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Traits aren’t everything but they do matter.

The concept of ‘just picking good players’ is a rhetoric that doesn’t befit a sport that emphasises physicality and speed perhaps more than any other.

Furthermore, the techniques and nuances for college football are far away from what you can expect at the next level. A ‘good’ player in college doesn’t necessarily translate to a ‘good’ player in the NFL. Even if they can be coached and developed, limitations will nearly always be exposed.

With limited draft stock in 2021 and no pick until the late second round (as things stand) the Seahawks will need to be on the ball to deliver impact from this class.

I’ve mentioned this before but I think the objective has to be to shoot for high upside in order to acquire someone with the potential to be great.

Any player available in the late second round with an amazing physical profile is going to have some question marks. Yet there’s an opportunity within that range to make a half-court shot.

D.K. Metcalf is the prime example. He fell not so much for the well-publicised three-cone time but probably more for the fact he nearly had to retire during the 2018 season due to a serious neck injury. Either way he was there and in a re-draft, he’s probably the third overall pick not the #64 pick.

The Seahawks equally had great success drafting Frank Clark in the late second round. He fell for very different reasons but had a top-10 physical profile and played to that level once he developed into a starter.

There have been misses too and that’s simply part of the draft. Christine Michael is the most explosive and agile running back to enter the NFL in a generation. He had star traits but couldn’t ever put it together.

Here’s the thing though — you can live with occasional Christine Michael if the upside is you end up with players such as Metcalf and Clark.

Seeking players with outstanding physical traits has worked well for the Seahawks in the second and third round. Bobby Wagner, Golden Tate, Russell Wilson, Tyler Lockett, Justin Britt and Damien Lewis are other examples. All tested very well.

The Kansas City Chiefs built their Super Bowl roster off the back of amazing upside. Not every pick, signing or trade has worked for them — but look at their recent early round draft picks. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Willie Gay Jr, Mecole Hardman, Juan Thornhill, Breeland Speaks, Patrick Mahomes, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Chris Jones. It’s a who’s who of every star tester, high-upside talent or five-star recruit.

They traded for Frank Clark, another incredible athlete, signed Sammy Watkins (at great expense) and signed big new deals for Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.

They are basically the fastest, most explosive team in the league. Yes — they reached the pinnacle because of Mahomes. He too was loaded with traits and he’s surrounded by athletic stars.

With that in mind I wanted to note down some possible targets for the 2021 draft who possess high-upside and major physical potential.

The combine will reveal a lot of information, as always. For now we have to work with what little info is available. I’ve not included obvious first round picks. These are players being projected in a region where they might be available to the Seahawks (although it’s still early days) either in round two or perhaps even later.

Haskell Garrett (DT, Ohio State)
I only watched Garrett this week but was incredibly impressed with his quickness, hand-use and power. It was even more impressive given he was shot in the face a few weeks ago and made a miraculous return to the football field. He ran a 4.41 short shuttle at SPARQ at 298lbs which is an outstanding time and he added a 5.13 forty. His stock is difficult to project, especially after the shooting, but he’s highly talented and definitely a player to monitor.

Ambry Thomas (CB, Michigan)
Thomas opted out of the 2020 college season and Michican are missing him badly. He has reasonable size (6-0, 185lbs) but his athletic profile is sensational. He ran a 4.43 at SPARQ, a 3.90 short shuttle and jumped a 36 inch vertical. He had three interceptions last season and plays with great instinct and toughness. Thomas is immensely talented and with a strong combine, could vault up many boards.

Tutu Atwell (WR, Louisville)
Atwell is tiny (listed at just 5-9, 165lbs) and that is a concern. So too will be his limited catching radius. However, he has tremendous production (21 career TD’s) and his physical profile is incredible. He’s reportedly achieved a 4.26 forty, a 3.90 short shuttle and he can squat around 600lbs. Paul Richardson was only 175lbs at the combine in 2014 and the Seahawks took him in round two. Atwell could be the kind of dynamic speedster this offense craves.

Baron Browning (LB, Ohio State)
It will be stunning if the Seahawks spend another high pick on a linebacker but I had to include Browning on this list. At SPARQ he ran a fantastic 4.18 short shuttle. The Seahawks historically put a high value on that drill for the linebacker position. He also jumped a 37.5 inch vertical, ran a 4.56 forty and managed a total score of 131.91 — the most by any player at his position in 2017. He’s a freakish athlete with the tape to match. Don’t be shocked if he works into the first round.

Andre Cisco (S, Syracuse)
Unless the Seahawks make a big move (such as trading Jamal Adams) they’re unlikely to be in the market for a safety either. However, Cisco is a fantastic playmaker with a terrific physical profile. He has nine interceptions at Syracuse. He’s been timed in the 4.3 range for the forty, the 4.1 range in the short shuttle and he jumped a 36 inch vertical at SPARQ. He suffered a lower leg injury this season which could impact his stock.

Alim McNeil (DT, NC State)
When it comes to freskish physical profiles, McNeil has to be near the top of the list. At SPARQ he ran a 4.27 short shuttle — a time most defensive backs would be satisfied with — at over 270lbs. He’s since grown to 320lbs and yet he’s carrying minimal bad weight. He also ran a 4.94 forty and jumped a 34 inch vertical. Explosive, quick and agile — McNeil can also control blocks as a nose tackle and made headlines for a remarkable ‘big man’ pick-six earlier this season.

Jaelen Phillips (DE, Miami)
Phillips was once a storied recruit chased by every big team in college football. He opted to stay in California and picked UCLA. His time with the Bruins was dogged by concussion issues and at one point retirement seemed possible. However, instead he transferred to Miami and he’s having an outstanding season with five sacks in eight games and 10.5 TFL’s. He recorded an 111.18 score via SPARQ and has flashed five-star recruiting talent for Miami this year.

Xavier Thomas (DE, Clemson)
It’s been a bit of an underwhelming season for Thomas so far with only three sacks. Tipped by many to be the next big-name Clemson D-line prospect, he hasn’t really elevated his name into one of the stars of college football. Even so, his physical talent is undeniable. He ran a 4.30 short shuttle at 270lbs at SPARQ and added a 4.58 forty and a 33 inch vertical. He was the top defensive lineman who tested. There’s a lot of untapped potential here although I wonder about his length and ability to stay clean when taking on blocks.

Walker Little (T, Stanford)
It’s hard to gauge Little’s stock. A knee injury ended his 2019 season prematurely. He opted not to declare for the 2020 draft but then did opt out of the 2020 college football season. Where is he at physically? He has amazing size (6-7, +300lbs) and he was the top SPARQ tester on the O-line in 2017 with a remarkable short shuttle of 4.40. The injury and absence could force him down boards (although teams are always willing to take a chance on a good left tackle).

Tyson Campbell (CB, Georgia)
He’s tall (6-3), long and has the frame of a Seahawks cornerback. He also ran a 4.47 at SPARQ and jumped a 33-inch vertical. His short shuttle of 4.51, however, is very disappointing and he’d need to test better in that drill. Campbell doesn’t play aggressively enough in coverage and he gives up too many easy passes. Yet the physical potential and upside is there — especially if he improves in the agility testing.

Marvin Wilson (DT, Florida State)
Another former five-star recruit who had an amazing SPARQ session. At 6-4 and 330lbs he ran a 5.17 forty and a 4.56 short shuttle. That is frankly unbelievable agility for a man of that size. At Florida State he’s flashed talent, an ability to play inside and at the five technique and he was in better shape this year before an injury ended his season. However, conditioning will be a concern for teams.

Jake Ferguson (TE, Wisconsin)
Ferguson has always been a good blocker and a typical Wisconsin tight end. However — this season he’s also become their top target in the passing game, with 181 receiving yards and four touchdowns in three games. A former four-star recruit, Ferguson ran a blistering 4.15 short shuttle and jumped a 34.5 inch vertical at SPARQ. Virtually all of the top TE’s in the league did well in the agility testing.

Javian Hawkins (RB, Louisville)
I don’t think he runs in a ‘Seahawks style’. He’s not a tone-setter who gets the hard yards. He’s also out of their size bracket at 5-9 and 200lbs. However, I wanted to include him here due to his testing and production. He has 822 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns in eight games this season with a 6.2 YPC average. He ran a 4.36 forty at SPARQ, a 3.95 short shuttle and jumped a 41 inch vertical. He is extremely fast, explosive and talented. He’s just undersized.

Aaron Banks (G, Notre Dame)
This one is more about what I’ve seen on tape. He’s 6-6 and 330lbs and he absolutely dominates at the LOS. Power, strength and control. Based on his SPARQ testing I wouldn’t expect an amazing combine performance. However, to me he looks like the ideal candidate to play left guard for Seattle. Since Mike Solari came in they’ve preferred hulking monsters to play on the left side. Banks fits the bill perfectly.

Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Michigan)
He’s just suffered a fractured leg that could keep him out of action until April. He might be able to fit in a pre-draft workout if he opts to declare. He could also return to Michigan. However, there’s enough on tape already to think Hutchinson could be a star with the right kind of support. He’s brilliantly put together and can play inside/out with ease. He wins with quickness and power. He’s around 6-6 tall with great length and he ran a 4.47 short shuttle at SPARQ. If he goes pro and the injury limits his stock, he could be a steal for someone.

Kyler Gordon (CB, Washington)
I watched Gordon earlier this week and I think if he stays at Washington for next year, he could be a first round lock in 2022. He is incredible. However, who knows how players will feel about turning pro after this unpredictable year? He’s capable of a 42.5 inch vertical and a 6.52 three cone. Gordon, as with Elijah Molden, has unbelievable potential but he’s young and needs time to develop. They could both be NFL stars and possess the perfect blend of talent, instinct and physical upside.

I would’ve loved to have included Penn State running back Journey Brown on this list. He’s incredibly talented, capable of running in the 4.3’s, he’s explosive and he finishes runs. Unfortunately he recently had to retire from football due to a heart condition.

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Scoopage: NFL reinstating Josh Gordon from suspension, eligible to return for last 2 games @@NFLONFOX

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 3, 2020

This basically means Gordon has served a year-long suspension. The NFL’s thought-process has been unclear on this issue. At least there appears to be some clarity at last, with the news that he will soon return.

He was originally suspended on December 16th last year. If he’s able to return on the same date this year, that would be four days before the Washington game. Presumably the need to go through Covid testing is why Jay Glazer is reporting he will return for the last two games only — because four days won’t be enough to gain clearance.

The NFL has since released a statement discussing a set of events for Gordon’s return. Although they note he can go through Covid testing tomorrow — basically everything is set up for him to safely commence practising after the Washington game on the 21st December.

The dates might be a coincidence but I doubt it.

It’s pretty clear the Seahawks could really benefit from a third dynamic receiving option. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are both performing at a high level and the other receivers have been able to chip-in. However — the ability to line up a third weapon that a defense really has to plan for is a tantalising prospect. It makes life even more difficult for an opponent.

With Gordon slated to return for the Rams game — it’ll also make it harder for LA to put Jalen Ramsey on D.K. Metcalf and then just match-up everyone else. If they have to account for Lockett and Gordon too — that’s a big challenge.

The Seahawks have also struggled to convert third downs this year. Gordon had a positive impact in that regard last season, especially in the dramatic win against San Francisco.

You need a lot of weapons in the modern NFL. Kansas City are proving that. It’s why I’ve said a few times it’s regrettable that the Seahawks didn’t take full advantage of two fantastic receiver drafts in 2019 and 2020. Yes they landed Metcalf, a genuine NFL star, but look at some of the other names who were also available (and players we talked about a lot as viable targets). They had a chance to acquire cheap, brilliant skill players for Russell Wilson for the key years of his prime.

Nevertheless, Gordon now has a chance to fill the void for the two most important remaining games of the season and a playoff run. It’s a big test for him to come in and contribute from the cold. He also needs to make sure he remains available.

This is great opportunity for him and a big boost for the Seahawks.

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Robbie and I look ahead to this weekends game. Please like the video on YouTube if you get a chance and help spread the word.

I’m not sure how often I’ll keep updating these. I wanted to do a new one this week because I’ve had a chance to spend some time looking at new players.

From the Seahawks perspective it’s practically impossible to make a convincing case for anyone at the end of round two. We won’t have a firm grasp of possible options until probably the combine.

They’ll be picking in the late 50’s or early 60’s and with only three picks — will probably trade down.

That said, I do think we can somewhat project how the Seahawks might approach this situation. You can’t wait until the late second or early third round to address a key need. Their first pick in the draft, provided they don’t acquire earlier stock between now and April, is probably going to be spent on a player with upside.

They’ll want to come out of this class with someone with at least first round traits. We’ve seen it in the past. They didn’t have a first round pick in 2013 or 2015 either. When they finally picked, they took Christine Michael and Frank Clark.

Neither player filled a vital need but both had extreme athletic qualities. It’s not an exaggeration to say they’re two of the best combine testers in the last 10 years at any position.

The Seahawks have sought high upside in this range a few times. Golden Tate, Bobby Wagner, Justin Britt, Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and Darrell Taylor all had a physical profile that created a high ceiling.

We don’t have enough information to consider who could be a similar candidate in 2021 and we won’t have any details for months other than the SPARQ testing numbers.

Until then, I’m probably going to continue to project high-upside prospects to Seattle at a variety of positions. I think a lot of their key needs are going to have to be solved in what will likely be the most unpredictable free agency period in NFL history. Thus, the draft could end up being an opportunity to take a half-court shot on someone with a high ceiling.

Players who last into the late second with great physical profiles always have some kind of issue that concerns teams. In the first mock I gave Seattle incredible five-star recruit Jaelen Phillips (who has a history of concussions) and this week I’m giving them a Florida State defender who has battled injuries and inconsistent play.

First round

#1 New York Jets — Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson)
#2 Jacksonville — Justin Fields (QB, Ohio State)
#3 Cincinnati — Penei Sewell (T, Oregon)
#4 Dallas — Shaun Wade (CB, Ohio State)
#5 LA Chargers — Ja’Marr Chase (WR, LSU)
#6 Philadelphia — Micah Parsons (LB, Penn State)
#7 Carolina — Zach Wilson (QB, BYU)
#8 Washington — Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida)
#9 Detroit — Dayo Odeyingbo (DE, Vanderbilt)
#10 Atlanta — Gregory Rousseau (DE, Miami)
#11 Miami (v/HOU) — Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB, Notre Dame)
#12 Denver — Trey Lance (QB, North Dakota State)
#13 Minnesota — Patrick Surtain II (CB, Alabama)
#14 Chicago — DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
#15 New England — Rondale Moore (WR, Purdue)
#16 San Francisco — Elijah Molden (CB, Washington)
#17 Las Vegas — Patrick Jones (DE, Pittsburgh)
#18 Baltimore — Josh Myers (C, Ohio State)
#19 New York Giants — Rasheed Walker (T, Penn State)
#20 Arizona — Jaycee Horn (CB, South Carolina)
#21 Tampa Bay — Walker Little (T, Stanford)
#22 Miami — Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson)
#23 Indianapolis — Kwity Paye (DE, Michigan)
#24 Cleveland — Azeez Ojulari (DE, Georgia)
#25 Jacksonville (v/LAR) — Jaylen Waddle (WR, Alabama)
#26 New York Jets (v/SEA) — Alex Leatherwood (T, Alabama)
#27 Tennessee — Caleb Farley (CB, Virginia Tech)
#28 Buffalo — Pat Freiermuth (TE, Penn State)
#29 Green Bay — Baron Browning (LB, Ohio State)
#30 Kansas City — Ronnie Perkins (DE, Oklahoma)
#31 New Orleans — Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama)
#32 Pittsburgh — Zaven Collins (LB, Tulsa)

Second round

#33 New York Jets — Najee Harris (RB, Alabama)
#34 Jacksonville — Christian Darrisaw (T, Virginia Tech)
#35 Cincinnati — Rashawn Slater (G, Northwestern)
#36 LA Chargers — Wyatt Davis (G, Ohio State)
#37 Dallas — Andre Cisco (S, Syracuse)
#38 Philadelphia — Carlos Basham (DE, Wake Forest)
#39 Carolina — Obinna Eze (T, Memphis)
#40 Detroit — Rashod Bateman (WR, Minnesota)
#41 Atlanta — Jevon Holland (S, Oregon)
#42 Miami — Tylan Wallace (WR, Oklahoma State)
#43 Denver — Monty Rice (LB, Georgia)
#44 Washington — Ambry Thomas (CB, Michigan)
#45 Chicago — Alim McNeill (DT, NC State)
#46 New England — Davis Mills (QB, Stanford)
#47 San Francisco — Aaron Banks (G, Notre Dame)
#48 Jacksonville (v/MIN) — Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia)
#49 Las Vegas — Jaylen Twyman (DT, Pittsburgh)
#50 Baltimore — Terrace Marshall Jr (WR, LSU)
#51 New York Giants — Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, USC)
#52 Arizona — Jake Ferguson (TE, Wisconsin)
#53 Tampa Bay — Paris Ford (S, Pittsburgh)
#54 Indianapolis — Jaelen Phillips (DE, Miami)
#55 Miami — Jalen Mayfield (T, Michigan)
#56 Cleveland — Jay Tufele (DT, USC)
#57 LA Rams — Nick Bolton (LB, Missouri)
#58 Seattle — Marvin Wilson (DT, Florida State)
#59 Buffalo — Joseph Ossai (LB, Texas)
#60 Tennessee — Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State)
#61 Green Bay — Tyson Campbell (CB, Georgia)
#62 Kansas City — Tutu Atwell (WR, Louisville)
#63 New Orleans — Nico Collins (WR, Michigan)
#64 Pittsburgh — Javian Hawkins (RB, Louisville)

Thoughts on Seattle’s pick

Marvin Wilson is often talked up by the draft media — mainly because he’s been highly touted for so long and you see a lot of group think with certain names. The reality is he hasn’t played well enough to warrant some of the lofty projections on the internet and it won’t be a surprise if he lasts into the middle rounds.

However — there are also reasons why a team like Seattle might take a chance on him.

He’s a former five-star recruit (#4 overall in 2017 per ESPN) with a fascinating physical profile. At SPARQ he was listed at 6-4 and 332lbs (in High School!) and yet he ran an incredible 4.56 short shuttle and a 5.17 forty.

That kind of agility at his size is rare. He has a profile that is heaven sent in terms of physical talent.

Wilson is also known as a vocal leader and was voted a captain at Florida State. He’s already accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl and he’ll have a chance during 1v1’s to create an impression and elevate his stock.

It would make sense for the Seahawks to consider the future at defensive tackle. Jarran Reed is a free agent after the 2021 season and Poona Ford will play as a restricted free agent next year before also reaching the market (unless either receives an extension).

Drafting someone in April would enable them to get ahead of the game and provide options for the future.

The second round could be a good range for defensive tackles too. In my mock I’ve got the sensational athlete Alim McNeil, dynamic three-technique Jaylen Twyman, nose tackle Jordan Davis and USC’s powerful Jay Tufele listed.

I wrote about Wilson back in May in one of my draft preview pieces. Here are some of the negatives from the tape:

For starters he’s tall (6-5). When you’re playing exclusively inside at that size you’ve got to master leverage. Too often he plays upright and his pad level means he cedes leverage. He doesn’t control double teams in the way Raekwon Davis did at Alabama. He can get jolted backwards and the very least you expect from a player with this build is to be stout at the POA.

His gap discipline isn’t always great either. That can be blamed on scheme and coaching. You have to commit to it. At Alabama they do (as they do in Seattle). Other teams are happy to play free and fancy — to attack and try to find gaps rather than handling your business. Still, this isn’t something you can assume will be better at the next level.

And here are the positives:

There are great flashes. Despite missing the final month of last season he still managed 8.5 TFL’s and five sacks at defensive tackle. His 2019 pass rush win percentage was 16.8%. Only Javon Kinlaw and Jordan Elliott scored higher marks. He also broke up four passes, forced a fumble and added a couple of hurries too.

He’s so quick and when he times his get-off he explodes into the backfield. He’s not just a straight-line runner either. He can shake off blockers and he’s incredibly agile with quick feet for his size.

Wilson isn’t a slouch when it comes to power either. You see evidence of heavy hands and an impressive jolt when he connects. He can create room to work with initial contact and once he separates from a blocker he has the quickness and agility to work into the backfield.

I’ve not seen any problems with his motor which was something I looked for given the way Florida State’s last couple of seasons went. He’s smart enough to jump and tip a pass if his initial rush stalls.

One other thing I noticed from his 2020 tape was how often Miami lined him up at the five technique. He’s down to 311lbs and there’s a relatively decent chance he’s even quicker than he was during SPARQ testing. He does a better than expected job handling those duties and it really shows off his athletic potential.

He moves around the field well and works to try and get into the backfield. He wastes too much time hand-fighting from the interior which is a concern and it might be one of the reasons why FSU moved him to the 5T. Is he simply better attacking gaps from an advantageous starting position? Or can he play stout from the interior, handle two blockers, one-gap and still rip/swim or control?

These are all questions he can help answer at the Senior Bowl.

If you missed yesterday’s piece on why I think Richard Sherman should be brought home to Seattle, click here.

Here’s the link to yesterday’s instant reaction piece.

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Approaching a four-game run against the NFC East and the lowly Jets — only two things mattered. Winning and staying as healthy as possible.

This was far from a memorable performance but it doesn’t matter. At this point, the victory is enough.

The two main highlights are clear.

The defense, after weeks of toil, have a formula now to force sacks. Carlos Dunlap has elevated the performance of the pass rush tremendously and you can see other players answering the call. So many people were active up front — the defensive tackles and Rasheem Green in particular.

The blitz is now a complement rather than a desperation policy to create ‘any’ pressure. The whole defense looks better as a consequence.

It’s reaching the minimal level they needed to find. There are still a few too many third down conversions and missed tackles. The Hail Mary at the end was mildly irritating and very ‘Seahawks’. There’s still a lot of work to do.

The unit wasn’t at all an embarrassment though, like it was earlier in the season.

That’s progress.

The opponent was rancid too. They are a three-win team after all. It shouldn’t get any trickier against Colt McCoy next week. Building momentum is important for this unit though. They need belief. They need to feel and experience success. They need to connect. We’ve seen some of that recently.

I also think as a consequence the two old war horses are looking so much better. Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright are looking superb again. That’s the beauty of a better D-line too.

The other great positive was D.K. Metcalf. The Seahawks fed him the ball and he flashed the kind of qualities — against a really good cornerback in Darius Slay — that legitimately place him among the NFL’s best.

His ability to get downfield at his size is remarkable. Yes — he will have some drops. The one in the end zone tonight was pretty frustrating. However, you can live with it on a 177-yard night. He now leads the NFL in receiving yards and it feels like there’s more to come.

Praise is long overdue in an instant reaction post for the kicker Jason Myers — who again nailed all of his kicks. He is having a terrific season, as is the entire special teams unit.

The game was unnecessarily close thanks to a cluster of errors.

The playcalling on the two early fourthdown’s was suspect. A tricky play to a clearly not 100% David Moore and a play that relied on a pick to open up the only target on the design was a disappointing selection.

Overall the offense seemed a bit off aside from Metcalf. Everything felt ordinary and predictable today — Wilson, the running game. Thank goodness for big #14.

Metcalf had the drop that could’ve finished things earlier but a great Carlos Hyde touchdown was also called back on an unnecessary hold by Cedric Ogbuehi.

Third downs continue to be a problem. The Seahawks were just 2-10 on offense and gave up 8-17 on defense.

Thankfully the opponent took a full half to get going and towards the end, when it made perfect sense to kick a field goal to make it a one-score game, the Eagles sent out Carson Wentz to throw a horrendous interception.

The Seahawks will have to play a lot better than this in the tougher games ahead but it’s worth saying again — the key in this game and the next three is to win and survive injuries to set up the NFC West double header to end the regular season.

If you missed my article on Richard Sherman earlier, you can read it here.

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Maybe the relationship is permanently broken?

Perhaps this article is a total waste of time?

Certainly when Richard Sherman departed Seattle, it felt right for both parties.

The sideline blowup when Darrell Bevell chose to throw at the one-yard line. The articles littered with critical anonymous sources, talking of dysfunction. Threatening to ‘ruin’ a journalist’s career for asking a fair question.

By the end, Sherman seemed angry and disillusioned. Perhaps justifiably so? The Seahawks had a legendary team and failed to capitalise with titles. The crushing defeat to New England was always going to leave scars.

Yet at the same time, s**t happens. The Seahawks shouldn’t have let that one horrible moment define them. Instead of being a great motivating factor, it appeared to split the team. They still battled and fought and tried to reach the pinnacle once more. Yet whenever things started to go wrong, the old wounds reopened.

The reset at the end of 2017 was necessary. The Seahawks needed a fresh start with new personnel. Players like Sherman also, arguably, needed a fresh start too. A move to a division rival was right up his street. Just as the presence of Jim Harbaugh was beautiful motivation early in his career, now an opportunity to sock it to Seattle was equally appealing.

The move paid off and he came close to another Super Bowl ring.

Ultimately though, I wonder if that defeat to Kansas City was an epiphany moment. You can plan and prepare and execute. You can put yourself in a position to win. Sometimes, you just don’t.

The images that more or less defined Kansas City’s comeback were of Sherman getting beat by Sammy Watkins or face-planting as Damien Williams clinched a go-ahead score.

Anyone can make mistakes. Sherman wasn’t to blame for that loss, just as Bevell or Russell Wilson or Pete Carroll didn’t deserve total blame for one heartbreaking moment in a game where Seattle carried a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter and were the walking wounded by the end.

I don’t know if the Super Bowl earlier this year delivered an epiphany. Maybe it could be the catalyst for a come-together moment in the future?

Here’s what I think I do know, however…

One, Sherman is still a hell of a player. He returned from injury against the Rams and the 49ers defense immediately felt different. He was tight in coverage throughout. He made plays against the run. It was classic Sherman and he gained a PFF grade of 80.4 as the Niners upset LA.

Secondly — Sherman will always be synonymous with Seattle. This spell in Santa Clara is a mere footnote in a long, detailed tome. A statue of ‘the tip’ should still be built. When he enters the Hall of Fame, it’ll be a moment celebrated by the entire Pacific Northwest and he will do so as a Seahawks legend.

I think it’s clear he still has affection for the city. This is Richard’s team. We all know it really.

Many relationships are still firmly in tact. Look at this embrace between Sherman and Bobby Wagner on the night Seattle beat the Niners:

Here’s Russell Wilson with Sherman after the same game:

Here’s Sherman working out with several Seahawks during the off-season:

Here’s some more photos of DK Metcalf, Richard Sherman, Josh Gordon and Bobby Wagner all training together pic.twitter.com/4ZnkPA8h6b

— Vountee🐢🇲🇽 (@vountee) May 21, 2020

The one relationship that matters the most though, is Sherman and Pete Carroll. I think it’s clear that Carroll felt hurt by the way it ended with Sherman. I think it was sadness rather than anguish though. This is very different to the Earl Thomas situation.

I also wonder if Sherman will ever forgive Carroll for cutting him and moving on — especially as he was injured at the time. It might’ve been right for the Head Coach but that doesn’t mean it was necessarily right in the eyes of Richard. When trust is broken, it’s hard to get it back.

This image suggests, to me, it’s not an irreparable situation:

Sherman or Carroll might think the past is the past and it’s time to move on. I hope, however, that the pair can see the mutual benefit of a reunion.

The Seahawks are facing a bleak situation at cornerback in 2021. Shaquill Griffin, who hasn’t played especially well this year, is a free agent. The Seahawks should be prepared for him to depart if the price is too high. Quinton Dunbar feels like a one-and-done. The only other cornerbacks on the roster are Tre Flowers and D.J. Reed.

They only have three draft picks. Signing outsiders for this system simply hasn’t worked over the years and the well has run dry in terms of development.

The Seahawks need a proven, experienced, quality cornerback. There is simply no one better than Sherman for that role.

It’s a clear solution to a huge looming problem. It would also be a moment to cherish for the team, the player and the fans.

He would provide expert cover skills, knowledge, leadership, guidance and perhaps most importantly — toughness and turnovers.

You might point to his injury record (he’s missed most of this season). It is what it is. Players get hurt. Dunbar and Griffin are a good example this year. The simple fact is you’re not going to find anyone better to come in and produce immediately at the cornerback position for this defense.

What’s in it for Sherman? The chance to come home. The opportunity to address, as Marshawn Lynch put it, ‘unfinished business’.

Beast Mode came back. It’s time for the man who delivered the most iconic moment in Seattle sports to do the same. Be the hero again. Rekindle the legend.

There’s every chance San Francisco will work to re-sign him. I’d be surprised if they didn’t. They’re in a similar situation at the cornerback position.

I’m not one for encouraging illegal acts but maybe, just maybe, it’d pay off to somehow get the message through the back channels to Sherman that Seattle seriously wants him back. Place the possibility of a homecoming in his mind. It might just get him onto the open market where you can talk.

If both parties needed a fresh start in 2018, now they arguably need each other again. Like a warring couple who, deep down, really love each other — it’s time to have a date night to sort things out.

The perfect finale to a storybook career. The ideal person to fill a glaring need. A moment to excite fans. A chance to get another Championship, together.

Bring Sherm home in 2021.

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I spent a bit of time watching Elijah Molden a few days ago and last night I was able to focus on him during a live game for the first time.

In terms of pure talent, instinct and athletic ability — he’s a first rounder with rare skills.

Some players just have an innate ability to be around the ball. They are playmakers. Tyrann Mathieu had that at LSU. He wasn’t the biggest, the fastest or the strongest. Yet time and time again, he’d be making the play.

Molden has that same quality and offers a complete, rounded game with the versatility to fit into numerous roles at the second level.

Operating as a nickel corner he has the short area quickness teams crave. He ran a sensational 3.93 short shuttle at SPARQ and you see it in the tape. He has gliding, twitchy movement. There are no wasted steps and his body position and fluidity is elite. You see him turn and transition with ease.

Look at his interception against Utah. The quarterback holds onto the ball for four seconds before making his throw. That is a long time to cover across the middle. Yet there’s Molden — perfectly positioned to undercut the route and make the play. He made it look easy. I couldn’t help but imagine him running that coverage for the Seahawks against the Rams. Imagine him taking away all the crossers LA use?

He fights and battles in man coverage and he contests so many throws to the intermediate level. He has the valuable ability to take away quick options for the quarterback. He’s also adept at reading the play and has the suddenness to react.

You just don’t see many players with this X-factor quality.

He’s well sized with dynamite explosion in the lower body. You see it when he delivers jarring hits. You see it with the movement he makes to play the ball. He jumped a 37 inch vertical at SPARQ and he isn’t just a smaller, agile defensive back. He comes up to the line and plays well in run support. He hammers ball carriers.

His instinct and football intelligence is exceptional. Look at the interception he had against Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl. He reads the long-developing screen and has the speed and smarts to make the play. I can’t recall seeing this level of processing and physical quality.

He has great hands to play the ball and the ability to fight and compete when the ball’s in the air. He had 13 PBU’s in 2019 alone. He has five interceptions in 2019 and the three games of 2020. He has three forced fumbles and 5.5 TFL’s.

Molden is the definition of the modern day defensive back. He can be an exceptional nickel or he can be the next Mathieu or Budda Baker.

He was listed at 5-11 at SPARQ but at Washington he’s listed at 5-10 and 190lbs. To me it doesn’t matter. He’s not an outside cornerback anyway. He’s the ultimate playmaker at the second and third level — capable of playing either safety spot or nickel.

He can be a permanent snap taker on the defense, you never have to take him off the field. His tackling and run support is a major strong point. He seems to relish taking on blocks, shedding and working to the ball carrier. His physicality, to go with the skill and agility, is what makes Molden such an exciting prospect.

The icing on the cake is his maturity. He’s extremely well spoken and grounded in interviews. He appears determined and focused. Teams are going to love his tape and his personality.

Frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up being a top-20 pick. Molden is a special talent and it won’t be a surprise if he quickly develops into a NFL star.

Other notes

Regulars to the blog will know how highly I rate Vanderbilt’s Dayo Odeyingbo. Playing on a useless Vanderbilt team isn’t doing him any favours in terms of media coverage but the fact is he’s a great talent.

He had two sacks in Vandy’s latest blowout loss to Missouri. On the second he fought through a double team off the right edge and made it look easy, before throwing down the QB.

For me he warrants top-15 consideration. He’s a terror off the edge with an outstanding combination of length, power and athleticism. He converts speed to power with ease, knows how to win in numerous ways and at 6-6 and 276lbs he looks like a NFL stud.

He has 5.5 sacks for the season on a hopeless team. If he tests well at the combine, his stock will go through the roof.

Florida’s Kyle Pitts is an absolute lock to go very early. He was practically unstoppable against Kentucky — recording 99 yards on five catches with three touchdowns.

Pitts is the ultimate mismatch weapon. He’d be ideal for a young, blossoming quarterback (eg Justin Herbert) as a safety net, red zone target and chunk-play specialist. College football teams have no idea how to contain him. His ability to work openings at the second level is incredible. He’s a very natural athlete for his size. He either gets open or you can throw it to him and he’ll make it happen anyway. He has superb hands and can pluck the ball out of the air on difficult, contested catches — as he showed in this latest game on one of his TD’s.

Hopefully he lands on a team that appreciates what he is. It’d be a waste of time trying to convert Pitts into a traditional, all-round tight end. He’s basically a big slot receiver and mismatch weapon. In the right offense, he could be one of the leading receivers at the next level.

Blog regulars will know we’ve talked about Colorado linebacker Nate Landman for three years. He’s been consistently excellent. Against San Diego State he tallied 11 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and three sacks. Landman isn’t the fastest player but he had a 37.5 inch vertical at SPARQ.

He’s an absolute hammer hitter who brings toughness and physicality to the MIKE position. As you might expect from a three sack performance, he’s a useful blitzer. He might not go early in the draft but I wouldn’t bet against him making an impact in the NFL.

Finally, while Pittsburgh might’ve felt the full force of the return of ‘Big Trev’ for Clemson, Patrick Jones continues to have an exceptional season. He had a sack and two TFL’s. Jones now has nine sacks for the season — second most in the NCAA behind only Patrick Johnson of Tulane (10). Jones is a classic LEO/EDGE.

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Happy Thanksgiving to all, here’s a podcast looking ahead to Monday’s game…

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Today I wanted to share some thoughts on a handful of players I included in my recent two-round mock draft but haven’t really talked about on the blog yet.

Jaycee Horn (CB, South Carolina)
If you had to picture an ideal Seahawks corner, he might look a lot like Horn. He’s big, long and lean yet with great muscle definition and strength. He’s in fantastic shape. He’s also very quick and agile for his size (6-1, 205lbs) and showed, particularly against Auburn, an ability to stick tight in coverage and make plays on the ball.

You want to see top-level matchups between corners and wide receivers and that’s what we got in that game — Horn vs Seth Williams. It was a fantastic tussle with Horn living in Williams’ back-pocket. In particular there were several red-zone reps where he displayed the short area quickness to stick and the savvy awareness to consistently gain position and win with leverage. He broke up a fade, a slant and another fade. He made two interceptions — one opportunistic and the other under-cutting a route with great instinct. He looked every bit a first round corner.

Those were his only two career interceptions which is a concern. That said, when you look as good as he does and are expected to run in the 4.4’s — someone will take a chance on him early. He’s a highly talented player with outstanding physical traits and potential. If you want a big, physical, athletic corner to battle and fight, with the potential to develop into a plus tackler, he’s worth considering.

Nick Bolton (LB, Missouri)
Bolton is a classic, old-school hitter who is adept at taking it to the opponent. He does all of his best work around the LOS — knifing through gaps instinctively and with great quickness. Once he spots the ball carrier he usually finishes with aplomb.

He’s one of the toughest linebackers you’ll see in the much more diluted modern game. His hits are punishing and full force. He also doesn’t need a massive run-up to smack someone. There are several opportunistic hits where a running back reaches the second level and Bolton reads, sees the man and drops him. He’s a tone setter for the Mizzou defense.

The problem is he has a limited ceiling. He only ran a 4.80 at SPARQ at a similar weight to his current playing weight. He’s a little bit stiff in coverage and in the NFL today you’ve got to be able to get around the field. Early-round linebackers are expected to be great athletes these days. Furthermore, he’s undersized at about 6-0 and 240lbs. No doubt some teams will love the booming hits and Denzel Perryman — who ran a 4.78 at 236lbs — is testament to this type of player still having a home in the league. Yet like Perryman, I suspect he’s stock will be limited to the second half of round two at best.

Zaven Collins (LB, Tulsa)
Few players have had the impact Collins’ has had this year. He’s been a playmaking machine with four interceptions, 10.5 TFL’s, four sacks and a forced fumble. He made a game-winning interception against SMU one week then came back the next to deliver a 96-yard pick-six in overtime to defeat Tulane.

He has an unusual body-shape which teams will analyse to death over the coming months. He’s 6-4 and 260lbs and looks more like someone who might line up off the edge. He’s an unusual size for a linebacker and that often sends alarm bells ringing in scouting circles. It also needs to be noted that he ran a 5.03 forty at SPARQ, jumped a 29-inch vertical and ran a 4.62 short shuttle. He’s gained 50lbs since that test and plays a lot faster than he showed at SPARQ. Testing will be vital.

On tape he flies around the field, flows to the ball with ease and just has a knack for being a game-changer. He’s been talked up as a potential late-first round pick and if he tests well, that could easily be his range.

Kenny Yeboah (TE, Ole Miss)
Few players have elevated their stock like Yeboah in 2020. A transfer from Temple, he’s put everything together this year and is delivering major production within Lane Kiffin’s pass-happy scheme. He has 509 yards and six touchdowns in six games.

He’s very much a move-TE at 6-5 and 240lbs but he’s so fluid working in space and he’s a natural working downfield or attacking the seem. There’s very little wasted movement and he’s a matchup nightmare for linebackers or safeties. Even against Alabama’s loaded defense he managed seven catches for 181 yards and two scores and made it look easy in the process.

His mobility is incredible. He can make a defender miss to gain major YAC. He’s a chess piece you can move all over the field. Ole Miss line him up in the slot, they have him working across the formation, he’ll run sweeps, he’ll take a wheel-route or he can just run downfield or settle down the seem. He’s a major X-factor.

His ability to be a dynamic weapon at the next level is going to depend on his upside. Everyone is bigger and faster in the NFL and he won’t find it quite as easy. If he tests well at the combine, there’s no reason why he can’t land a spot in round two.

Davis Mills (QB, Stanford)
He’s flying under the radar at the moment — largely because the PAC-12 is all over the place due to coronavirus. Indeed Mills had to miss one of the few games that have actually taken place so far due to being forced to self-isolate.

However, there’s a lot of potential to work with here and while he has limited starts and might need considerable time before he realistically starts in the NFL — he could be a perfect target for a competitive team aiming to transition to a younger QB over the next 2-3 years.

Mills is ideally sized at 6-4 and 225lbs with the arm strength to drive the ball downfield and the necessary touch to make accurate, catchable passes at the intermediate level. He’s poised in the pocket and has shown evidence of being able to go through progressions.

Teams are always looking for mobility at the position these days and while you wouldn’t mistake him for even a Josh Allen or Justin Herbert, he’s very capable scrambling to avoid pressure, extending plays and making gains on the ground.

He doesn’t get talked about much but don’t be surprised if he goes earlier than expected.

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For the Seahawks and Jamal Adams, the next six games are crucial.

With a not overly daunting schedule, Seattle can still emerge as the team with the best record in an unpredictable NFC.

They also need to determine what the future holds for their big name safety.

The scheme fit. The future contract. The fact the Seahawks have three 2021 draft picks, $16-19m in projected cap space and only 34 contracted players.

There’s a call to make. A bigger one than most people realise.

Ideally you’d have more time. Seemingly nothing about 2020 is ideal, however.

By March, a decision is likely due.

Let’s start with the scheme.

By Adams’ own admisison, this is a relationship that is still trying to work things out:

“They’re still trying to figure out me just as much as I’m still trying to figure out the defense and everything.”

In the six games he’s played this year, Adams has 5.5 sacks. On paper that’s a big positive and actually puts him among the league leaders in the category.

However, he’s also blitzed 63 times in those six games. His average of 10.5 blitzes per game is by far the most in the league.

He has delivered 17 pressures — 2.8 per game. He also has seven hurries — 1.2 per game.

Therefore it’s fair to describe Adams as a very productive blitzer. If he is producing about three pressures, a hurry and a sack per game — that’s a positive tally.

Seattle’s isn’t traditionally a blitzing scheme though. His role as a heavy blitzer isn’t something we’ve seen this team do before.

Having an aggressive, freelancing player does come with a consequence and I think we saw that against Arizona.

Suddenly a scheme that has always preached ‘do your job’ is carrying a player who seems, mostly, to be playing with instinct. Take the Chase Edmunds touchdown last Thursday. He released out as a receiver and was alone in the end zone, with Adams standing in no-man’s land, arms aloft. It’s the kind of coverage bust you just don’t see that often.

Per PFF, Adams is currently carrying a fantastic pass rushing grade (79.8). However, his coverage grade (44.5) is extremely poor. His overall grade (57.0) is comparable to Quandre Diggs — who most people would accept has had a difficult second season.

Adams is giving up 12.8 yards per target — third most in the league. He’s giving up 16.3 yards per completion — 14th most in the league.

As a point of comparison, Bradley McDougald gave up 6.2 yards per target and 11.5 yards per completion in 2019. That’s a stark difference. When quarterbacks targeted McDougald last year, their rating was 58.8 — one of the lowest in the league and comparable to Tyrann Mathieu (57.8).

McDougald didn’t provide the sacks (he recorded only half a sack last season) but he only blitzed 21 times in 15 games. Adams has already tripled that number in nine fewer games.

McDougald’s PFF grade a year ago was 63.1 as a pass rusher and 64.5 in coverage. So while he clearly isn’t reaching Adams’ rating as a blitzer — he delivered an average performance level for the safety position.

You could speculate that McDougald’s role as a more traditional strong safety is one of the reasons why Quandre Diggs performed better in 2019. I haven’t studied Diggs enough to comment but it stands to reason that if his safety partner is blitzing at the rate Adams is — that’s putting a lot more strain on him as the free safety in coverage.

Again, this isn’t something we’ve seen from the Seahawks before. Kam Chancellor had two career sacks — one in 2010 and one in 2011. From the 2012 season through to 2017 — Chancellor didn’t record a single sack in 78 regular season games. He did have 12 career interceptions though. In Adams’ four year career so far, he has just two interceptions and 17.5 sacks.

It’s not just that Chancellor, McDougald and Adams have physical differences. Adams is being used in a totally different way than any other strong safety in the Carroll era.

Greg Cosell appeared on Colin Cowherd’s show on the day of the Arizona game. He was asked about Adams and the Seahawks defense and offered the following opinion:

“I think Jamal Adams is a linebacker. And I think at the end of the day in some ways, and maybe Seattle would tell me I’m crazy, but I think that limits some of the things you can do with him because he is really a linebacker not a safety. He’d almost fit perfectly to me in Bill Belichick’s defense with the way they use #21 Adrian Phillips who’s really a linebacker for them. So to me that’s what Jamal Adams is but when you use him as a safety I think it presents some limitations in coverage. He’s a linebacker, he’s a glorified linebacker.”

That review doesn’t exactly portray a precise fit for Adams within Seattle’s scheme.

Does he fit in? At the moment it’s hard to argue that he does — at least enough to justify the compensation of the trade and a big future contract. That perspective could change before the end of the season but ultimately time is running out.

He’s clearly a very talented individual. In the right situation he is an All-pro.

This is about the cost and fit. Does he suit the Seahawks? Even if the answer is yes — does he suit them enough to pay him a massive salary?

It’s assumed by some that there’s no real urgency regarding Adams’ future due to the security of the franchise tag. I’d argue a decision needs to be made at the end of the season — essentially giving the Seahawks six more regular season games and a playoff run to make a call.

The current highest paid safety in the league is Budda Baker ($14.75m a year). Adams will expect, not unfairly, to top that number.

The trade compensation that the Seahawks gave up creates a problem.

We saw with the Laremy Tunsil and Jalen Ramsey trades that if you spend multiple first round picks on a player and don’t have an oven-ready contract to sign, you cede all leverage in negotiations.

Tunsil agreed a deal worth $22m a year. That was $6m more expensive than the next highest paid left tackle on $16m. The Texans either had to cave to Tunsil’s demands or risk losing a player they’d spent a fortune on in draft picks.

Ramsey signed a record contract for a cornerback worth $20m a year in LA. The previous highest paid corner was Darius Slay on $16.8m a year in Philadelphia. Again, the Rams had little choice but to accept Ramsey’s demands.

It’s very difficult to drive a hard bargain with a player once you’ve traded multiple first round picks to acquire them.

It wouldn’t be unrealistic for Adams to ask for a significant increase on Baker’s top salary. A deal worth $18m a year is plausible. Maybe he feels generous and is willing to simply set a new record for a safety and go with about $16m a year? That would still be a princely sum.

And make no mistake, that’s the minimum you’ll end up paying.

If you’re going to commit that amount of money, you’ve got to be sure about the fit.

The Seahawks already know this. They chose not to pay Frank Clark $20.8m a year and traded him to the Chiefs. They chose not to pay Jadeveon Clowney. They did decide they wanted to break the bank for Bobby Wagner.

They’ve taken on difficult financial challenges before and been calculated and deliberate in their decision making — with mixed results.

They now face a big call with Adams. They can’t let pride get in the way. Yes — it would look somewhat embarrassing to trade a player months after acquiring him in a blockbuster deal.

However — the only thing worse than taking that on the chin will be absorbing the cost of an enormous contract for a player who doesn’t provide value for money.

Personally, I wouldn’t criticise the Seahawks at all if they decided to trade Adams in March and took a hit on the compensation. If they come to the conclusion he just isn’t the kind of fit that justifies a record-breaking salary, then the right thing to do is be proactive and move on.

It’s OK to take a chance and it not work out.

The entire NFL is facing a financial crunch due to coronavirus. The salary cap could drop to $175m in 2021 — putting severe pressure on most teams.

Every dollar is going to count. It’s not an overreaction to suggest smart cap management will decide the winners and losers over the next 3-5 years.

In an ideal world the Seahawks would have more time to assess Adams’ fit. However, the cap crunch is coming now. Not in 2-3 years. It’s on the horizon.

Adams has a cap hit of $9.8m in 2021. He could be franchised the following year for about $11-12m depending on the state of the league at the time.

I’m not sure you want to get into a scenario where you’re going year-to-year. It’s a situation few players take well to. They want long term security. Part of Adams’ issue with the Jets was their unwillingness to reward him financially. I’m not sure he’d be any more willing to entertain a similar reluctance from the Seahawks.

I think Seattle has two options. They need to be prepared to pay him this off-season and commit to him, or they need to move on.

I also can’t help but wonder if they’d be investing in the wrong position.

We’ve already seen how a great D-line can make Seattle’s defense tick. Remember the days of Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and one of Chris Clemons or Frank Clark? Remember the rotation they had in 2013?

Look at the impact Carlos Dunlap is having. For all the talk of building from back-to-front prior to the start of the season, I think we’ve all seen by now how important a pass rush is within this specific scheme, given it relies on a four-man rush.

Are the Seahawks better with Adams at say $18m a year — or would they be better off investing that money in the D-line to try and create a loaded front?

After all, aren’t we a year removed from the 49ers rolling to the Super Bowl with this exact defensive scheme while boasting a fantastic defensive line rotation? All while having a slightly suspect secondary?

It’s a worthwhile discussion to have — even if you’d prefer to keep Adams.

After all, look at the players who are scheduled to reach free agency or could be cut or traded for cap purposes:

Von Miller
Matt Judon
Leonard Williams
Fletcher Cox
Brandon Graham
Derek Barnett
Cam Jordan
Dante Fowler Jr
Grady Jarrett
Melvin Ingram
Shaquil Barrett
Bud Dupree
Jadeveon Clowney
Yannick Ngakoue
Ryan Kerrigan
Sheldon Rankins
Larry Ogunjobi

Remember, the likes of New Orleans, Philadelphia and Atlanta are tens of millions of dollars over the cap for 2021. They will have to act. In the case of the Saints, they might have to gut their roster and start again.

The thought of pairing Von Miller with Dunlap is very appealing. Combined with Seattle’s youth at defensive end — you could create a rotation that is a match for anyone in the NFC.

Could you go down that route and simply replace Adams with Marquise Blair (a player you spent a second round pick on to play safety) or could you potentially target someone like Keanu Neal (who is also scheduled to be a free agent)?

It’s also a good looking draft at the safety position with the likes of Andre Cisco, Paris Ford and Jevon Holland among a decent group.

Again — this isn’t a review of Adams’ talent or a witch-hunt against the player or the trade. It’s simply a team construction debate about what’s best for the future.

You might ask who would trade for Adams?

In the right scheme he is a fantastic talent. It’d be wrong to think there wouldn’t be suitors. You probably won’t get two first round picks but a deal similar to the Frank Clark trade isn’t out of the question.

He was born to play in the aggressive, attacking 3-4 schemes or, as Greg Cosell noted earlier, those from the Bill Belichick way of doing things featuring a lot of hybrid players.

Adams would be superb in Brian Flores’ scheme in Miami. The Dolphins were unrealistic trade partners when he played for the division rival Jets. Now? He’s a more realistic option.

Miami also has two first round picks in 2021. Would they be willing to part with their native selection (possibly in the 20’s) plus a 2022 pick? That could make a lot of sense.

They also have the cap space ($37m) to extend him and will feel the benefit of Tua Tagovailoa’s rookie deal for the next few years.

The Patriots have $64m to spend in 2021 even with the significantly lower cap. Adams would be a great fit for Belichick. However, they might be picking too early in round one to make a deal realistic.

The Ravens are very much in win-now mode. They have a heavy-blitzing scheme where Adams would thrive and an estimated $29m in cap space. They would be a strong option.

The Buccaneers are also very aggressive in terms of roster building. They are living in a small window with Tom Brady as quarterback. Adams would be an ideal fit in a Todd Bowles scheme he’s already familiar with. The Buccs will be picking later in round one and might be willing to make an aggressive move. They have $31m in available cap space for 2021.

It’s also not unprecedented for players to be traded multiple times for high picks. Brandin Cooks went from New Orleans to New England to LA and then Houston. Teams have spent three first round picks and a second rounder for his services. Sam Bradford was traded twice — once for a second round pick and Nick Foles, then for a first round pick.

Certain players seem to retain value.

It stands to reason that if the Seahawks are going to give Adams a whopping contract worth anywhere between $16-18m they should at least utilise a defensive scheme that plays to his strengths. That simply isn’t Carroll’s scheme. If they decide to go down that route they have a duty to consider major structural changes to the defense — with a new defensive coordinator, possibly from the Belichick tree, to come in and oversee things.

That sounds great on paper — yet look at the teething problems Dallas have experienced going from a 4-3 to a 3-4 this year, having spent years acquiring players for the 4-3.

The Seahawks aren’t going to be $96m over the cap like the Saints in 2021 but they have very little money to spend. Spotrac says around $16m, Over the Cap says $19m (with $8m in effective cap space). With only 34 players contracted, that money will evaporate quickly simply filling out the roster.

With only three draft picks in 2021 and no first rounder, it’s going to be extremely difficult to fill out the depth with cheap, young talent.

Something’s got to give. How can they fill out their roster with minimal cap space and draft stock?

Increasingly I think the Adams trade was a highly aggressive, win-now move. An opportunity to see if he could come in and deliver the kind of major impact they’d been unable to acquire in free agency or the draft. The main motivation was to win now — chase a title in 2020.

I suspect they knew they were investing in someone with retainable value and all options would remain on the table in the off-season.

When the season ends the Seahawks have to make a big decision.

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