled.  Having tight ends that can really block in the running game will make for a decisive advantage.  

Witness Will Dissly destroying his man and Colby Parkinson taking on two blockers for the price of one on Kenneth Walker’s game-breaking 74 yard run Sunday.

What about in the red zone?  

Tight ends have always been a classic answer to this thorny challenge of not settling for field goals every time you get into tight quarters close to the goal line.  However, it is not just the use of tight ends that breeds success.  How they are able to get open for passes is where offenses and coordinators differentiate themselves.

How about we have Shane Waldron draw up some creative plays to get this working?  Have a look at what the Packers cooked up to counter the Giants’ effectiveness.

The Giants love to blitz even in the red zone and will naturally be focusing on the run game.  A simple misdirection play not unlike this could really offer an elegant solution to solving this challenge.

Or the Seahawks could just keep doing what they are doing and just score touchdowns from outside the red zone (11 of their 18 touchdowns have been for 20 or more yards).  That way works too.

Having a regularly effective tight end trio opens up all kinds of options for the Seahawks to attack this Giants defense.

This weekend I’ll be watching them following games:

Florida vs Georgia
Kentucky vs Tennessee
Michigan State vs Michigan
Stanford vs UCLA

Plus there will be others I dive into later in the week to watch specific players as I continue to build my horizontal board.

Meanwhile, Tony Pauline is reporting that Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is leaning towards entering the 2023 NFL draft:

Those affiliated with the @GatorsFB program tell @TonyPauline that they believe QB Anthony Richardson will enter the 2023 NFL Draft.

The same people tell Pauline tell it would be a mistake if he does. Read why below ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/3dvnDPcZ1C

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 29, 2022

This is also available via ‘The Rebuild’ podcast streams

This feels like a good point to take stock of where the Seahawks are, where they’re potentially going and what the future holds in terms of team building.

How are things taking shape for the 2023 draft?

A lot has changed since the start of the season and yet things are also still the same in their own strange way.

Many people expected the Seahawks to end up with a top-10 pick and a pick later in round one. They didn’t necessarily expect the Broncos to be the ones delivering the top-10 pick, however.

Denver are not just struggling — they are in crisis. There’s a very real chance Nathaniel Hackett could lose his job in the coming weeks. Maybe he’ll be gone if they lose to the Jaguars in London this weekend.

Russell Wilson is struggling, has suffered two relatively serious injuries and missed the last game against the Jets.

It’s not unrealistic for the Seahawks to get a top-five pick out of this mess. At the very least, a top-10 selection feels extremely plausible short of a major turnaround.

Right now Seattle would have Denver’s pick at #6 overall and their own native pick at #23 (due to them being currently ranked first in the NFC West and therefore in possession of a playoff spot).

How is Seattle’s start to the season changing opinions?

Geno Smith has performed way beyond anyone’s expectations (including the Seahawks — otherwise they wouldn’t have signed him to a mere one-year contract).

The defense is also showing signs of life after the now annual awful first few weeks.

People are starting to wonder whether Smith could start for multiple years, negating the need to draft a quarterback early.

Is that the right approach to take?

I would push back against that view at the moment.

With any draft class you have to play the cards you’re dealt. If this was a fantastic defensive draft at the top of round one, it’d be far easier to make the case for pivoting away from quarterback.

The truth is it’s a very poor draft class at the top of round one — apart from at quarterback. There are no obvious offensive linemen, cornerbacks, receivers or pass rushers (outside of Will Anderson) who deserve to go in the top-10.

Alternatively, this is a rich QB class with four players you can justifiably argue could end up being franchise quarterbacks.

So although many fans might be tempted to make the argument that a defensive-focused first round is the way to go — we have to embrace what is actually available in the top-10.

Should they extend Geno Smith now?

Smith has become a cult hero and fully deserves not only the praise he is receiving but also longer-term consideration as Seattle’s starting quarterback.

Fans and media are already discussing whether contract talks should begin immediately.

Personally, I think this is something that should wait until the off-season.

The Seahawks would be bidding against themselves, with no real leverage in negotiations.

It’s also difficult to project Smith’s value. This is a fairly unusual situation, with a quarterback aged 32 enjoying a career renaissance. With the top quarterbacks earning $50m a year and Smith currently only earning $3.5m — there’s a lot of space between those two numbers from which to establish fair value.

The danger for Seattle is twofold. If you wait until the off-season, the league will set the market for you. However — you also run the risk of losing him. Yet if you start talks now, you run the risk of spending more than you need to.

As we’ve noted previously — that would be a problem. Seattle only has $31m in effective cap space for 2023 according to OverTheCap.com. They also only have 33 contracted players for 2023. That’s not a lot to play with — and this accounts for a $17m rise in the cap that OTC fits into their calculations.

Contrary to popular belief, the Seahawks don’t have that much money to spend.

There’s also some risk for Smith. Negotiate now and he can guarantee longer-term security after years of going year-to-year. You avoid the potential for regression later in the season impacting your value.

At the same time — if there’s a robust market for his services next year, he stands to benefit from a bidding war. It remains to be seen, however, whether such a bidding war would take place.

Clearly it’s a complex situation for both parties, deserving of greater thought than the too frequent ‘pay the man’ shouts on social media.

What’s the ideal situation for Seattle?

An A+ outcome for the Seahawks would be waiting until the end of the season and the market remaining sceptical that Smith can repeat his success with another team. You would then have the opportunity to find common ground with Smith on a 2-3 year contract that doesn’t eliminate most of your cap space for 2023 — enabling you to make some choice additions in the market and retain or replace key starters.

Ideally you then draft someone as an understudy. Geno becomes at worst a bridge to the future, much like Alex Smith in Kansas City before he handed off to Patrick Mahomes. At best, he remains a productive starter and you don’t worry about covering your arse with a quarterback draft investment at the most important position in the sport.

Wouldn’t it be best to draft an understudy outside of round one?

Again, you’ve got to play the hand you’re dealt.

I don’t have all the answers and will never claim that I do. But unlike most people, I’ve dedicated the last few months of my social life to watching all of the quarterbacks eligible for this draft (I know, what an exciting life I lead…).

Draft media is very good at rolling with a narrative. As noted yesterday — you’ll often see Jalen Carter and Bryan Bresee mocked in the top-10 yet Mazi Smith is clearly, for me, the top defensive tackle in this draft.

At quarterback there are four players you can make a very strong case for drafting early — Will Levis, C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson. Levis, Stroud and Richardson all have outstanding physical traits. Young is a creative yet extremely undersized natural talent. Levis is as pro-ready as you’ll see from a quarterback. Young could be able to start quickly, too. Stroud and Richardson would benefit from time and development.

Beyond these four, there’s a ton of depth and people will have heard several names being mentioned and touted as possible targets.

Personally, I think this is overstated. You can make an argument to draft someone like Hendon Hooker in the middle rounds but he plays in a half-field, cheat-code offense and despite his extreme success this year — the truth is, when you watch the tape, his accuracy is erratic and he has a lot of easy throws.

People will make a case for Mike Glennon, errr, I mean Tanner McKee. Players like K.J. Jefferson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (who I like a lot) are more suited to the round four or five range and I can’t say with any certainty they have the necessary skills to ever become a starter in the NFL. Washington fans will ask about Michael Penix Jr. I think he has a good arm and size but he’s a one-read quarterback who locks onto intended targets, playing within a QB-friendly scheme. He will get a shot in the NFL but he won’t be a high pick.

There are a ton of others too. I have 15 quarterbacks tentatively graded between rounds 5-7. The chances of any becoming NFL starters, though, are slim.

I would prefer to draft a quarterback who can become a great starter, rather than someone you’re ‘taking a flier on’. That would likely be a wasted pick. A third rounder on a player destined to be a backup, to me, would be more egregious than a top-10 pick on someone who could be the next football superstar in Seattle. And I believe the top-four quarterbacks in this draft carry that potential.

Also — I’ve been compiling by horizontal board and right now — there are some very attractive non-quarterbacks in rounds 2-4. It’s worth repeating — a draft isn’t an idealistic process where you target ‘preferred positions’ when it suits you. You have to act accordingly based on what’s available. At the top of round one — it’s simply a fact that quarterback is the strong position in 2023.

What were the Seahawks thinking before the season?

I think they spent a large chunk of their 2023 cap (which is why they only have $31m remaining in effective cap space) because they fully expected to be starting a rookie quarterback next year.

Joe Burrow’s year-one cap hit as the #1 pick in 2020 was just $6m. Based on what Seattle did this year, I think they expected to be paying that as a maximum in 2023 for their starting QB.

This is something to consider as they move forward. As noted, they are probably as pleasantly surprised as the rest of us that Geno Smith is playing at the level he is. They can pivot to retain him — and they should do, if his play continues at the level we’ve seen so far. But a plan is a plan and this is a puzzle you have to piece together — the draft, the cap, the players on your roster.

If Smith becomes too expensive, it might be a situation where you have to stick to the original idea.

What if key quarterbacks aren’t available?

This is certainly possible and could force Seattle’s hand. While it’s certain that Levis, Stroud and Young will turn pro — it’s possible Richardson could return to Florida. He would almost certainly benefit from another year starting in college. However, I also think he’d equally benefit from getting into a pro-playbook and preparing for life in the NFL — much like Mahomes did at Kansas City.

On top of this, the Seahawks might not be in position to draft a quarterback. If their first pick is only in the #6-12 range — they might be on the outside looking in. They have the draft stock to trade up. They should consider doing so, given this is looking like one of the worst first rounds in some time. It’s very top heavy. However, you also don’t want to blow a ton of stock on one player, eliminating the ability to repeat what you did in the 2022 draft in building great foundations.

If Richardson opts not to declare and the top three quarterbacks go in the top-four, meaning the Seahawks miss out, what could they do?

As much as I remain sceptical that Will Anderson is a Bosa-brother, Myles Garrett, Von Miller level player — he’s still a very talented prospect and a top-five lock.

The player likely to receive the highest grade on most boards will be Texas running back Bijan Robinson. As much as I celebrated the Ken Walker pick and wasn’t one of the voices noisily pushing back against it on Twitter — I think it’d be a hard sell to pick a ‘RB2’ in the top-10 even if he has the highest grade on your board.

Even so — the dearth of alternatives in the top-10 may push the Seahawks to consider it as merely a representation of value. Prepare yourself for that. The alternatives simply aren’t there I’m afraid.

You can make a strong argument for Mazi Smith. He’s so disruptive despite his nose tackle size and while he’s unlikely to be a game-wrecking pass rusher at the next level — there aren’t many players with his physical profile. He will be a combine superstar and his tape is a lot better than people realise. For me, he is a player who deserves legit consideration in the top-12.

Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer is also very good but again, that position is a hard sell with a top-10 pick.

After that, it’s very difficult to recommend alternatives. I still think Bryan Bresee and Jalen Carter are second half of round one types rather than legit top-10 types. Bresee played better against Syracuse and might be able to make a late charge in the second half of the season.

This is a class with a serious shortage of top-end players outside of the quarterbacks, Anderson, Robinson and Smith.

Which positions are strong beyond round one?

It’s the #25-65 range where you’ll likely get your best value on the defensive line.

I have six centers graded for day two. None of them fit the Austin Blythe/Rams model for a center, which makes me sceptical that the Seahawks will show much interest. Even so — it’s a good center draft.

There are tremendous options at receiver again, with nice depth at the position. This is an annual occurrence these days.

There’s edge rush depth going into day two. I think some of this group will get pushed into round one as teams scramble to identify legit first rounders. Overall it’s a class with a lot of upside at the position but not a lot of proven, dominating quality.

If they want to replace Rashaad Penny with a draft pick, they’ll have no problem doing so. This is a good looking running back class.

Which positions are weak?

There’s a black hole at offensive tackle. Good job the Seahawks found their answers this year. There are no viable first round options at linebacker or safety. Tight end is thin again.

Could trades come into play?

The fact there’s a dearth of legit first round prospects increases the chances of trades taking place before and during the draft. This year we saw Devante Adams and Tyreek Hill dealt pre-draft, then Marquise Brown and A.J. Brown followed during the first round.

It won’t be a surprise if several teams see more value in trading for veterans than using picks in the #18-30 range. I wouldn’t count the Seahawks out of that either. They’ve been burned on big veteran trades in the past but they’ve equally been burned reaching on inadequate players in the early rounds.

If they end up with pick #23, as they’re currently projected, I don’t think it’d be a mistake to see what’s out there. Just make sure it’s a premium position, this time.

What should be the key priorities?

Come up with a long term plan at quarterback (preferably combining Geno Smith with a very talented rookie understudy).

Upgrade the defensive line. If you can create a fearsome D-line for the long term, this team has the potential to go far.

Who are the 10 best players you’ve seen who are eligible for the 2023 draft?

The four quarterbacks — Levis, Stroud, Young and Richardson.

Two running backs — Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Two defensive linemen — Will Anderson and Mazi Smith.

One offensive tackle — Darnell Wright.

One tight end — Michael Mayer.

After that, the next group are more prospects based on potential that proven production. This includes players with a lot of talent but mixed tape and/or injury issues such as Kelee Ringo, Bryan Bresee and Jalen Carter.

I would also include the two Clemson pass rushers here — K.J. Henry and Myles Murphy, plus Tennessee receiver Jalin Hyatt. Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba can work into range if he gets healthy plus Quentin Johnson has wowed in flashes, as has Zay Flowers.

Who are some lesser known draft prospects to watch?

Chris Rodriguez (RB, Kentucky) — Incredibly powerful, drives through contact, always finishes runs. A pleasure to watch, just like UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet.

Jonathan Mingo (WR, Ole Miss) — A 6-2, 225lbs receiver who runs with great fluidity, is an explosive play specialist and can be a real mismatch weapon lined up in the slot.

Olusegun Oluwatimi (C, Michigan) — Mr. Consistency at the heart of Michigan’s offensive line. He might lack the flashy traits but Oluwatimi just gets the job done.

K.J. Henry (DE, Clemson) — A legit pass rusher with 5-star tools and a passionate approach to football and leadership. He gets after it and flies off the edge.

Byron Young (DE, Alabama) — Big bodied 3-4 DE who doesn’t look amazing and probably won’t test brilliantly but every game he is disruptive by breaking into the backfield with a combo of sneaky quickness and brute force.

Ventrell Miller (LB, Florida) — A heart and soul leader who leaves it all on the field and has just made play after play for the Gators this year.

Christopher Smith (S, Georgia) — Pulsating safety with the quickness and range to cover ground quickly, great ball skills and a nose for the football.

Abraham Camara (S, TCU) — He can line up in the slot, at free safety or in the box. He’ll knock your block off and he’s a fierce hitter — but he has quickness and agility to cover ground superbly.

Who are the overrated players?

I think Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith is a second or third round pick and not the first rounder the media says he is. I am not convinced Paris Johnson Jr is a first round pick at left tackle and I think Peter Skoronski is better suited to kicking inside to guard.

What about early suggestions for free agent targets?

It’s too early to say with any certainty but here are five names I’ll throw out there:

Isaiah Wynn — it hasn’t worked at tackle for Wynn in New England but he always projected best during his Georgia days to the guard spot. The Rams blocking scheme, which Seattle is using, has had great success using converted tackles at guard.

David Edwards — a guard for the Rams, he already knows the scheme and would be a plug-in-and-play type who presumably won’t break the bank.

Garrett Bradbury — hasn’t lived up to expectations at center in Minnesota but he has the size/profile the Seahawks and Rams are looking for in a center.

Daron Payne — the Commanders are going to find it very difficult to pay everyone on their D-line. Payne would be a terrific addition and worth spending a pretty penny on. He’s at a good age, he’s physical and tough and provides pressure and size.

Zach Allen — perfectly sized to play 3-4 DE and he always seems to perform against Seattle. He currently has a PFF grade of 76.0 with 18 total pressures.

Notice a theme? The trenches. That is where Seattle should be spending their resources as they continue to develop this roster.

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