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Rob Staton
Hot topics
- Why Sam Howell’s performance on Sunday doesn’t mean anything for the Seahawks’ future at quarterback
- The reality of the current day Seattle Seahawks and why change feels inevitable on offense
- Instant reaction: Seahawks embarrass themselves, chuck ice water on season vs Green Bay
- Curtis Allen’s week fifteen watch notes (vs Green Bay)
- My first 2025 NFL mock draft
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Hot topics
- Why Sam Howell’s performance on Sunday doesn’t mean anything for the Seahawks’ future at quarterback
- The reality of the current day Seattle Seahawks and why change feels inevitable on offense
- Instant reaction: Seahawks embarrass themselves, chuck ice water on season vs Green Bay
- Curtis Allen’s week fifteen watch notes (vs Green Bay)
- My first 2025 NFL mock draft
Rob I see Curtis Weaver has been released from the Browns. Clearly he hasn’t done anything since being drafted but I remember he was a blog favourite. Would you like to see him given a chance?
No.
His testing results were intriguing as was his college production. But his body type was not typical for the NFL and he isn’t good enough.
FWIW Peter king says the opposite of Lombardi, he hasn’t heard the Seahawks are interested in Jimmy.
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/29/brandon-staley-chargers-peter-king-fmia/
Cut down day – and the days following – are always interesting. But moreso in Seattle because it is a truth-seeking process. We can have Pete tell us great news about injured players and hype up young players in camp but this is where the rubber meets the road.
This year there are lots of players with injury questions. If the Seahawks feel they need to go on IR but want them back this season, they’ll have to put them on the initial 53 first.
Lewis
Collier
Mafe
Tyreke Smith
Neal
(Tre Brown already placed on PUP)
So if they feel it necessary, they could put all of these guys on the 53, then IR them and have a few spots to fill right away. Which would produce a flurry of activity.
Walker too I suppose.
I think and somehow hope that Collier gets cut. Not that he’s that awful but simply should start fresh elsewhere (Panthers?). I also believe Swain gets cut, and if we roll with 6 WRs it’s DK, Tyler, Eskridge, Goodwin, Young, Cade Johnson, with Cade getting cut if we only keep 5 and landing on the practice squad with Hart/Whiteside. Mafe should get better by the Broncos game, I believe, so keep him in the roster. Tyreke Smith will likely get IR, maybe also Neal. With Lewis I hope he gets well extremely fast, not like we have a lot of depth at OL. With him injured is less likely we let Gabe Jackson go, and we might even sign a depth veteran guard from elsewhere.
I think they might clean house at WR and add someone from the wire
Metcalf, Lockett, Goodwin, Eskridge and Young plus a new add
Mohumad Sanu just got released. Not my cup of tea though.
I’m expecting that a new add at backup Center is likely. Depending on who becomes available via roster cuts.
I think that’s dicey territory. With his injury they would probably have to cut him with a settlement and it might wipe out any cap gains.
I don’t know how they even tried to get him back practicing. That elbow injury in the mock game looked nasty.
Hey cha,
Is there anything unusual with the cap considerations on these IR candidates? I like the idea of stashing guys on the IR list and churning the back end of the roster for a few games.
Not really. They just have to put them on the 53 first, then put them on IR if they want to bring them back at some point.
If a player were to be put on IR before cutdown day, he’s out for the year and his salary is on the books.
When a player is waived and then claimed by another team, is the new team obligated to pay him the same amount as he was being paid by the old team? Probably not, right?
Yes they are. A player that is waived keeps his contract intact until he clears waivers (usually within 24 hrs). Any team claiming him picks up his contract as well.
Players can only be ‘waived’ and subject to being claimed when they have less than 4 accrued years of NFL service. So most often they are on their rookie contract, which is manageable.
If they have more than 4 years, they are ‘cut’ or ‘released’ and are not subject to waivers and their contract is terminated immediately and they are a free agent.
Unfortunately reporters, writers and insiders often use ‘waived’, ‘cut’ and ‘released’ in the same context and that muddies things.
Thanks very much! You have a very good explanationThat clarifies “waived” vs “released”. For me, BBK is an example of someone whose years of service are borderline as to which category he would fall into if let go.
BBK was waived with an injury designation this summer and nobody put a claim in on him (he has 2 accrued years so he’s still subject to waivers). He reverted to IR and there is not much motivation to waive him at this point.
I watched him on a couple of drives this preseason and he didn’t look too bad to my eye.
Sounds like the might keep 3 QBs, Ryan, Foles, and Ehlinger who lit up the second half of games. If they only keep two, whoever is cut would be more interesting that what we’re working with.
Interesting. I liked Coan at Notre Dame. I’d much rather have him on the PS then Eason again.
https://twitter.com/geoffschwartz/status/1564227224781430785?s=20&t=lV6lVReBUY-RA7o4bFUPcA
Still not sold on Cross, but hoping we find out we have the long term solutions at LT & RT by seasons end.
Had Seahawks taking Sam Williams in all my mock drafts.
Didn’t expect Mafe to be there. Williams looked great that game.
He’ll likely get the benefit of more reps during the regular season in Dallas, over Mafe here.
I love Williams length and power, hoping he’s able to stay out of trouble.
Would love to see Mafe get plenty of time this year along with Bryant & Woolen this season. Let the young guys take their lumps and hope they pan out.
Would love to see Bryant as our day 1 Nickle & Woolen as day 1 RCB.
Embracing the rebuild & hoping it gets better
Let’s also not forget that Cross is a client of Duke Mayweather (who started sending me abuse on twitter for my opinion on Cross)…
And who works with Mayweather?
Geoff Schwartz
I didn’t know any of that and I hadn’t heard of Manyweather before now.
But it informs my opinion of Schwartz’s superlatives on Cross, which seem a little thick.
Even so, it’s a good rep for Cross and shows promise. But he’s also made some pretty dumb mistakes, as rookies are want do.
And he got beat badly by Sam Williams, again.
FWIW, I am totally ok if Lucas turns out to be the better pick of the two. I still can’t believe (a) Lucas lasted to the 3rd round, and (b) Seattle actually picked a player the blog was really bullish on.
One of the only position groups I got to watch at the Combine was OL. In fact I think several of us were live commenting when you commented that Lucas was clearly the best among them. At least in the movement and blocking drills. And then they went and drafted him for tremendous value.
I still do not get how Lucas fell to us in the 3rd, everyone says it was a steal, most mocks had him going earlier, I literally didn’t hear much negative about him at all, so his standout preseason is no surprise, but him lasting til the 3rd will go down as a real draft oddity for the pancake king, Iblock.
I suppose I can give Cross points for recognizing the feint by the LB and moving outside.
But how is this a win for Cross? Let alone an ‘elite level play’ ?
Williams uses his excellent closing speed to get to Geno and gets a hand on him. If Geno has his arm cocked that is a strip sack.
I don’t hate Cross. I like him fine and have been happy with what I’ve seen so far. But this is a poor choice to highlight what he’s brought to the table so far.
People promoting that tweet need to understand the connection Schwartz has to Mayweather
A superb bit of reporting there, Rob. Very interesting and germane.
Charles cross is good. Sam Williams is also good both can be true
Things I’m looking for by tomorrow, in order:
*Either a trade or a released LB pick-up (or two even). Everyone after Brooks/Barton can go.
*Pick-up a released wr who can actually catch the ball.
*Find a good, young developmental qb, this would be the year to carry 3 qbs, or if PC got pissed off enough about the ints, maybe Lock gets waived/traded and the new signee becomes backup to Geno aka he’ll see some starts this season.
How disappointing is it to see this miserable LB group, knowing the great options missed in this draft class…
That said, who would I give up from this class for a LB? Maybe noone until the 7th round WRs.
Yeah therein lies the problem, this team needed so many areas addressed that unfortunately LB got left aside.
Yeah, but as rough as this year is going to be I am pleased two of the hardest positions to fill, OT and edge, have been addressed.
I’m soothing myself with the idea that after years of overindulgence, they finally don’t have $30million tied into LB, and actually spent their draft capital this year on positions that are important. LT, RT, pass rush, CB…
I tried that same thought while looking at our LB’s; but then realized how much is invested at the Safety position. Sigh….
We better have already reached out to Devon Kennard, Cardinals waived him and I bet he’d steal snaps from Barton in about a week of getting up to speed here.
😤
https://mobile.twitter.com/PFF_Fantasy/status/1564315444625956866
Walker can be a star too, if he can get healthy and stay that way.
Meant to reply to Nathan M
Loved him in college bit don’t know if he has anything left in the tank.
SF just wanted to scare someone into a trade. Wow.
Rob, to be provocative, I say again the plan has always been to start Lock later.
I also don’t want to can Pete. He’s made some terrible trades, but I like what I am seeing so far this season.
If he makes a massive trade like the Adams one or they start Geno every game, I’ll easily concede.
Love your work by the way. Keep up the good work.
If that was the plan, they would’ve just announced Geno as the starter weeks ago, removed all debate over a competition, allowed Lock to concentrate on settling in and wouldn’t have intended to give him the start vs Chicago
Of course that would assume they knew how to do a good job of communicating with the fans.
Or care.
I disagree. I don’t think they would have announced it if they plan to start Lock later. They wouldn’t tell Lock or Geno. In this situation Pete needs a real competition. Neither would work hard if they knew in advance.
This way they push each other.
I agree that the two number ones comment is classic Pete speak. At the same time, it also sounds like a signal he’s prepared for an easy switch. We’ll see.
Oh and quick point of reference for Jake Locker. I’m also a UW fan. He was the hometown hero (may have saved the program). But all I remember from Pete when Locker was drafted by the Titans was a huge look of relief.
I never said they would announce Lock ‘is starting later in the year’. It simply doesn’t make any sense though, if your intention was to never seriously consider him to start in week one in order to bring him along slowly, to go through what they have for the last few weeks.
Zero sense in fact, for the reasons listed previously.
Not sure what the Locker reference is in relation to?
Pete didn’t want to draft him but could never say that publicly. I don’t think he’s ever said that publicly to my knowledge. Anyway, there was tremendous pressure to draft Locker had he been there around 25. Higher than probably any pressure Pete has ever faced to draft someone. It was palpable.
Who has said Pete would want to draft Locker, though?
Jimmy G not going anywhere: https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1564363001167319042?s=21&t=MXeTjt8ASp78gpv1CW2h3Q
Also Shanahan: we have two number 1’s too
Did not see that coming!
Not necessarily, he is now even more tradeable.
no trade clause with no tag clause as well…he will be a 49er for the year.
Mutually beneficial. Garappolo gets a contract similar to what he would have signed for (or possibly more) while the 49ers quietly get to hedge their bet on Trey Lance. Jimmy also gets to sign wherever he pleases next year.
I could be wrong but this reads as lack on confidence in Lance.
Shanahan/Lynch are sensing Trey Lance is going to be a bust … Jimmy would be long gone had they drafted Mac Jones. Glad they didn’t.
That trade-up for Trey Lance is one of the most mind-numbing decisions a front office ever made.
He had 11 starts in college — and showed barely anything to warrant a R1 pick other than ‘athleticism’
How does a team make that call?
Especially the same team that admitted they didn’t really scout Mahomes because, in their eyes, they were waiting on the position that year (aka waiting for Kirk Cousins)
I don’t think they’re “quietly” hedging their bet tho Mike. It’s going to be quite public and a constant topic everywhere. 100% agree that it signifies some real reservations over Lance tho.
When Big Mike speaks, Mike listens.
I don’t think so. The no-trade clause just means he gets a say in where he goes next, and now his salary is tradeable, likely even more so at mid-season once half has been paid off already.
I’d say if a starting job on a non-division rival team opens up by the trade deadline and a team dangles a mid-round pick, he gone.
Well, there goes the Jimmy G theory. Looks like it’s Geno or bust…with a bit of Drew at some point, I’m sure.
So Rob, I finally caved in and bought Top Gun: Maverick. I promise to make this vaguely Seahawks related.
I grew up in the San Diego area. My father was a Chief Petty Officer for squadron VAW-88 “The Cotton Pickers” of the USS Ranger. This was a group of E-2 Hawkeyes that are often called the “quarterback” of the carrier air wing. Their mission is over the horizon total battlefield awareness through the use of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Radar (CAREWRON-88).
Partly because of the importance of it’s mission and partly because of it’s massive size, it it designated as first-to-launch and last-to-land. They typically loiter around the carrier battle group for four or five hours at a time using state of the art electronic warfare extending over 300 miles from their radar dome. This makes it one of the most valuable resources in the fleet.
That said, when I saw the original Top Gun back in 1986 I kept saying to myself, “where the hell is the Hawkeye?” For this and many other reasons, I felt like it was one of the least realistic movies about the Navy. The most realistic part of that movie was probably the volleyball game. Only it wouldn’t be a bunch of Calvin Klein models. The Navy is full of fat guys because when you go to the Goat Locker everybody knows that you knock loudly and bring coffee…and presumably doughnuts.
In Top Gun: Maverick, I am pleased to report that an E-2D Hawkeye was featured for about a minute and a half. That is a Matt Hasselbeck – scratch that – TIM Hasselbeck level of respect right there! Which is a big improvement from the Geno Smith – scratch that – Drew Locke level of respect in the first film. Total Battlefield Awareness!
Semper Paratus!
I don’t think I’ll miss anyone who we cut this year. Here’s hoping we cut to the bone and sign a bunch of players who are cut by other teams (a big WR3, competition at MLB and a KR).
There are about 37 players worth keeping.
The rest? You might as well start a churn
Saw Topgun Maverick today. WOW!
Seeing other people’s excitement over this masterpiece of a film brings me great joy
The Nerdist had an interesting take on it: it’s Star Wars.
I didn’t see this coming with JimmyG. Creative of the 9ers to come up with this scheme to keep him away from Seattle. However, it comes at a huge price. One, they are sinking $9M-$16M in a BACK UP QB and give up precious cap space. Two and more importantly, after saying the entire year that Lance is the future and they were going with a clean break from JimmyG now they opened the perverbial can of worm. Can you imagine if and when Lance starts to struggle? What happens to the locker room that likes and respects Jimmy. And lastly, the whole point of giving up the farm to draft a franchise QB is to have him on the cheap for 4-5 years. This is year two and things are still muddy after this move.
Nothing creative about the 49ers keeping Jittery G. They know he is a loser. They wanted very badly to trade him and get something valuable for him. Nobody offered enough.
This says more about how bad Trey Lance is. He was given every opportunity to snatch the job this offseason and send Jittery packing. Nope.
Now they will have a nightmare: a new version of Kaepernick/Alex Smith, along almost exactly the same lines.The locker room will be unstable, as both QBs will jockey for who is worse, heaving back and forth whenever one or the other make a good play or help win a game. What’s Shanahan going to do, rotate by quarter? I wish them the worst!
Not really a surprise that Jimmy G stays with the 49ers. His reported salary is $6.5 million. In my opinion the 49ers made the RIGHT decision by keeping Garoppolo. It is obvious that Trey Lance’s performance against the Houston Texans has the front office concerned. Trey Lance performance of 7 for 11 with 49 yards did not impress anyone. It is much too EARLY to call Lance a bust. But there has to be some concern in 49er land over the drafting of Lance.
I am not a 49er fan. But I think that John Lynch is one of the “Good Guys” in the NFL. I have tons of respect for Lynch. Good person and great family man.
All this decision does is make life harder for the person they invested three first round picks in
The 49ers and Lynch have completely destroyed their own chances of success by making a complete dogs dinner of the QB position over the last few years
Hey Rob,
What’s your opinion on Hendon Hooker? QB out of Tennessee?
Nothing special, unlikely to be a high pick without a major step forward this year
Hurry, Pete! The one that got away…
Reclamation attempt #46342…?
Quite possibly
Poor guy!
“You can’t move the new girlfriend into the apartment when the old girlfriend is still living there! How do they not get this?”
“Q: have you talked about whatever perceived positives there are?”
A: POSITIVES?! No! What positive? I’m positive this move sucks! That’s the only positive!” 😂
https://twitter.com/StatsOnFire/status/1564366503608307715
I love Rob
I’m going to ask him to do another stream before week 2
Lots of old names from former draft deep dives… nobody really catches my eye though for us right now.
https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-roster-cuts-tracker
Cut down day. I sincerely hope the team does what Rob and Jeff suggested needs done and cuts bait with the guys that obviously have underachieved (Collier) and appear they will continue to underachieve (Blair), etc. I agree they need to do what they did at the beginning of the Carroll era. You won the power struggle Pete, now wield the power and freshen this roster.
Someone will pick him up I would think. He’ll be a good PS QB.
Florio speculating about our QB conundrum…
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/30/for-how-long-will-geno-smith-remain-the-seahawks-starter/
I’ll take the over on 4 games before Lock is in place as QB1.
This could potentially be a nightmare this season. If the hawks lose the first four and they switch to Lock then he does drew lock things it can get real ugly at the games.
I posted a comment in the live stream about “normal fans.” Someone commented there were boos at the preseason games. I don’t count normal fans as those who go to preseason. I mean the super run of the mill people who don’t go to camps, don’t know a ton of the players, and just want a good game of football after a decade of mostly winning. Not season ticket holders but those who hope to get to maybe one game a year with friends or family. The fans who fire up some snacks and bloody Mary’s and consider last year a blip but don’t follow the minutiae like we do.
The fans who don’t know about “trust the process,” or a rebuild. But really think those last games were a sign of life. And the coach whose borderline toxic positivity is right on the line of not telling the truth about where the team really is at.
If you were there for Mora or the final Holmgren year or worse the mid 90’s if this team goes under on 5.5 games, yikes.
Maybe these ‘normal fans’ do follow the minutiae but choose not to hysterically over react or think the organisation is on its last legs.
I dont think it’s right to assume just because people only maybe go to one game like you say they are to be pigeon holed as a lesser level of fan?
In regard to Jimmy Garoppolo this move makes perfect sense for the 49ers. Garoppolo took the 49ers to the NFC championship game. He has also taken the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance.
Looking from the outside it looks like Trey Lance is not ready. The 49ers traded three first round picks to move up to snag a quarterback who only had 11 games of college ball experience. That decision is starting to look questionable. Trey Lance may need another year to learn the NFL.
From my perspective the move for Garoppolo appears to be puzzling. Why would he not look at free agency as an opportunity to see what he is worth on the open market. Maybe it is security. I am not sure.
From the perspective of the Seahawks this could be the best thing that could have happened. Not sure if the Seahawk front office was really interested in Garoppolo. They can’t be questioned now why they didn’t take Garoppolo. Garoppolo is not on the market. So, they can’t be 2nd guessed as why they didn’t sign him.
In regard to Geno Smith. Pete Carroll named Smith the starting QB because he doesn’t throw ints. Really? Well Geno Smith also does make big plays either. With Geno Smith as the starting QB. I hope Pete Carroll is happy to watch his offense lead the NFL in 3 plays and out. I wouldn’t be surprised if Michael Dickson leads the NFL in total yards punted. Geno Smith is a three and out machine. NFL defenses are going to STUFF the run and FORCE Geno Smith to beat them. I realize that Drew Lock threw three INTs in the final game. Which is a mortal sin in the eyes of Pete Carroll. But at least Drew Lock MOVED the football.
So, Pete Carroll, I hope you enjoy Geno Smith behind center.
BTW: Having Geno Smith lead the Seahawks should lead the Seahawks to a top ten pick next year.
You’ve set your sights way to high. Playing Geno Smith may lead to a top three pick. In fact I want to be able to chant “We are Number One, We are Number One – in the draft. Let’s get it done!
Rob,
What do you think of Grayson who just got cut by Tampa? A good inside/outside receiver who’s not afraid to block. Surprised he didn’t make it. The Bucs are loaded at the position.