Could the Seahawks move down and address two key needs?
Trade down or stay put.
We’ll be having this discussion a lot over the next three months.
Here are the two arguments:
1. Stay put
The Seahawks haven’t picked in the top-20 for six years. The intention should be to make this a rare one-off. Do they need to make the most of this opportunity? The last three players taken at #18 were Adoree’ Jackson, Ryan Kelly and Marcus Peters. This has been a sweet spot in the draft in recent years.
2. Trade down
With no picks in rounds two or three, the Seahawks are currently set to pick just once before day three. Without a massive amount of cap space, the draft is Seattle’s best opportunity to address several needs. There will be good depth on day two. They might be able to get two or even three players by moving down instead of just one.
Weighing up the options
There are cases to be made for both scenarios.
If the Seahawks had their second and third round picks, it’s a no-brainer. Play the draft board at #18 as you see fit. You’ll still have a chance to get two more good players.
Unfortunately they don’t have those picks — so they have to consider the bigger picture.
It doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t just take BPA at #18. It’s still possible. The problem is — with the likes of Clelin Ferrell and Drew Lock opting to stay at Clemson and Missouri respectively, the chances of a top player dropping to #18 are slimmer.
Tremaine Edmunds isn’t going to last to #18. He’s too good. Billy Price? Possible. Good interior linemen have lasted into that range before. Quenton Nelson will go in the top ten and it’ll be interesting to see how that impacts Price. If he falls to #18 they might have to consider taking him.
Why would trading down be attractive?
This draft class is particularly deep in three need areas:
1. Running back
2. Interior O-line
3. Defensive front seven
By trading down, you might be able to address two of these needs before the end of day two.
Let’s focus on the running game for a moment. Among our top-50 draft eligible players, here are the names included on the O-line and at running back:
Quenton Nelson (G, Notre Dame)
Billy Price (C/G, Ohio State)
Orlando Brown (T, Oklahoma)
Mike McGlinchey (T, Notre Dame)
Isaiah Wynn (G, Georgia)
Frank Ragnow (C, Arkansas)
Braden Smith (G, Auburn)
Will Hernandez (G, UTEP)
Coleman Shelton (C, Washington)
Saquon Barkley (Penn State)
Ronald Jones II (USC)
Kerryon Johnson (Auburn)
Nick Chubb (Georgia)
Royce Freeman (Oregon)
Rashaad Penny (San Diego State)
Sony Michel (Georgia)
(Bryce Love and Damien Harris aren’t included after they opted not to turn pro)
The names in bold, plus Derrius Guice, could be available in rounds 2-3.
So you’re faced with a situation. Let’s say Billy Price lasts to #18. You take him but miss out on the best players in this excellent running back class. Is that better than being able to get a pairing of Ronald Jones II and Frank Ragnow or Isaiah Wynn and Nick Chubb?
Here’s a mock draft that looks at a trade down scenario:
#1 Cleveland — Josh Allen (QB, Wyoming)
There have been reports that John Dorsey is a big fan of Allen’s. If the Browns make a deal for a veteran (eg Alex Smith) they might sit Allen for a year.
#2 NY Giants — Sam Darnold (QB, USC)
This could be either Darnold or Rosen but with Pat Shurmur expected to be the new Head Coach, Darnold’s mobility could give him the edge.
#3 Indianapolis — Saquon Barkley (RB, Penn State)
Barkley deserves to go this early. He could be the highest graded player to enter the league since, funnily enough, Andrew Luck.
#4 Cleveland (via Hou) — Bradley Chubb (EDGE, NC State)
The Browns pair Chubb with Myles Garrett to create a fearsome pass-rushing double act.
#5 Buffalo (via Denver) — Josh Rosen (QB, UCLA)
Armed with the #21 and #22 picks, the Bills trade ahead of their divisional rivals in New York to get Rosen.
#6 New York Jets — Quenton Nelson (G, Notre Dame)
With three quarterbacks off the board already, Mike Maccagnan falls back on taking the best player available.
#7 Tampa Bay — Vita Vea (DT, Washington)
Someone will take Vea early. He’s too big, too quick for his size and too powerful. He has a shot to be Haloti Ngata.
#8 Chicago — Marcus Davenport (DE, UTSA)
If they use free agency to improve at the receiver position, this will allow the Bears to take a top defensive prospect here.
#9 San Francisco — Tremaine Edmunds (LB, Virginia Tech)
Quite frankly a sensational prospect worthy of a place in the top-10. He can play inside linebacker, SAM, EDGE, LEO. An incredible talent and clearly one of the ten best players in this draft class.
#10 Oakland — Orlando Brown (T, Oklahoma)
Enormous prospect with NFL bloodlines and could solve a problem for the Raiders at right tackle.
#11 Miami — Billy Price (C, Ohio State)
Teams will love Price. His attitude, his physicality, his versatility. He’s a third Pouncey brother. A top end talent in this draft.
#12 Cincinnati — Minkah Fitzpatrick (S, Alabama)
Fitzpatrick is a bit overrated and it’ll be quite the thing if he goes earlier than Earl Thomas, Keanu Neal and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
#13 Washington — Roquan Smith (LB, Georgia)
The Redskins cling on to Kirk Cousins for another year and take the best defensive player on their board.
#14 Green Bay — Tim Settle (DT, Virginia Tech)
Underrated player who managed 12.5 TFL’s at 330lbs. That’s relatively unheard of and considerably more than Vita Vea (5.5) and Da’Ron Payne (1.0).
#15 Arizona — Mike McGlinchey (T, Notre Dame)
The tackle position has become a big problem for the Cardinals. McGlinchey is finesse but one of the best options in a weak OT class.
#16 Baltimore — Calvin Ridley (WR, Alabama)
Not an exciting player. Lacks size and not the most sudden. His interviews are a bit weird. He is consistent though and Baltimore loves ‘Bama.
#17 LA Chargers — Baker Mayfield (QB, Oklahoma)
The Chargers are reportedly looking to develop a player to be the heir apparent to Philip Rivers. Mayfield could be their guy. Rightly or wrongly, might last due to his height.
#18 Cleveland (via Sea) — Denzel Ward (CB, Ohio State)
John Dorsey trades up to secure the best cornerback in the draft.
#19 Dallas — Arden Key (DE, LSU)
Jerry Jones loves a splash and isn’t afraid to take a risk. Key has talent but will he ever put it together?
#20 Detroit — Leighton Vander Esch (LB, Boise State)
Matt Patricia begins his stint as Head Coach by drafting an on-field leader.
#21 Denver (via Buf) — Derwin James (S, Florida State)
The Broncos fill a big need here. Like Fitzpatrick, James is a little overrated. He looks the part and tackles well but he’s a box safety. More Eric Reid than Eric Berry.
#22 Denver (via Buf, KC) — Lamar Jackson (QB, Louisville)
The Broncos draft a quarterback capable of delivering some excitement back to Denver.
#23 LA Rams — Harold Landry (EDGE, Boston College)
He’s not physical enough to play DE so he has to go to the right scheme. Wade Phillips’ defense is a good fit.
#24 Carolina — Taven Bryan (DT, Florida)
Bryan could be used as an inside/out pass rusher for the Panthers. He has major upside.
#25 Tennessee — Joshua Jackson (CB, Iowa)
Despite drafting Adoree’ Jackson a year ago, the Titans still need more in their secondary. Jackson’s combine will determine if he goes this early.
#26 Atlanta — Maurice Hurst (DT, Michigan)
Hurst can rush the passer from the interior and these types of players always have value.
#27 New Orleans — Lorenzo Carter (LB, Georgia)
Carter has explosive qualities and finds a way to impact games. Capable of playing SAM/LEO or OLB.
#28 Pittsburgh — Da’Ron Payne (DT, Alabama)
Payne just looks like an ideal fit for the AFC North. Arguably the best run defender in the draft.
#29 Jacksonville — Courtland Sutton (WR, SMU)
If they lose Allen Robinson they might look for a big receiver to replace him on the outside.
#30 Minnesota — Derrick Nnadi (DT, Florida State)
Nnadi played better in 2016 but he’s still a disruptive nose capable of providing some pass rush.
#31 New England — Ben Banogu (DE, TCU)
He just feels like the type of unheralded defensive prospect the Patriots take in the late first round.
#32 Philadelphia — Rashaan Evans (LB, Alabama)
Evans doesn’t just tackle and hit, he hammers people. The combine will be big for his stock.
Trade breakdown
— Buffalo trades #21 & #22 to Denver for #5 and a sixth round pick
— Cleveland trades #33, #63 and a fifth rounder to Seattle for #18
Trade notes
It feels like the Bills are setting up for a big move. With the #21 and #22 picks, they have the stock needed to climb into the top-10.
The Browns have two first round picks and three second round picks currently. Trading back into the top-20 would give them three top-tier picks and an opportunity to pick again at #35.
John Schneider and John Dorsey know each other very well, so it’s plausible they could work together on a trade.
So what would the Seahawks do if they did end up with #33 and #63?
Simple — repair the running game or take one player for each side of the ball.
For example, if Georgia’s Lorenzo Carter lasted into round two — could he be an option to fill the Bruce Irvin role at SAM/LEO? Would they have any interest in Oklahoma’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo? The Senior Bowl and combine will reveal more about possible defensive options.
If they wanted to focus on offense, they could go running back and O-line. That could mean considering Georgia’s brilliant Isaiah Wynn to play guard with their first pick and then assessing the running back options at #63. Would Nick Chubb, Rashaad Penny or Royce Freeman be there in the late second? Possibly.
In 2016 they used a fourth round pick to move up seven spots to select Jarran Reed. A similar deal in this scenario could secure the running back they want. If the Browns give Seattle their fifth round pick as part of a trade, that could also be used.
Alternatively they could take a running back at #33. In this scenario Ronald Jones II, Kerryon Johnson, Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Derrius Guice and others are available. They might even move down again, as they did a year ago before selecting Malik McDowell.
With a running back secured, they can wait to see which interior offensive linemen are left at the end of round two. Frank Ragnow (Arkansas), Braden Smith (Auburn), Will Hernandez (UTEP) or Coleman Shelton (Washington) could be options.
The late second could be another trade-down spot — and that could bring receiver, tight end and several defensive positions into play too.
When you look at it like this, trading down is a reasonable option. You’re moving into the heart of the value zone for Seattle’s key positions of need. And you’re giving yourself a chance to acquire more picks to help repair the running game and aid the transition to a younger (and cheaper) defense.
Mock draft in full
#1 Cleveland — Josh Allen (QB, Wyoming)
#2 NY Giants — Sam Darnold (QB, USC)
#3 Indianapolis — Saquon Barkley (RB, Penn State)
#4 Cleveland (via Hou) — Bradley Chubb (EDGE, NC State)
#5 Buffalo (via Den) — Josh Rosen (QB, UCLA)
#6 New York Jets — Quenton Nelson (G, Notre Dame)
#7 Tampa Bay — Vita Vea (DT, Washington)
#8 Chicago — Marcus Davenport (DE, UTSA)
#9 San Francisco — Tremaine Edmunds (LB, Virginia Tech)
#10 Oakland — Orlando Brown (T, Oklahoma)
#11 Miami — Billy Price (C, Ohio State)
#12 Cincinnati — Minkah Fitzpatrick (S, Alabama)
#13 Washington — Roquan Smith (LB, Georgia)
#14 Green Bay — Tim Settle (DT, Virginia Tech)
#15 Arizona — Mike McGlinchey (T, Notre Dame)
#16 Baltimore — Calvin Ridley (WR, Alabama)
#17 LA Chargers — Baker Mayfield (QB, Oklahoma)
#18 Cleveland (via Sea) — Denzel Ward (CB, Ohio State)
#19 Dallas — Arden Key (DE, LSU)
#20 Detroit — Leighton Vander Esch (LB, Boise State)
#21 Denver (via Buf) — Derwin James (S, Florida State)
#22 Denver (via Buf, KC) — Lamar Jackson (QB, Louisville)
#23 LA Rams — Harold Landry (EDGE, Boston College)
#24 Carolina — Taven Bryan (DT, Florida)
#25 Tennessee — Joshua Jackson (CB, Iowa)
#26 Atlanta — Maurice Hurst (DT, Michigan)
#27 New Orleans — Lorenzo Carter (LB, Georgia)
#28 Pittsburgh — Da’Ron Payne (DT, Alabama)
#29 Jacksonville — Courtland Sutton (WR, SMU)
#30 Minnesota — Derrick Nnadi (DT, Florida State)
#31 New England — Ben Banogu (EDGE, TCU)
#32 Philadelphia — Rashaan Evans (LB, Alabama)
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I would be ok with this scenario because the Seahawks would have the first pick of the 2nd round and that is a valuable pick to trade also if they are so inclined. They do need to start either getting some premium picks or hitting on the 2nd-4th rounds like they used to or they will continue to slide down the win/loss scale each year
I agree. I would love the Hawks to have a full day of calls from other teams regarding the first pick in he second round.
I love defense and every year you highlight amazing players to play defense. that said I think this year is a great opportunity to fix nearly one full facet by trading down.
I love jones but if jones or wynn is at 33 I think you stay put and take wynn and maybe burn a fifth or even in this scenario two fifths or the fourth and come up from 63 to take the next best back. if it’s jones absolutely you move up.
if wynn is gone and he might be. and jones is gone at 33 then you trade that down again maybe 10 spots and gain a late third.
Where do you see Seattle taking some interest in this year’s free agent WR market, Rob?
Anyone who provides value. I suspect they’d like a big target to replace Jimmy Graham (assuming he leaves, it appears to be heading that way at this stage). That could mean Michael Floyd or Terrelle Pryor. Justin Hunter is tall but lean — he could be an option too. You have to at least check in on the market for Sammy Watkins, Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee and Jarvis Landry. You also have to leave the door open for Paul Richardson to return.
And you look at the likes of Austin Seferian-Jenkins too I think.
I suspect they’ll set out to find their next 1-2 year prove-it player or players.
Any interest in Jordan Matthews? He seems to work best as a big bodied WR2, which would fit well with what we currently have. Kind of a Jermaine Kearse type role. Might not break the bank as much as an Allen Robinson or Sammy Watkins as well due to injuries.
Jordan Matthews + ASJ + Sony Michel/Ronald Jones would be a nice boost to the offense I think.
I’ve never been much of a fan of Jordan Matthews.
Fair enough. I’d preferably land Allen Robinson or Sammy Watkins, but I get the feeling more cap open teams are going to offer them bigger WR1 money. It’ll be interesting what Paul Richardson gets offered on the market. I think if he gets big money somewhere else we’ll bring in Marqise Lee as budget replacement.
I hope whoever Seattle brings in can make the routine/easy catches. They dropped a lot of passes this last season. I don’t think Matthews has a reputation for having very good hands.
If you’re letting Graham and/or other big-ticket FAs go then the rest of FA has to take into account not messing up the comp picks. That means we’d prefer guys who were cut (don’t count toward comp) over ones with expired contracts, etc.
Well, maybe. I don’t think you can afford to let comp picks dictate everything you do. If there’s a good free agent out there that you need to have, you’re not going to sit tight for the sake of a late fourth round comp pick.
I’m not sure the Seahawks are going to get the haul of comp picks many think. Graham’s value, for me, has shrunk to the point where he might be lucky to get a short term $6-7m deal for a year or two. That might be the best case scenario. Paul Richardson might get into similar range but he might not. Sheldon Richardson is the best bet for a high comp pick but who even knows what his market will be?
And Seattle is transitioning. So if you can get a player at a good age and at good value — it has to be considered.
Whether any of this group get you a Byron Maxwell or Bruce Irvin return is questionable. Sheldon is the best bet. I wouldn’t expect it for the others.
With the Hawks making a pretty obvious statement that they are refocusing on the run, I wonder if they will have trouble getting WRs to sign 1-2 year prove it deals here. I would love Robinson if his price dropped.
Rob,
besides Edmunds and price are there any other players th at if they fell to 18 you would stand pat and take?
The obvious ones who are 99.9999% unlikely to be there (Saquon Barkley, Quenton Nelson, Bradley Chubb).
After that, I really like Raquon Smith but the Seahawks have Bobby Wagner and for me Smith is best inside. I don’t expect Vita Vea to drop. Marcus Davenport is intriguing but I want to see him test at the combine.
Edmunds and Price are the two I’m most inclined to ‘stand pat’ for.
Edmunds really would be the dream pick for our D!
thanks, sorry for not stating the obvious with Bradley chubb, at
I don’t know if I would pass on Settle.
I would love to hear too Rob. Sounds like a good topic for a write-up/article.
Interesting Mock Rob. The move up by Bills makes a ton of sense.
I think the trade back is 100% dependent on who is available at 18 as well as any moves made prior to the draft to obtain draft capital.
Guice available to #Seahawks at #33 following a trade to acquire more picks would be nothing short of amazing. Guice is the best inside runner in this draft and the 1b to Saquon in the entire class at the position. Dream scenario that would have me doing cartwheels. Well, at least have me asking my daughter to do cartwheels for me. 😉
I just don’t see it with Guice. Really average athlete. Runs hard, admittedly, but running hard only gets you so far at the next level. And I believe some character concerns have been expressed within NFL circles.
Question: if he tests well enough will it change your mind?
When he’s been healthy there’s a lot of tape to really like. I can’t see why people don’t like him as a top back in the class. I think he has the total package. Vision, elusiveness, tackle-breaking, burst, speed, tenacity and determination. Excellent inside and outside. I’d be thrilled with him as a #Seahawk.
If he tests well it changes the dynamic but I don’t expect him to test well. It will be a pleasant surprise if he does. But his SPARQ testing was weak and on tape you don’t see anything to suggest it was just a bad test. He doesn’t look like a great athlete. To me he’s an effort runner. And the character concerns teams have — that’s out there. He had a poor 2017 season overall.
Trade Back to get Sony Michel and Isiah Wynn or stand pat at 18 and get Tremaine Edmunds? Which do people prefer?
Edmunds for me. He is a special talent who could have a huge impact and is only 19.
Love Michel and Wynn though.
Edmunds for me, need the young dogs back on the defense. Edmunds, Clark, Shaq a good start.
if Edmunds us there, you have to take him. extremely talented and like you mentioned very young.
Count me in on Team Michel and Wynn. I want to see a stronger emphasis on the offense.
I think my ideal scenario is to see the team spend enough in FA to just go RB and then best front seven player available in the draft, or vice versa. Staying at 18 for Edmunds would be exciting, but not at the cost of missing out on a premier runner later.
Edmunds, he’s too good. There’s other options for the running game, like poaching Carolina extra and taking Norwell and Jonathan Stewart. Rivera is a smash mouth coach and these guys would bring that with them. Chris Carson, Stewart, Prosise, McKissic, and Mike Davis and/or a fullback would be a pretty good group. Norwell is the guy we need to go get, and if you get him, Edmunds, Stewart and sign S. Richardson, you’re well on your way to being the bully again. Stockpiling the front 7 and the running game is the idea, Pete and John have to get back to it or they’re on the hot seat. I wouldn’t put anything past them at this point.
Sorry about all the extra stuff lol
There’s almost no chance of them being able to afford Norwell.
They could make the space but it would require moving Avril & Sherman or Thomas in some form or fashion. If the FO is committed to getting younger though, when is it going to happen? This offseason or next?
Especially after he was named All-Pro
In your scenario, I’d go Wynn and Michel.
But I’d be interested to see what other players were available at both spots. Either way, even though Edmunds is a talent, I think we have too many needs to bet our draft stock on one player.
Those would be two good picks but you dont get a quality front seven defensive player. Its a tough decision when you want three positions with only two high draft picks…lol
If you actually could get both Michel and Wynn by trading down from 18, do it. That would be an amazing start to the draft. But they’re both likely to go in R2, so you’d probably have to trade back up for one of them.
If Edmunds is available at 18, take him. That would be an amazing start to the draft. But there’s just no way he lasts that long. He’s a top-10 prospect.
There’s maybe 3 players that *might* be there at 18 who would be hard to pass on because they’re so much better than the next level options at their respective positions — Price, Settle and Ridley
Wynn would be a very nice pickup at #33. Played LT, projects to OG. He looks NFL ready. If the Hawks can add another decent OL in FA to pair with the folks they have + Wynn we might have the semblance of a functional line.
I wish I hadn’t watched tape of Tim Settle. It’s gonna hurt to see him go ahead of our pick. Full on crush here.
settle is my sneaky pick for seattle if they do a modest trade down but stay in the first. I think that guy is a terror on the line.
He looks it from the limited tape I’ve seen. If he was there at #18 I wouldn’t trade down.
With free agency being before the draft we can get an idea if that’s possible. They resign Sheldon and a DT is most likely out of the question.
Me too. Settle is my draft crush this year.
We may be overlooking that Pete and John felt comfortably going into this draft without a 2nd or 3rd round pick because they liked the Day 2 offerings. Food for thought.
Day 1: 1st round
Day 2: 2nd and 3rd round
Day 3: 4th through 7th rounds
Seattle, as it stands now, have zero picks on Day 2. I’d highly expect that to change.
Anyone know what happens with Kam’s contract concerning retirement vs being cut with a “guarantee for injury” thing?
His 2018 salary $(6.8M) fully guarantees on 2/9/2018.
It would be nice to know what happens to Kam, and what happens to Avril/Bennett is they are cut. I wonder if anyone would be interested in trading for Kam/Avril/Bennett.
Greg has some good info but from what I understand it’s nearly the same whether he plays or is cut.
If he retires then we just owe his $7.5 million in cap space that you can eat all at once or you can make him a post June 1st cut and eat only $2.5 million this year and eat the remaining $5 million in 2019. He has a $6.8 million base salary next year with 500k of roster bonus for a total of $7.3 million he could earn. If he retires he forfeits his $12 million injury guarantee. From what I understand is there is about 4 options.
Option 1…He retires and they choose to make him a post June 1 cut.
His cap hit is currently $9.8 million minus the $2.5 million in dead money, you save $7.3 million in cap space. 5 mill in dead money in 2019
Option 2…He retires and you eat all his $7.5 million in dead money at once
His cap hit currently is $9.8 million minus the $7.5 million in dead money, you save $2.3 million in cap space. No dead money in 2019
Option 3…you cut him
His $12 million injury guarantee kicks in and you have $19.5 million in dead cap space ($12 million injury guarantee plus $7.5 million in dead cap space). This aint happening.
Option 4…he decides to play and he plays just like normal or he stays on the PUP and earns his salary and maybe goes to IR and makes his $6.8 million.
If I had to guess, they come to some sort of an agreement and he retires. Your right though as his salary does become fully guaranteed on 2/9 but he could still choose to retire after that and we wouldn’t be on the hook for his salary.
This might not be exact but this is pretty close.
Avrils is easy. His cap hit this year is $8 million ($7.5 million in salary and 500k signing bonus proration)
You cut him you save $7.5 million in cap space ($8 million minus 500k
MB’s is more complicated as he has funky numbers
thanks for that
Also The official June 1st date that some people have used in here including myself is really now May 12th but its better known as June 1st.(the old date used)
they could re-negotiate with Avril. Any other team is probably going to give him low guarantee and lots of bonuses based on playing time and production anyways.
MB has $7.237 M cap hit for this year, lower than Lane! He only saves $2 Mil by cutting or trading him.
next year his cap hit is $8.737 Mil, with $5.2 mil savings by cutting or trading him. I think his game will be productive for a few more years and the cap savings vs replacing him don’t seem to be worth it.
It’s not about 2018 cap savings though.
It’s about the clear need to start the churn. Bennett’s cap savings aren’t much better if you cut him in a year either. This is no longer about ‘one last tilt with the old band’. It’s about finding the next core and beginning to balance out the offensive and defensive spend.
And if you move Bennett now it’s a $9m saving in 2019.
Yes, but his ’19 cap hit is like 9-10 million, so it may be more far-sighted than just ’18 $’s
Fun stuff, Rob!
Love these scenarios.
Where is Dante Pettis currently ranging Rob? Mid 2nd round?
I think round three with a chance to go round two if a team really falls for him.
I like the idea of Seattle trading down and gathering Cleveland’s 33, 63 and 5th rounder. Hopefully the Hawks can trade down. I am hoping and praying they can trade down multiple times.
My take on Solari, Norton and Schottenheimer is to have an open mind. Let’s wait and see what happens.
33 and 63 seem like a realistic situation. Hopefully get a good RB there and a good defensive player first or quality offensive lineman second.
We should get compensatory picks for players leaving, right? A 3rd for Jimmy Graham? A 3rd for Richardson?
They wouldn’t get those picks until 2019.
For what its worth I was told you could trade 2019 compensatory picks (that you dont really have yet) for 2018 draft capital. They would be almost like conditional picks.
You can’t. For example, teams don’t even know what the picks are going to be until the FOLLOWING off-season. Can’t trade what you don’t know you have. You know?
Thats what I thought as well but this came straight from Jason Fitzgerald from over the cap.
Here was my question:
Hey Jason, can you really trade 2019 compensatory picks in 2019 for
picks in 2018? That doesn’t seem right.
Jasons response:
Yes you can now trade comp picks. The way it usually works is they
will be conditional upon receiving the pick. So lets say the Seahawks
expect to get a 5th compensatory in 2019 what they will do is trade a
conditional 5th rounder in 2019 that will fall to their regular 6th in
2019 if they are not awarded the 5th. The NFL became more transparent
with the teams in how comp picks are awarded in the last two years. Im
not sure if that has something to do with what we were doing at OTC (
a few teams were apparently using Nicks real time tools as a check for
their signings) of just them putting everyone on equal footing so they
could trade them but most teams know exactly what they will be getting
now.
Question for Rob: This question may have been asked before. If it has my apologies. What happens to the salary cap if Bennett is traded(hypothetica)l. Which team take the hit on the remaining salary cap?
Moving Bennett saves you about $2m which isn’t much but it does free up about $9m for 2019. The saving if you delay this an extra 12 months is similar, you’re just putting it back another year.
I’m not convinced they’ll be able to trade him. We’ll see. Might just part ways on good terms and let Michael pick his next destination. New England makes sense.
What have you heard on the odds of McDowell ever playing a down for the Seahawks?
That nobody is allowed to talk about his timeline.
Same as when it first happened.
nobody can talk about it but people are allowed to know in the front office. I worked in a physical career where on the job and off the job injuries were common. in order to reach amenable settlements all parties were made aware of an employee’s ability to physically perform the job moving forward. at some point seattle will be able to say yes or no on mcdowell. they should never not would they need to state why just whether he can.
not “not,”
but “nor would they state why he can or can not play but whether he can play.”
I’d love to see Bennett back in ’18. I think if you can limit his amount of snaps he can still be VERY effective. I think a group of Clark, Bennett. Jordan & one more DE would be real tough.
I agree Sean, he played 85% of the snaps this year at 32 with a busted ass foot. Too many snaps.
Curious what Schottenheimer/Solari will think of the OL options on-hand. Pete made noise 10-14 days ago about Ifedi being penned-in @RT… I hope that was lip-service and all most it’s a light-pencilling.
+Buzz Lightyear’s Catch Phrase
Ifedi needs to be the RG. He is a LIABILITY on the outside.
Absolutely agree with you. He was made to to play guard in the power ZBS scheme that Solari runs. Put Fant at RT and move him over when Brown retires.
I have no issue with Ifedi remaining at right tackle. To me he’s a bit of a scapegoat. There’s a new O-line coach, let’s see how it plays out.
How does 20 penalties make him a scapegoat? Most of those penalties were false starts because Ifedi was trying to a jump or holding because he couldn’t move fast enough to square up. Maybe you could coach up his feet but why not just use Fant at right tackle?
Because 20 penalties is an annoyingly large number, but still a tiny amount when you look at his snap count. 1067 – the most of any player on offense and defence – 100% of the offensive snaps Seattle took in fact. If he’s giving away a penalty on less than 2% of his plays, that’s probably, what, just over one a game? If that makes him a LIABILITY, then Fant who gave away 7 penalties in his 10 games as a starter (664 snaps) has to be pretty close to one as well?
If the apparent difference between a LIABILITY and a no-doubt starter is maybe one 5-10 yard penalty per match, then that’s definitely getting into scapegoat territory.
Holy Crap.
You’re my hero for today
Vindication! Ifedi is gonna be great next year
You sound like me suddenly convincing myself that Schottenheimer was going to be great for us as OC!
I agree with Rob, let’s let the new coach work with him before we start throwing him out the door. Two things right away could help. First, for some reason Cable had him giving a lot of ground right at the snap. Could be that his false start penalties were about him worrying about getting a deep enough “drop.” Solari might have him set shallower, meaning he may not be so worried about leaving early.
Second, we’ve all seen how Russ scrambling can get the OL holding calls. If they can get Russ to play more in the structure of the offense and stop bailing so much, we may see fewer penalties there.
+1
Ifedi still had the most penalties of any offensive lineman in the NFL. After looking more closely at the stats I will admit that other quality linemen, such as Bolles and Pouncey, had a similar number called.
He’s a scapegoat because people constantly go OTT complaining about him. It was his first year at tackle and he had some penalties. You can clean that up. For me he took steps forward as a pass protector and he deserves the chance to settle down in 2018.
We keep referring back to the enlightening R Roberts interview…maybe the guy is jumping offsides because he knows he cant block the guy in front of him the way he is taught.
Possible. It could be a number of things.
Idk. I mean. He did the same thing in college. We talked about him being a penalty liability predraft back then
I agree he is not awful, but to me his play has not ‘earned’ being ‘penned in’. Truth be told, I think he’s Breno. He has his warts, but his overall game is okay enough that replacing him should not be priority #1, but if you can… do it (please get healthy, Fant).
Also, I’m of the belief the talent of the line as a whole covered up some warts of Breno’s, and this line is not yet good enough to mask Ifedi’s deficiencies.
I think we never truly appreciated just how useful Breno was for this team.
listening to Ray Roberts gives me hope for Ifedi. He said Cable was always trying to get him to play away from his strengths. Cable wants his tackles to play the same way, regardless of their skillset. He kept having Ifedi back up when he should have been engaging early and using his strength and long arms. Ifedi kept jumping because he is not quick enough to back up with speed rushers. Cable also had Brown use only one arm towards the rusher and the other arm to protect the gap, which meant he could do neither. Brown did seem to get worse towards the end of the year.
I expect a new line coach to improve technique with the young players and let Brown play the way he used to.
Good points Hawk Eye.
Agreed.
I know what you are saying Rob. However, I will say this, Breno was my favorite O-lineman during that time. Yes, he drove me nuts with his 15 yard personal penalties. But once he matured, once he got it dialed in, he flipped the switch and then he got his opponent to commit the 15 yarded because he @#$%ed them off so much. And Breno made sure NOBODY messed with Russ or the other stars. He was the old fashioned enforcer that every team needs. This team needs another Breno, another enforcer. GET BACK TO BEING THE NASTY BULLY!
I think Breno is/was a league-average RT… which Ifedi can, but we should not assume automatically will, eventually achieve. At the very least; with the penalties, immaturity issues and questionable quickness for the position, he should have to compete for the spot.
I don’t think he’s immature. Neither has anyone assumed anything with him. I just think people love someone to complain about. And with Bevell and Cable out of the way, it looks like Ifedi is going to fill the void.
In some cases, it’s not complaining….. it’s a call for improvement.
+1
He’s not Breno. Breno collected a lot of penalties, sure, but they weren’t for false starts and holding. He knew the snap count and how to do his job. Breno’s penalties were unsportsmanlike conduct and personal fouls, a result of his nasty streak. He learned where the line was for the refs, toned it down and fixed his problem. I wish Ifedi was Breno part 2.
The penalties are concerning, of course, but I call him a LIABILITY, because when you watch him in space, he gets beat. Maybe the word “liability” is over the top, you could say the entire line was a LIABILITY to the team.
Ifedi has the physical tools and nasty edge I want in a RT. In the NFL today, it is almost an impossible task to ask an offensive lineman to keep the QB clean and drive holes on every play. Especially against the athletic freaks at DE nowadays. But watch the film, Ifedi gets beat on a regular basis. Let’s hope he takes some major steps this offseason.
But I think he’d be way more successful as our RG.
I thought Ifedi’s pass protection took a step forward in 2017. For me his issues were penalties and run blocking, not working in space. I think a new coach and a scheme tweak will help him — plus time.
Where do we see Keryon Johnson going? I think a RD 2 grade is appropriate. Wondering because I am starting to feel like a lot of RBs will slide.
Anyone have some sleeper RBs?
Kerryon could go in round one, at worst early round two. IMO.
He looks like a stud. Do you have a pro comp for him?
Carson? at least in his build.
He’s very similar to Chris Carson with the patience of Le’Veon Bell (but not the size/weight).
Yeah, I do like the Bell comp. Kerryon is all torso with long, built arms
+1
One thing I love, One thing I hate about Johnson:
I love how he brings the hammer when finishing his runs, just sets guys up nicely at the end to finish.
I hate how in a good deal of his runs he holds the ball loosely and sort of swings his arms wide. I’d love to see his hand measurables. Though amazingly for his kind of lax style he only has one fumble with a TON of carries last year. So that’s a good sign.
the draft is good for 4-5 rbs taken in the first two rounds. I think. the odd qb class and the lack of dline talent is going to push those players up and more of the running backs into the second round.
Ito Smith!! really great agility, kid can make 2-3 cuts on a run with great speed.
Why wouldn’t CLE take Barkley 1st overall? Of course they need a QB, and and there seems to be a mutual disinterest with Rosen. NYG will likely take Rosen, and even if IND trades back with someone seeking a QB, they still have Darnold or Allen available.
if Cleveland was smart they’d take barkeley first, Chubb next and move back into the first for Lamar jackson. but coach Jackson and the front office feel like are going to talk themselves into allen. and then get panned when allen gets destroyed by real defenses in the NFL. that dude just isn’t good. not at that level, and I’m not sure what qb was mediocre but suddenly got better in the pros.
I agree, you cant wait to 4 cause Indy might be all over him.
I’m not a fan of Allen either, and Darnold is a bit raw for my taste, but clearly talented. They had their chances in the past to take some good QBs, passed, and they are still in a hole. But having someone like Barkley could take an enormous amount of pressure off a young QB. Or if they like Lamar Jackson, go for it. But if they are confident in one of those QBs, don’t mess around. One of those three will be available and if he is their guy, then take him.
I’m being sarcastic but Cleveland needs a qb or Watson to get injured every year. because every game that features Watson or Cleveland until the browns get a qb some announcer is going to bring it up. it’s hard to believe the same city that said to manziel “let’s do this!” looked at Watson and was all ” I don’t know………”
I can’t imagine a more perfect example what what a bad draft can do to a team than THAT draft. Trade up for a garbage CB? Let’s do it! Draft a QB who trashes his own team and has a history of partying. Let’s do it!
I was thinking about this at the time, and Manziel and Wilson are virtually identical players in measurable terms. Similar size, arm strength, mobility, etc. What’s the difference? RW gets up at 4 or 5AM to work out, study film and practice, and then he goes to hospitals to meet children who have cancer. Johnny Manziel took that same time and partied. That’s all anyone needs to know.
HIs pro day is the moment when teams should have pumped the breaks.
I look on Josh Rosen as the Bo Callahan character in “Draft Day.” His sitting out of their bowl game just reads of “it’s all about me.” I can see declining meat market games like the Senior Bowl or East West Shrine Game, but to let down your team in a nationally televised bowl game… Can’t see people wanting to be led into battle by that guy, or teammates attending his birthday party.
Wouldn’t you need to have essentially the same grade on three QBs for that to be a good idea? Hard to see that being the case.
The cost of anything is the value of the alternatives that you sacrifice.
Exactly. If you have one of the QBs rated higher than the others you can’t risk losing them. Too much value to the franchise, regardless of whatever talent you lose at another position.
Assuming no Edwards/Price kind of opportunity at #18, the trade back seems a no-brainer. But how about considering the unthinkable, just as a hypothetical? How sweet would an offer need to bê to get you (as armchair GM) to say *weellll, shoot-okay* to dealing ET lll for picks, and what would you envision parlaying them into? Đo you see any other player-trade that could fill our day two void?
While were at it, what would you do to clear some cap space in order to clear some room to maneuver in free agency (this being tied to a more reality-based scenario than the previous one)?
There’s not much that’s unthinkable now. If we’re going to get younger and start to purge cap space it’s going to involve saying goodbye to some beloved Hawks in the near term.
Earl Thomas to Dallas for their round 1 #19 pick would make sense for all parties if it were to happen. Seattle could recoup much of the lost draft capitol by trading back from #18 &/or #19. Earl is happy and Dallas is improved. It also frees $8.5M in 2018 cap space.
Lane is a lane duck waiting to get cut. That’s $4.75M.
Avril retiring or being cut is $7.125M.
Sherman would save $11M. I could see a mid season trade if he comes back healthy. What is he worth injured though? No idea.
Kam retiring is about a $2M savings but Greg H laid out lots of potential options in an above post, this one being the simplest.
Bennett might save $3M ish if cut/traded.
no cut on bennett. In this scenario that I’m not opposed to BTW every draft pick and savings is important. IF you go to the dark side and trade away names to rebuild then you have to at least get a 3rd for Bennett. Some fans hat the activism but you know what? Dude can still play. And a lot of teams, even Seattle, can use 8.5-11 sacks plus his run defense.
how can Dallas get Thomas? They have NO cap room and have to sign Lawrence and Martin.
Just a pipe dream, never going to happen
The same way the Seahawks managed to acquire Sheldon Richardson, re-structure someone else’s contract to create room.
Dallas has more cap room than Seattle. They are estimated to have between $18.5-$20.5M for 2018 and can easily clear another $9.4M with a couple cuts. Martin has another year on his contract. If they sign D Law it can be structured team friendly for the first year.
You are talking about Jerry Jones here, it can happen. The man wants a ring.
If you only get those top 2 picks then what do you do? For my money I want the front 7 (sam/leo) guy and the RB. The running back position is a younger mans game and the defensive player we want cheap and young which equals the draft. Maybe look at free agency for the offensive lineman. That being said what happens in free agency will tell us a lot about what they might do in the draft. I think for sure our best trade down option is the one Rob pointed out to Cleveland. 33 and 63 for 18 is a pretty good match.
plus a fifth rounder.
Tim settle and nick chubb,
Seattle trades 18 for the picks listed and goes and drafts two hammers. This is going to be blasphemy but Settle might move better than Veae. And Chubb is a total grinder of yards but has a serious 2nd gear.
I havent heard much talk on here about Dorrance Armstrong. He fits the Sam/ Leo mold. Could be one of our second round picks.
I’m really trying to see it with him. His line is terrible. And even when he gets one on one, he never gets favorable matchups.
The dude I love’s first step and finishing enthusiasm (credit V12) is Ogbonnia Okoronkwo from Oklahoma. I think that guy has a nasty first step and keeps his motor running super hot. He’s shorter than the Armstrong/Carter’s but seems to have long arms.
The story of Jon Jones is quickly becoming one of the most captivating sports sagas I’ve ever followed
There’s a reason polygraphs are inadmissible, they’re wildly unreliable and easy to game. t’s a stupid PR stunt. Jones, like the vast majority of pro sportspeople, is clearly doping – he’s just one of the few who’s dumb enough to get caught once, let alone twice.
All you guys clamboring for Dan Carlson but nobody is mad Matt Gay went back to Utah after setting a Pac12 record for fg made in like his third year of American Football.
Oh of course he won the Lou Groza. He went 5 of 6 from 50+ where Carlson went 4-8.
Eddy Pineiro of Florida and Griffin Oakes at Indiana are ok
Trevor Moore went 9 of 11 from 40+ for North Texas
I doubt the Hawks draft a RB high for – Alvin Kamara and Kareem Hunt are two recent examples that show that you can find very good talent in Rd 3. Granted Kamara went early in Rd 3 but it was round 3 nonetheless.
What would you consider high? Early second, late second? If they did do the Cleveland trade the latest you could go would be the late second rounder which is a high pick. There next pick wouldn’t be until mid 4th.
They also landed in extremely friendly schemes. Guys like Fournette are worth it early because you can pair him with Blake Bortles and he will still win you games while facing 8 and 9 in the box.
It’s hard to say for me because I think the league is swinging back to a good/great running back and I think there are some great ones this draft: Barkeley, Jones II, Chubb, Michel, Guice, Johnson (kerryon), Freeman. However, I think most of them actually go in the second.
kamara for me lasting in the third was kind of a bit of a crock….honestly Seattle should have run to the podium for him. I’m being salty because kamara was my guy last year but Pocic over Kamara, really?
But, but, he had a couple knee injuries!
As if every draft pick isn’t the roll of the dice anyways, especially in the 3rd.
haha! you saw the tape as well as I did! dude could ball out. and we both knew it last year.
Plenty of people were expecting him to go in the first – everyone agreed he was a first round talent. I think the question was whether he could carry the load? Never carried more than 15 times in a game or something. Landed in the perfect situation
Oddly a lot of blog’s favorite Michel is in the same boat as Kamara. Last year he had two games over 15 carries and amazingly 5 games where he carried the rock less than 10 times.
I think it’s something teams including Seattle are going to wonder about when selecting him. Does the team drafting him have another back that can run down the clock?
And Todd Gurley, Zeke Elliott and Leonard Fournette went in the top-10.
And Marshawn Lynch went in the top-15.
And Shaun Alexander the 20’s.
See — we can highlight players at any point in a draft class to argue virtually any point.
No doubt about it. I just think that the Pete and John believe they can find talented backs later in the draft and would much prefer to go for an impact defensive player early on. It wouldn’t even surprise me if they believe that the guys they already have are good enough to carry the load.
I don’t get that sense at all Bob to be honest. They made a key trade for Marshawn, spent on Lacy, spent their first pick in the 2013 draft on Christine Michael, have consistently drafted runners including in the 3rd or 4th round. Their #1 player in the 2015 draft on their board was Todd Gurley. Not only have they shown they’re willing to spent high picks or consider high picks at RB — they also had relentless success with a top tier back on the field (Marshawn) and have struggled since they started relying on FA’s, late rounders and UDFA’s.
I think they truly believe they can find CB’s on day three, as proven. But RB? I think they’re very open to getting one early — and Pete has basically spelled out that fixing the run will be their #1 priority this off-season. That includes better talent at RB.
I can definitely see your point but you have to bear that they got Marshawn for a 4th and a 5th. As you’ve pointed out the Hawks are always going to be looking for unique talents and it’s just my impression that they believe unique talents on offense (with the possible exception of O-line) can be found later in the draft. Their second round pick of C-Mike bit ’em in the butt so I doubt they’ll be anxious to go that route again.
I also think that due to the success of Alex Collins and even Rod Smith outside their system my bet would be they’d be more likely to devote early draft capital to fix the blocking before they would on a RB.
My guess is they trade down as you suggested and concentrate on defense or perhaps a talented tight end (I know nothing about the available TE’s at this point).
They got Marshawn for a 4th and 5th but that’s because Buffalo were feeling particularly generous. A trade like that is a major rarity. He was still a very early first round pick by the Bills.
I respect your opinion Bob but I highly disagree. I don’t think they have any notion of thinking they can get offensive guys later. Look at their history — the top-10 pick was Okung, then they took Carpenter, they traded first round picks for Harvin and Graham, they spent a first rounder on Ifedi and second rounders on Tate, Michael, Pocic and Britt. Not to mention their recent trade for Duane Brown. There is, if anything, a very consistent history of them taking offensive players very early.
Neither do I think the success of Collins or Smith is going to have any impact in terms of where they draft a running back. Simply put, they need talent at RB. There is no way — I guarantee this — that they’ll think this is just a ‘fix the blocking’ situation. It’s both. Improvements up front, less mistakes but also talent at RB.
Furthermore they have consistently targeted positions that are the perceived ‘strength of the draft’. This year that is, quite clearly IMO, running back. Not taking one early would be fighting the board in a way they have never done under PCJS.
This is what makes the off season fun… we’ll spend months debating back and forth what Pete and John will do and in the end they’ll probably do something completely different. 🙂
Michael Bennett was an undrafted free agent, Richard Sherman was 5th rounder, Kam Chancellor a 4th… so it looks like we can wait until day 3 to draft defense.
Now that it has been made official, I’m agnostic about the Schottenheimer hire, but i feel really positive about Ken Norton as DC. The players know him and respect him. He knows the system, and the players. Perhaps he wasn’t successful in OAK because he felt like he was going to bring his style to the Raiders, but just ended up trying to adapt to Del Rio’s mandate. As long as that’s what he is going to do, he might as well do it with a coach and team that is intimately familiar with.
no offense to Oakland but Jack del rio and his mandate is getting dangerously close to Jeff Fischer territory.
I think Norton and PC are going to a great match. Some other posters have written about his command of the players and I think that one thing is going to pay dividends next year.
The defensive players on this team have a culture all their own, and bringing in some outsider may have sent a bad signal. That would have disruptive and it would have sent a message to the players by saying “Here is a new guy who has never been a part of this team, but now he runs the defense.”
Like I said earlier, as long as this is Pete Carroll’s defense, I have no problem with him hiring a man who knows the players, and the players know him. Tremendous mutual respect, and as long as Norton is going to be mimicing someone else’s defense, it might as well be the defense of the team that he paid his dues with, a coach that he knows and players that he knows, and knows how those players should be used.
I’m Catholic about the Norton Jr hire b/c I think PC is getting back to tradition, and the Catholic church is stooped in tradition.
I’m Kabbalist about the Schottenheimer one b/c it has the potential to offer something much newer in the Air Coryell attack as opposed to the WCO version Bevell used. Schotty might force Russ to be a bit more of a student and the Kabbalah teachings try to get to that place where philosophy and religion mesh up. Could be a really positive match, and all indications are that Russ wants and needs to be pushed.
Tragic news out of Pullman. Our QB Tyler Hellinski committed suicide tonight. He was likely going to take the reigns next fall and had appeared in many games. We are stunned… the campus is going to be turned upside down tomorrow. A note was left but no details are being shared.
I am so sad and my heart goes out to his family….. Football fans post and rant on social media — they can forget that the players are people. Especially college players are YOUNG people. If you spend time with college age people you know what I mean. We need to keep that in mind when we comment on players.
Thanks to Rob and SDB community for taking the high road and not trashing on players.
Terrible news, you don’t like seeing any young person taking their life.
That’s the number one thing I love about this place/site. It’s, as a rule, more about how good so and so can be and not the “what a bum!” sky is falling, bull crap that you get on so many other sites.
That’s heart breaking. My prayers go up for him and his family. 🙏
RIP #3. Just heartbreaking. Forever a Coug young man.
It’s hard to express how tragic this is. I’ve had those thoughts of hurting myself before, but i got help. This poor young man was dealing with emotional problems that few people can understand. It’s OK to talk, and it’s OK to ask for help. You are not less of a man if you do so. Your family, your friends, and your team will always be there to help you. You are never alone.
Brutal. Such a tragedy.
I’d love to get everyone’s thoughts on Cody O’Connell aka the continent. I’d love to get an early ol like price or Wynn, Jones and take Cody later on. Maybe my homerism but I think with those 3 guys our line/RB would have plenty of potential
He’s a Coug, and I love him, but I don’t see the athleticism needed to even play G in the NFL.
I think if they did make a trade to Cleveland for #33 and #63 you would have to use 33 for the RB. With Harris going back to school and Barkley being gone you might only have 6 good options. Guice, Chubb, Michel, Penny, Jones, and K Johnson. Those guys would most likely all be gone by 63, if not would you want to risk it?
Why would Cleveland make that deal, though?
Well if they do the smart thing they don’t pick Allen number one, still pick B. Chubb number four and burn their picks to come on up get Lamar Jackson/Mayfield.
Also not for nothing with the relatively smaller costs by the CBA Cleveland has a sort of a chance in a generation to spend a ton of their cap this offseason to bolster the team AND take up to three first-round draft picks at one time.
What is two 2nd round picks to Cleveland? Depth? Value? I mean as a team you are way past looking for depth and making value based picks when you are 1-31.
John Dorsey has a chance to make an immediate impact with 3 picks in the Top-18. With CIN/BAL stagnant and PIT a year older, CLE is a few impact players from possibly making a BIG leap forward. At the end of the day, having a bunch of picks is great, but you can only have a 53-man roster.
Yeah, Auburn OL Braden Smith is that guy. This guy is a monster on tape. Is not built like an O-lineman either.
Not many guys from college can gol from guard to tackle at the next level, but IMO he’ll be one of the few. Excels in space, fluid as hell, raw power, love how low he gets, and a big time finisher.
This spring? 4.95 40, 33′ vert, 9’11’ broad jump. Would’ve been the only O-lineman to hit 33″ at last years combine and I beleive the 1st O-lineman to have hit 9’9″ in the broad since 2012 or 2013.
Dominated that Georgia front 7 and Clemson’s Christian Wilkins. TBF, Wilkins is my personal ‘way overrated this guy earlier in the year.’
I love Braden smith he’s gonna be a good player at the next level. Not sure why there isn’t more hype on him he’s a great athlete and his tape is amazing.
it seems all the Oline hasn’t received much buzz around here because I think frankly there’s fatigue. this is a lazy line of thinking from me, per example:
But I’m tired of talking about Oline picks that are high when Seattle has spent a boatload of capital on the line and frankly it feels like that has gone nowhere.
Now, realistically with a new Oline coach, I think it’s highly likely that Seattle drafts a guard in the 2nd round. Solari has a good deal of opinions on what makes a guard, and Seattle doesn’t have one right now….pocic…maybe.
Agreed about Braden Smith.
Yup, haven’t really watched the OL class yet, but everything I’ve read about him has been positive.
“I’ve never had one like him. He’s a most deserved FREAK,” said Tigers O-line coach Herb Hand. Asked what’s the most impressive thing about Smith, Hand replied: “His approach to his craft. Very business like. Really developing as a leader too. Holding the rest of the unit accountable to the standards he has set.”
“The most impressive thing to me is his mobility in his ankle and his hips,” Ryan Russell (director of strength and conditioning) says of Smith. “Normally a guy his size who is that strong and powerful will be stiff and has trouble moving efficiently. Braden’s movement efficiency is incredibly smooth and is something you don’t see too often with a guy that size.”
I’m glad you’re seeing that the athleticism is also translating onto the field.
I did not like him as a guard..
In my opinion JS will add one RB and one OL in FA and wont use first 3 rounds picks for that positions.
At the end of april they will definitely know condition of chris carson, and if everything is ok, Carson, Prosise and maybe Demarco Murray (or darkwa or hyde) are more then enough for next season.
For OL, add DJ Fluker, and with him we have, Brown, Fluker, Brit, Pocic, Ifedi. Fant, Roos, and maybe Tobin.
And for draft defensive front 7. DE, DT, LB. Take best available player. With or without trading back.
that’s a bold prediction. I’m into it as that I like seeing one area fixed at a time.
more thAn enough…and I forget Odhiambo…
I could see it coming exactly like that.
If they create cap space and additional draft picks by trading some defensive veterans they could even look for Pugh or Norwell, than going D first and second, WR/TE in mid rounds and RB/OL later.
I agree they will likely sing a RB and Guard in FAvas a hedge, but don’t think that will necessarily stop them from drafting at those positions. At RB in particular I think Pete wants to be as deep as possible.
I’m pretty down on all FA running backs except Hyde. that said I agree I could see them bring in one or more cheap FA’s and still draft one.
Can totally see that, until the #RB2018 version of Jarran Reed falls to mid second round, and trade up for him (Yah, Im looking at Guice).
Derwin James is never going to drop that far. His 2015 true freshman performance alone won’t allow it.
The Dolphins would take James above Billy Price. Miami got stuck with two strong safeties this season in Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald. Both are essentially the same player…much more effective with every step closer to the line of scrimmage. The team has already conceded it wants to use McDonald in more of a hybrid role next season. The desperation is for a safety who can roam and cover, allowing Jones to play his more natural and effective enforcer role.
The Dolphins are saying Mike Pouncey had his best season this year. That is nonsense but Adam Gase is young and stubborn and he believes it. Meanwhile the pass defense was incredibly inept, almost laughably so. The team needs linebackers, a free safety and defensive end. Derwin James makes the most sense. If they go linebacker I prefer Edmunds above little Roquan Smith and all his false hesitant steps. Good player…not great.
Derwin James is SS, and he isn’t good in coverage.
He wasn’t this year, coming back from an ACL. Teams are going to look at the body of work though, and at his best he’s been as good as anyone in this class. Well, maybe not quite Barkley good, but a half step behind.
What body of work though? One year as a freshman? Some of the same issues showed up during that season too.
I’m not really down on James, that’s why I still have him in the top-25. But he is what he is. The hype is too much.
Teams buy into hype and potential all the time though. And if he blows the roof off the combine like people think he will, then why not? From memory you had him as one of your top five prospects at the start of the season, and you’ve soured on him somewhat as we’ve gone along?
Hype is more of a media/fan thing, not a team thing.
There are things to like about him, undoubtedly. As I said in another reply — that’s why I have him in the top-25 still. If I thought he was terrible I wouldn’t put him in round one. But it’s important to distinguish between hype and reality. He looks the part in terms of being very big and physical — and he’s a good tackler. But his movement in space the more you study him is a liability. He’s going to be a guy who plays up at the line. He’s not good in space. I don’t expect him to run particularly well at the combine. So you put a cap on his stock.
To me he’s a pretty good box safety. He isn’t Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, Keanu Neal etc. He’s more Eric Reid. And Reid was the #18 pick. And that’s the type of range I expect James to go.
It’s very possible Derwin James drops that far.
People got caught up in the hype after his Freshman season. And now it’s just assumed he’ll go really early. I never actually see any reasons why though. His reputation is built on being a big name.
Here’s what he is — a big box safety. That’s fine. Nothing wrong with that. But it’s not a position many teams covet in round one. He’s stiff working in space and doesn’t make many plays. He’s big and he tackles well.
Check out DeShon Elliot from Texas. I think he’s a better prospect than James.
He’ll bait a QB and really excels in small spaces for a big guy.
Good shout.
I agree. The number #1 pick will most likely be Allen.
I have been going back and forth, but I think Barkley is going #4 as well. However, I think CLE might do a bit of maneuvering in the top 10 to gain more draft picks, which they later could leverage into 3-4 1st round picks when day #1 is over. If CLE stays at #4, Barkley would be my pick for them. My darkhorse pick for CLE would be Vita Vea….. I keep picturing him with Garrett and salivate…. they would have a very strong defensive core to build upon.
Sowhy we talk about the Browns so much on here… they will control the first round with how they play their top 2 picks…. butterfly effect if you will. 😛 (and I also want to see destitute team turn it around and be respectable)
Cleveland passing on Wentz and Watkins in back to back years, only to draft Allen the following season would be LOL.
My dream scenario 😀
Tag Sheldon Richardson, and then trade ET, SR and Sherman to Browns for 4th pick.
This SDB draft season would be much more interesting 😀
Ha. A man can always dream, I guess.
I’d settle for Edmunds falling to 18… (nightmare: it somehow happens and the Hawks trade down anyway. 😱)
You want to trade 3 starters for one top 5 draft pick?
I wonder if there’s a smaller trade-back available (we know how John Schneider loves to trade back in small increments picking up more back-end picks).
Specifically, if the Bills don’t do the big leap up, is there anyone they’d want to jump Dallas or Detroit to get? They have a ton of picks, so they’re pretty flexible.
Everything’s possible. But the smaller the trade back, the weaker the compensation. Moving back a few spots might only net you another day three pick. Seattle has plenty of those already. Essentially they might be better off picking at #18 than moving down a few spots just for a day three selection.
I think the key is going to be to find a way to pick at least twice on days 1-2.
^^^Agreed 100%
They need two starters, or at least major contributors i.e. a front 7 and/or RB that plays >40% of snaps, or an OG
PFF Draft
@PFF_College
No draft-eligible edge defender racked up more QB pressures than USC’s Uchenna Nwosu.
10 sacks, 21 hits, 30 hurries
3:01 PM – 15 Jan 2018
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/953039372605100032
Oh, and don’t leave out the 13 passes defended…
Love the TFL and the ascending stats. I wonder why he’s being slotted in multiple spots as a 3-4th rounder? I rarely watch USC games is he slow? That production is incredible.
He’s pretty undersized if he’s going to be a pass rush specialist in the NFL. Teams might be thinking he’s more Hau’oli Kikaha than a top flight prospect. If he blows up the combine than I think he could definitely shoot up the boards. He’s a former defensive back so it’s possible.
Not sure. Haven’t watched DL yet, but finding stats like this at least puts him on my list to check into further.
FWIW, here’s the top 5 edge defenders in total pressures this season (sacks/hits/hurries):
1. Uchenna Nwosu, USC: 61 (10/21/30)
2. Bradley Chubb, NCS: 55 (10/17/28)
3. Shaquem Griffin, UCF: 53 (7/8/38)
4. Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, Arkansas State: 52 (14/6/32)
5. Joe Ostman, Central Michigan: 51 (13/9/29)
Rolland-Jones (6-1 3/8, 245, 33 arm) is making the jump to OLB right away at the Shrine practices, knowing it will pay off in the long term, even though Pauline said he looked completely lost for now.
Ostman, on the other hand, is standing out bigtime at the shrine game practices and teams know he has the production, but his size hurts him and it’s unsure where he’ll end up lining up. Here’s how Jeff Ridson of RealGM put it:
Uchenna is a very interesting prospect. The 13 passes defended is a huge number for a linebacker. Means he is pretty good in coverage as well.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Nwosu was a reason Seattle was reportedly scouting USC games so frequently this year. Former basketball player, which shows on tape with his quickness and hops. Seems like a great athlete who could go 2nd round, possibly could crack into day one, if he tests well enough at the combine, and has himself a good outing at the Senior Bowl.
Chenna was USC’s best player this season. Without a doubt. Whenever they needed a big play, he was there. High Motor, Smart, and a nose for the ball. The USC DC would sometimes just make him a spy and he would read the QB’s eyes and swat the ball down. It was insane watching him play. I am all for getting our hands on him
Yeah! Some more stats backing up the WR I’ve got my eye on Marcell Ateman.
PFF Draft
@PFF_College
Wise decision to target these sure-handed draft-eligible WRs.
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/953635779737214976
6:31 AM – 17 Jan 2018
Some statistical love for my guy Kyle Queiro as well. Ballhawk!
PFF Draft
@PFF_College
Northwestern S Kyle Queiro made 12 plays on the ball this past season – 3rd-most of any safety.
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/952609013040066560
10:31 AM – 14 Jan 2018
He actually had 5 INTs.
That guy just makes plays. Fun to watch.
I certainly don’t mind the idea of Seattle trading down if they don’t make any trades of player(s) for picks. But before I get into what Seattle could do, I’d like to touch on what Cleveland could do. I feel that what Cleveland does this year may influence the draft more than any team has in the last 10 years. Not only do they have 2 very high picks (#1 and #4), they have 12 picks in total this year, 5 in the first 2 rounds. On top of that, as of today, they have the second most cap space of all teams. That’s without cuts or contract re-negotiations.
Most drafts have 2-5 QB’s that teams, scouts and draftniks are high on yet usually only 1 or 2 turn out to be long term starters (if that many). This is what makes me feel that Cleveland will go into the off season looking for a proven starter. And they are in luck. This year has a bumper crop of starter quality QB’s available. If I am Cleveland management, I’m offering maybe a 4th rounder to KC for Alex Smith or going after Bradford, Bridgewater or Keenum as Minnesota just won’t be able to resign all 3. This move alone would give Cleveland a tremendous ability to move around in the draft. For example, they could trade out of #1 and secure a later 1st rounder, some mid rounders and some extra picks for next year.
So how does that play into Seattle’s draft? Well, my dream scenario, Seattle would trade Richard Sherman to Cleveland for some draft picks. Maybe #35, #65 and #97 giving Seattle some extra picks and as important, some true cap relief. This would also play into Cleveland’s hands as most see Cleveland’s top 3 needs as QB, RB, and CB. Going into the draft with 2 of the 3 looked after would give Cleveland extreme flexibility to move around in the draft.
Some things I still believe about is that Seattle is and will be a Defense first team. Whether they keep their 1st round pick or trade back, I think they go Defense first. As far as the running game goes, if you look at the tape, it’s not the RB’s that are the problem. It’s hard to look good when you’re running up the back of your O-linemen or getting hit in the back field because someone was able to shoot a gap.
I get a sneaky feeling that management just might be happy with Carson and Rawls as #1 & #2 backs with McKissic and Prosise battling for third down back. A middle or late round RB I like is Ito Smith. He has such great field vision. He is a little on the small size for the NFL but if he can put on 10-15 lbs, he could be something. He catches the ball well, has good balance and is actually pretty tough to bring down for his size. But man, what he sees in front of him is a gift few player have. Last player I liked for his vision this much was WR John Brown drafted by Arizona in the 3rd round of the 2014 draft. Most had him pegged at 5th to 7th round.
I see the NFL turning more and more to multi purpose backs and I can see the Seahawks drafting a RB with that type of potential.
On FA QBs, Pauline saying buzz around the Shrine game is pointing to Browns, Jets, and Cardinals to go after Cousins.
Cardinals would have a really tough time cap wise, so that kind of only leaves Browns and Jets. Of course, the Redskins could just pony up too.
While I agree the Seahawks are a defense-first team, there is the factor of balance Rob pointed out the other day:
https://seahawksdraftblog.com/why-the-defense-has-to-be-younger-jones-ii-charles
The offense simply can’t have another year like it just did.
In a way, that’s my point. I don’t feel the RB’s are as bad as the O line, play calling and the basic X’s and O’s of the game plans. Carson looked good when on the field and Rawls didn’t really look out of place. If management is happy with the players at a position, they won’t use early picks to fill a non void.
Cleveland could go after Cousins but who ever signs him is going to be in the $22-$27 million range per year. Personally I don’t think he is worth that much.
respectfully disagree. seattle fans are loyal to a fault with players. but the running back position is not good. Tasks might even be cut this year. Carson, how he has to come back from injury, hope he’s ready, and hope that a guy who never was a feature back is going to be one moving forward.
mckissik I live this guys game but he’s a mismatch piece. davis I’m almost positive he wouldn’t be playing were it not for everything else not working. and procise….every year there’s a “just give him time” player on the team. the guy had a good not great season at Notre dame as a running back. two so so years as a WR before that. and a two game stretch two seasons ago where he was exciting.
in short I think the running back corps moving forward is Carson, mckissik, FA player, and drafted guy or maybe even two with one early and one with the team’s late picks.
Agree with almost everything peter. Only change I would make is I think it will possibly be Prosise over McKissic for one of the spots. Either way, I think it will come down to a training camp battle for one roster spot as a slash RB between those 2 guys.
If you think trading an injured Richard Sherman will net you 3 high draft picks I would love to know what you are on so I can get some as well, cause that HAS to be some good shit…
Well maybe no 3 picks, but he will be healthy by camp time and is still one of the top 5 CB’s in the game.
30 yrs old, coming off surgeries on both legs, and only played one system his whole career. Nobody is giving up very much for him. If somebody offered a 2nd rd pick, you probably take it. But last year he had two years of control left, was healthy, a year younger and the offers were not 3 picks, if they got that offer they probably would have taken it.
His best value is in Seattle imo. Let him ply out his deal and the books will be clear in 19.
Two standout players on offense and two on defense from the Shrine game practices so far for you all.
Today is day 3 and they are now hitting in scrimmage, so I’m sure some other players will be able to show a bit more now that they can be physical and have settled in a bit.
***Offense***
All the eyes and ears at Shrine game practices raining praise down on this WR.
WR Daurice Fountain, Northern Iowa, 6-1 5/8, 210, 34.5arm, 79 wing, 9.5 hand
Daurice Fountain – UNI Football Senior Wide Receiver 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTXcIDJyDNs
“Northern Iowa WR Daurice Fountain is the best in show for the East roster today. Couple of nice touchdown grabs already.”
“Speaking of the wideouts, Northern Iowa’s Daurice Fountain and Montreal’s Regis Cibasu will become bigger names after this week.”
“Barrett to Fountain again, same route, this time on USF CB Deatrick Nichols. Fountain’s been a problem for DBs all week.”
C Brian Allen, Michigan State, 6-1 1/8, 300, 31.625arm, 76.25 wing, 8.75 hand
“Michigan State C Brian Allen is one of my favorite OLinemen at the #ShrineGame. Super consistent on the inside. Haven’t seen him be overpowered yet.”
“Best two players on the East roster so far this week” (Brian Allen and J.T. Barrett)
“Michigan State center Brian Allen is short-armed and not overly quick with either his hands or feet, but he’s crafty and strong. I liked his older brother, Jack, more as a prospect. Brian did quite well in a tandem block drill, and he pulls out in the run game better than any other interior OL on either roster.”
***Defense***
LB Chris Worley, Ohio State, 6-1 3/8, 232, 31.5 arm, 76.375 wing, 9 hand
“Ohio State LB Chris Worley is guy tapped by many GMs already at #ShrineGame as a mid round sleeper. Highly intelligent and at 6-2, 230, skilled enough to play OLB or ILB.”
“Chris Worley is a prospect that will make me go take a second look at his film. I watched nearly all of the Buckeyes games this year. He’s good. Not many prospects have intrigued me enough to take 2nd or even 3rd looks from me. ”
DE Kentavius Street, N.C. State, 6-2 1/4, 285, 33.5 arm, 79.625 wing, 10.25 hand
“Defensively, the star of the day was North Carolina State’s DE Kentavius Street. Street was moved across the defensive line and consistently found numerous ways to the QB. This was in both team and 1-on-1s.”
“#NCState DE Kentavious Street has been outstanding.”
Will be interesting to see if any of them get called up to the Sr. Bowl. My money’s on Street if anybody. They say he’s been virtually unblockable and he’s got real NFL size and length. Teams will probably want to see him lined up against some higher level of competition to get a better take on him.
Great work Sea Mode. The name that interests me most is Street. That guy is a freak. Squat like 700 bills and run a 4.6-4.7 @ 285
http://www.google.com/amp/www.stack.com/amp/n-c-state-dl-kentavius-street-squats-700-pounds-and-runs-a-4-58-laser-timed-40-yard-dash
Could almost use him like Will Tukawafu. DT/FB.
Nice post Sea Mode. What is Daurice Fountain’s round projection?
Probably R6-R7.
The Brown’s need to take Barkley #1 overall…period. Don’t mess around with a QB till the 4th spot. One other note is nobody seems to consider that Seattle might not have an offer for the 18th pick that is worthy of trading back.
I agree if they want him. Can’t mess around and wait at 4.
Thanks Seamode: Excellent take.
Maybe you could answer this question. If we sign a player in 2017 for three years. Lets say we decide to trade him to team X in the off season. The salary cap hit is 4mil person season. So that leaves 8mil in a salary cap hit. Which team takes the hit on the remaining 8mil. Would it be the Seahawks or would it be team X?
It depends on how much of that is part of a bonus. Say of the $8m remaining, 6m is the base salary and $2m is what remains from the signing bonus that was prorrated over the length of the contract. The Hawks would be on the hook for the full $2m right away and team X would take on the $6m.
Here’s a more complete explanation if it helps:
Greg is our resident salary cap whiz though. Maybe he has something to add or correct.
Thanks Seamode:
So if the Seahawks traded Michael Bennett, the Seahawks would still be charged for any remaining unaccounted-for bonus money paid Bennett. That is what I was afraid of.
The Bennett deal is going to be a problem in any situation. And the cap relief in 12 months isn’t any better.
It wasn’t a great deal for the Seahawks with hindsight. Practically a golden handshake. I suspect they’ll just try and turn the page now and get the painful bit out of the way.
I’m thinking about the scenario where a blue chip player (Edmunds, Price, Davenport, idk) they decide they just HAVE to take is there for them at #18. In that case, they will have no R2-R3 picks to go after one of the top RBs. So they decide to go with Carson and the current group (sans Lacy, of course) and add a veteran to hedge.
We’ve talked about the 2018 FA names being pretty limited, with Hyde the only one that seems like he would really add something. So this got me thinking: are there any good veteran RBs we could trade for, say maybe a R5 pick to a team in need of some cap relief? Maybe they draft one of the RBs in R2 and would be willing to part ways with a vet, perhaps one with only a year left on his contract anyway?
Ideas? http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/2019/running-back/
As a plan it’s not a bad suggestion but to me it’d be a massive missed opportunity to band aid the RB position when the options in the draft are so good.
The player at #18 would have to be an Edmunds type for this to warrant it. And I don’t think he makes it that far.
I just wonder if there is any player they would take? Or is it trade down no matter who is available. If i had to guess i think they trade back no matter what. Unless they can get a second round pick another way.
One thing about Hyde though, as much as he could fit a Seahawks mold is he has never rushed for 1000 yards in 4 years. Could keep his price down I guess.
Yeah, I have to agree on Edmunds, unfortunately. Not keeping my hopes up at all. I will, however, admit to having thought up trade scenarios where we send #18 + R4 + Bennett to move up to around 12 and get him if he is still there… 🙂
But Price specifically is the one giving me pause because I’m thinking about filling the biggest holes on the roster like they always do.
There’s a hole at DT, but they can keep Sheldon to fill it.
There’s one at DE, but they can feature Dion Jordan more and grab a project later on.
There’s one at TE if Jimmy leaves, but we have Vannett and can add either in FA and/or draft later on.
There’s somewhat of one at RB, but Carson’s injury turned out to be way less serious than Rawls’ and he might be their guy next year regardless along with Mike Davis and an improved OL, which means…
It might just be sooo tempting to lock down that LG spot with real premier talent and have it be a strength for years to come. Sure, we could go for a R2 talent at OG or bank on Odhiambo/Roos, but none of them seem like complete players in both run blocking and pass pro who are likely to really help elevate the line to the next level.
In the end, the single best pick who would improve the run game most, while also providing good protection for Russ, might just be Price.
Maybe one trade down, dont get cute. Our first two picks aquire a RB, and interior linemen. Lets invest in a top notch RB and we need to hit on a good OL to offset the Rams pass Rush. This is not a good WR class, maybe we get lucky and rd 6 or 7 with a small school guy. I would prefer getting Russell some Help on Offense this season early and try and get lucky with Rds 4 and 5 for defense. Lets not forget we drafted a bunch of Defense last draft, maybe these guys develop.
Off-Topic:
How is the Steelers really having a HoF QB, Best WR in the league, maybe the best RB in the league, solid O-line, Good defense, and still no SB since 08?
Good defense is pushing it a bit. Their defense has ranged from awful to mediocre up until this season, where it was decent. They also ran into a buzzsaw after mouthing off all week. Tomlin seems to run a similar program to Pete where players are free to “speak their minds”. Unfortunately the Jags took that trash talk to heart and punched them in the mouth, and the Steelers wilted.
It goes to show you how being a run first team with a great defense gets you to Super Bowls. As soon as they went with the air attack and that defense slowed down no Super Bowls, not even really much post season success.
Yep, I think the Patriots’ run game has been really underrated over their recent 2nd run. They can pound the run game when they need to.
That describes the 2017 Seahawks to a TEE., and they aren’t even in the playoffs. A balanced offense and great defense will get you to the superbowl.
Just want to say the Steelers are a great team in those stretches. Maybe only the Patriots have had more sustained success in those areas.
They did make the SB in 2011 and lost by a TD.
2012 & 2013 were 8-8 retooling type years. Bell & Brown were just emerging as draft finds.
2014 Leveon Bell was hurt and their run game was severely hampered vs Baltimore and the defense kept Brown out of the end zone.
2015 they ran into a Denver defense so good they won a SB with the decaying remains of Peyton Manning at QB.
2016 advanced to AFCCG. Bell hurt again and Brown contained by the Patriots.
2017 scored 42 pts on the #1 defense and still lost.
You could make the argument as vrtkolman does that their defense hasn’t been up to par but those are some pretty successful seasons.
The last couple years they ran into buzz saw defenses in the playoffs.
Defenses win championships (except for pats). 3 best defenses are playing this weekend (with 3 mediocre QBs)
The defense for the Steelers since their last Super Bowl victory has not been very good.
Our 1st pick would be a RB even with trading down unless they acquire a 2nd by trading someone.
Saw a cool stat. Missed tackles forced (yes Penny faced lower talent, but still):
83 Penny
Chubb 58
Jones 57
Freeman 57
Hawks need a RB in the baddest of ways. Someone that makes people miss and reads the hole.
With our OL in it’s current form people aren’t going to miss. Yards After Contact might be a more telling stat for the Hawks RB search.
Thats hilarious.
>these guys break tackles
>nobody can break tackles behind our line
Better just not draft anybody, huh.
Pete Caroll wants experience and obedient people on his coaching stuff.
Seems like 2 things basically any employer in any field looks for as a priority…
Now that the main coaching positions have been filled (still curious about the QB and LB coaches), do we know if there will be any media appearances by PC, JS, or any of the new coaches? Or will we have to wait until the combine to hear from them? I sure hope not, as I’d like to hear what they have to say.
Too much comments to read through so forgive me if it’s been said, but I wonder if TEF is still relevant for the O line? Pete and John did have some say what n personnel so it may still be a tool. If I remember Pocic was not taken by Cable ( Pocic’s TEF)? Assuming it is and none of Price, Wynn or Ragnow have a good TEF would that change what you do at 18 or even with a small trade back?
A few quick thoughts here:
— TEF was put together based on Tom Cable’s self-confessed physical ideals. We’ll probably never find out if PCJS share those ideals, it’s possible but we can’t say for sure.
— Even if Cable’s absence now makes it irrelevant in terms of prototype, TEF is still a very effective way of measuring and comparing explosive traits. It shows us very clearly who the most explosive athletes are on the OL and DL and how they compare to current and previous NFL greats. So there will always be some use to it. It’s the best way to measure explosive traits that I’ve come across on the internet.
— Pocic was not a +3.00 TEF tester but he was one of the best testers in the 2017 class. Could’ve been a ‘needs must’ situation — but I also don’t think the Seahawks are tied exclusively to amazing explosive athleticism. It’s a bonus, rather than a cure all.
Thanks for that. It will be interesting to see if the TEF stars continue to pop up on Seattles radar. I cant shake the thought that it was JS not Cable who made the Pocic pick so its interesting he was a good tester in a weak TEF year. It will be interesting to see if what side Solari falls on in regards to the “get the explosive athlete” plan in regards to the talent coming out of college. If he is as good of a teacher as many have said he would still likely require good clay to mold.
I’ll happily admit now — I’m going to publish the TEF scores as usual but the angle won’t be ‘here are the guys Seattle might consider’. It’ll be ‘here’s a breakdown of how explosive all of the OL and DL players are’.
That’s more interesting anyway for me. To see how the different players compare physically. TEF did as much to help me highlight Sheldon Rankins as a top-15 lock as anything. Most of the national draft sites had him lasting to Seattle at #25. We knew better, thanks to TEF, because it told us he was one of the most explosive defenders to enter the league in several years.
It sure doesn’t help them find people who can play offensive line. Explosive traits are great so long as you aren’t getting whipped off of the snap. Is there a way they can add reflexes into that equation?