Category: Front Page News (Page 76 of 367)

I’ve said it a few times now. I think it’s completely wrong to write off this draft class.

One of the justifications for the massive cost of the Jamal Adams trade was the unique nature of this draft. The lack of a combine. The limited information.

Why not have a ‘blue chip’ player instead? A proven commodity?

That’s one way of looking at it. Here’s another.

The NFL is facing a cap crunch due to the impact of Coronavirus on the global economy. You are going to need to find cheap starters.

There are two ways to do that. Exploiting a free agent market that’ll be very different this year. And the draft.

By trading so much for Adams, the Seahawks have put themselves in a position where, just as NFL belts are tightening and the need for value has never been greater, they face the prospect of trying to finalise a record breaking contract. At the worst possible time. For a non-premium position.

For some reason this is never discussed. The Seahawks received media approval for turning their back on the draft class, largely just because things are a bit different. Hardly anyone has questioned why they thought it was a good idea to make a major investment in a safety, when cheap value is so clearly the order of the day.

Teams need players like Damien Lewis on an $800,000 salary, starting and playing at the standard he did.

We didn’t need a combine to realise Lewis could play. It was obvious — thanks to the tape, the Senior Bowl and the interview we did with him pre-draft.

There are plenty of players in this class who look the part too. Writing them off would be foolish, simply because they didn’t have an opportunity to take part in the underwear Olympics.

I know I’m seriously flirting with ‘flogging a dead horse’ territory here but I do think it’s important for the Seahawks to get back in this draft. Four picks in total and one pick in the first two days isn’t enough in the current climate.

This is a rich class in the top-75. I think you have to take advantage and play the hand the pandemic has given you with the reduced salary cap.

I don’t think it’s good business to have Jamal Adams instead of three cheap club controlled players. Not in this environment.

And before anyone points out Seattle’s recent draft record — that’s no justification. You don’t throw in the towel and give up on the draft because you’ve done a bad job over the last few years. You do a better job. There’s no other choice.

Furthermore, paying Adams $18-20m a year from 2022 will be a massive waste of resources. No safety is worth that much, even one you blitz 8.2 times to manufacture 0.8 sacks a game. It was a poor trade, devised through sheer desperation because the Seahawks had failed to add any impact players to their defense by the time training camp had arrived.

One of the off-season priorities should be damage limitation. Get what you can for Adams, save money, get back in the draft and move on.

The Miami Dolphins have four picks in the first two rounds. Adams would be a superb fit in their defense. The Belichick tree loves hybrid safeties who can play up at the line. Cleveland needs a splash in the secondary. Contact them.

See if you can get a first and a third, or two second rounders, or a second and a third. It’s a discount price but I think, ultimately, you’ve just got to bite the bullet. Better that than tying yourself to a big extension.

With the $18-20m you save in 2022 you could structure a contract for Corey Linsley, filling the hole at center with a stud addition. Give him a low year-one cap hit and make the most of the room you created by dealing Adams.

You would save $9m this year too and you could restructure/extend contracts to create more room — providing a chance to fill the various holes on the roster.

I better apologise now. Whenever I write about what I think the Seahawks should do — I’m going to bring this up. Because to me it’s not even a consideration as to what is best for the long term future of this team.

Having an insanely expensive box-safety who blitzes a lot is not something I would commit to. Especially at a time when the quarterback is making it very clear he’s open to a trade. Now is the time to build around him — by shifting resource from positions like safety and linebacker and converting it to the trenches.

While I’ve talked about the players below already, I wanted to again emphasise why I think certain prospects would really boost the Seahawks on offense — and why I think there’s a lot of value in getting back in this draft.

Ben Cleveland (G, Georgia)

The Seahawks have two big problems that they’ve been trying to solve for ages. One, they never have an answer for Aaron Donald. Two, they’re not physically intimidating.

The first issue is difficult because Donald is one of the greatest players ever. The only true way to stymy his impact is to limit the damage with scheme.

You can still put someone in front of him to give you a fighting chance.

The second issue has long been a thorn in Seattle’s side. They crave being the team they were from 2011 onwards. They’ve tried everything — from the Adams trade to focusing on specific types of players in the draft. The reality is the Seahawks don’t scare anyone. They are not a physical team. They never beat anyone up in the trenches. Against the Giants and Rams last season, they got their arses kicked up front.

For all the guards and centers in this draft, I would have no problem drafting Ben Cleveland very early.

He’s legitimately ‘the Mountain’ from Game of Thrones. He’s just over 6-6 in height and he weighs 354lbs. Yet he carries that frame wonderfully. There’s hardly any bad weight on him. He’s just massive.

As I noted when I’ve written about him before — he took Auburn’s soul away in 2020. Their defensive linemen were giving up against him. There was no route through. They were throwing their arms up in the air. They were visibly frustrated. You couldn’t beat him.

He was tipped to break the bench press record at the combine and the Georgia trainers had to stop him at 45 reps to avoid injury because he’d just go on and on.

He’s a far better athlete than many draft types will have you believe. He’s good on the move and pulls well. I’ve seen some very nimble shifts to allow the center to progress to the second level, with Cleveland stepping across to confront the nose.

The sheer presence, size and brute force of the man would deliver such a physical, brutal edge to Seattle’s O-line.

Is he flawless? No. He can do with learning to sustain blocks a little more rather than constantly looking for the devastating blow. Is he the prettiest player? Not at all.

But if you want someone who is just going to get out there and kick some arse and give you a fighting chance to set the tone up front — this is the guy. More so than the other interior linemen available.

If they took him at #56 — no complaints from me. Of course, I don’t have all the information teams have. I don’t know if you’ll need to consider him that early. But I do think a line consisting of Duane Brown, Cleveland, Linsley, Lewis and Brandon Shell could give you a chance to beat a few teams up (for a change).

Brevin Jordan (TE, Miami)

Twitter is awash with talk of adding another veteran tight end. Some of it is in jest, some of it is semi-serious.

Whether it’s the recently released Kyle Rudolph, the seemingly soon-to-be released Zach Ertz or a younger player such as Gerald Everett or Jonnu Smith — the Seahawks appear determined to add someone who can contribute as a third weapon next to D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

Here’s an idea — instead of an expensive, ageing re-tread or an expensive, younger alternative — why not draft someone with the potential to be great?

For me, Brevin Jordan just oozes class.

He’s charismatic during interviews, he makes explosive, eye-catching plays and he just looks like a top-quality tight end should look.

Time and time again we’ve talked about the correlation between the best TE’s in the league and their agility testing. Jordan’s 4.21 short shuttle at SPARQ, despite weighing 250lbs, was sensational.

You see it flash on tape too. He’s adept at motion, working across the line on shorter or crossing routes and creating the subtle separation to provide easy completions. When the ball’s in his hands, anything can happen.

He has the suddenness on the short range to beat coverage on slants. His release on the post is special. He’s not going to run an Evan Engram-style 4.4 forty but he doesn’t need to.

He’s basically everything the Seahawks need. How often do games become a chore because the offense can’t move the ball early and then they resort to looking for the kill-shot rather than finding those easy completions to get a few drives going?

Jordan’s ability to move well in a short space, combined with his massive frame and ability to turn up-field and create YAC, would make him the ideal #3 target.

There’s every chance in a few years we’ll wonder how he lasted as long as he did if he goes in the second round as most people expect.

Use Will Dissly as your main blocking tight end in 2021. Just use Jordan as a big slot as he learns the ropes. Feature him in the passing game. And if you take him in round two, he’ll cost about $1.6m a year.

That to me is far more ideal than squandering millions on the position, as they did with the +$10m they spent on Greg Olsen and Jacob Hollister in 2020.

Javonte Williams (RB, North Carolina)

You don’t need to see Williams run around in shorts and a vest to know he’s exactly what the Seahawks need at running back.

He’s a prototype for their historic ideal at the position (5-10, 220lbs) and he runs with the kind of toughness and unforgiving nature that Pete Carroll loves so much.

It’s why I don’t understand why people are so keen to write this draft class off. I can’t for the life of me imagine Carroll watching Williams and not being positively giddy. This is what he craves. This is exactly the type of runner he wants.

He flattens defenders. He runs them over. He’s a yards-after-contact machine.

He ranked #1 in the NCAA for broken tackle rate (46.5%) in 2020.

He had a record 0.48 broken tackles per rush attempt, registered 7.0 YPC and 4.59 yards-after-contact per carry.

You just put on the tape and watch him plough through contact and take it to the opponent. How can you not want this?

The idea of going out there next season with Williams running behind the proposed offensive line suggested above would be tantalising.

Compare it to the suggestions we’re seeing elsewhere. Bring back Ethan Pocic with his 59.8 PFF grade in 2020 and mediocre numbers in both pass-pro and run blocking. Bring back Carlos Hyde — who was barely any healthier or more reliable than Chris Carson. Go and squander millions on a tight end.

What kind of plan is that? Really?

Give me Javonte Williams running behind Corey Linsley and Ben Cleveland. Give me Russell Wilson on a bootleg with Brevin Jordan running across the field for an easy completion. All for a fraction of the price.

They’re not the only coveted options. East Carolina’s D’Ante Smith played so well at the Senior Bowl, he could be a fantastic guard/tackle project for the long term. Quinn Meinerz was outstanding too. Cade Johnson lit up Mobile with his routes and could be another Tyler Lockett in the making. D’Wayne Eskridge is absolute dynamite.

What exactly is the great mystery with these players that you need a combine to prove?

And how can anyone seriously suggest that getting a collection of these players on tiny contracts, in the midst of a huge economic collapse in the NFL, is not more attractive than having the opportunity to pay PFF’s 53rd ranked safety in 2020 a kings ransom, that costs you the opportunity to sign other players at other positions?

Be bold, Seattle. Trade Adams and start Marquise Blair at strong safety — the player you deemed good enough to warrant the #47 pick in the 2019 draft. The player you selected 17 spots ahead of D.K. Metcalf.

Use the money to make a splash on your O-line — in order to stop your franchise quarterback running for the door. Then use the draft stock you’ve acquired to tap into the exciting options in this class.

There’s been too many bad decisions over the last few years. Spending money and picks in the wrong areas then going cheap elsewhere when investment was required. Where’s the forward planning? Thinking long term at key positions.

If you’re going to spend this year — make it on someone like Linsley. And get back in the draft to build around your franchise quarterback, ending the madness.

What about the defense? Ideally you’d address that too. But the priority right now has to be offense. Russell Wilson’s made sure of that.

There are three potential starting quarterbacks for Seattle in 2021:

1. Happy Russell Wilson
2. Unhappy Russell Wilson
3. Somebody else

The only option you can’t live with this year is #2.

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You will really like Darius Stills. Check out the interview below and please share it around if you’re able. Also, consider subscribing to my YouTube channel because there’s a ton of content on there.

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It’s fair to say this is one of the most complex off-seasons the NFL has ever witnessed.

With no combine and 12 teams currently over the cap for 2021, the global pandemic continues to have a long-lasting effect on elite level sport.

For the Seahawks it’s especially tricky — given their long list of needs, minimal available cap space ($1.7m), small number of draft picks (four) and the fact the quarterback is making it very clear he’s not happy.

If Russell Wilson moves on, Seattle’s world changes completely. Finding a replacement quarterback suddenly becomes a massive priority. Unless one is included in a trade, you’re probably looking at a stop-gap option such as Alex Smith (who, it was revealed today, is leaving Washington) and then drafting to develop.

What a time to be alive.

If they somehow manage to work out a truce with Wilson, then there’s serious work to be done on the roster.

Not only will they need to fill a big hole at cornerback, they’ll also need to bolster their offensive arsenal and pass protection.

As I’ve noted a few times, at the moment the Seahawks don’t even have the cap space to offer Poona Ford a second round tender as a restricted free agent.

Something’s got to give.

Brady Henderson recently reported/speculated on the possibility of Carlos Dunlap being cut. This would free up $14m immediately, providing some wiggle room for the Seahawks to do business.

In terms of freeing up money, it makes sense. Combined with a couple of restructures, the Seahawks would have the room to get a lot done.

There are a couple of significant consequences though.

Cutting Dunlap would mean, for the third year in a row, the Seahawks parting with their best pass rusher.

They struggled to replace Frank Clark in 2019 and they struggled to replace Jadeveon Clowney in 2020.

The Seahawks can’t carry on this way.

Even if the aim would be to bring Dunlap back at a cheaper cost, there’s no guarantee he’ll return. What then? Another mad scramble to find a replacement? Starting the 2021 season, as they did in 2020, with an inadequate D-line? Hope that a last-gasp solution presents itself before the trade deadline again?

It’s a huge gamble — but one the Seahawks almost are obliged to consider, given the situation they find themselves in.

The other issue is that while cutting Dunlap creates cap space, it doesn’t necessarily provide a pathway to filling a lot of holes.

It’s certainly true that the market this year could be full of bargains. With the cap lowering, the expectation is many players will take ‘prove-it’ deals to get back into free agency next year, when hopefully the NFL economy has improved.

However, this hasn’t exactly provided options for the Seahawks in recent years. When’s the last time they pulled off a coup in free agency? 2013?

My fear is they’ll see his $14m salary as an opportunity to sign 5-7 cheaper veteran players. This is not a strategy that has paid dividends in recent years. Look at how much they spent last year on average, below average or ageing players.

A lot of people will tell you this is a draft to avoid. The lack of testing numbers, proper medical checks and meetings create a lot of mystery.

However, the simple fact is the draft provides a unique opportunity to acquire cheap talent.

Damien Lewis cost the Seahawks $800,000 in 2020. Being able to get a quality starter at that price only happens through the draft.

When you have a whole bunch of holes, you need young players like Lewis to come in and contribute.

The Seahawks, realistically, only have a second and fourth round pick this year in which to find possible cheap starters.

Corbin Smith recently reported Seattle’s interest in Jonnu Smith. He suggests they’re set to make ‘an aggressive run’ at the Tennessee tight end.

That kind of move will be expensive.

And while Smith is talented and very athletic — he’s never had more than 448 yards in a season. In four years with the Titans, he has 1,302 total receiving yards.

I can’t help but think — what’s the best move here? Be aggressive to sign someone like Smith? Or get back in the draft and target someone else?

Miami’s Brevin Jordan is an outstanding athlete. As noted in another article recently, the Seahawks pay a lot of attention to agility testing at tight end.

Jonnu Smith ran a 4.18 short shuttle at 248lbs at the 2017 combine.

At SPARQ, Jordan ran a 4.21 short shuttle at 250lbs. So he’s right in Seattle’s wheelhouse.

The difference between Smith and Jordan is one player will cost millions per year, while the other — if drafted in the top-50 — will cost an average salary of about $1.6m for the next four seasons.

I would argue that given the Seahawks have struggled to truly incorporate the tight end position into their passing game, a lower-salary arrangement would be best. There’d be nothing worse than investing millions (as they did with Greg Olsen) for another mediocre stat-line.

Sure, using a high pick on the position could also be a waste of resources. Yet the difference between a $7m salary and a $1.6m salary is more significant than ever this year. If you want to prioritise the position, the draft provides the solution.

This is why I think it’s vital the Seahawks acquire extra draft stock in the coming weeks. Having three picks between rounds 1-3 instead of only one pick can be the difference between three cheap starters and having to rely on what you can get on the veteran market.

In this draft class you should be able to get a tight end, left guard and a receiver in the first three rounds that you really like. There’s a lot of depth at cornerback too.

Here’s a reminder of the horizontal board I published recently, showing some of the potential options:

I don’t want to sound like I’m beating a dead horse but I still think the best way to acquire more draft stock is to trade Jamal Adams.

I won’t rehash all my old arguments about his scheme fit and expected salary. I wrote a lengthy argument here, so if you missed it the first time I’d recommend checking out why I think moving Adams is the best decision.

Start Marquise Blair at strong safety (you did draft him in round two, after all) and see what you can get. Will the Dolphins give you #36 and #50 for Adams, for example? Can you get a first and a third off the Browns?

Yes, it’s a discounted price. I think it’s necessary though. And with the $18-20m you’re saving by not paying Adams in 2020, you’re in a far better position to lend from the future cap to provide short-term relief.

It’d mean being able to offer a structured, competitive contract to Corey Linsley. You could bring back Richard Sherman and possibly K.J. Wright.

You can talk about blue-chip players all you want. You’re basically deciding between one player (Adams) versus having three cheap rookies (R1, R1, R3) and about $15m in available cap space to spend elsewhere. That’s 4-6 players.

With the Seahawks in their current state — and with the NFL economy in its current state — Adams is a luxury. He’s good enough to make some eye-catching plays but he’s not a difference maker, capable of elevating this team to greatness and justifying the massive outlay spent on him.

Give me Linsley at center instead, with one of the quality interior offensive linemen in this draft at #56. Give me one of the top young tight ends — Brevin Jordan or Pat Freiermuth. Give me a dynamic #3 receiver from this terrific class at the position or an exciting young corner such as Benjamin St. Juste. Have the resource to bring Sherman home and make sure you cling on to Carlos Dunlap (or replace him properly).

That’s a much better package than possessing a blitzing safety, taking up $18-20m of your salary. If it’s an either/or — for me it’s a no-brainer.

Of course if you end up having to trade your franchise quarterback — money and draft stock isn’t going to be a problem.

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When Mark Rodgers told Adam Schefter that Russell Wilson wanted to stay in Seattle, despite revealing four potential trade destinations, I believed him.

I genuinely think Wilson’s preference is to stay with the Seahawks.

I don’t think he wants to be a player who forces his way off one team to join another. He has put down roots in the city. He’s worked tirelessly in the community.

He’s a Seattle sports legend. He’s synonymous with the Seahawks.

What we’re witnessing at the moment is a very public and deliberate holding to account — with the consequences of failing to act laid out for all to see.

This is a complex story that requires care, attention and consideration.

Too much of the narrative has been restrictive and basic.

There’s been dismissive, limiting language from some.

‘Why would the Seahawks trade him?‘ is a fair question ask. But you also need to be prepared to delve into the reasons why it might happen, and why this is dominating the news agenda, rather than just immediately writing it off as a non-story.

Others have perhaps gone too far the other way in suggesting there’s no coming back from the seemingly perilous position both parties find themselves in.

Again, it’s worth really thinking about the information we are receiving.

This is my best attempt at an explanation.

It’s clear Wilson doesn’t share Pete Carroll’s vision. He wants to play a certain way on offense and believes, not unfairly, that a quarterback of his quality should have more input in play-calling and scheme.

Just look at the language used by Wilson during his end of season press conference:

“Coach Carroll and I, we have to be on the same wave length”

“The next 10 years are super critical… and the legacy I want to be able to create and do. It’s vital, critical, super significant that I’m part of this process”

“We’ve got to put our foot down on the gas… I think we should score 24 points before the half, get ahead. We can do that — no matter how we do it. Let’s go win. Let’s start early.”

“We can’t settle for anything less than winning it all”

Alternatively, Carroll spoke of his willingness to win 17-14, stay in the game and keep it tight. Despite a somewhat indifferent end to the season, where the Seahawks were beating bad opponents unconvincingly, Carroll regularly dismissed concerns about the offensive production, the struggles with third down and the inability to adjust. He became increasingly agitated by probing questions and didn’t seem to enjoy the suggestion that they were anything other than on the right track — having put a sharp end to ‘Let Russ cook’ after disappointing losses in Buffalo and LA.

The contrast couldn’t be more stark between the two. There’s a clear disconnect in how both individuals see the path to future success.

It also seems clear Wilson is concerned about how competitive the team has been.

Since their last appearance in the Super Bowl in the 2014 season, only six NFC teams have failed to qualify for the Championship game:

Washington
New York Giants
Dallas
Detroit
Chicago
Seattle

Ten teams have been within a game of the Super Bowl. The Seahawks are not one of them. The company they keep in the list above is inglorious.

They’ve only won the NFC West twice in the last six seasons. In the last four years, they’ve won just one playoff game.

Meanwhile, you can argue the Seahawks have become increasingly reliant on their quarterback. Without him, it’s unlikely they would’ve consistently qualified for the post-season.

The once-great defense has wilted. They’ve gone from being ranked 5th to 11th to 16th to 26th to 22nd. That final ranking, 22nd, was boosted by a late-season resurgence in 2020 coinciding with hardly a murders row of opponents. In the first half of the season, the defense was on a record-pace for all the wrong reasons.

Defense is supposed to be Carroll’s speciality, yet the unit has been stalling for some time. The Seahawks have struggled to develop star players. When they’ve allowed good players to depart, they’ve toiled in replacing them. They’ve squandered draft picks, only to then spend even more resource via trade.

The best example of that was using the #47 on Marquise Blair, a safety, in the 2019 draft. Within 18 months, they’d spent further picks on Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams — the latter costing a kings ransom.

It’s not just a defensive issue either. While all this is going on, Wilson can rightly complain about Seattle’s inability to provide him with a high-performing O-line, a strong running game and an arsenal of weapons.

That’s not to imply he’s had a totally awful situation. The pass protection improved at the start of last season, before regressing. The addition of D.K. Metcalf was a positive, as is the retention of Tyler Lockett. They spent big on the tight end position, even though they struggle to find a way to make them a feature within their offense.

Yet it’s perfectly plausible to argue that had the Seahawks created a great O-line, running game and delivered a proper #3 weapon (at tight end or receiver) — there’s every chance, even with a not-great defense, for Wilson to lead this team deeper into the playoffs.

So there’s a combination of bad personnel management, a clash of philosophy and perceived underachievement by the team.

Further to that, Wilson clearly has raised his concerns privately and they’re not being acted on. So what other choice does he have but to speak out?

Would you rather he stew quietly and just be a good little soldier? Meanwhile, he watches his career pass by and we all get to wonder what could’ve been?

It speaks to the lack of accountability within the franchise that he has to go public to instigate change.

We’ve talked about this for months and now the national media are starting to touch on it too. The Seahawks are in a holding pattern with ownership. A sale is expected within 3-5 years. Until then, Jodi Allen and Vulcan Sports have basically passed the keys to Pete Carroll. He is responsible for the football operations and it’s not clear whether anyone is challenging any decision he makes.

He’s been given a five-year contract extension and the likelihood is this situation will continue until a sale is completed, years down the line.

Mike Florio discussed the matter in an article earlier today:

Some in league circles believe the Seahawks essentially have become a corporation, with Vulcan Inc. (founded in 1986 by Paul and Jody Allen to oversee the family’s diverse business activities) and not Jody Allen running the team.

By all appearances, Vulcan isn’t actively running the team. Instead, it appears that Vulcan Sports and Entertainment (a division of Vulcan Inc.) defers to coach Pete Carroll as the de facto CEO of the Seahawks subunit. Indeed, Carroll is both the coach and the executive V.P. of football operations. Which confirms that he’s the ultimate football authority with the Seahawks, a team that has no direct or indirect ownership meddling of any kind.

Wilson’s issue isn’t with the team, the GM or the franchise. It’s with the man at the top. As several people have spelled out — Brandon Marshall, Colin Cowherd, the reporters in the Athletic article — this is an issue with Carroll.

This is what Cowherd said two weeks ago:

“Russell Wilson, I can tell you this, isn’t happy with Pete Carroll”

“He likes his team mates, he likes Seattle — it’s a Pete Carroll thing. The offense is outdated. I’ve had three different Seattle players tell me they feel like they’re running a 1980’s offense.”

“Since the death of Paul Allen, Pete Carroll has unquestioned power. In my opinion, it’s a lopsided franchise where the coach has too much power over the playbook, too much power over his quarterback, has too much power over the franchise and too much power over John Schneider.”

Wilson speaking out is as much about trying to hold Carroll to account as it is anything else. Who else is capable? What can John Schneider do, exactly? Short of nearly leaving the team and joining the Detroit Lions, as was rumoured a few weeks ago. Was that in itself a similar nudge to the powers that be?

The person with the serious clout to initiate change and get things done, is Wilson. The most important player. The person hardest to replace in the whole organisation.

Without him, you’re talking about a franchise-changing impact. Your focus immediately turns from trying to find a solution at left guard to needing to find a franchise quarterback. I don’t need to explain how significant that is.

Three weeks ago, Wilson made it be known that he was dissatisfied. He spoke publicly about the O-line while his agent did the rounds with the big names in NFL reporting.

The response from Seattle? Silence.

Brandon Marshall revealed on Friday that Carroll and Wilson haven’t talked for two weeks.

If you speak out privately and nothing changes, then you speak out publicly and nothing changes — where do you go from there?

There’s only one direction.

I think the on-the-record, four-team trade destination revelation was the final warning. If you won’t listen now, we’ve got a problem.

Because eventually this will go from being an attempt to initiate change to a player asking to leave.

So for all the contrasting reports of how likely a trade is at this point, the only thing that matters is whether the Seahawks are listening to Wilson.

Because if they aren’t, he will go somewhere else.

It’s as simple as that. The moment a franchise quarterback requests his release, there’s no going back. He can’t lead this team next year. At that point, you are facing a complete restructure of your franchise.

He is flirting with that because he is desperate for Carroll to listen, so that he can stay in Seattle and believe in this project.

But in order for the parties to continue working together — it’s going to take Carroll conceding on several factors.

He’s going to need to cede some control of the offense to Wilson and Shane Waldron. He’s going to have to go back on what he said after the playoff loss to LA and embrace playing with tempo with a focus on aggression and point-scoring, not game-management and keeping things close.

He’s going to have to somehow avoid interfering if there’s a bad game or a bad stretch.

He’ll need to invite Wilson into the inner-sanctum of scheming and game-planning.

When you think about it, it’s not really a big price to pay for having a franchise quarterback. Ask Matt Nagy if he can live with these terms in Chicago. Hey Nick Sirianni, you need a franchise quarterback in Philly. Can you live with them having a big say in the offense?

It’s not even a question for most other teams.

Peter King told a story last week about the time he sat-in on a meeting between Sean Payton and Drew Brees. They were discussing a game-plan and Payton put black dots on his call-sheet, noting all the plays Brees wanted to run in that particular game. There were about 40 plays.

When King asked Payton how many they would run on game-day, he responded: “Hopefully all of them.”

Is it any wonder New Orleans is on Wilson’s list?

And it begs the question — why would you pay your quarterback $35m a year if you aren’t willing to let him have a big influence on decision making?

Frankly, this is also the change fans should hope for. Carroll’s way of doing things hasn’t enabled this team to take a step towards Championship caliber. You could argue, Wilson has propped up Seattle’s coach and his vision for years as the defense regressed and the post-Marshawn running game struggles ensued.

It feels like it’s time to mix things up a bit. Is there really anything to lose at this point? Because every season seems to end in the same way.

Wilson’s trying to initiate change. He’s having to do it through the media, with the consequences laid out, because the quiet conversation in private approach hasn’t worked. Neither has the drip-fed warnings through the media that have been going on for the last 12 months.

So forget the various reporters tweeting on the likelihood of a trade. This is all it comes down to.

How important is Wilson to Carroll?

If he has no interest in rebuilding and searching for a new quarterback, then he has to bite the bullet and make concessions to Wilson. That can happen very quickly, a truce can be formed and everyone can move on.

If he’s unwilling to change and sees his plan and philosophy as more important than any individual player — and if he’s unwilling to concede ground — then they need to initiate a trade.

There’s no middle ground here. There’s no awkward ‘wait until next year’.

Don’t linger on the $39m dead cap hit. His dead cap hit next year is still $26m. It’s hefty either way. If you make the trade now, you create $37m in space next year.

The Rams swapped Matt Stafford for Jared Goff despite being $33m over the cap. The Eagles dealt Carson Wentz while being $43m over the cap. We can’t define what is truly possible any more, however unconventional.

The Seahawks can deal Wilson and find themselves in the comparatively comfortable situation of only being $5m over the cap, with nearly $160m of cap space to lend from in 2022. It’s not as restrictive as some are making out.

The seriousness of the threats in the media are growing.

Going to the #1 NFL insider and telling him, on the record, the four destinations you’re willing to be traded to, is not insignificant. That was a raising of the stakes.

And those stakes have been gradually raising week-by-week as the Seahawks fail to meet Wilson’s desires.

If there’s no progress in the coming days, it’ll be something else. Maybe even a trade request.

What isn’t going to happen is a situation where this just all blows over and everyone cracks on.

So what’s it going to be? Because this can’t go on for much longer. The Seahawks can’t endure weeks and weeks of back-and-forth about the future of their quarterback.

Both parties need to put their cards on the table and sort things out — one way or another.

But make no mistake — Wilson is doing what really needs to be done. Something needs to change in Seattle. The personnel decisions have been poor for too long. The philosophy hasn’t delivered playoff results for years. The team is treading water.

Personally, I think it’ll be a crushing assessment of the Seahawks under Carroll if he feels he has to leave.

Suddenly Carroll’s legacy in Seattle would be under fire, more so than even Wilson’s.

Because if he leads the team back into the wilderness having forced out the franchise quarterback, all for the sake of preserving his own philosophy, it’ll do far more damage than any decision to throw the ball at the one-yard-line ever could.

Free agency starts in two weeks. This needs to be solved before then.

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I talked about this during the podcast yesterday (the video is at the bottom of the page). I wanted to flesh out the thoughts in an article too.

Now that Russell Wilson has identified the four teams he would be prepared to go to, I wanted to consider trade offers that might keep Seattle on the phone.

These things are difficult to project. If the Raiders and Bears get into a bidding war, who knows where the price goes? If you’re offering three firsts, players and maybe more — are you in for a penny, in for a pound at that point?

The ideal scenario for the Seahawks, if a trade becomes inevitable, is to have at least two aggressive teams trying to outbid each other.

That situation isn’t unrealistic.

Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy are lucky to still be in a job in Chicago. They’re hanging by a thread. Pace is the GM famous for trading up for Mitchell Trubisky when he could’ve had Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson. The only way to avoid that being inscribed on his tombstone is to pull off a major move such as trading for Russell Wilson.

In Las Vegas, Mark Davis has a franchise to promote in a non-football city. Imagine being able to put billboards up all over Vegas with Wilson in a Raiders uniform, saying ‘come and watch this guy play Mahomes and Justin Herbert’.

That’s how you sell tickets for your new football palace.

What about the other two suitors?

The Cowboys told their in-house NFL Network reporter Jane Slater that a trade was a ‘laughable’ proposition and came up with some nonsense about the Seahawks playing hardball over Earl Thomas (who the Cowboys opted not to sign as a free agent, twice) while usurping them for Jamal Adams.

To me it’s clear what’s going on here. The Cowboys have an idea what it’ll cost to acquire Wilson and they don’t think they’ll be able to compete with ultra-aggressive suitors. So it’s better to distance yourself now, in a somewhat emphatic way, to save face.

That doesn’t mean they can’t get involved down the line. Right now, however, I suspect Dallas thinks a trade would cost too much and therefore they’re more likely to see how Dak Prescott recovers from his injury, or look towards the draft (they have the 10th pick).

With the Saints, I can imagine their stance will be to ask the Seahawks what it would take to get a deal done. You look at their roster and make your play. New Orleans has to shift veteran contracts to repair their cap so they might be more willing to negotiate than many think. Plus, the chance to land Wilson and pair him with Sean Payton is NFL manna from heaven.

Here are my thoughts on what might be reasonable in a deal with the Bears, Raiders and Saints. I’m eliminating the Cowboys at this point.

And a quick reminder on the $39m dead cap hit attached to Wilson’s contract. A lot of people have determined this makes any trade a non-starter, or that a deal next year is more likely.

Here’s the reality. The Seahawks would still be paying Wilson $26m if they trade him next year. A $39m dead hit doesn’t mean adding $39m to your cap in 2021. It means adding $7m to what you are already on the hook for, taking the Seahawks to -$5m in available cap space. That’s more than 10 other teams in the league right now.

So yes, it’s inconvenient. But that’s the case next year too. And if you make the deal in 2021, you immediately free up $37m in 2022 cap space because Wilson’s contract comes off the books now. You get the headache out of the way. You have room in next years cap which you can borrow from.

In that scenario, it’s much easier to restructure Bobby Wagner’s contract or extend Carlos Dunlap and Tyler Lockett. If you wanted to sign Corey Linsley at center for $11m a year, you could give him a low year-one cap hit and pay him more in 2022.

This is the flexibility that comes with making $37m available in 2022.

There’s a distinct lack of open-mindedness about a trade this year, purely due to the $39m. Dig a little deeper and you realise it’s not quite the anchor dragging down the franchise as many are suggesting.

Chicago Bears

The starting point in all of these deals, as per Michael Silver, is three first round picks. That’s just to get the Seahawks to answer the phone. Securing a deal will be about how much you offer on top of that, relative to the other suitors.

I think it’s realistic for the Seahawks to expect at least one more pick. Especially given once a team acquires Wilson, they’ll pretty much be guaranteed a playoff appearance every year and any future first round picks will be in the 20’s or 30’s.

I’m going to make the draft compensation for all these proposals three first rounders and a second rounder. That’s not unreasonable given the Rams traded two firsts, a third and a player for Matt Stafford.

Most people will tell you that Khalil Mack is out of bounds in a trade. I disagree.

Yes, he has a dead cap hit of $37.4m.

As we’ve mentioned, Wilson’s dead cap hit is $39m.

So if the Seahawks are expected to pay $39m for Wilson to play in Chicago, the Bears should be expected to make a similar concession for Mack to play in Seattle.

And while no doubt people will mention how difficult this is in the current environment — a quick reminder that the Rams made the Stafford deal and are now $33m over the cap. The Saints are $70m over the cap. The Eagles are $43m over the cap, after trading Carson Wentz. So what does the cap even mean any more?

Wilson’s $37m salary is immediately wiped off Seattle’s books for 2022. For the Bears, they would free up $25m on their cap next year by moving Mack.

So that’s the deal that intrigues me. A chance to get a dynamic front four pass rush, acquire three first round picks and a second. You would need to identify a quarterback solution for 2021 but if you’re expecting the perfect deal in any of these situations, you’re not going to get it.

These proposals are based on a scenario where a trade becomes inevitable and the situation isn’t fixable. At that point it’s about getting the best deal.

Not getting a quarterback might be a good leverage point for the Seahawks to get even more out of the Bears.

Fans in Chicago might say this is too much. Would they prefer to watch another year of Trubisky?

Las Vegas Raiders

Again, the draft compensation starts at three firsts and a second. The Raiders have an advantage because they have two quarterbacks to dangle.

Derek Carr isn’t a perfect starting quarterback by any stretch. However, he has 26,896 passing yards in his career and 170 touchdowns.

When he arrived in Oakland in 2014 they were a 3-13 team. Within two years, he was leading them to a 12-4 season. He was a MVP candidate in 2016 before picking up an injury in the penultimate regular season game. Without that setback, the Raiders were among the favourites to make the Super Bowl in the AFC.

He’s had to deal with turnover of coaches, GM’s and roster upheaval. He’s had leading receivers traded away. It’s not been easy.

If you’re moving on from Wilson, you could do a lot worse than Carr.

Marcus Mariota is an alternative if you want to go in that direction instead.

The appealing thing here is you can start next season with a veteran quarterback. I would suggest creating a competition by drafting a QB and maybe adding another veteran. May the best man win. Always compete. Why not?

That alone might do it in terms of compensation. Personally, I’d still quite like to trade Jamal Adams to a team like the Dolphins or Browns. I don’t think he’s a great scheme fit in Seattle. I don’t think he’s worth $18-20m a year. I think the sack numbers are a mirage. I’d rather get what you can for him, then ask the Raiders to throw in Johnathan Abram — a similar safety at a much cheaper cost that the Seahawks seemingly coveted in the 2019 draft.

New Orleans Saints

If the Saints ask the Seahawks to ‘name their price’ — again the starting point is likely three firsts and a second.

Then it’s about shopping for veterans.

Legitimately, they could ask for Ryan Ramczyk. It would save the cap-strapped Saints $11m. You could even throw in Brandon Shell as a replacement (saving the Seahawks $3m).

They should ask for Cam Jordan. He probably wouldn’t be happy about it but it’d save the Saints another $2m this year and $19.7m next year.

You would acquire two quality starters, both in the trenches, and a bunch of draft picks.

Now, let’s get a little crazy.

What about Drew Brees?

He hasn’t retired yet. I have no idea whether one final season playing in a totally different city would appeal to him. However, he’s a highly motivated individual who has just seen Tom Brady win another Lombardi Trophy, playing for a new team.

Could you convince him to play one more season in Seattle?

Yes — he looked every bit a 42-year-old quarterback in 2020. However, the Seahawks will need at least a placeholder if Wilson is dealt.

Could he manage your offense? Can he get the ball to DK Metcalf? Can he provide a bridge to the future?

Yes on all three counts.

By acquiring Ramcyzk you would bookend Duane Brown. You could use the draft and free agency to fill out the interior O-line.

If he was willing to consider a swan song in Seattle, it would only cost the Seahawks his $1,075,000 base salary for 2021.

Yes, the Saints would have to eat his sizeable dead cap hit — but they’re set to do that anyway.

I have to admit — I think it’s an intriguing scenario. Maybe unlikely. I’m not sure Brees would really indulge this thought.

If you wanted to draft a quarterback this year, however, or just wanted to buy yourself 12 months at the position, it at least makes some sense.

I’m just trying to think outside of the box — because if the Seahawks do trade Wilson, they’ll need to do that too.

A final thought on these proposals. A lot of people claim three of these suitors are unrealistic because they don’t own a top-10 draft pick.

I don’t think this is a great year to pick in the top-10. I think this draft class is extremely rich in the 20-75 range. I would take four picks in that range over a top-10 pick every single day when it comes to this specific class.

So acquiring the #17, #20 or #28 pick doesn’t bother me as much as it otherwise would do. The fact is Wilson has a trade clause and if he doesn’t want to go to Miami or Carolina, it is what it is.

The idea of forcing him to stay in an unhappy marriage for a year would simply create mass-dysfunction for 12 more months before the inevitable happens anyway. If they can’t find a truce very quickly, both parties need to shake hands and go their separate ways. This can’t go on for much longer. A resolution is required, one way or another.

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Whether Russell Wilson is traded or not this year, the Seahawks might have to think about drafting a quarterback.

With only four picks it’s not ideal. Especially given Seattle’s long list of needs.

However, there doesn’t seem to be any scenario where drafting a quarterback isn’t somewhat necessary.

An imminent resolution between team and player doesn’t appear likely. Thus, security is required — whether that’s for 2021 or 2022.

The worst case scenario is your left with a backup quarterback with good club control for the next four years. The best case scenario is you’re not totally ill-prepared if a divorce happens over the course of the next 12 months.

As noted in my piece a couple of weeks ago — this is a QB class with a lot of question marks. The players at the top end have limited starts and it shows on tape.

There’s some curious decision making by the top group too. You see Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Justin Fields fail to read wide open developing routes. They also flash incredible, ‘wow’ throws. Especially Wilson and Lance. Arm strength, precision, improvisation. But it’s mixed in with a dose of, ‘what are they seeing/thinking there?’

There isn’t a player in the class, outside of Trevor Lawrence, that you watch and get the same kind of vibe Kyler Murray provided. Watching him you could just detect special qualities. Nobody leaps off the screen in that way. And with the lack of college starts and playing experience, there’s a decent chance there’ll be a significant learning curve for the top rookies. How they navigate through that will be interesting.

I don’t think Mac Jones is a particularly good fit in Seattle. His skill set is well matched, in my opinion, to a timing offense. I think he’s an excellent fit for the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan. Get the ball out quickly, keep everything on schedule. Although he had a lot of completions throwing downfield in 2020, I think that was due to the receivers he played with. He doesn’t have a great arm.

He throws a lot of contested passes, even on a medium-range. I thought he struggled to drive the ball during red zone drills at the Senior Bowl, with tighter windows.

I also think there’s enough noise around Jones to expect he’s going to go quite early in the draft. Mike Tannenbaum insists his floor is #8 and Carolina. I’m not convinced the Panthers are in that market, despite his confident performance under their tutelage in Mobile. I think they’re aiming higher. Even so, I wouldn’t be surprised if a team such as the Niners moved up to get him.

With four quarterbacks possibly going early, what does it leave for the Seahawks?

There are two players I think would be worth investing in.

The first is Davis Mills at Stanford. I do think there’s a chance he will go a lot earlier than many are projecting. He was a highly rated High School recruit for a reason:

Mills has pretty much everything — height, size, poise, athleticism. He looks the part. It won’t be a shock if one of the quarterback-needy teams in the second half of round one, or one of the teams at the top of round two, decide to take a chance on him.

The big knock on Mills is starting experience. He played in just 11 full games for Stanford. It’s very difficult to analyse a player with such a limited résumé.

Compare him to Ian Book with his multiple years as the Notre Dame starter. You can see how he progressed over a long period of time. What mistakes did he correct? How easily has he taken to coaching over numerous seasons? Has he elevated his team? Is he durable? Are there any concerning trends?

With Mills you simply can’t answer any of these questions. You’ve basically got a ball of clay. It’s a high standard of clay and can be moulded into a wonderful vase. Yet how it sets, how it actually looks upon completion, whether it’ll break easily — you’re not going to find out until you get to work on it.

All you can really do is look at what he’s shown in limited action and make a vague projection.

So what does he show?

Mills throws with fantastic touch, even under pressure. He knows how to vary throwing velocity and he has excellent ball placement. He’s patient in the pocket to allow plays to develop, making the right read instead of the first read. He throws to the right areas when targeting receivers who are technically covered, giving his target a chance to make a play, while limiting the risk of a turnover.

He has good pocket mobility, reminiscent of Daniel Jones (minus the long speed). He’s not a big running/scrambling threat when the play breaks down but neither is he a statue incapable of avoiding pressure or extending plays. He can run for first downs when the play breaks down. He’s a frustrating scrambler for opponents, similar to Matt Ryan in his ability to ‘just get enough’.

At SPARQ he ran a 4.32 short shuttle and jumped a 33 inch vertical.

He’s very good at getting the ball out. You see one hitch max and throw. The classical style that avoids issues. Mills moves up into the pocket but keeps his eyes on potential targets rather than dropping his head and taking off. His decision making under pressure is impressive.

His throws are pretty and well delivered. He threw a 56-yard lob on a flea-flicker against Oregon State. He doesn’t have a rocket arm but certainly it’s not average either.

Mills throws the back shoulder with precision. His body position when setting is excellent with his shoulder and knees working in the right areas, allowing him to deliver throws with greater accuracy and punch. His throws to the red line are lofted with the right level of height and placement.

There’s one throw against Washington where the two edge rushers gain early leverage forcing him to step up and across in the pocket to avoid the pressure. He has to scramble into the space but he keeps his eyes downfield, despite the presence of a spying linebacker. Just as he’s about to get hammered in the backfield, he uncorks a perfect pass on the move to a receiver. This was on 3rd and 10, deep inside his own red zone. He converts the first down and moves the chains. It’s a money play, the type that gets you excited. It’s what you want to see given his lack of starting experience.

He also converted a 3rd and 11 against Washington to win the game, with an outstanding throw in tight coverage to the far sideline for a gain of 25.

Personally, I think if Mills was a three-year starter we might be talking about him as a top-10 pick. Sometimes you have to project an opportunity. It’s possible, under greater scrutiny, he will fall short. But how often do you get a chance to take a quarterback with a very high ceiling, without needing to spend a very high pick?

Mills could rise rapidly in the coming weeks. However, if the Seahawks have an opportunity to draft him as a developmental project and/or security against Wilson’s future, I would consider it.

The other player is Kellen Mond. He has 36 starts in the last three seasons for Texas A&M. He has four years of quarterbacking experience in the SEC.

I’m surprised he hasn’t received more attention for his 2020 season. He took a massive step forward in terms of consistency. He led the Aggies to a 9-1 season with the only loss coming against Alabama — where he threw three touchdowns for 318 yards. He orchestrated wins against Florida, Auburn, an improved Arkansas and North Carolina.

I thought Mond was outstanding at the Senior Bowl, based on what I saw. There was a noticeable difference in the way he handled red zone and two-minute drills compared to the other quarterbacks. His arm strength is on a different level. In the game, he had a sluggish start before leading a comeback in the second half with two excellent scoring drives.

He threw the prettiest pass of 2020 for me. A play-action deep shot against Florida right down the post to a covered receiver, yet delivered on the money for a 50-yard gain. When you watch it from the All-22 angle, it’s a thing of pure beauty:

Mond reads the field well and has the arm strength to make plays others in this class simply cannot. He dissected two Arkansas defenders on one brilliant throw to the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown. It’s the kind of play most quarterbacks don’t even attempt. His ability to put a bit of extra mustard on a throw like that, yet retain accuracy, is exciting to watch.

A 30-40-yard throw, on the money, placed in between two defenders across to the sideline was almost a banality watching Mond, it happens so often. He has no physical limitations in terms of what he can do with the football. His release is whipped and super-quick and he delivers a fantastic spiral. He threads the needle.

Not every decision is perfect. He misreads some hots but that’ll happen. He just needs time. The offense he played in is also well crafted and Jimbo Fisher has a history of creating accommodating schemes. That’s something to consider.

Over the years he’s had to deal with a lot of pressure at Texas A&M. He’s learnt to cope with it. There are several examples where he faces interior pressure and a defender in his grill but he’ll stand tall and deliver an accurate throw downfield. Unlike Justin Fields, he doesn’t get flustered and bail. He hangs in the pocket.

There’s another play against Arkansas where he lobs the football over the head of one linebacker and in front of two defensive backs. The linebacker holds his hands up after as if to say, ‘what can I do?’ — there simply aren’t many players with the physical prowess to do this.

His work in the red zone is excellent. He’s very capable of looking off defenders to create openings to the tight end. His two scoring plays to Amari Rodgers in the Senior Bowl game were pure perfection.

He’s not a dynamic runner but he’s very capable of breaking off runs and extending plays when required. As with Mills, he always sticks with the pass to the last minute and doesn’t drop his eyes.

The amount of progress he has made year after year has to be recognised. I don’t see any reason why that can’t continue, either. And while he’s never quite elevated his play to the point of garnering early round attention, he looks like a very capable quarterback with the right physical qualities and mental makeup to play in the NFL. It won’t be a surprise at all if he’s taken on day two of the draft and in five years time, as with Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson, we’re all left wondering how he lasted as long as he did.

I think the Seahawks should strongly consider drafting him.

This is the space we’re living in these days. Short of an unexpected long-term truce, where Pete Carroll caves to Russell Wilson in a way he has so far resisted, the Seahawks are going to have to start paying attention to quarterbacks again.

At the moment, it feels like the countdown to divorce is on.

That means it’s time to plan and prepare. Having ‘one in the chamber’ was John Schneider’s way of putting it a few years ago. Now, they have to deliver on that. They’re in the business of buying lottery tickets again, hoping one wins.

For me — Mills and Mond have as good a shot as anyone in this class outside of Trevor Lawrence to make this work. Whether they trade Wilson this year or not, I would suggest it’s in their best interests to draft a quarterback at some point — and I would seriously consider making the moves needed to acquire extra draft stock in order to make this possible.

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Another week, another chapter.

On Monday we had Michael Silver’s report laying the foundation for potential trade talks. Now, a new article in the Athletic — revealing Wilson’s growing discontent.

Here are the two new ‘revelations’:

— Wilson stormed out of a meeting pre-Arizona in week 11 when suggestions he made to fix the offense were dismissed

— Wilson contacted Pete Carroll to ask how the Seahawks planned to address the offensive line this off-season but was not given a satisfactory answer, preempting the comments he made to Dan Patrick and the local media after the Super Bowl

The piece ends with the following:

Asked if Wilson will be the Seahawks’ quarterback in 2021, a source close to the quarterback answered with just two words.

“Good question …”

A divorce feels like a greater possibility than ever.

But when could it happen?

Many people are drawn immediately to Wilson’s $39m cap hit. That’s understandable but I also think it’s a slight red herring.

Let’s be realistic. If the franchise quarterback and Head Coach are increasingly opposed, how can they continue to work together?

They can’t.

Equally, if Wilson’s camp are proposing trade partners to the team, as suggested in the Athletic article, how do you come back from this?

Is the $39m such an anchor weighing down both parties that they’d endure a miserable final 12 months together?

Because let’s be right here — the Eagles just took a dead cap hit on Carson Wentz and they’re $43m over the cap. The Saints are $70m over the cap. The Rams just traded Jared Goff and acquired Matt Stafford and they’re $33m over the cap.

What does the cap even mean any more?

If the Seahawks trade Wilson, they’ll be $7m worse off in 2021. With -$5m in effective cap space, they’d still be in better shape than 10 teams in the NFL.

Meanwhile, if they wait a year they’ll still be taking on a $26m dead cap hit in 2022 which is hardly spare change. So whether he’s traded this year or next, there’s a massive financial penalty brewing.

So while the $39m is admittedly a huge obstacle, I’m not convinced it’s the beginning and the end of any discussion.

To me it really comes down to how you see this situation.

I often read or hear people say they think a divorce is inevitable, just not this year (because of the dead cap hit).

I’d suggest if a parting really is inevitable, they just need to get on with it. There’s no benefit from dragging this out for another year and having 12 months of drama hanging over the franchise.

Imagine what it’ll be like. Colin Cowherd one week, Mike Florio the next. The Wilson camp briefing his dissatisfaction to the media. The constant questions during training camp about his future. The weekly analysis on the level of ‘cooking’ permitted.

Whenever he plays badly — what does it mean? Whenever he plays well — shouldn’t he have more control?

It’s not sustainable.

$39m dead cap hit or not — a line just needs to be drawn and the future plans need to be made if the writing is on the wall.

In many ways it might actually help. From 2022 he’ll be off the books. It might make it easier to justify and structure a big extension for Jamal Adams. You could sign free agents knowing you have an extra $37m to play with in next years cap.

Again — this is only if a parting is inevitable. Delaying things for 12 months for the sake of $7m this year just seems asinine. The football equivalent of a couple thinking a wet weekend away together could salvage a failing marriage.

If the relationship is salvageable though, then really it’s down to the Head Coach to sort things out.

What is the future identity of the Seahawks? Is it Pete Carroll, a soon-to-be 70-year-old Head Coach, or a 32-year-old franchise quarterback?

While Carroll has the power and authority to pretty much do what he wants, surely he also has to be conscious of what’s best for the franchise?

Ideally he might want to do things ‘his way’ to end his illustrious career. If his way essentially forces Wilson to go elsewhere within the next 12 months — are you now placing your own ego ahead of what is best for the long term future of the team?

Furthermore — if Carroll wants to win another Super Bowl before he retires, can he seriously do that without Wilson?

I can’t imagine that moving him and introducing a lesser quarterback, or even a rookie, is the pathway to Carroll securing another Championship in the next five years. Not with the defense in its current state anyway.

But neither is keeping a frustrated, dissatisfied Wilson who actively doesn’t believe in the way you want to do things. Based on that Athletic article, both parties were pulling in different directions in the second half of the 2020 season. The result? Arguably the worst stretch of Wilson’s career.

We all make plans that require adjustment. Very little in life goes exactly how you intended.

Carroll’s dream may well be to end his career doing what he wants — with absolute control over the Seahawks franchise.

But if he wants Russell Wilson to be his quarterback, he’s probably going to have to give up plenty of ground.

This is where we’re at in the NFL. Possessing a star franchise quarterback isn’t something you just have any more. The top players in the game — Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers — are speaking out a lot more than they used to.

The highest financial compensation isn’t the mere aim these days. Legacy and success is increasingly becoming just as important.

In the coming years you’re going to have to run your team with this in mind. Supporting your star quarterback, as the Buccaneers did with Tom Brady, will become the new norm. Weapons, protection, input in coaching, scheming and personnel.

Brady and the Buccs have changed the game.

If you don’t want to run your team that way, there are alternatives. You can win enough to make everything else a moot point. Or you can trade your quarterback. But essentially you’ve got a choice. Embrace the new world order or be prepared for unrest.

If Carroll cannot live in this space — or he simply doesn’t trust Wilson enough to hand over considerable power — then a parting is inevitable anyway.

I don’t think drafting a left guard and signing a tight end will be enough. I think it’ll take more than that to appease the quarterback. I suspect it’s a question of just how much Carroll is willing to cede and what level of concession will be acceptable for Wilson.

I don’t think the aim should be to make this relationship tenable for one more year. The objective should be to create an environment where both parties can work and thrive together for the rest of Carroll’s tenure.

It’s possible that a short-term band-aid could work if the team ultimately takes a step forward in 2021 and becomes far more competitive in the playoffs than its been for the last six years.

The 2020 Seahawks, however, didn’t look close — regardless of their 12-4 record. I’m not convinced this team is on the precipice of greatness. So the leap towards contention probably requires far more off-season work than is currently possible — with only $1.7m in effective cap space and four draft picks.

So what’s going to happen?

I still think this could go either way. There’s a reason why the Wilson camp used the word ‘fluid’ when describing the situation to both Mike Florio and Colin Cowherd.

And while people aren’t doing anything wrong in assuming a trade this year is unlikely because of the dead cap hit, I wouldn’t bet against anything at this point.

***UPDATE #1***

Seahawks’ QB Russell Wilson has not demanded a trade, his agent Mark Rodgers told ESPN. Wilson has told the Seahawks he wants to play in Seattle but, if a trade were considered, the only teams he would go to are the Cowboys, Saints, Raiders, Bears.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 25, 2021

***UPDATE #2***

Russell Wilson does not expect to be traded as of now, and Seattle has not approached Wilson with any potential deals, sources say. But multiple league execs believe Seattle will eventually make Wilson available because of brewing tension. This will get nothing but interesting.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 25, 2021

So in the last four days this is what has happened:

— Michael Silver, who has close connections to the Seahawks and broke the news of the 2017/18 reset before it happened, reported what the starting point for negotiations was (three first round picks)

— Mark Rodgers, Wilson’s agent, leaks to Adam Schefter the four teams he’s willing to be traded to (Vegas, Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas)

— Jeremy Fowler reports multiple league executives believe Seattle will eventually make Wilson available

If you weren’t aware already, this is getting serious.

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I wasn’t happy with the horizontal board I published last week. It was really only designed to illustrate a point on the strength of the interior O-line class.

Over the weekend I made a big effort to review my notes on many prospects I’ve already watched. I also worked through a priority list of players I hadn’t studied yet.

Today I’ve updated the horizontal board. A lot more work has gone into this. Click on the image to make it bigger.

Underneath you’ll find notes on each prospect listed.

As the board suggests, it’s a particularly strong receiver class again. There’s good depth at cornerback. There’s a sweet spot for the interior O-line in the first two rounds. It’s not a particularly deep class at running back or tight end, even if some good options are available.

Defensive prospects

Round one

Micah Parsons (LB, Penn State)
There are some suggested character question marks surrounding Parsons but you can easily make the case that he’s the best defensive player in the draft.


Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB, Notre Dame)

Highly explosive and dynamic — a true first round talent. He can jump a 39-inch vertical and a 10-3 broad jump.

Round two

Alim McNeill (DT, NC State)
Massive, highly athletic prospect who will shock people when he eventually runs and does the agility testing. Ran a 4.27 short shuttle (!!!) at SPARQ.

Daviyon Nixon (DT, Iowa)
A TFL machine in 2020 (13.5). Nixon creates havoc from the interior and is a true playmaking defensive tackle.

Levi Onwuzurike (DT, Washington)
Great attitude, plays pissed off, much more athletic than you think and able to pursue to the ball carrier away from the LOS. Creates interior pressure with dynamic quickness.

Christian Barmore (DT, Alabama)
Definitely flashed some pass rushing prowess late in the season but he never quite lived up to expectations. Is he special enough to have the same success at the next level?

Tommy Togiai (DT, Ohio State)
All-action defensive tackle who lets interior offensive linemen know they’re in a game. Great effort, power and motor — will run to the sideline to make a play if needed.

Gregory Rousseau (DE, Miami)
Looks the part — long, lean and uses his physical tools to create problems. Amazing upside but he needed seasoning at Miami and opting out of 2020 meant a missed opportunity to develop.

Carlos Basham (DE, Wake Forest)
Clearly he’s an outstanding athlete but he lacks length and that might be an issue working the edge at the next level.

Azeez Olujari (DE, Georgia)
Great quickness and bend and straighten to the quarterback. Arguably the most natural pass rusher alongside Jaelen Phillips.

Kwity Paye (DE, Michigan)
Well known for his athletic profile thanks to Bruce Feldman’s freak list. However, his tape is hit-and-miss. You’re investing in potential.

Jaelen Phillips (DE, Miami)
Teams will need to investigate the concussion issues that led to his departure from UCLA. However — Phillips was once a major recruiting superstar and has natural talent to get after the quarterback. Few players have his upside in this draft.

Ronnie Perkins (DE, Oklahoma)
Plays with his hair on fire and possibly the most violent edge rusher in the class. Good motor and passion for the game.

Joe Tryon (DE, Washington)
He looks like a Terminator with his shirt off. Has a physique that D.K. Metcalf would appreciate. Uses his hands well, wins with power and can do it all.

Baron Browning (LB, Ohio State)
Wow-athlete at linebacker with tremendous character and intensity. Ran a 4.18 short shuttle at SPARQ and jumped a 37 inch vertical. Long arms.

Zaven Collins (LB, Tulsa)
He only ran a 5.03 forty at SPARQ but when you put on the tape he jumps off the screen.

Cam McGrone (LB, Michigan)
Limited snaps at Michigan but he still showed incredible pursuit to the ball-carrier, quickness and forceful hits. Could be a terrific get for someone.

Jaycee Horn (CB, South Carolina)
He looks like a Greek God of a cornerback. Incredibly put together. Dominated Auburn’s Seth Williams. If he played every game like that he’d be a top-10 lock.

Elijah Molden (CB, Washington)
Outstanding player who will only last this long based on his size and straight-line speed. Ran a 3.93 short shuttle at SPARQ and jumped a 37 inch vertical.

Caleb Farley (CB, Virginia Tech)
He has talent but you don’t see much effort in run-support, his tackling isn’t great and he’s not a physical player. You want to like him more than you do.

Shaun Wade (CB, Ohio State)
He might have to settle for a permanent role in the slot but Wade has talent and someone has to try and develop him. Five-star recruit.

Asante Samuel Jr (CB, Florida State)
NFL bloodlines. Flies to the ball. I liked his feet and ability to recover. Can play outside and kick inside to the slot when needed. Suits a man-cover scheme.

Patrick Surtain II (CB, Alabama)
He had a few lapses in 2020 and he only ran a 4.57 at SPARQ. Surtain has talent, undoubtedly, but I’m not convinced he warrants a higher grade than this.

Benjamin St. Juste (CB, Minnesota)
6-3 with great length, St. Juste constantly plays the ball to break-up passes. Amazing feet for his size — he ran a 3.86 short shuttle at SPARQ. Massive potential.

Talanoa Hufanga (S, USC)
He deserves much more attention. Hufanga is an aggressive, downfield, attacking safety who will suit blitzing schemes.


Andre Cisco (S, Syracuse)
A dynamic athlete and playmaker who has a shot to be really good at the next level. Ran a 4.27 short shuttle at SPARQ, adding a 36 inch vertical. Great production.

Trevon Moehrig-Woodard (S, TCU)
A very talented safety who doesn’t wow with his profile or big hits but does everything to a good standard.

Round three

Jalen Twyman (DT, Pittsburgh)
Interior rusher who lacks size (6-2, 290lbs) but he made enough plays in 2019 (10.5 sacks & 12 TFL’s) to show that he can make an impact.

Jay Tufele (DT, USC)
One of many forgotten players in this class after opting out of 2020. Very strong and disruptive, he’s stout against the run and capable of making plays as a pass rusher.

Milton Williams (DE/DT, LA Tech)
Excellent athlete, great quickness working off the edge or kicking inside. Very disruptive. Has a lot of potential.

Dayo Odeyingbo (DE, Vanderbilt)
Fantastic size and length. Can really disrupt as an inside/out rusher. Major potential but recently suffered a serious achilles injury.

Payton Turner (DE, Houston)
Superb balance and does an excellent job dipping and rounding the offensive tackle before straightening to the quarterback. Very interesting.

Jayson Oweh (DE, Penn State)
The stories about his workout potential are well known but the fact is that for all his athletic talent he didn’t make many plays at Penn State. Major project.

Adetokunbo Ogundeji (DE, Notre Dame)
Ideal size and length with the kind of short shuttle at SPARQ (4.21) that will have teams taking notice.

Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama)
Didn’t play as well in 2020 after returning from an ACL injury. The talent’s there and might just need some time.

Joseph Ossai (LB, Texas)
Would be an ideal fit for someone like the Rams to replace Leonard Floyd. Useful 3-4 OLB prospect who can rush the edge and drop when needed.

Nick Bolton (LB, Missouri)
Old-school linebacker who’ll step up and smack you in the face but limited athleticism could mean he lasts into day two.

Justin Hilliard (LB, Ohio State)
His performance against Northwestern was eye-popping. He can cover, he can get around a football field and he can hit.

Kelvin Joseph (CB, Kentucky)
Former LSU recruit who has the size, the agility and the explosive traits you look for. Long speed is a question mark.

Eric Stokes (CB, Georgia)
Good size, ideal length, a really consistent defender and he ran a 4.06 short shuttle at SPARQ.

Ifeatu Melifonwu (CB, Illinois)
Has the NFL bloodlines, good size, probably a great athlete like his brother but more suited to corner.

Jevon Holland (S, Oregon)
Decent player who can play deep coverage and up at the LOS. However, opting out of 2020 took away a chance to show progress (not that the PAC-12 season was much to write home about anyway).

Richie Grant (S, UCF)
Had an exceptional Senior Bowl. Just has a playmaking knack of being around the football to create turnovers.

Richard LeCounte III (S, Georgia)
He never quite lived up to the 5-star billing but the fact is he’s a safety who runs a 4.01 short shuttle and jumps a 37 inch vertical. You can work with that.

Ar’Darius Washington (S, TCU)
He’s tiny but that doesn’t matter as much when you fly around the field, make interceptions and deliver punishing hits like Washington.

Jamie Sherwood (S, Auburn)
Excellent athlete with good size who can cover the slot or deep and is very happy moving up to the LOS to deliver a big tackle.

Round four

Darius Stills (DT, West Virginia)
He might be undersized and he might be limited to a specialist role. However, he had 22.5 TFL’s in 20 starts for WVU, plus 10.5 sacks. NFL bloodlines, he’ll give you everything he has. Tone setter.

Osa Odighizuwa (DT, UCLA)
He might be limited to a sub-package rusher at the next level but at the Senior Bowl he showed plenty of explosion and quickness, so he could be a useful rotational player.

Rashad Weaver (DE, Pittsburgh)
A skilled pass rusher but what’s his best fit? He’s not quite big enough for the five technique but he’s not lean and long like a natural EDGE.

Patrick Jones (DE, Pittsburgh)
He played well in 2020 but his Senior Bowl showing was a massive disappointment and he has short arms (32 inches).

Joshua Kaindoh (DE, Florida State)
Former recruiting star who just looks the part. Yes he’s inconsistent but he bullied tackles at times, can win with quickness and just looks like a NFL pass rusher. The type of player who could be a steal or a titanic bust.

Monty Rice (LB, Georgia)
Very solid linebacker but lacks some of the pizzaz the day-two prospects have at his position.

Chaz Surratt (LB, North Carolina)
Former quarterback who has done a good job transitioning to a totally different role. However, he still needs time and coaching before he becomes a regular starter. I’m not sure he has the athletic profile to justify taking him earlier.

Pete Werner (LB, Ohio State)
He just has a knack for making plays. If you watch any of the front seven Ohio State players, Werner draws your attention. He might not be an amazing athlete but he’ll contribute one way or another.

KJ Britt (LB, Auburn)
Arguably the most impactful defensive player during the Senior Bowl game. Good combination of agility and explosive traits. Praised at Auburn for his work ethic.

Tyson Campbell (CB, Georgia)
Has the size and the speed but lacks agility and doesn’t play the ball well enough.

Ambry Thomas (CB, Michigan)
He competes for the ball and covers well. His short shuttle (3.90) is impressive. He lacks size however and didn’t make a jump in Mobile.

Aaron Robinson (CB, UCF)
He’s fun to watch. Whether he transitions to safety or nickel remains to be seen. His lack of length is a problem if he wants to play outside corner.

Greg Newsome (CB, Northwestern)
He was solid in 2020 but I’m just not sure how much upside he has based on his size and athletic profile.

Keith Taylor (CB, Washington)
Stuck like glue to receivers at the Senior Bowl and gave his stock a nice boost.

Offensive prospects

Round one

Penei Sewell (T, Oregon)
He might be the best player in this draft after Trevor Lawrence.

Ja’marr Chase (WR, LSU)
It feels like a long time ago but Chase was practically unstoppable in 2019.

De’Vonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
He’s sudden and quick, even if he lacks truly incredible long-speed. He’ll dominate on slants. Massive production.

Jaylen Waddle (WR, Alabama)
Good character, elite speed and the type of player NFL teams love to draft early.

Rondale Moore (WR, Purdue)
Moore is explosive, fast and unlike anything else in the NFL. He ran a 4.33 forty, a 4.01 short shuttle and jumped a 43 inch vertical at SPARQ.

Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida)
He was good going into 2020 but he just took his play to an all-new level. He was unstoppable in several games and will be a #1 target for somebody.

Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson)
A born winner. Accurate, athletic, strong, mobile, mature and ready to be a star.

Zach Wilson (QB, BYU)
He improvs well, makes some special throws and has a little magic about his play. May need time to settle into the NFL.

Round two

Walker Little (T, Stanford)
Perfectly sized, great agility and a very capable tackle prospect. Had the best SPARQ score among O-liners in 2017 (107.25). Hasn’t played for two years (ACL tear, opted out).

D’Ante Smith (T, ECU)
He was superb at the Senior Bowl and whether he plays at tackle or guard he has the kind of potential teams crave on the O-line. Amazing length.

Christian Darrisaw (T, Virginia Tech)
Rising offensive lineman who does a good job in the running game moving defenders to create big lanes.

Teven Jenkins (T, Oklahoma State)
Massive tackle who won’t wow you with his footwork or athleticism. He’s just an enormous road-grader.

Alijah Vera-Tucker (G/T, USC)
He’s not a special athlete but my word, his tape is really good. Gets the job done at left tackle. His UCLA tape was a pleasure to watch. Brilliant prospect.

Rashawn Slater (G/T, Northwestern)
Did a good job handling Chase Young in 2019 but I’m not sure he’s a slam-dunk left tackle prospect. If nothing else, he’ll be a decent guard.

Jaylen Mayfield (T, Michigan)
Might not have the length and profile to play tackle but if he kicks inside to guard there’s no reason why he can’t be really good.

Wyatt Davis (G, Ohio State)
He had a very successful career strictly as a right guard. His lack of versatility could limit his stock but if you want a solid right guard for the long haul, Davis is worth a shot. NFL bloodlines, consistent and powerful.

Alex Leatherwood (T, Alabama)
Has tackle size but guard athleticism. If he moves inside he could be great. I’m not sure he has the kick-slide or agility to stick at tackle.

Josh Myers (C, Ohio State)
Incredibly consistent, tough and very athletic center with a long career ahead of him. He ran a 4.49 short shuttle at 310lbs which is outstanding.

Landon Dickerson (C, Alabama)
A heart-and-soul player who was much loved at Alabama. Incredibly talented and powerful. Scored 100.05 at SPARQ. However, he’s had consistent injuries throughout his career and is recovering from an ACL tear.

Elijah Moore (WR, Ole Miss)
Strong for his size and capable of going up to get the football — Moore is an ideal slot receiver but he can be so much more than that too.

Kadarius Toney (WR, Florida)
He’s a big favourite in the media but here’s something to consider — he ran a 4.69 at SPARQ at 177lbs. Was it just a bad run? He did jump a 41 inch vertical.

D’Wayne Eskridge (WR, Western Michigan)
Explosive, lightning quick, a threat every time he has the football, makes difficult catches, return specialist — a pure playmaker.

Cade Johnson (WR, South Dakota State)
Dominated the Senior Bowl with dynamic breaks, great routes and superb catching technique. Highly impressive individual. He is a mirror image of Tyler Lockett.

Pat Freiermuth (TE, Penn State)
The ‘Baby Gronk’ nickname is warranted. Superb body control and size when making catches. Runs over defenders. Runs a 4.44 short shuttle.

Brevin Jordan (TE, Miami)
Ultra-dynamic pass-catching tight end who ran a sensational 4.21 short shuttle at 250lbs at SPARQ. Seems to have a good personality, will fit in well at the next level.

Javonte Williams (RB, North Carolina)
PFF gave him a 95.9 rushing grade — the highest of the 2020 season and the best they’ve ever recorded at the running back position. He ranked #1 in the NCAA for broken tackle rate (46.5%). He’s a Seahawks-style runner and frankly, a terrific player.

Najee Harris (RB, Alabama)
Gliding, cultured runner who somehow combines power and finesse. Very talented and productive. Won’t fit every scheme as his cuts are sometimes laboured. Ran a 4.16 short shuttle at SPARQ. Not overly explosive.

Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson)
I think he had a ‘meh’ 2020 season but his profile is incredible. Jumped a 37 inch vertical at SPARQ and ran a 4.43. Finally offered something as a receiver in 2020.

Trey Lance (QB, North Dakota State)
Big, strong and athletic. Runs with toughness. Can drive the ball downfield. Minimal starts though and he struggled in his one 2020 game.

Justin Fields (QB, Ohio State)
Mobile, strong and well sized but he struggles to go through progressions, locks on to targets and he had a couple of really bad picks in 2020.

Mac Jones (QB, Alabama)
In an offense that relies on getting the ball out on time and playing within the system, he could be superb. I think he’d be a great fit for the Niners.

Davis Mills (QB Stanford)
He’s tall, accurate, has just enough mobility and he throws with timing. However, only 10 college starts are a concern. I think teams will like him more than the media.

Round three

Dillon Radunz (T, North Dakota State)
He had a good Senior Bowl but there are a couple of technique issues and he might have a limited physical profile. I think he’d make a really good guard.

Liam Eichenberg (T, Notre Dame)
Probably not a left tackle but plays with strength and consistency and could find a home working inside.

Ben Cleveland (G, Georgia)
A player I would pound the table for (as Mike Mayock would say). Incredible power and underrated athleticism. Built like ‘the Mountain’ from Game of Thrones. Took the will from Auburn’s D-line last season. If you want to hammer people up front, draft him.

Aaron Banks (G, Notre Dame)
Massive guard prospect who isn’t the same level of explosive athlete as others in this class but he can be a people mover up front.

Trey Smith (G, Tennessee)
Despite all the high expectations as a former high recruit, Smith’s career at Tennessee was a mix of disappointing tape and health concerns. However, he has the frame and upside that will still intrigue some teams.

Quinn Meinerz (C, UWW)
One of the stars of the Senior Bowl. Meinerz looks like he was born to play center but he has experience at left guard. He’s tough, athletic and explosive.

Creed Humphrey (C, Oklahoma)
He’s great on combo-blocks, he plays with attitude but he has short arms, he fights to get his hand-placement right and he might just last a bit longer than some think.

Rashon Bateman (WR, Minnesota)
Bateman was prolific in 2019 but in the few games he played in 2020 he just looked off. He caught everything a year ago but how much athletic upside does he have?

Tylan Wallace (WR, Oklahoma State)
Savvy receiver. What he lacks in elite long-speed he makes up with intelligent routes, subtle separation and a competitive edge.

Terrace Marshall JR (WR, LSU)
Drops have been an issue at times but he works across the middle well, he was pretty much the only bright spark on LSU’s offense in 2020 and he has a shot at the next level as a solid #2.

Tutu Atwell (WR, Louisville)
Despite his diminutive size, he’s highly explosive and electric with the ball in hand. Excels on deep shots and sweeps.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, USC)
Classy receiver who oozes fluidity in his routes. Silky smooth with good bloodlines. He only ran a 4.67 at SPARQ though.

Nico Collins (WR, Michigan)
Collins’ body control, particularly in contested-catch situations and the red zone, is superb. Does he have the speed to create easy separation though?

Dyami Brown (WR, North Carolina)
Looks effortless getting in and out of his breaks, settles into holes in the coverage well, enough speed to challenge defenders. Very solid.

Jaelon Darden (WR, North Texas)
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a receiver juke tacklers like Darden. His footwork is reminiscent of a Justin Timberlake music video.

Amari Rodgers (WR, Clemson)
Thick, explosive lower body with the 4.4 speed to get downfield. He showed up at the Senior Bowl, making two big red zone plays in the game.

Kenny Yeboah (TE, Ole Miss)
Mismatch weapon who attacks seams with authority, makes big plays at every level and can be thrown to when he’s not open. Excelled against Alabama.

Kenneth Gainwell (RB, Memphis)
My jaw dropped watching him run routes and catch passes. He vacuums the football into his mitts. He’s a dynamic, jinking runner. The only downside is size. As a role-player in the right offense though, he could be a X-factor.

Khalil Herbert (RB, Virginia Tech)
Give him some space and he’ll break off a huge run. Very quick, very dynamic and explosive. Rounds off his cuts but I don’t think it matters because he’s so patient and clinical.

Javian Hawkins (RB, Louisville)
He’s tiny and that’s a problem but he runs a 4.36 forty, a 3.95 short shuttle and he jumps a 41 inch vertical. He can hit home runs.

Kellen Mond (QB, Texas A&M)
He’s not that far behind the other quarterbacks. He’s learnt to throw under pressure. He has a great arm. I thought he performed well in two-minute and red zone drills at the Senior Bowl. He could be a Dak Prescott ‘how did he last that long?’ type prospect.

Round four

Sam Cosmi (T, Texas)
Has the size and the profile but his technique’s all over the place. Leans into defenders, too hesitant to get his hands in there and beat someone up. Passive.

Jackson Carman (G, Clemson)
I don’t think he can stay at left tackle at the next level and for me he’s better off transitioning to an accomplished and well-sized guard.

Michal Menet (C, Penn State)
He doesn’t necessarily beat anyone up in the trenches but he’s very consistent, rarely gets into trouble and can hold his own.

Seth Williams (WR, Auburn)
At times he was the best thing about Auburn in 2020. Yet he finished the season like he couldn’t be bothered and Jaycee Horn had him on toast vs South Carolina.

Marquez Stevenson (WR, Houston)
Elite speed and just needs some refinement. Might take a bit of time but has the tools to play at the next level.

Tommy Tremble (TE, Notre Dame)
A run-blocking terror who could be the next Kyle Juszczyk if teams want to shift him to full back. With a 4.20 short shuttle I’d keep him at tight end.

Tre McKitty (TE, Georgia)
He’s not quick but he has 11 inch hands that swallow the football. Good blocker, reliable catcher. Made two glorious one-handed grabs at the Senior Bowl. Ran a 4.13 short shuttle at 240lbs.

Hunter Long (TE, Boston College)
He just made plays. In the right offense he can be a chain-moving dynamo on third down but he’s capable of big plays too. There’s something to work with here.

Michael Carter (RB, North Carolina)
He’s undersized but he just gets after it. The way he and Javonte Williams combined, you almost want to see it again at the next level. He plays bigger than he is.

Trey Sermon (RB, Ohio State)
He’s never quite been able to show any long term consistency at Oklahoma or Ohio State. He’s high-cut but he is explosive (35 inch vertical) and agile (4.27).

Larry Rountree (RB, Missouri)
There’s nothing overly spectacular that stands out but he’s well sized, explosive enough and he can contribute in the passing game.

Jermar Jefferson (RB, Oregon State)
I like him. He gets up to speed quickly and he has some suddenness which enables him to attack gaps or get outside. Can run through contact. There’s something there. Might not have the size to carry the load as RB1 but could be part of a tandem.

Kylin Hill (RB, Mississippi State)
He works through contact well, he’s a good size and he can play a role. I don’t necessarily see a lead-back but he could work nicely as a #2.

Chris Evans (RB, Michigan)
It’s not that long ago that Evans was seen as a hot prospect. Michigan fans will tell you his college career was a big disappointment. However, he’s explosive (36 inch vertical) and agile (4.18 short shuttle) and someone will roll the dice on his potential.

In the coming days you’re going to get a lot of audio content. I have interviews with Benjamin St. Juste, Cade Johnson and Darius Stills recorded. I also have an interview set up with Tommy Togiai.

On Wednesday I will also be recording a podcast with Corbin Smith, discussing our separate off-season plans for the Seahawks.

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