The Seahawks arguably crossed an ethical line when they decided they wanted to sign Antonio Brown.
Many fans didn’t want it to happen. Russell Wilson, for the first time in his Seahawks career, faced an awkward line of questioning during yesterday’s press conference.
Usually Wilson’s press briefings are fairly bland. A positive review of the next opponents, some praise for team mates, a few cliche’s and then a ‘Go Hawks’ to finish.
Instead he had to explain his support for arguably the NFL’s most controversial current individual.
He clumsily resorted to ‘nobody’s perfect’ as a defense for his public backing of a player cut by the Patriots after it emerged the NFL was investigating Brown for multiple accusations of sexual assault and rape.
Earlier in the week Carroll admitted Seattle’s interest:
“We’re there, we’re in it and we know what’s happening.”
Nobody was playing anything down.
The way everyone was talking — a deal felt inevitable.
They invited criticism — although let’s be fair, many fans also supported the possibility of signing Brown based on his football talent. I don’t think it’s a stretch to suggest they staked some of their reputation on this. Both Carroll and Wilson portray very positive public images. Attaching themselves to Brown at a time when the offense is rocking was a risky move — whether you supported his signing or not.
To go through that and then have Tampa Bay swoop him and snatch him away?
Adam Schefter reported less than an hour before it was announced that the Buccs had agreed terms with Brown, that the Seahawks were still ‘in talks’ to try and sign him:
Antonio Brown will visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, as @AaronWilson_NFL also reported.
Brown is flying to Tampa tonight. He also is in discussions with the Seattle Seahawks.
This is the worst possible scenario. The Seahawks took on all of the negatives of being seen to be actively pursuing Brown — and then didn’t even seal the deal for their troubles.
Anyone who criticised the Seahawks for showing interest in Brown shouldn’t suddenly forget all about it now. They have to hold Carroll and Wilson to account in the same way they would’ve done had they signed him. Per Schefter’s report — they didn’t back out. They retained interest right until the end. They’re simply losing him to Tampa Bay.
For those that did want him — the Seahawks failed to land their target.
Will he understand the Seahawks letting him join a NFC rival? Or will this create an issue now that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady have got the man he wanted?
If you’re going to cross the ethical line to try and sign Brown — you better get it done and you better have a convincing explanation for those unhappy about it. If you’re not going to get it done — stay well away.
Compare the two teams most heavily involved in this. Seattle spent a week answering questions about Brown, had the fans split discussing this topic, had the media all over it — and for what exactly? Tampa Bay avoided all of that and simply signed him.
The Seahawks have snatched all the negatives from this story and been left with none of the positives. Nobody should be willing to just look beyond that because they ‘dodged a bullet’ they were more than willing to take. Some accountability is required.
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Quinnen Williams is reportedly available for the right price
Names are being thrown around. Some are more likely than not.
The reality is the Seahawks are in a difficult spot to make a trade. They don’t have a first or third round pick next year and they only have $3.7m in available cap space.
That’s not to say they can’t be creative and they’re carrying players on the roster who are arguably dispensable.
The Rams have extended an army of players. The Ravens are now over the cap after trading for Yannick Ngakoue. You can make things happen if you have the want and desire.
So let’s look at some of the names linked and gauge the likelihood of a deal being struck.
Carlos Dunlap (DE, Cincinnati)
Like many veteran players in Cincinnati, Dunlap is unhappy with his role. He’s seen a major reduction in snaps recently. Charley Casserly suggested this week he’d be a good target for the Seahawks. He’s used to playing in a four-man front and last year he had nine sacks on a bad team. His contract isn’t overly expensive and the Seahawks could retain him next season (the final year of his contract) if he performed well. He has the size and length Seattle likes.
How likely is it?
Owner Mike Brown is the problem. He treats the Bengals like a family business and is the decision maker in Cincinnati. A year ago it made perfect sense to trade some of their ageing veterans to launch a rebuild. Brown resisted — making ridiculous demands (eg wanting a second rounder for often-injured Tyler Eifert weeks before he departed in free agency). According to a NFC Executive — once again the asking price for certain players is ‘unreasonable’. If he’s asking for high picks, there’s simply nothing you can do. This is how Mike Brown operates.
Verdict
It’d make perfect sense for the Bengals to move Dunlap and for the Seahawks to acquire him. Yet all the projections of a day three pick don’t account for the owner. Unfortunately, in his world, Dunlap probably has a first or second round value. I’m not convinced anyone will change his mind either.
Ryan Kerrigan (DE, Washington)
Quietly, Kerrigan has been one of the most prolific sack-artists in the NFL over the last decade. He has 93 career sacks — only six fewer than J.J. Watt. While he’s never achieved a level of dominance comparable to Watt, Kerrigan has been a picture of consistency. He has three sacks this year playing in a reduced role as a complimentary piece to Chase Young and Montez Sweat (although Young has missed some time). Kerrigan has the size and length Seattle likes, even if he’s lost some of the dynamic quickness he used to show during the 13-sack season years.
How likely is it?
Washington, like the rest of the NFC East, are in an odd spot. They are 1-5 and yet they’re in the thick of the divisional race. So are they trying to win the division or rebuild? They have two young first round picks at defensive end and two more first round defensive tackles. It seems unlikely that Kerrigan will be re-signed in the off-season as a free agent, so they should probably see what they can get now and rely on Young and Sweat the rest of the way. He wanted to break the franchise record for sacks and he achieved that in week one. It’d make sense for the team and player to orchestrate a deal — although in fairness he’s never sought a move despite Washington’s troubles so he might be settled. His contract would cost about $6-7m to acquire, so Seattle would have to create cap space.
Verdict
In many ways, it’d be good for all parties. There are three key questions though. How realistic are Washington prepared to be in a trade for a 32-year-old on an expiring contract? How much do the Seahawks see a 32-year-old pass rusher being able to provide the quickness off the edge they currently badly lack? And how willing are they to create $3-4m in cap space to make it happen? After all — this is likely a 2020 rental. I’m just not sure the cost will fit for Seattle.
Whitney Mercilus (DE, Houston) Reports last week suggested the Texans were considering a fire-sale. They don’t have a first or second round pick in 2021. They need to provide an attractive proposition to potential GM and Head Coach candidates beyond just Deshaun Watson. Some have touted J.J. Watt as a trade candidate but let’s get real. He is the Texans. He’s an institution in Houston. The more likely trade candidates are Brandin Cooks, Bradley Roby, Kenny Stills, Zach Cunningham, Will Fuller and Whitney Mercilus.
How likely is it?
This is a complicated one. Mercilus only signed a new $53.5m contract last December. His dead cap-hit is enormous and would need to be spread out, causing headaches for some time. It’s the sign of a badly run franchise that you let one individual make so many significant personnel moves, then fire him. However, they are also $16m over the cap for 2021 as things stand. They need to shift some bodies. Imagine trying to coax your GM and Head Coach combo to Houston with the offer of no high picks and no money to spend. Difficult decisions are needed and players will need to be sacrificed after a 1-5 start and with the team almost certainly out of playoff contention. Mercilus is 30 and has the speed and length Seattle likes. His production, however, has dropped off in recent years. He’s not had more than 7.5 sacks in a season since 2015 (he has three sacks this year). It’s questionable how appealing he is if the price isn’t low.
Verdict
He’s at a reasonable age. He only recently turned 30 so he might have a couple of decent years in the tank. He would be expensive in terms of base salary until 2023 but you could cut him at any point with no penalty. The stumbling block, again, could be price. How reasonable are the Texans willing to be? For Seattle, they will want the flexibility to move on at the end of the season if it doesn’t work. So that would mean giving up a later round pick in order to set the ball rolling for Houston to sort out their cap. Is that appealing to the Texans? Is it worth moving him for? For Seattle, a late round pick works. I’m not sure that’ll cut it for Houston.
Kyler Fackrell (DE, New York Giants)
The Giants, like Washington, are in a strange spot. They are 1-6 yet very much contenders for the NFC East. They should’ve beaten the Eagles on Thursday to take control of the division at 2-4. Dave Gettleman — and to a lesser extent Joe Judge — need to have this franchise heading in the right direction by the end of the year. For that reason, they seem less likely to throw in the towel and siphon off assets. Even so, Fackrell has the length and size to play LEO and was a former blog favourite. He had a fantastic game against Seattle in 2018 during a 10.5 sack season. He has three sacks this year and isn’t expensive.
How likely is it?
Not very. New York’s defense, at times, has been a positive for them (see: the game against the LA Rams). If you’re trying to establish culture and a new mentality, getting rid of players who are actually producing for you isn’t wise. Unlike the Jets, Jaguars and others — the Giants don’t feel like a team that are suddenly having their heads turned by the prospect of being in position to draft Trevor Lawrence. That said, their offensive line is a shambles and if they were able to flip one player to make an O-line improvement, they might consider it. I’m just not sure how much they truly value someone like B.J. Finney.
Verdict
This could be a low-key brilliant move. Fackrell isn’t going to come in and start wrecking games for you but he has a knack of rushing the edge, getting into the backfield and making things happen. He’s only 28 and there’s no commimtent beyond 2020. However — it just doesn’t make all that much sense for the Giants to trade him unless they get a great offer.
Takk McKinley (DE, Atlanta) Albert Breer reported recently that prior to the firing of Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff, the Falcons were considering dealing McKinley. He also said the situation is now unclear — with ownership seemingly willing to let caretaker Raheem Morris have a proper shot to win the job. Even so, McKinley is a free agent in the off-season and it would make some sense to get something now for a player who hasn’t delivered on his first round potential.
How likely is it?
With the report on a willingness to trade him and based on his physical profile — it feels like the most likely option listed here. It’s hard to imagine the Falcons asking for much in return. He turns 25 in November, so he’s at a great age. He has the 35-inch arms Seattle likes, LEO size and he ran a solid 1.60 10-yard split. A trade would be ideal for McKinley. He gets a fresh start and an opportunity to make an impression before becoming a free agent. For Seattle he could provide something they badly need — genuine speed off the edge.
Verdict
Provided the Falcons were willing to deal him and not hold on — it’s probably the most likely scenario. It all depends on Atlanta’s motivation. Trading McKinley doesn’t save any money for next year. If they’re only getting a late round pick — is it worth hampering Morris if they want to see if he’s up to the job? If they’re happy to just move on, then it’s worth a roll of the dice.
Quinnen Williams (DT, New York Jets)
In recent days there’s been a lot of speculation to suggest Williams is available. It very much looks like the Jets are trying to drum up a market. They’re in full-blown tank mode at this stage, with major changes imminent. Acquiring stock for next year is the key. The current GM, Joe Douglas, didn’t draft Williams. If he can get a second rounder to go with the haul he got from Seattle for Jamal Adams, he’ll probably take it.
How likely is it?
It really depends how the Seahawks viewed Williams going into the draft. During the 2018 season, he was arguably the best player in college football. He suddenly exploded onto the scene as a one-year wonder — blowing up interior lines and making plays galore. He had eight sacks and 19.5 TFL’s. He then ran a 4.83 forty at 303lbs at the combine. Williams appeared destined to be the next big thing but for whatever reason, it hasn’t happened. The Seahawks said one of the main reasons they traded for Jamal Adams was their inability to pick high enough to select players of that quality. If they think Williams is a stud suffering due to New York’s ineptitude, they might think at 22-years-old he’s better than anyone they’ll be able to draft in round two next year. Plus — the Jets will take on the bulk of his salary meaning he’ll be a bargain for two more years after this season.
Verdict
I’m not convinced the Seahawks will want to go into the 2021 draft with no picks in the first three rounds — especially now that the college football season is underway (the 2021 draft no longer looks like a busted flush). However — you’d be getting a #3 overall pick at a great age, on a phenomenally cheap salary and at a position of serious need (D-line). So how did they grade him? Did they think, as some did, that he was the best player in the 2019 draft? I don’t think it’s likely the Jets will get an offer to make a trade worth their while.
Anyone on the Philadelphia Eagles
Philly’s problems with the cap in 2021 are well known. They face a $71m black hole for next year. The only clear solution is to try and use some of their remaining $21.5m for 2020 to absorb dead money this year and get certain big contracts off the books for next season. Fletcher Cox, Brandan Graham and Derek Barnett could be potential targets.
How likely is it?
Bizarrely, they just restructured Cox’s contract and by placing Zach Ertz on short-term IR, they eliminated any shot of him being dealt per the rules. They seem, if anything, to be trying to add before the deadline. Even so — they surely have an eye on their enormous cap problem that is only a few weeks away from being a biting reality. I’m not sure a 2-4-1 team should be ‘all-in’ on an improbable playoff run simply because they have the good fortune to be in the NFC East.
One trade did happen today
The Arizona Cardinals traded a sixth round pick to the Giants for Markus Golden. Having played last night — and with him needing to go through Covid-testing — he won’t play on Sunday. However, it’s a smart move by the Cardinals. He knows the team well having spent four seasons there. They needed a replacement for Chandler Jones. He’s also the third pass rusher, after Yannick Ngakoue and Jordan Willis, to be traded this week. Players are being moved and a market is being established. So far the Seahawks, who desperately need help off the edge, are yet to make a move.
Verdict
I can’t imagine how the Eagles plan to get out of cap-hell for 2021 without doing some deals before the deadline. They could, theoretically, start cutting players at the end of the season. However — why not try and get something back in return now? It comes down to whether they want to delude themselves into thinking they’re a serious contender, rather than a franchise that needs to embrace how badly they need a refresh.
Final verdict
The issue with many of these options are age and cost. It’d be ideal to have a younger player, still on a rookie deal, with something to prove.
For example, look at the Rams’ trade for Dante Fowler a few years ago. A former top-five pick at a good age with some talent who can come in and try to earn big money in free agency.
The only comparable situation listed here is Takk McKinley in Atlanta. However — unlike Fowler he isn’t a former top-five pick.
More than anything the Seahawks need speed off the edge. A younger player is more likely to provide that but beggars can’t be choosers. If an opportunity for a 30-something pass rusher emerges, it still needs to be considered. The Seahawks are stacked with potential five-techniques but only have Alton Robinson and Benson Mayowa who can play anything akin to a LEO. That’s a big problem.
Yannick Ngakoue on a discount deal for the remainder of the season would’ve been perfect. He’d come to Seattle with an enormous chip on his shoulder, knowing he had a few weeks to set himself up for free agency. He has the quickness they need to attack the edge. He has the production (five sacks in six games) they currently miss. Unfortunately not having a third rounder in 2021 would’ve made it extremely difficult to compete with Baltimore.
Unfortunately the decision to try Stephen Sullivan at pass rusher and bring back Mychal Kendricks (who rushed well from the SAM last year) is perhaps indicative of the difficulty Seattle faces ahead of the deadline.
Nevertheless — the uncertain economic situation in the NFL could still make this a trade deadline like we’ve never seen before. There have been surprises in the past. Nobody predicted Quandre Diggs would be traded, for example.
Given the controversial nature of Seattle’s interest — surely the only thing worse than actively pursuing him would be going through all of this just to miss out?
If you missed our podcast on the Antonio Brown news and the Arizona game, don’t forget to check it out…
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Firstly — if you missed our podcast yesterday on the breaking Antonio Brown news and a preview of the Arizona game, don’t forget to check it out…
Thoughts on Yannick Ngakoue’s second trade of 2020
According to Adam Schefter, the Baltimore Ravens are trading their 2021 third round pick and a 2022 conditional fifth to the Vikings for Ngakoue.
Basically, for the sake of six games, Minnesota dropped from a high second round pick to a late third — which is incredible and barely believable.
They end up paying around $6m and moving back approximately 50 picks for six games of Ngakoue.
And once again, the Ravens are the beneficiaries.
Remember in February when the Seahawks stated fixing the pass rush was the priority, only to fail to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney then replace him with Benson Mayowa? Then they traded a second and third round pick for Darrell Taylor — who wasn’t allowed to work out at the Senior Bowl or combine due to injury. It’s increasingly likely he won’t play in 2020 and who knows if or when he’ll be available?
The pass rush hasn’t been fixed and the defense is struggling badly.
Now compare this to Baltimore’s work this off-season:
— Acquired Calais Campbell for a fifth round pick
— Franchise tagged Matt Judon
— Signed Michael Brockers and when he failed a medical, pivoted to Derek Wolfe
— Drafted Justin Madubuike in round three
— Traded a third round pick for Yannick Ngakoue
The difference between the Seahawks and Ravens couldn’t be more stark.
Let’s consider an alternative universe. The Seahawks spend the $50m they used in free agency this year to keep Clowney (or properly replace him) and add Campbell. Instead of trading up for Darrell Taylor, they use their picks to add Ngakoue.
Would they have so many issues on defense? Would they look like the clear team to beat in the NFL?
It’s frustrating to think about what could’ve been.
I don’t think the Seahawks made a move for Calais because of Jarran Reed. I think they intended to pay Reed and didn’t want to invest $10-12m a year contracts in two defensive tackles. This, to me, was a philosophical call relating to the cap and ultimately a mistake. Campbell has four sacks in six games this year.
The Seahawks also badly need a dynamic edge rusher. Ngakoue has five sacks in six games this season.
A lack of a third rounder in 2021 makes it difficult to compete with Baltimore in this most recent trade. However, they still had a second rounder. They could’ve even offered players or more significant future picks.
If the Seahawks fail to add a pass rusher before the trade deadline, it would’ve been tolerable if the market at the position was quiet. It won’t be if other teams, like the Ravens, go out and get players like Ngakoue.
It wasn’t the only move. Yesterday the 49ers swapped a sixth for a seventh rounder with the Jets for Jordan Willis. His career has never got off the ground but his athletic potential has always been high. He ran a 1.57 10-yard split at his combine and a 4.53 forty. Seattle needs that kind of speed.
The 49ers are turning over rocks to find solutions. What are the Seahawks doing?
Hoping for the best with the current pass rush isn’t going to cut it. They don’t have anyone on the roster who can consistently win 1v1 off the edge. They have the fifth worst sack percentage (3.6%) in the NFL.
If the Ravens realise their potential this year and the Seahawks are left wondering what could’ve been — the way both teams approached their pass rush will be a difficult pill to swallow.
The timing of the Antonio Brown report was extremely ‘convenient’
I mentioned this briefly in yesterday’s article but wanted to expand on the thought today. I’m convinced the Seahawks were extremely comfortable with Adam Schefter reporting the news on Antonio Brown and may have even had a hand in supplying the information.
This is a controversial prospective signing given Brown’s recent history. Gauging reaction would be an understandable move by the Seahawks.
You toss out the possibility via the NFL’s premier reporter and see what the fall out is. Schefter has the biggest reach and would be able to bring in the greatest reaction.
Everything about the report felt a little stage-managed. Schefter had a fancy ‘breaking news’ graphic to go with his tweet which I’m guessing he didn’t personally throw together in 15 minutes at home:
With Antonio Brown’s suspension eligible to end after week 8, the Seattle Seahawks are now positioned to make a push to sign him, though they’re not alone, league sources tell ESPN. Other teams also are interested. pic.twitter.com/ykn1NJ6LUm
“The Seattle Seahawks are now positioned to make a push to sign him, though they’re not alone, league sources tell ESPN. Other teams also are interested.”
Let’s parse this a little. The Seahawks are in a position to sign him but nothing is done. It’s both non-committal yet striking. If others are interested and nothing is done, why single out the Seahawks as an interested party? Why are they the focal point of the report, rather than the mere fact they are among the teams showing interest?
If my hunch is correct that this is an exercise in gauging reaction, the use of language is quite clever here. Down the line the Seahawks have an easy out if they decide not to sign him, with no discrediting of the reporter. They are the only team mentioned with the caveat that nothing is certain.
Using the media in this way is nothing new. Sports teams, governments, politicians, companies — it happens all the time. If you want to know what people think to an idea, get it into the media as a possibility and see what happens.
The heat is taken off somewhat if you know public opinion is on your side.
I’ve had a quick look at social media and the forums. There doesn’t seem to have been any kind of backlash. Some fans have been vocal in their disproval. Yet there hasn’t been a groundswell of negativity.
For that reason, I suspect the Seahawks might have received the feedback they require to feel comfortable making this signing. It would be curious for this information to be made so public and not come to fruition. If Pete Carroll wanted to play everything down he could’ve during his press conference. Instead, he embraced the report.
To me, this feels increasingly inevitable.
I do think there are some serious things to consider, including how you handle Brown. As noted yesterday — some responsibility needs to be placed with Russell Wilson. The quarterback wants him, has petitioned for him, so Wilson needs to make sure this works out.
It feels like he will get that opportunity and barring any setbacks Brown will likely agree terms with the Seahawks next week, go through the Covid-19 protocols and be ready to play Buffalo in week nine.
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With Antonio Brown’s suspension eligible to end after week 8, the Seattle Seahawks are now positioned to make a push to sign him, though they’re not alone, league sources tell ESPN. Other teams also are interested. pic.twitter.com/ykn1NJ6LUm
I was in the process of writing an article about Antonio Brown when the tweet above was posted. So here we go…
Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, Le’Veon Bell and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
The Kansas City Chiefs have taken every opportunity to surround Patrick Mahomes with weapons. High picks, massive salaries and bold moves.
As far as Any Reid and the Chiefs are concerned, their star cannot have enough weapons.
The Seahawks themselves have a decent arsenal for Russell Wilson but to their credit — they seem to share Kansas City’s mindset.
You can never do too much.
D.K. Metcalf has joined Tyler Lockett to create a really dynamic double-act at receiver. They’ve spent money and picks at the tight end position and are well stacked with Greg Olsen, Will Dissly, Jacob Hollister, Luke Willson, Colby Parkinson and Stephen Sullivan.
They used a first round pick on Rashaad Penny to join the ultra-dynamic and physical Chris Carson in the backfield. They spent money on Carlos Hyde and used picks on Travis Homer and Deejay Dallas.
They paid to retain David Moore, added Phillip Dorsett and Freddie Swain is showing early promise as a rookie.
Clearly, however, they feel they need more. They’ve been waiting on news on Josh Gordon for a long time. Strangely the NFL has allowed both David Irving and Randy Gregory to return but they are yet to clear Gordon. A decision is long overdue.
We’re nearly seven weeks into the season. How much longer can the Seahawks wait?
We all know the defense is a big problem in Seattle. However, there are not many obvious solutions. We can all sit here and discuss possible trades for anyone from Ryan Kerrigan to J.J. Watt to Whitney Mercilus or whoever else. If teams aren’t willing to do business, or are asking for too much in return, what can you do?
This doesn’t completely excuse the Seahawks of course. They should’ve done a better job fixing their defensive line in the off-season when they had money and picks to spend. They failed to sufficiently address their self-confessed priority and it’s their cross to bear.
Pumping your offense with even more weapons won’t necessarily solve your problems. However, if this a season where you need to be the aggressor and apply scoreboard pressure to win games — you can make a strong case for taking advantage of any opportunity to further bolster Russell Wilson’s playmaking options.
Antonio Brown has many issues and if you don’t want to see him anywhere near the Seahawks, I sympathise with that point of view. Certainly I wouldn’t want the team to be blasé about signing him. If this truly is on the cards, I’d like to assume significant work has gone into this prospective signing.
Private checks on his prior legal issues, information to counter serious accusations, a fact-finding mission to see if he is remorseful and/or a changed man.
Pete Carroll has never been afraid of a reclamation project. This would arguably be his most high-profile one to date. Maybe even his most controversial.
If the Seahawks have put in the hours — and as I noted earlier, I’m going to assume they have — they have to be really sure about this one.
Even then I think they need to handle this in a particular way.
Russell Wilson has seemingly gone to bat for Brown. They worked out together and Wilson was happy for that to be public knowledge. Various reports have said Seattle’s quarterback has pushed for the receiver to be signed.
They appear to be quite close:
If Wilson wants Brown — then here is what I think the Seahawks should do. They should put the responsibility of keeping him in check on Wilson. You want him? You want to campaign for him to be here? It’s up to you to make this work.
Any nonsense and he’s out the door immediately — and you’ll need to be the one to tell him so.
I would make that abundantly clear to both players. Does Brown want to let down the man who appears determined to salvage his career? Does Wilson truly believe this is going to work?
Maybe, just maybe, this is the Seahawks calling the bluff. You want superstars? You want this guy? You want us to listen to you, meet your needs and bring in the guys you want? Fine — but you need to make it work.
Strictly from a football perspective, you can make a compelling case for the signing. Brown, now aged 32, might not be the same player who was once considered the best receiver in football. However, as a third wheel to Metcalf and Lockett — the Seahawks would have an assortment of weapons few can match.
How does a team game plan to stop that trio? On top of the tight ends, the running game and the possibility of Chris Carson catching passes out of the backfield?
The Seahawks are already ranked #1 in the NFL on offense per DVOA. Yet it still feels like they have room to be even better.
Think of it this way. We talked a lot about receivers prior to the 2020 draft — Jalen Reagor, Brandon Aiyuk, Chase Claypool and others. There was room for another top target on this offense. That still remains the case — whether it’s Josh Gordon or Antonio Brown.
If the Seahawks have exhausted all options on defense and simply don’t see a viable trade to make to improve their flailing pass rush — the only thing they can do is keep adding in other ways.
Like Gordon, I can’t imagine Brown is going to be an expensive project. He needs a shot on the right team with the right quarterback. As with Snacks Harrison — he probably needs this culture and this coach and this franchise as much as the team needs the player. So the cost might not even rule out a defensive trade down the line.
I also wonder if the Seahawks were happy for this report to appear today. Gauging reaction is important for a move that has consequences and the best way to gauge a reaction is to have Adam Schefter break a story.
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The trade deadline is nearing and it’s time for some action
If there was ever a time to be aggressive, surely this it?
The Seahawks are 5-0, Russell Wilson is playing the best football of his life and the only thing standing in their way is a troublesome defense.
In previous years they have been active. A year ago they traded for Jadeveon Clowney right before the season started and then added Quandre Diggs before the deadline. In 2017 they were extremely aggressive in trading for both Sheldon Richardson and Duane Brown to plug holes.
Never in the 10 years of Pete Carroll’s reign have they gone quietly into the night. Never have they left a glaring weakness exposed and festering.
Earlier this year they traded a kings ransom for Jamal Adams but clearly it wasn’t enough. A safety, however good, cannot mask the lack of talent on the defensive line.
The Seahawks have the fifth worst sack percentage in the league (3.6%). Somehow they’ve managed to get even worse compared to last year (4.5%). They are ranked 26th in defensive DVOA after six weeks — compared to #1 on offense and #4 on special teams.
#1, #4 and #26 — it’s as clear as day what is preventing this franchise from looking like the NFL’s clear team to beat.
You could point to their lack of 2021 and 2022 draft picks and only $4m in cap space and argue they don’t have the resources to make a move.
Nonsense. Look at the Rams. Anyone with a pulse has been extended in recent weeks. They’ve kept doing deals to acquire talent. The Saints were trying all sorts to bring in Clowney before the season started despite their lack of funds. Both New Orleans and Baltimore were even looking at ways to trade picks for cap space.
Meanwhile the Seahawks are carrying fringe players with chunky cap hits.
If you want to make things happen, you can make things happen.
Furthermore, as we’ve been discussing for weeks, this is a unique year with never before seen circumstances. According to Over the Cap, twelve teams are already over the cap for 2021. Six of them need to raise over $20m just to be back in the black.
This surely has to present an opportunity?
And even if it doesn’t, sometimes you’ve just got to be the aggressor.
You also never know who’ll be available. Who saw the Lions trading Quandre Diggs a year ago?
Look at it this way. There are two options:
1. Sit tight with what you have and ‘hope for the best’ that the defense — which has really struggled so far — will improve
2. Make at least one trade to inject some talent into the unit in order to proactively initiate change and improvement
If they just hope for the best and it costs them in the NFC West race and/or the playoffs, this will just end up being another wasted opportunity. Another season of prime Russell Wilson to consign into an ever growing sequence of years of underachievement.
A baffling off-season where they somehow squandered $50m and then used three high draft picks on two players who have so far offered precious little is irreversible. It’ll be a lot more tolerable if they make an inspired move now.
If they’re active before the deadline and still fail — nobody can accuse them of complacency. It’s better to try and fail than not try at all. Hoping this defense suddenly becomes a non-liability is akin to expecting it to not be cold and rainy in Seattle at this time of year.
Sometimes you have to be creative. Sometimes you have to roll the dice. The Sheldon Richardson deal was regrettable yet the Duane Brown trade is one of the best in the Carroll/Schneider era.
I appreciate they might well be trying and so far the opportunities simply haven’t come to fruition. That argument will carry more weight if this ends up being a quiet year ahead of the deadline. If other teams make moves and the Seahawks fail to do so — it’ll be difficult to justify. While there’s time remaining, a call to arms seems fair. We can reflect on what did or didn’t happen at the end of the month.
Ultimately though the Seahawks can’t afford to let this chance slip by. They’re one of three unbeaten teams remaining in the NFL despite the defensive performance which, if you’re prepared to be honest, almost cost them their record. They have a 1.5-game lead in the division. They’re about to face the toughest stretch of their schedule.
This might be their best chance to get back to the Super Bowl since the 2014 season. The start they’ve had, going 5-0, and the performance of the offense so far is the platform they need. The defense threatens to undermine everything.
It’s time to prioritise improvement over future picks, winning in 2020 rather than long-term planning and making the most of this golden opportunity.
Russell Wilson might say he wants to play until he’s 45 — but we don’t know how long this form he’s showing will realistically last. Five more years? More? Less?
There has to be a bit of trade magic out there. There has to be an opportunity with so many teams facing a bleak financial future with the cap lowering in 2021. There needs to be a way to take a step forward — to turn a struggling 26th ranked defense into a league-average unit?
The Seahawks always say they’re in every deal. They turn over every stone. It’s time to reinforce that commitment.
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Yesterday Jason La Canfora noted that the Houston Texans’ owners are being encouraged to have a fire-sale of sorts. It’s understandable. They’re 1-5, don’t have a first or second round pick next year and they’re set to be $15m over the 2021 cap as things stand.
Deshaun Watson is a quality selling point to a new coach and GM but not having any money or picks to improve an ageing and stale roster is not.
“General managers and personnel execs have pointed to pass rusher Whitney Mercilus, linebacker Zach Cunningham, corner Bradley Roby, tight end Darren Fells and receivers Brandin Cooks and/or Will Fuller as potential trade targets.”
Of the group, Whitney Mercilus is the one that stands out as a possible Seahawks target. He only signed a new contract in December last year but he’s 30-years-old and might be able to bring in some decent compensation. He has three sacks this season.
Mercilus might be in the awkward range of being too expensive for anyone to bite but too valuable for the Texans to let go on the cheap. They’d also have to spread out a significant dead cap hit in the future.
Nevertheless, he has the quickness Seattle badly needs off the edge and the proven track record of getting after the quarterback.
We’re approaching the crunch time for trade talks. The Seahawks are in a weaker position than usual because their draft stock is depleted following the Jamal Adams trade. Yet it feels like they have to do something to bolster their edge rush. Russell Wilson is playing the football of his life and they’ve started 5-0. If ever there was a time to be aggressive and chase a Championship, this is it.
Perspective on 5-0?
Here are Seattle’s opponents so far:
Atlanta — 1-5
New England — 2-3
Dallas — 2-3
Miami — 3-3
Minnesota — 1-5
You can only beat the teams you face — but aside from the Falcons victory, none of these wins were particularly convincing. I think there is something to be said about a ‘good’ win.
The Seahawks often have at least one. Last year it was the Niners on the road. They beat the Chiefs in 2018. The less said about 2017 the better but in 2016 they went to New England and knocked off the Patriots.
The first real opportunity the Seahawks have to get a ‘good’ win will be Bills and Rams. That’s when we’ll find out a lot about this team.
We know by now the defense needs work. Clearly 5-0 is also a good start, regardless of the opponents faced. Yet the key to the season always has been (and always will be) Seattle’s ability to take a step forward. That means winning the NFC West and having a meaningful playoff run for the first time since the 2014 season.
Who are the best teams in the league?
For me you’ve got two types of ‘good’ team. The Steelers, Buccaneers and Titans seem balanced. Tennessee’s defense hasn’t looked great at times but they still have some quality pieces and can cause opponents (see: Buffalo) a lot of trouble.
Then you’ve got the quarterback dominated teams — Kansas City with Mahomes, Seattle with Wilson and Green Bay with Rodgers.
It’s difficult to place the Ravens at the moment with Lamar Jackson’s form and the defensive play fluctuating. You could say the same for the Rams. Both teams look great at times and flawed the next.
Somehow on the outskirts you’ve got a team heavily weighted to the defense in Chicago. They are 5-1 but face a gauntlet of games after their bye week.
This is a weird year and a weird football season so far. I’m not sure whether strengths or weaknesses will define these teams when the playoffs begin.
I still think it’s a good year to be one of the few who can actually play defense. The Steelers might not be trendy these days — but they’ll be a tough out.
Why the Jets should keep Adam Gase (for now)
I’ve become fascinated by the Jets and the bizarre way they are operating. I’ve been watching their press conferences and listening to some podcasts.
The general consensus is the fans want Adam Gase out as soon as possible. But why?
There’s nothing for the Jets to gain by firing their coach now. They are a lost cause. A basket case team. They need a total top-to-bottom rebuild.
The best case scenario is to earn the #1 overall pick in order to select Trevor Lawrence in the next draft. That would be a major selling point to prospective coaches.
Take Joe Brady for example. Having taken LSU’s offense to new heights last year he’s now leading a top-10 offense in Carolina despite losing Christian McCaffrey to injury and having a somewhat cobbled-together roster.
At the moment the Jets are a disjointed mess. Launch a rebuild with the best quarterback to come out of college football in a decade and it might be a tempting proposal for one of the hottest young coaches in the sport.
Getting rid of Gase now simply gives the Jets a better opportunity to improve, win pointless games and work their way out of the top spot in the draft. The time to get rid of him is when #1 is secure, the season is officially over and you can launch a rebuild.
In the meantime they should be having a fire-sale.
There are very few pieces to build around long term. Mekhi Becton and the 2020 draft class deserve time. You could make a case to keep hold of Marcus Maye. Everyone else should be on the chopping block.
Accumulate even more picks to go with the haul you got from Seattle for Jamal Adams. The prospect of a reset, Trevor Lawrence and a ton of draft stock would be an attractive proposition for your next coach — who has to surely be a young, progressive, offensive mastermind to reassure Lawrence that he isn’t better off sticking at Clemson for another year.
They should also see what the market is like for Sam Darnold. There are plenty of teams who could use a long term solution at quarterback — Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, New Orleans and maybe even San Francisco. See if there’s a good pick to be had now and if not, revisit the situation in the off-season.
Starting him, however, only lowers his stock if the Jets continue to struggle. He’s already picked up one injury. Darnold is also capable of winning games — unlike soon-to-be 36-year-old Joe Flacco.
Either way, firing Gase has little benefit now. The time to do it is down the line, when that top pick is in the bag. Lawrence is everything the New York market needs. He’s talented, looks the part, is incredibly marketable and he’s a born winner.
The Jets need some of his magic and charisma.
You can always get after the Packers
Green Bay looked like a paper tiger throughout last year and I’m not sure much has changed in 2020.
They’re a very difficult team to beat when they get a lead. Aaron Rodgers is incredibly efficient and still has the ability to make the impossible seem possible. Their running game can be difficult to stop when playing with a scoreboard advantage. Green Bay’s pass rushers also come into play.
When you get after them though, they curl up into a little ball and beg you to stop.
Yesterday’s game against Tampa Bay was so reminiscent of their meetings against the 49ers last season. When things started to go wrong they couldn’t put the brakes on. The game snowballed and quickly got away from them. The Packers become flustered. You can strong-arm them when it gets like that.
They end up looking pretty soft.
The problem for the Seahawks in the playoffs last year is the running game had collapsed due to the injuries. The Packers gave it no respect in the first half, flooded coverage and made life difficult for Russell Wilson in the passing game. They got the lead and by the time Wilson had figured out a solution, the damage was more or less done. The lead was too big.
It could’ve been a very different game with Chris Carson on the field at his best.
The Packers will win about 12 or 13 games again this season and could be a potential opponent for the Seahawks in the post-season once more. The Seahawks, if they want it to end better this time, need to be the ones applying the scoreboard pressure.
The Buccaneers also showed how to blitz properly yesterday. It shouldn’t be a surprise, Todd Bowles is a blitzing master. Two linebackers attacking the same gap? Instant pressure? Sacks?
By the end of the game Aaron Rodgers had his arms aloft, looking to the sideline asking for any kind of answer to the onslaught.
The Seahawks could learn a thing or two from Tampa Bay. Blitzing doesn’t just have to be Jamal Adams as an extra rusher off the edge. Or in the case of the Minnesota game, Ryan Neal.
The Niners did something Seattle hasn’t been able to
The all-NFC West encounter was fascinating for a number of reasons. It was an example, once again, that San Francisco has one of the best coaching staffs in the NFL. It was also a further example of a stalling Sean McVay offense — after a similarly difficult day against the lowly New York Giants recently.
Shanahan’s game-plan was a masterclass. Tricky runs that made the best use of misdirection. Good gains on the ground to take the pressure off Jimmy Garoppolo. Quick throws, highlighting George Kittle’s miraculous second-level ability. Well designed plays expertly executed to emphasise yards after the catch.
Have you ever seen Aaron Donald be such a non-factor before?
For a Niners team to look like hot trash one week against Miami and then handle the Rams like this was a tour de force of coaching.
Defensively they were opportunistic, flew sideline-to-sideline to stop all of the outside zone stuff and they made Jared Goff look completely ordinary despite never sacking him.
In Seattle’s last five games against the Rams they’ve given up 42, 33, 36, 29 and 28 points.
Here’s the total offensive yardage conceded in each game:
The Seahawks need to beat the Rams at least once in the regular season. They need to come up with a plan, just like the Niners did, to restrict and limit them.
I’m not sure they’ll ever be able to manage Aaron Donald in the way San Francisco did. Shanahan designs the quick pass so well. Garoppolo, to his credit, is very good at the quick drop, set and throw. It makes life easier when you have very quick receivers and Kittle as a safety valve. The Seahawks have always been a longer developing, shot-taking offense because that’s Russell Wilson’s style. With his height it’s unrealistic to expect anything else. The longer you ask a center or guard to contain Donald, the more likely he will get sacked.
They need to do something though to put in a better performance this time. The Rams can turn it on in a flash. Their mediocre days are extremely ‘meh’ as we saw yesterday but Seattle has a knack of making them look like world beaters.
That has to change this time. The two games against LA should be treated as an opportunity to make a statement that this year is different. I fear that will only happen with defensive improvements (personnel improvements).
“If there’s a faster-rising prospect in the nation than Zach Wilson, I’m not aware of him. The BYU signal caller has been brilliant during the first half of the season and turned in another dominant performance during BYU’s victory over Houston.”
“Wilson checks all the boxes you want in a quarterback at the next level — smart, tough, athletic plus the arm strength necessary to make all the throws. Scouts who grade underclassmen stamped him as a fifth-round prospect before the season began, but Wilson has improved anywhere from three to four rounds over the first half of 2020.”
Keep an eye on Wilson. He deserves the extra attention he’s getting.
If you missed our bye-week podcast over the weekend check it out below…
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It’s the bye week, there’s no Seahawks football — so here’s a podcast for you to kill some time. We talk about the NFC West, the trade deadline and much more…
I also wanted to talk about a quarterback who is seriously underrated.
I’ve watched BYU twice this season and on each occasion, Zach Wilson has really stood out. His poise, accuracy and athletic ability really shine through.
He’s just so composed in the pocket. He steps away from pressure with excellent footwork, sets and throws with surgical precision. His deep throws are always catchable and in the right spot.
Everything is just so natural. His drop and footwork to set, aim and fire a strike to all areas of the field. He anticipates routes to throw with timing and confidence.
His first touchdown against Houston set the tone for the rest of the night. Excellent drop. Perfect read to notice the 1v1 to the sideline then he just uncorked a wonderful strike. The coverage from the defensive back is good — he’s right in the hip-pocket of the receiver. Yet the throw is just so on the money, with the right level of velocity, to beat the corner’s despairing attempt at a breakup leading to a huge play.
In the modern NFL you need to be athletic. His second big play of the game was a 32-yard scramble where he reads the coverage, senses the opportunity to run and darts into the second level. He then jukes a linebacker out of his cleats and sets off sprinting for a big gain (before smartly sliding to avoid contact).
His third big play was a flea-flicker that gave his receiver a chance to box-out and go up and get the football.
In fairness to Houston they came roaring back and built a 26-14 lead with only three minutes remaining in the third quarter. How would Wilson respond? Did he have it in him to lead a comeback?
Of course he did. They won the game 43-26. He put on 29 points in just over a quarter.
He extended plays by scrambling to avoid pressure, keeping his eyes downfield and dissecting the coverage. He’s not operating in a wide-open passing offense — he had to throw into good coverage numerous times and he never came close to forcing anything or risking a turnover.
Wilson threw with touch when necessary and also knew when a throw needed a bit more mustard.
They retook the lead with a clever shovel pass in the redzone — well hidden by the quarterback and executed to perfection.
Late in the game pressure from Houston forced him to back-pedal off balance, re-set and deliver a strike with force off his back-foot. He nailed it. He wasn’t flustered, his technique was fantastic. He’s a natural.
Like many of the modern day quarterbacks he throws from different angles. His final touchdown pass to end the game was perhaps my favourite. An absolute dagger. The commentators are talking about whether they run a QB screen to kill clock on third down and kick a field goal. Nope. He drops back and throws an absolute dime to the back right corner of the endzone for a touchdown.
His final stat line was 25/35 for 400 yards passing, four touchdowns, zero turnovers and an extra 40 yards running (he had more, for some reason college football still subtracts rushing yards when quarterbacks are sacked and he was sacked twice). For the year he has 18 total touchdowns and just one pick.
Wilson’s a junior so it’s unclear whether he’ll turn pro in 2021 or play out his time at BYU. However — he is an exciting prospect with a lot of talent. It’s about time people started talking about him. He has special qualities.
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He retired in 2019 but David Irving is back and available as a free agent
David Irving retired abruptly in March 2019 after he was suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s policy on substance abuse. He’d already served two earlier suspensions. He became an activist for cannabis and opened a cannabis business with a focus on CBD-related products. He also co-founded his own cannabis advocacy magazine called Cannabis Passport with John Scannell.
“I know the perception people have of me is that I’m some sort of gangsta, homeless pothead… But I gave up football for a bigger cause. I want to change the bias toward marijuana. I want to educate America that it’s not a drug, it’s medicine. The real reason I’m not in the NFL is that I’d rather be out here saving lives.”
“I’ve been smoking since I was in middle school. Always had a 3.0 GPA. Never had any trouble with the law. We just need to stop already with the lies and misconceptions… Marijuana is easing the pain of cancer patients. It’s adding years to dogs’ lives. It could help the NFL with its CTE problem, too. The stereotypes are nonsense. It’s just like prohibition, only 100 years later.”
Irving estimates he suffered 25 concussions playing football.
The new CBA has relaxed rules on marijuana use. It has reduced the testing period from four months to the two weeks at the start of training camp. A new threshold for a positive test has been put in place, raising the allowed amount of THC from 35 nanograms to 150.
If a player tests positive during the two week stretch of training camp, his test is reviewed by a board of medical professionals that have been appointed by both the players and league. The board then decides if the player needs treatment — rather than a suspension being immediately issued.
This is a massive change and undoubtedly one of the reasons why Irving feels comfortable returning to the game. He has been reinstated into the league today and is available to sign with any team as a free agent.
It’s also necessary to point out that he was investigated over an alleged domestic violence incident but the case was closed in March 2018.
So should the Seahawks consider signing him?
It’s no secret that the defensive line has struggled so far. The pass rush is weak, the Vikings ran all over Seattle last week. They need to find ways to add talent and this is the kind of opportunity they simply have to take.
If you’re willing to pluck Jonathan Bullard off Arizona’s practise squad, put Snacks Harrison on a crash diet and drag Damontre Moore off his couch the week before the season starts — you have to make a serious push to see if Irving can offer something.
No contracts are guaranteed at this point so if it doesn’t work out — nothing is lost. Bring him in, see if he can help. What have you got to lose?
This is what he brings to the table — 6-7, 275lbs of size. A wingspan stretching nearly 88 inches. Arms that are 36 inches long. He ran a 4.84 forty at his pro-day with an excellent 1.69 10-yard split. His vertical jump was 38 inches and he ran a 10-8 broad. His short shuttle was a superb 4.52 and his three-cone a 7.27.
Speed, size, length, agility and explosive power.
No wonder he managed 12 sacks in 25 games for the Cowboys.
You can play him off the edge and kick him inside. While the Seahawks already are well stacked in that area — they don’t have anyone quite like Irving.
Aldon Smith was given a chance by Dallas this season and he’s flashed even if he’s not at his unstoppable best from a few years ago. If Irving can come in and inject some talent and help increase Seattle’s sack percentage from a measly 3.6% to something closer to the 7-8% mark — that’ll be a huge boost for the defense.
Furthermore he’s only 27 years old. If it works out, he might even be someone who can be part of the roster beyond this year.
He’s unlikely to be expensive. If you’re prepared to wait on Josh Gordon (who still hasn’t been reinstated), why wouldn’t you take the opportunity to see if Irving can fill your biggest need?
Pete Carroll loves a reclamation project. Heck — they seemingly even toyed with the idea of signing Antonio Brown on multiple occasions over the last year or so.
Really, what have they got to lose with David Irving?
If you missed it yesterday, don’t forget to check out my podcast appearance with the Seahawkers UK:
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Firstly, I was invited onto the Seahawkers UK podcast this week. We had a good, long discussion about the Minnesota game and the season so far. Please check it out and have a listen below:
I thought it was interesting for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the Seahawks are included in one of Barnwell’s proposals. Secondly, it gives us an idea of who might be available.
It’s pretty clear the Seahawks could use someone to rush off the edge, provide some wins 1v1 and try to increase their ugly 3.6% sack rate.
Barnwell mentions something we’ve been talking about for a few weeks. Many teams face massive cap problems in 2021. We could see some big names cut or dealt this year as a consequence. However, it’s still difficult to project who might be available. Especially with the teams in the biggest trouble — New Orleans and Philadelphia — both seeing a reasonable pathway to the playoffs.
The two defensive ends listed are Takk McKinley (who Barnwell has going to Seattle) and Ryan Kerrigan (who goes to the 49ers).
Let’s start with Seattle’s deal:
Seattle Seahawks get: C Alex Mack, DE Takkarist McKinley (from Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons get: C B.J. Finney, 2021 sixth-round pick (from Seahawks), 2021 seventh-round pick (from Ravens)
Baltimore Ravens get: TE Jacob Hollister
Always good to mix a three-team trade into the picture. The 0-5 Falcons are out of the playoff picture, and while they’re not going to rebuild, I don’t think either Mack or McKinley figure into their future. Mack is 34 and in the final year of a five-year, $45 million deal, while McKinley is in the last year of his rookie deal after having his fifth-year option declined. The cap-strapped Falcons will likely be moving on from both Mack and McKinley after the season, giving them some motivation to make a move now.
The Seahawks, on the other hand, are candidates for the top spot in the NFC after starting 5-0. Ethan Pocic has impressed at center after an inconsistent start to his career, but Mack would give the Seahawks a top-tier pivot as they try to win a Super Bowl. Pocic would move back into a utility lineman role, and the Seahawks would move on from Finney, who didn’t impress in camp after signing as a free agent and hasn’t played an offensive snap so far this season. Finney would be a low-cost option for the Falcons at center in 2020.
Seattle badly needs bodies along the defensive line; McKinley has struggled with a groin injury this season, but he racked up a sack and six knockdowns of Russell Wilson during the opening-week loss to these very Seahawks. We’re not likely to see a star edge rusher come available at the trade deadline, so the Seahawks will probably look to add multiple players up front and try to win with depth.
For the Seahawks, moving on from Hollister is more about cap space than anything else, given that the 2019 contributor has played just 48 offensive snaps this season and has a cap hold of $3.3 million. The Ravens have disappointed a bit on offense this season, and while trading away Hayden Hurst probably wasn’t the difference between what we’ve seen in 2020 and what we saw in 2019, they are down to two tight ends in Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle. Hollister would fill the Hurst role from a year ago and give Baltimore some insurance if Andrews gets banged up in an expanded role. Baltimore would need to free up some short-term cap space to get the deal done.
Obviously a three-way trade is pretty unlikely in the NFL but the purpose of Barnwell’s piece isn’t to predict the future it’s to propose some interesting talking points. There is a thought process that makes sense within this deal.
For starters, the Seahawks would be best to write-off the B.J. Finney signing. It hasn’t worked and he’s been a fairly expensive flop. He’s not even getting snaps at backup guard. It seems fairly inevitable he’ll be cut at the end of the season anyway to save $3.5m so they might as well make that $4.5m and eat his salary for 2020.
However, that only works if your depth is bolstered at center. Alex Mack has been a blog favourite ever since the 2009 draft. He’s still one of the top centers in the league. The problem is he’s still due about $6m in salary for this season. It’d also be harsh on Ethan Pocic to shove him out of the line-up given the way he’s played so far. I suppose the question is — how much is it worth to have Mack/Pocic as your center depth instead of Pocic/Finney? At the moment things are fine but a Pocic injury could cause problems.
Jacob Hollister has been a big talking point for many months. The Seahawks clearly value him and gave him a second round tender worth $3.25m for this season. I’m not sure anyone would’ve pushed to sign him on the original round tender which would’ve saved Seattle $1.1m but they seemingly didn’t want to take that chance.
Aside from scoring a touchdown and a two-point conversion against Dallas — he’s been anonymous. The Seahawks haven’t done a particularly good job getting their tight ends involved which is a big surprise given the massive outlay on the position.
The Seahawks are over a quarter of the season in now and 48 snaps for his sizeable salary is just not making best use of your cap. Clearly Seattle is cautious of being caught out at the position (as they were last season) and maybe Hollister will show his worth in future weeks?
Although it’s a creative idea from Barnwell, the most likely aspect of the deal might simply be McKinley to the Seahawks.
The Falcons insist they won’t blow things up and will let a new GM decide who stays and goes. However, they face a $37.5m black hole for the cap next year and need to make savings. Any cost cutting done now will help.
Atlanta’s new regime deserves the chance to decide on the future of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Grady Jarrett. Other players who are set to be free agents anyway — such as McKinley and Keanu Neal — could be traded for draft compensation they otherwise might not get.
And let’s be right here — they don’t need to worry too much about weakening the team. They’re 0-5 and fired their coach and GM. The best thing for the Falcons right now is to gain a top-five draft pick in order to make it a really attractive proposition for the new front office.
Barnwell makes a good point — if the Seahawks can’t acquire a top edge rusher, they might have to collect players and roll with it. They started the 2020 season without even a proper rotation. Adding McKinley to go with Jonathan Bullard and presumably Snacks Harrison means greater depth.
McKinley fits a lot of what Seattle likes at the position. He has nearly 35-inch arms and he ran a 1.60 10-yard split. His 40-yard dash was an excellent 4.59. He’s quick and explosive — something they badly lack.
He never put it together in Atlanta. He had 13 sacks in his first two years but only has 4.5 since. Can he come to Seattle and replace the production they were banking on from Bruce Irvin? Perhaps.
A three-team trade might be unrealistic but a straight trade for a day-three pick could be reasonable for a rental. The cost in terms of cap hit is minimal.
I’d also be pushing for the Seahawks to pursue Keanu Neal too — one of my favourite players to cover in the draft over the last 12 years. However, the Falcons wouldn’t save any money from trading him on his fifth year option. Quandre Diggs has not played well so far but I can’t imagine the Seahawks moving on from him. He simply has to play better — although I’m not sure all the shifting between blitzing/not blitzing has done much for players like Diggs.
The other defensive end Barnwell suggests could be moved is Ryan Kerrigan, who he has going to San Francisco in exchange for Dante Pettis. Given that Pettis has practically no value currently, this would be another deal the Seahawks could and should pursue.
After registering two sacks in week one, Kerrigan has been very quiet since. However, he has a proven ability to get after the quarterback and rush the edge. That is what the Seahawks need right now — and he’s much more proven than McKinley. You know what you’re going to get. He’d also be a lot more expensive and the Seahawks would need to create some space to bring him in. Perhaps they could send a couple of players Washington’s way?
There seems to be some growing momentum around the trade deadline this year. In previous seasons there’s been an increase in activity. We’re seeing big trades completed mid-season. We’ve seen surprise trades. With such an uncertain economic future for the NFL in 2021, things could get pretty interesting in the next 7-10 days.
The Seahawks, surely, have to be active. They’ve never gone quietly into the night. The cost of the Jamal Adams trade has hampered their ability to make further deals but now isn’t the time to be conservative. Not at 5-0 with a big opportunity to finally launch a serious Super Bowl run.
They created the need to be aggressive with a confusing off-season where they failed to address the D-line properly. As a consequence the defense is struggling. The deadline is coming and it’ll be the last possible opportunity to make an upgrade.
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Seattle’s turnover percentage (the percentage of drives that result in a turnover) is 17.9%, sixth best in the league. They are tied second in the league for takeaways with Baltimore (10) and two behind leaders Cleveland (12).
The Seahawks still lead the league in passing yards conceded (2356). The Atlanta Falcons are second (2230).
After three weeks the Seahawks were blitzing 36% of the time. That lowered to 30% last week and is now at 29.6%
Their pressure percentage increased from 20.5% to 21.4% after the Minnesota game. They recorded three knockdowns against the Vikings and their knockdown percentage dropped slightly to 9.6% from 10% last week.
Seattle’s sack percentage rose after the Vikings game from 2.9% to 3.6% — although for the season that is still the fifth worst record in the NFL. Considering they are still blitzing at a rate of around 30% for the season, sack percentage is the area they must improve for the rest of the season. A reminder that in 2018 their sack percentage was 7.3% (11th best) despite blitzing only 18.4% of the time (fifth lowest). Pete Carroll’s scheme simply functions better when they have one or two people capable of creating pressure up front when rushing with four. Without wanting to beat a dead horse, acquiring someone who can provide that off the edge to help the team get off the field without needing to bring the house, is probably the route to a significant improvement.
In terms of expected points contributed by passing defense, the Seahawks are at -58.35, fifth worst overall. Atlanta is dead last with a whopping -96.85, by far the worst record in the NFL.
The Seahawks have seen a bit of an increase in missed tackles. They were second only to New England for fewest missed tackles after four games. Now they’ve jumped to the 17th best record with 37.
Seattle increased their TFL’s for the season to 24 — 11th most in the NFL.
Shaquill Griffin continues to lead the NFL in times targeted (45), passes completed (31) and yards given up (412). His completion percentage against is 68.9%. He’s given up four touchdowns, second most in the league. He’s allowed a passer rating of 108.7.
This is not the statistical profile you want in a contract year.
Meanwhile, here’s a review of the Minnesota game from Chris Simms where he touches on some of the defensive issues (and Seattle’s need to dip into the trade market) plus a lot more in an interesting breakdown:
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