Yesterday I wrote about the state of the roster as things stand. Today, I’m going to make some predictions for the rest of the off-season…

Jadeveon Clowney will return to the Seahawks

The Seahawks have about $21m in available cap space and they’re not spending it, despite multiple holes to fill (defensive tackle, backup quarterback etc). It’s pretty clear they are waiting for a resolution to the Clowney stalemate.

As Dianni Russini reported this week, they’re still interested. They have the best offer on the table. This is about Clowney deciding when he’s going to finally make a call after receiving a colder free agent market than he anticipated.

Eventually that time will come. The Seahawks must be pretty confident otherwise they’d have moved on by now and spent the money elsewhere. They could sign Everson Griffen and three other players tomorrow if they wanted. They haven’t, seemingly, because they’re willing to wait for a resolution with Clowney.

What will the contract be? My guess would be something short term at about the $16m mark. It might need to be two-years in order to manage the year-one cap hit but they can also add incentives to make it worthwhile for the player.

They’ll sign a cheap defensive tackle

Re-signing Clowney will limit their ability to do much more. His signing is crucial though to have any chance at improving the 2019 D-line performance (and again, that’s why they’re waiting for him). The remaining defensive tackle options are majorly limited. It basically comes down to Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison, Brandon Mebane and Mike Daniels.

Both Harrison and Daniels have bounced around despite their reputations as big name players. The idea of signing either might be better than actually having them. Harrison flirted with retirement recently and that’s never a good sign when you’re a 350lbs nose tackle. Daniels is a strong personality and it’s unclear if he’s the kind of character the Seahawks want to bring into the locker room.

Presumably, both players will want a decent salary too.

For that reason, Mebane on a one-year deal might be the preferred option. There’s familiarity, he’ll not be expensive and they can manage his snaps. He’s 35-years-old but they featured Kevin Williams at a similar age in 2014.

There likely won’t be a big investment at nickel

It’s a nice thought that the Seahawks will make a statement by going out and landing a Logan Ryan or Darqueze Dennard. Ryan is basically in the same slow dance with Tennessee that the Seahawks are in with Clowney. He wants more than they are offering. Dennard failed a medical after initially agreeing terms with Jacksonville early in free agency.

The Seahawks have avoided paying even modest money for a nickel in 10 years of the Carroll era and it seems unlikely that will change now. If they do add anyone else, it’ll likely be a low level signing — especially if they bring back Clowney.

Carroll hinted after the draft that they had a plan at nickel, one that he didn’t want to reveal. My best guess is it includes finding a way to get Tre Flowers, Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar on the field at the same time when they want to use another corner. They could also incorporate some ‘big nickel’ concepts or three-safety looks — bringing Marquise Blair, Ugo Amadi and Lano Hill into play.

Either way, it seems unlikely they’ll be making any kind of big splash here.

They will turn to three familiar faces on offense

Geno Smith’s cap hit was $805,000 in 2019. It seems very likely that once the Clowney situation is resolved, he will return for a similar amount.

They need to sign another running back. Rashaad Penny will likely start the season on the PUP list and they can’t risk being a Chris Carson injury away from a Deejay Dallas and Travis Homer backfield.

I think Marshawn Lynch will return either just before the start of the season or after week one when his contract is no longer fully guaranteed. Look at this snippet from a Mike Silver article written a month ago:

Lynch would score four touchdowns in three games, but another Seahawks comeback fell short in a Divisional Round clash against the Packers at Lambeau Field.

Afterward, as Lynch praised the organization effusively during a postgame speech in the Seahawks’ locker room, Carroll agonized over the squandered chance to do something special in conjunction with the running back’s dramatic return.

There are two things to note here. Firstly, this is a different Marshawn. If he really did stand in front of the team after the Green Bay game and praise the organisation, that’ll have struck a chord with Carroll. Secondly, it’s pretty clear Carroll is also fond of the idea of winning another Championship with Marshawn.

It’s something to remember as this situation plays out. Also, there’s no danger of Lynch signing anywhere else. So they can wait this one out for a while.

Finally, I think there’s a chance Josh Gordon returns. The Seahawks could still use a third wheel to compliment Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. It’ll depend on how the team feels about his latest suspension (and he’ll need to be reinstated). Again though, he’s a cheap add who’s worth a camp and you’re not going to get a more talented player for the price.

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Since 2015 the Seahawks have been in a position of being good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to make the Super Bowl. They’ve only won the NFC West once in the last five years — in 2016. In that same five year period the Niners and Rams have both competed for the Super Bowl and the Cardinals have played in the NFC Championship game.

For the last couple of seasons being ‘good not great’ hasn’t been much of an issue. They were clearly going through a reset. Making the playoffs during this period was a bonus — a credit to the team and staff and a real achievement all considered.

Eventually though you have to take a step forward. This year provided an opportunity with ample cap space and a decent collection of draft picks.

So have they achieved it?

Let’s start with the defense and note the defensive statistics from 2019:

— The Seahawks finished with 28 sacks, second fewest in the league behind only Miami (23)

— Their sack percentage was 4.5% — third worst overall

— The Seahawks produced a sack or quarterback hit on just 14.4% of opponents’ pass plays — worst in the NFL

— They had only 126 pressures, sixth fewest in the league behind Detroit (125), Oakland (117), Houston (117), Atlanta (115) and Miami (96)

— Seattle’s pressure percentage was the fourth worst in the league (19.3%) behind Detroit (18.9%), Houston (18.1%) and Miami (16.7%)

— Seattle hit the quarterback 68 times — fourth fewest

— They had 52 TFL’s — fourth fewest

— They gave up 55 explosive running plays on defense, seventh most in the NFL

— Their explosive run play percentage (14%) was the third worst overall behind only Carolina (16%) and Cleveland (15%)

— They gave up 4.9 YPC — fourth most overall

— They had 131 missed tackles during the regular season — fourth most.

Have they done enough to avoid a repeat in 2020?

(Note — the units below are optimal groups — I’m not including players who were on the periphery or injured for most of last season)

2019 Defensive line
Clowney/Reed/Woods/Ansah
Jefferson/Green/Collier/Ford/Jackson

2020 Defensive line
Green/Reed/Ford/Mayowa
Irvin/Collier/Taylor/Mone/Jackson/Robinson

2019 Linebackers
Wagner/Wright/Kendricks
Barton/Burr-Kirven/Griffin

2020 Linebackers
Wagner/Wright/Brooks
Barton/Burr-Kirven/Griffin

2019 Cornerbacks
Griffin/Flowers/King

2020 Cornerbacks
Griffin/Dunbar/Flowers

2019 Safeties
Diggs/McDougald
Blair/Hill/Amadi

2020 Safeties
Diggs/McDougald
Blair/Hill/Amadi

The defensive line looks inadequate for a title push. Their best player (Clowney) remains unsigned and they’re yet to replace Al Woods. They’ve added two veteran journeymen and two rookies to the defensive end rotation. At the moment their starting five technique would be the underwhelming Rasheem Green or L.J. Collier.

Carroll and Schneider have talked up Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa combining for 15.5 sacks last season but the year before they combined for only 7.5. It’s a stretch to imagine this group creating any level of consistent pressure, which could expose the secondary. They’re also still lacking a dynamic interior rusher — something they’ve seemingly been searching for since 2010 and haven’t been able to find. They hope Jarran Reed can provide pressure but it would’ve been nice to see him playing alongside a threatening partner.

The depth is clearly improved, however. Instead of rotating in the likes of Branden Jackson they’ll be able to move in Irvin, Mayowa, Darrell Taylor and Alton Robinson. That’s an improvement. They’re still missing a star though. Depth without top-level talent isn’t a fix. The Seahawks across the board are arguably more depth-rich than talent-rich at this point. You need someone you can rely on to create consistent pressure and help you win key games. There’s a Clowney-shaped hole in the rotation.

The current line also doesn’t appear capable of protecting the linebackers, which impacts your ability to defend the perimeter effectively or max out the major investment Seattle has made at the position ($25m on Wagner & Wright alone in 2020, plus a first round draft pick).

The significant additions compared to last year are Jordyn Brooks (replacing Mychal Kendricks) and Quinton Dunbar. There’s a lot of hope for Dunbar because he was rated highly by PFF in 2019. He does have to learn a new system/scheme though and he missed 14 games in the last two seasons through injury. Brooks could ultimately replace Wright (who in turn would replace Kendricks).

If the aim this off-season was for the defense to take a big step forward, it’s hard to argue that has happened so far. Where are the difference makers? They weren’t active enough in free agency to add bodies to the group. They appear to have prioritised retaining Reed and Clowney — and then by being stuck in stalemate with Clowney, they’ve not been able to work around his salary already being on the books.

Even now, they have cap space available but seem to be in a holding position waiting for a resolution to the stalemate. They’re not signing a backup QB, a defensive tackle, a nickel or filling any other remaining needs. They could sign Geno Smith and a defensive tackle tomorrow if they wanted. Presumably they aren’t because they have to keep the available cap space free for Clowney. Having taken it this far, they more or less have to see it through to a conclusion now. He’s the only genuine impact player out there who remains available. There’s nobody else who can do what he does (Everson Griffen is good but he doesn’t wreck games).

The ability of the defense to take a step forward might rest solely on their ability to get Clowney back. They seemingly know that too — which is why whenever they’re asked about the situation they always talk about ‘moving on’ then couch everything with ‘the door remains open’. Of course it is. It’s going to remain open — and they’re going to protect their cap space — until a resolution is met.

It’s also possible they simply played the hand they were dealt. If they didn’t see the value in Robert Quinn and Dante Fowler, or didn’t like the trade market for Matt Judon or Yannick Ngakoue, that’s understandable. That said, Baltimore were able to add Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe to their already talented defense. Failing to come to a conclusion with Clowney — regardless of circumstances — has to impact the assessment of the off-season. They wanted him and called him a priority — but as of yet he’s not a Seahawk. Not sealing a deal there — or bringing in a replacement — is a black mark.

On offense they finished the 2019 season with the fifth ranked unit per DVOA. Russell Wilson had a MVP caliber season while D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett were superb. The team fumbled too often, though, and the offense collapsed at the end of the season when Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny were injured.

2019 quarterbacks
Wilson/Smith

2020 quarterbacks
Wilson/Gordon

2019 running backs
Carson/Penny/Prosise/Homer

2020 running backs
Carson/Penny/Dallas/Homer

2019 tight ends
Dissly/Willson/Hollister

2020 tight ends
Olsen/Dissly/Hollister/Willson/Parkinson/Sullivan

2019 receivers
Metcalf/Lockett/Moore/Brown/Ursua

2020 receivers
Metcalf/Lockett/Moore/Dorsett/Ursua/Swain

2019 O-line
Brown/Iupati/Britt/Fluker/Ifedi
Haynes/Jones/Hunt/Fant/Pocic

2020 O-line
Brown/Iupati/Finney/Lewis/Shell
Haynes/Jones/Hunt/Ogbuehi/Warmack/Pocic

There are two big moves on offense. One is the addition of Greg Olsen at tight end. The other is the significant change to the offensive line.

Olsen provides some stability given Will Dissly’s injury history and they have depth at the tight end position now. He might be older and he might’ve been close to retiring and taking his place in a broadcast booth — but Olsen has always been a class act. He’ll provide a safety net and be vital on key third downs and in the red zone. The young developmental depth in Colby Parkinson and Stephen Sullivan provides hope for the future too. It’s an intriguing unit that makes up for the lack of a significant receiver addition. Even so — the way this team improves in 2020 will come down to the availability of Olsen and Dissly rather than the young talent emerging.

It remains to be seen what the changes to the O-line will provide. Damien Lewis is a very talented rookie but unproven. B.J. Finney has limited starts at center and is far from a proven commodity. Brandon Shell was benched by the Jets in 2019.

Whatever your views on Britt, Fluker and Ifedi — they haven’t been replaced with proven upgrades. They’ve been replaced with players who themselves are question marks. The Seahawks have 18 offensive linemen on the roster but a good 5-6 are camp bodies. They hope for strong competition but it seems pretty obvious who the starting five will be with only one question mark at left guard.

At running back — Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny both suffered somewhat serious injuries at the end of last season. The only change from 2019 is Deejay Dallas has replaced C.J. Prosise. There’s already talk of Penny starting the season on the PUP list. That would put tremendous pressure on Carson to stay healthy, otherwise the running game could collapse the offense much like it did at the end of 2019.

It’s inevitable, therefore, that they bring in at least one more veteran runner. That could be Isaiah Crowell, Devonta Freeman, Carlos Hyde or Marshawn Lynch. Again though — the Clowney stalemate means they can’t plan at other positions until that issue is resolved. They’re stuck in a waiting pattern. Once a decision is finally made with Clowney — they can sign a new running back, backup quarterback, defensive tackle and maybe even bring back Josh Gordon. For what it’s worth, I think Lynch will be the choice and they can wait that out until pre-season. It’s strange though how they’ve added major depth at two positions (TE, OL) and yet the running back group — an area which really held them back at the end of last year — hasn’t been significantly bolstered yet.

Finally at receiver — they will hope that David Moore and John Ursua take a step forward. It’s hard to say either will though. Philip Dorsett is an upgrade from Jaron Brown. Yet they could really do with a proper third wheel to compliment Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. Re-signing Josh Gordon would produce that — but it’s unclear whether the Seahawks have any interest in him after last seasons suspension (plus he’s yet to be reinstated).

Writing down the roster in this way makes you realise how much is still to be done. It also makes you realise how important Jadeveon Clowney still is. Add him to the D-line rotation — and bring in a defensive tackle — and you’ve got the makings of a slightly improved group. Without him, the whole thing looks inadequate. Meanwhile there are question marks about the O-line and further depth is definitely required at running back.

Depth is important in the NFL. The healthiest teams with enough quality often last the distance. Seattle has some of the ingredients but arguably not enough proven or developed star power. Not hitting on early draft picks in recent years has been costly.

The Seahawks are a good football team. The current group can make the playoffs again — mainly due to the sheer quality of the quarterback. They haven’t made a stride forward this off-season however and unless Clowney re-signs, they run the risk of failing to properly address their struggling D-line in terms of 2020 impact.

The frustrating thing for fans and the Seahawks as an organisation is for any further moves to be made, we’re seemingly going to have to wait for Clowney to make a decision. And nothing appears imminent.

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Rondale Moore is a special athlete.

It’d be easy to pigeonhole him as a K.J. Hamler, diminutive speedster at 5-9 and 190lbs. He’s so much more.

For starters you just need to look at his lower body. He has enormous, powerful legs for his size. It shows up in the weight room. He can squat 600lbs. He had a 42 inch vertical jump at SPARQ. He has crazy explosive power for a player at 190lbs.

The thing is, it doesn’t slow him down. He also ran a 4.33 at SPARQ.

Here’s a workout video from a couple of weeks ago…

Teams are going to love his potential, which is sky high. The only thing that could hold him back are injuries. He missed most of 2019 with a hamstring issue, only playing four games. For someone who’s going to need to be fast and free at the next level, you don’t want to see any nagging hamstring injuries. If he can play a full, healthy season in 2020 — he’ll have every opportunity to challenge the first round of the draft.

As a freshman he had 1258 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He added two more scores and a further 213 yards as a runner. He also had 662 kick return yards at an average of 20.1 YPA and 82 punt return yards.

Per PFF…

On balls thrown nine or fewer yards downfield, Moore saw over 20 more targets than anyone else (118 in total) and was one of two receivers who produced a receiving grade above 90.0. Moore also broke a tackle on over a third of these catches and averaged 7.5 yards after the catch per reception.

He’s a multi-purpose threat who can change a game any time he has the football.

So why did he end up at Purdue with this kind of physical profile?

The truth is every big team in the country was recruiting him. Yet he actually cites A.J. Dillon as an inspiration. He saw Dillon — another big-time tester who was just taken in the second round — make a name for himself as ‘the guy’ at Boston College. He decided to try and tread a similar path and not just become Texas’ next athlete to underwhelm.

I suspect teams will like that thinking come draft time.

So what does he show on tape?

The thing that stands out is he finishes runs. He doesn’t seek out the sideline that often. He’s always cutting back inside knowing with his speed he’s a missed tackle away from a scoring opportunity. He’s just so powerful and if you fail to bring him down on first contact you’re in trouble…

He’s so difficult to tackle, partly due to his size but also his quickness and explosive traits…

He’s also incredibly elusive and can juke away from tackles and run through attempted arm tackles.

Unsurprisingly he’s a massive threat on screens and end-arounds…

He gets on top of flat footed defenders in the slot and creates easy separation time and time again. He has great foot quickness and doesn’t dance too much at the start of the route. He knows when it’s time to get a shift on and release.

If there’s one area he can perhaps do a little better it’s high-pointing. Jalen Reagor is undersized too with similar explosive traits. He could go up and high-point above bigger defenders, especially in the red zone. That was a unique thing about Reagor’s game and it’s why he was the #21 pick (and why we spent so long talking about him during the college season). Moore doesn’t have to mimic that — but he does have a tendency to let the ball come to him sometimes. He has the power to leap high and pluck it, so it’d be good to see him win some of those battles too.

Even so, you’re going to have to account for him on every snap. He will break tackles that lead to enormous scoring runs. You just don’t see many smaller receivers with this level of power. To be this quick and this explosive is rare and he undoubtedly possesses first round potential.

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The first 2021 prospect I want to discuss is Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. Although I say tight end — he’s very much a receiving threat in the Gators offense.

Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth looks like a more orthodox TE. Everything about his playing style to demeanour says classic ‘Y’ tight end with the ability to be a plus pass catcher. He’s a sub-7.10 three cone away from being a very high pick.

Teams who want that more conventional looking TE will possibly favour Freiermuth. However — we’re seeing a real craving for mismatch weapons in the league and Pitts is highly dynamic.

The big question is going to be testing. When you’re essentially a glorified receiver — you need to have a certain level of athleticism. Watching his 2019 games, that shouldn’t be an issue. He looks like a fantastic athlete with rare mobility for his size.

The first thing that stands out is his fluidity as a runner at 6-6 240lbs. He ran a 4.70 at SPARQ at the same height/weight and watching him on tape, it’s likely he can get into the 4.6’s.

Just look at this release…

He’s practically unstoppable on in-cutting routes and slants. Florida has the option to line him up initially in a favourable coverage match-up, then motion him to the outside. From there he can win time and time again. His quickness and suddenness at his size creates easy victories against a safety or linebacker and he has plenty of success against cornerbacks too when he simply starts as an outside target. He’s also a genuine mismatch target working the seam or on wheel routes.

Against LSU he matched up against Grant Delpit and beat him fairly easily on an elongated wheel route. It took an age for him to get forward motion into the route but that was OK — he can create separation and accelerate quickly. Delpit — who was one of the better coverage safeties in college football — just couldn’t react.

He had a lot of success working the middle of the field against LSU too. He should’ve had a touchdown on a seam route but this time Delpit jarred the ball out with a big hit. Pitts should’ve held on and completed the catch for a score but it was a nice recovery by the LSU safety. The route itself though was a good example of his ability to get downfield quickly and when you need to cover him in a wide open area — it’s very difficult for any non-cornerback to stick. He has subtle movement at the stem to create separation and he can just run faster than most players in coverage. He had a lot of wins against a good LSU defense over the middle and he’ll be a major threat attacking the seam. He’s really difficult to cover in zone.

It’s a sign of his athleticism that they tried him as a ball carrier on some WR screens. He’s too quick and dynamic for safeties and linebackers but he’s also stronger and bigger to win any contested situations against cornerbacks.

His mobility as a runner has to be seen to be believed. His sudden, choppy movement at 240lbs is rare. There’s no stiffness at all. He can make defenders miss, he can create late separation on routes and he has some YAC value.

His hands are generally good and strong. There were plenty of examples of throws that were slightly off or into a tight window but he clung on…

I saw one really bad concentration drop yet in the same game Van Jefferson also had an ugly whiff. I didn’t see any evidence to think this was anything more than a one-off.

Despite being very much a glorified receiver, he does have some in-line experience. Usually these types of tight end are just constantly in the slot or outside. He was asked to do a bit of blocking either next to the tackle or as a H-back. When blocking on screens he generally does a good job latching on to targets in space. You wouldn’t call blocking a strength for him but he’s willing. He’s more Noah Fant than T.J. Hockenson in that regard — but he’s such a terrific receiving threat and athlete, the team who drafts him likely won’t be worrying too much about that aspect of his game unless, like the Seahawks, it’s a major part of what you do on offense.

He ran a 4.45 short shuttle at SPARQ which would put him about on par with most of the better TE testers in the league. Clearly the three cone will have a big say on his stock. Yet as noted — he’s such a free mover that it’d almost be surprising if he didn’t get into the 6.9’s to really propel his stock into the top-20.

One issue he might have at Florida is the performance of quarterback Kyle Trask. I thought his accuracy in 2019 was patchy at best. Floated and high passes, throws behind targets. Trask came in at a difficult time and won games for Florida, so he deserves credit. But he’s not the kind of accomplished passer to enable Pitts to gain 800 yards and increase his touchdown total next year to really elevate his stock.

It might not matter. Noah Fant had 519 yards in his final year at Iowa and still landed in the top-20. Pitts looks like a similar level of athlete. Teams love these big-time mismatch weapons at the second level. Very few of these players are going to be able to block as well as George Kittle, Travis Kelce or Rob Gronkowski — but it’s easy to talk yourself into believing in them as a receiving threat.

Alongside Pitts will be Penn State’s Freiermuth, Miami’s Brevin Jordan and Wisconsin’s Jake Ferguson — with 2021 looking like a much improved class at the tight end position. When you combine it with another loaded looking receiver class — this is going to be another draft where we’re talking about the great pass-catching options.

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Here are some quick fire notes today. Tomorrow I’m starting my 2021 prospect articles, beginning with Florida’s Kyle Pitts.

— Jameis Winston took a cheap contract in New Orleans for a few reasons. One — he’s seen Teddy Bridgewater rebuild his career with the Saints. Two — Sean Payton is a quarterback guru. Three — there’s a job opening in 12 months when Drew Brees retires. You can’t compare his situation to Andy Dalton and Cam Newton. And there’s no way they’d take a million bucks to hold Russell Wilson’s Microsoft Surface for a season.

— When John Schneider was asked on 710 ESPN how he felt they’d handled the pass rush issue this off-season, he immediately brought up — without any teeing up — Jadeveon Clowney. As noted yesterday — there’s got to be a reason why the Seahawks are not signing other players despite needs at defensive tackle and backup quarterback in particular. They are clearly willing, at the moment at least, to wait for Clowney. Why? Because he’s what Pete Carroll calls a ‘field tilter’. The Seahawks need a ‘field tilter’ on their D-line. And he’s the only one left and might’ve been the only one available to begin with.

— I get the impression there will be some frustration internally about this situation. Probably because Seattle’s is by far the best offer. And yet he still won’t agree to it. However, that also puts them — still — in pole position for whenever he does make a decision. That’s a likely reason why they are continuing to wait — along with the continued availability of Plan B (Everson Griffen).

— There’s so much criticism of Clowney out there. What he’s doing is clearly unconventional. A lot of players just take the best offer available. Yet he’s not like most players. He has made $50,583,998 in his career so far. And he has decided he’s happy to risk losing money to make a decision when he’s ready, rather than take an offer he doesn’t think represents his true value. If he wants to do that, it’s his prerogative — however frustrating that might be to the Seahawks and their fans.

— It was interesting to hear Schneider mention ‘the three linebackers’ in round one when talking on 710 ESPN. It seems like they identified that as a position of value in the late first and an area they wanted to tap into — whether it was Kenneth Murray, Jordyn Brooks or Patrick Queen. For the second year in a row I’ve badly misjudged their interest in the position. That said, a year ago they drafted two linebackers after paying Bobby Wagner big money and re-signing K.J. Wright and Mychal Kendricks. This year they drafted Brooks with Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven added to the mix. That’s a lot of resource spent on one position — Wagner and Wright alone are taking up $25m of the cap in 2020.

— Taco Charlton is available after being waived by Miami. My question would be — why has he been waived twice already in a three year career after being taken by Dallas with the #28 pick? What’s his deal? Why are teams allergic to his presence?

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John Schneider was asked after the draft whether the stalemate with Jadeveon Clowney was preventing him from signing anyone else.

“No” was the firm and direct reply.

We’ll find out if that really is the case in the coming days.

The Seahawks created some cap room when they released Justin Britt and D.J. Fluker, leading to frenzied fans speculating about all sorts of potential corresponding moves.

The reality is pretty clear by now. They were always going to make those cuts and were simply waiting to see how things shaped up in the draft.

According to Spotrac they now have about $23m in overall cap space. This doesn’t include the amount you need to save for injured reserve or a practise squad. It doesn’t include the money for the 2020 draft class. It also doesn’t include Bruce Irvin’s currently unknown salary.

Seattle has some flexibility though. Which is important — because there’s still a lot to do.

For starters — there’s absolutely no way they’re going to go into a coronavirus impacted season with undrafted free agent Anthony Gordon as Russell Wilson’s backup. He’s a prime candidate for some practise squad seasoning if he earns the opportunity in a camp. They need to sign a veteran for the season proper and that likely means a return for Geno Smith at some stage.

The Seahawks can sign Smith at any time. They haven’t, so far, despite it seeming like a pretty straight forward arrangement.

They also need to sign a defensive tackle. So far they’ve lost Al Woods at the position and not replaced him. It’s inevitable that someone will be added. However, as of today, nobody has been.

It’s also very possible they will add competition at running back and receiver. That could mean Carlos Hyde, Devonta Freeman or Isaiah Crowell plus Josh Gordon. Again — these are all deals that could happen at any moment. They haven’t.

The obvious explanation is the Seahawks are still waiting to try and work out a conclusion to the Clowney stalemate. They know it’s going to be an expensive addition, whenever it happens. Eating up their cap space now just makes it even harder.

Until that deal is done — or he signs somewhere else — they can’t really act.

You might say it’s time to move on. Just sign Everson Griffen instead.

I suspect the Seahawks have been tempted. You don’t want a situation like this dragging on for months.

However — I also think they’ve determined that Clowney is their best bet. I think they made that call at the start of free agency too, which is why they never really showed much interest in any of the other free agent defensive ends.

Their apparent willingness to wait this out as long as he is feels like an admission that they can’t get anyone better. If they move on now and just leave him as a free agent, they might just be cutting off their nose to spite their face. They’d be removing the opportunity to make their team the best it can be. I sense they’re not willing to do that and they don’t think any alternative comes close. Therefore, they’re waiting.

I would’ve said a few weeks ago it’s a risky strategy. Now I’m not so sure. Griffen hasn’t signed anywhere else. Damon Harrison hasn’t signed anywhere else. Marcel Dareus hasn’t signed anywhere else. Brandon Mebane hasn’t signed anywhere else.

None of the potential options for Seattle appear to have much of a market. Until things pick up — they pretty much can afford to continue this waiting game.

Ideally someone would force their hand either way. The passing of the comp pick deadline felt like a potential turning point. Would a team offer Clowney a big offer now, knowing it wouldn’t impact their picks in 2021?

The answer was no. The stalemate continued.

That’s probably because any other suitor is in the same boat as Seattle. It’s not really about getting a medical for Clowney. It’s about him wanting more than the league is willing to pay. Nothing will change in that regard. So Clowney, as is his prerogative, is deciding to leave his options open. He knows there will always be a team willing to sign him. He’s clearly willing, as a very rich man already, to gamble a few million to try and win this negotiating battle.

It’s probably not a good strategy — but he’s not going to be forced into a contract he doesn’t like. If he wants to go that route, who can blame him really? You’ve got to put yourself in the position of a man who’s already earned over $50m in his career.

The latest update is he’s still prepared to wait this out.

The Seahawks won’t want to chip away at their remaining cap until the door slams shut with Clowney. While ever the likes of Griffen, Harrison and others are available — they won’t feel any serious pressure either, even if there’s a great deal of frustration.

Seattle’s remaining business this off-season is almost certainly limited to the addition of one or Clowney or Griffen, a defensive tackle, a veteran backup quarterback and maybe a cheap veteran running back and receiver. They appear willing to go with the competition they already have at nickel corner — but that’s also an area they could add to (although there’s never been a splash here previously)

There were all sorts of weird and wonderful trades being pitched on the internet on Sunday. The reality is the Britt and Fluker moves were inevitable and not a precursor to anything big. The key to the remaining off-season is Jadeveon Clowney. The slow dance, I’m afraid, is going to continue.

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When it comes to picking in the fourth round, you’re really just looking for someone who can outperform their draft placing.

In the case of Colby Parkinson, he was the 133rd player selected. By that stage in the draft you’re looking at physical ideals.

We saw it with Deejay Dallas and Alton Robinson too. Dallas was in their ballpark for size/explosion at running back and Robinson was a top performer in the short shuttle, a test we’ve identified as important on the defensive line.

There’s been a lot of talk about Parkinson’s potential role in Seattle. This is because he was mainly used as a big receiver at Stanford. He did very little blocking. People have wondered whether, as a consequence, he might’ve been drafted to do a similar job in Seattle.

I’d hold back on that thought for a while.

To me this pick was 100% about profile. It’s not what he showed at Stanford that is the key here. It’s what he showed at the combine.

Firstly, we’ve previously identified the importance of the three cone when it comes to selecting tight ends. The Seahawks have consistently targeted players who ran around 7.10 or faster:

Luke Willson — 7.08
Will Dissly — 7.07
Nick Vannett — 7.05
Anthony McCoy — 6.99
Zach Miller — 7.01
Jimmy Graham — 6.90
Greg Olsen — 7.04
Jacob Hollister – 7.12

This isn’t a coincidence by now. There are too many examples.

Historically there’s also some correlation between the best tight ends in the league (or the tight ends who are drafted very early) and their performance in the three cone:

Top performing tight ends

George Kittle – 7.00
Austin Hooper – 7.00
Coby Fleener – 7.02
Zach Ertz — 7.08
Travis Kelce — 7.09
Hunter Henry — 7.16
Rob Gronkowski — 7.18

First round picks since 2016

Noah Fant – 6.81
O.J. Howard – 6.85
Evan Engram – 6.92
David Njoku – 6.97
T.J. Hockenson — 7.02
Hayden Hurst – 7.19

We can clearly see that the NFL is placing a high value on this test at the position — and it’s also a good test to determine future success in the league.

Parkinson ran a 7.15 three cone. So while he’s not in the 6.8’s or 6.9’s that likely would’ve propelled him into day one or two of the draft — he’s also in the Kelce, Henry, Gronkowski range. When it comes to using a pick at #133 — he ran a good enough time to believe there’s something to work with there.

It’s not just his three cone either. Parkinson ran a 4.46 short shuttle. That also compares favourably to Seattle’s previous additions at the position and the top TE’s in the league:

Luke Willson — 4.29
Will Dissly — 4.40
Nick Vannett — 4.20
Anthony McCoy — 4.57
Zach Miller — 4.42
Jimmy Graham — 4.45
Greg Olsen — 4.48

Rob Gronkowski — 4.47
Hunter Henry — 4.41
Austin Hooper – 4.32
T.J. Hockenson — 4.18
Coby Fleener – 4.30
Zach Ertz — 4.47
Travis Kelce — 4.42
George Kittle – 4.55

With Parkinson’s profile, at the #133 pick, you can take someone who gives you a chance to outplay his draft placing.

You might bring up his forty time. He ran a 4.77. Clearly that’s a step below people like Kittle (4.52) and some of the freaks who went in round one (Engram, Howard).

Again though, there are positive comparisons:

Rob Gronkowski — 4.68
T.J. Hockenson — 4.70
Jordan Reed — 4.72
Zach Ertz — 4.76

The Ertz profile is particularly interesting. When you put the two former Stanford TE’s side-by-side, they are similar:

Zach Ertz
Forty — 4.76
Vertical — 35.5
Broad — 9-7
Short shuttle — 4.47
Three cone — 7.08

Colby Parkinson
Forty — 4.77
Vertical — 32.5
Broad — 9-1
Short shuttle — 4.46
Three cone — 7.15

Granted, Ertz is more explosive and his three cone is 0.07 seconds quicker. Yet Parkinson also has a length advantage (33 1/4 inch arms vs 31 3/4) and in every other test they are similar.

I don’t believe the Seahawks drafted Parkinson because they saw his receiver-style tape and thought he’d compliment what they already have. I think they see someone with the kind of tight end profile that generally succeeds in the NFL. They have little pressure to start him as a rookie. He can be developed and harnessed in year one. I think they will try to mould him into a typical Seahawks ‘Y’ tight end. The fact he has also shown to be a solid receiver with, reportedly, zero drops in 2019 — that’s simply a big bonus. He’s also very accomplished in the red zone.

This is why I highlight physical ideals in our combine reviews every year. All teams have them and the Seahawks are quite strict with theirs. Parkinson has a profile you can work with.

He’s going to have to work on the consistency of his blocking though, as the video above discusses.

One other thing to consider is how highly rated Parkinson was going into the 2019 season. Some believed he could rise into the top-50 range, perhaps even the first round. It never really happened — in part because Stanford had a bad season and finished 4-8. Parkinson scored 11 touchdowns in his first two years at Stanford but only recorded one score in 2019. Yardage wise he was a consistent contributor.

One of the main reasons I’m starting to run through 2021 tape earlier this year is because I think the Seahawks had players like Darrell Taylor and Parkinson graded highly a year ago. They weren’t able to enhance their stock in 2019 but the talent and potential still exists. It might be something to keep in mind moving forward.

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A quick note to the community

Usually at this time of year I finish off a few articles and take a break. I’ve decided not to do that this year. At least not yet. Instead I’ve decided to get right into watching and discussing 2021 prospects.

I’m doing this for two reasons.

Firstly, I thought it was telling that Seattle targeted two players who were highly rated 12 months ago but then had circumstances impact their stock. Darrell Taylor and Colby Parkinson were both said to be potential first round picks last summer. Their stock never really took off. But it goes to show — players who identify as potential first rounders can have an impacted final season but retain a high overall grade. For that reason, I want to get an angle on this class now, not just in the fall.

Secondly, I’ve been energised by how people have responded to the blog during this lockdown. People have said it has been a positive distraction and a place where we can talk about something a bit less serious and fun. If we can keep that going for a bit longer, then I’m going to go for it. I’ll keep putting material out — perhaps not every day, but most days — while ever people continue to visit, contribute and discuss in the comments section. If it flattens out and people move on — that’s fine. I’ll take a break. As long as you want this place though, I’m going to keep writing.

Initial thoughts on Jordyn Brooks

I’ve now had an opportunity to watch Brooks. Everything you’ve read or heard over the last few days is relatively accurate.

For example — the concerns about his ability in coverage. It’s understandable why you can single that out as a problem and you can also understand why John Schneider disagrees. The likes of Patrick Queen, Willie Gay and Logan Wilson were adept at dropping and settling in coverage. They’re agile and capable of sinking into a low base and covering ground quickly. That’s not Brooks’ game. So if you’re turning on the tape and trying to make an apples for apples comparison with Queen, Gay and Wilson (as I imagine most analysts will) — then you can easily make the case for saying he’s inferior in coverage to those three.

I don’t think he’s bad in coverage rather it’s just not the strong point in his game. He can move and that shouldn’t be a surprise given his 4.53 speed. My suspicion is if he’d run a short shuttle and three cone it’d be nearer to K.J. Wright’s 4.46 and 7.26 than Cody Barton’s 4.03 and 6.90. They are different players, with different roles.

Brooks is a thumper with speed. He flies to the ball carrier — whether that’s on a designed blitz or if he’s in read/react. It was satisfying to see him attack the perimeter the way he does. He does a good job sifting through the traffic to find a lane to the ball carrier. His acceleration flashes time and time again. When he makes a decision to pursue, he goes through the gears quickly and he’s a violent, jarring hitter.

Texas Tech had him read the quarterback a lot and attack the LOS.

Remember this tweet by Brian Baldinger?

.@Seahawks @Bwagz is the one MLB I would study nonstop if I was a young linebacker and wanted to play at a pro bowl level. Speed is great, but diagnosing the play first; and then trusting your speed and angles is better. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/tDqspQM1gk

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) May 20, 2019

“Speed is great, but diagnosing the play first; and then trusting your speed and angles is better.”

That’s a good way to sum up how Brooks was used in college. He was seemingly given the trust and the freedom to be patient — to assess what was happening and then use his speed to make a play. And he was good at it. It’s why he ended up with 20 TFL’s. Considering the Big-12 is full of spread out offenses he was quite adept in using the space to his advantage. He can sift through the bodies and if anything was bounced outside — there’s a reasonable chance he could chase them down. Even in the Big-12 it’s not easy to give yourself the time to assess what’s going on and still have the athleticism to make a play. Split seconds are huge in college, not just the NFL. Brooks has the necessary physical profile to play intelligent, fast, patient football.

That matters a lot more than you realise. How many linebackers do you see run head-first into trouble, lose contain or get themselves into bother? Even Devin Bush the #10 overall pick last year was too aggressive at Michigan and regularly gave up long gains in the running game due to a lack of patience. There’s no such issue here — and that’s a big deal for a young linebacker who wants to get involved and wants to be a big part of the defense. You can trust him to have a look and react. Then, he attacks.

Brooks is somewhere between Wagner and K.J. Wright. He has the quickness to exploit opportunities off the read/react like Wagner and certainly shares Wright’s toughness and length — but he also has some of the stiffness. That sounds unflattering and critical of Wright but that’s not my intention. He has plenty of other strengths — you just don’t want him isolated in an unfavourable coverage matchup. You want him up at the LOS, reading and attacking. It’s the same for Brooks.

He’s not Telvin Smith or Lavonte David. He’s not Leighton Vader Esch. He’s a lot closer to Ray Lewis in terms of style of play (I’m not saying he’ll be Lewis — simply that he’s that type of linebacker). He’s an inside guy. He needs to play the MIKE or WILL for Seattle. His combination of speed, toughness and power will give him a good opportunity to be very effective in Seattle’s traditional scheme in either role.

I came away believing that this pick is not a replacement for Mychal Kendricks or any steer towards them continuing to play a lot of base defense. Brooks is more than likely a long-term replacement for Wright — with the versatility to play MIKE if needed. He can feature at SAM in certain scenarios if they want three linebackers on the field. That position, to me, didn’t really feel like a fit. He’s much more suited to playing inside and getting his hands dirty — attacking the LOS and flying to the ball.

It doesn’t make any sense for Wright to play 90% of the snaps any more. He played 93% in 2019 and Wagner 98.32%. Brooks can take some of that workload and fit into three-linebacker formations too. A more significant role will have to wait for now — unless, of course, he earns a full-time gig and takes significant playing time away from Wright as a rookie.

I don’t think they set out to add a linebacker in this draft either. I think a focal point of this reset has to been to try and re-establish a culture and physical presence. In 2018 they set out to repair the running game. A year ago their first two picks were a heavy-handed D-liner and a hammer at safety. Now they’ve used a high pick on Brooks.

Listening to the press conference after day one it’s clear they fell in love with the way he presented himself. They clearly liked what they saw on the field and when he blew them away during the combine interview — that stuck with them. I think this pick was as much to do with his attitude, intensity and grit as it was to do with position.

They’re desperately trying to become the bully again. They need some BAMF’s in that locker room — not just in terms of being able to hit as is the case with Marquise Blair. They need guys who are going to come in and take strong leadership roles and lay the foundations. In 2013 they had about eight different defenders who could viably make up a leadership core. At the moment they’ve got about five — Wagner, Wright, Jarran Reed, Bradley McDougald and Quandre Diggs. It’s not enough — and Wright is coming towards the end of a storied career and how much longer is McDougald going to be with the team? Brooks represents the kind of character and personality they want and need to become an important voice in the locker room.

This wasn’t a draft class loaded with personalities like this. Someone asked last week — who are the tough guys? Who are the really physically intense individuals? There weren’t many obvious ones. Brooks, having watched his play and several of his interviews, might be #1 in this class in that regard.

It certainly helps that he was listed by PFF as the drafts best run defender and tackler at linebacker. They missed too many tackles in 2019 and their perimeter run defense was appalling. He will help in that regard.

More than anything though I think Pete Carroll sat back in his chair after that combine meeting and believed he’d found a personality fit. Somebody who embodied his vision for this team.

“He’s just got that grit that we always talk about and that edge, that chip on his shoulder.”
— John Schneider

“We just found a guy that could check all of the boxes… We love his attitude, like John said, it’s just his mentality.”
— Pete Carroll

Another phone call that’s as good as it gets.@coachp_TTU 📞 @JordynBrooks_

🔴#WreckEm⚫️ pic.twitter.com/hkXRpYevkO

— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) April 24, 2020

You might argue it’s a bit rich to take a player in round one for that purpose. I would disagree. Culture is just as important as talent. You need both. You really need both. Speak to successful people in sports and they’ll tell you that. Team building isn’t a game. It’s not just about fitting names onto a sheet. It’s about the personalities, the mental make-up. There are so many moments during a season that fans never see. The situations where a team remains energised and motivated during difficult physical and mental challenges.

It’s easy to write off when you don’t get it. But it’s vital. And based on what Carroll said and listening to the coaches at Texas Tech and to Brooks himself — I’m convinced this pick is a culture + talent pick, rather than a need. Had someone taken him off the board, I don’t think they’d have circled back and drafted one of these other linebackers. I believe they see him as a foundational piece who can help regain their defensive identity.

To them — that was worth a first round pick. And the fact they were able to move up and get the guy they would’ve otherwise taken (Darrell Taylor) suggests a well executed overall strategy for the 2020 draft. The key for Brooks is going to be delivering on their plan for him. He needs to perform to the level of Wagner and Wright while also providing the toughness and consistency they have delivered for a decade. If he does that — and helps them re-establish their defensive culture in the process — it will be a successful pick.

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Firstly — here’s a new podcast from Brandan and I discussing Seattle’s draft class, the day three picks in particular and what happens next…

Early 2021 watch-list

The early outlook for next year shows some star, big-name talent destined to go early and once again it could be a good class at receiver. The big difference in 2021? It appears to be significantly better at tight end, with a handful of potential top-40 picks.

If you want some homework for the next few weeks, check out these players…

Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson)
Lawrence will be the #1 overall pick in 2021. He’s highly accurate, athletic, perfectly sized and a born winner. He can do it all.

Penei Sewell (T, Oregon)
There’s a fairly good chance Sewell will be the #2 overall pick, unless another QB needy team lands in this spot. He’s a prototype left tackle with great size.

Micah Parsons (LB, Penn State)
A former five-star recruit, Parsons is capable of being a top-five pick at linebacker. He’s fast, physical and explosive and one of college football’s best players.

Ja’Marr Chase (WR, LSU)
He exploded onto the scene in 2019 and was virtually unstoppable at times. He can run a 4.09 short shuttle and he’s highly explosive. The only question is his deep speed and whether he’ll be as dominant without Joe Burrow.

Rondale Moore (WR, Purdue)
Speed, speed, speed. He’s already run a 4.33 at SPARQ but he also managed a 43 (!!!) inch vertical. A fantastic athlete like this will always go early.

Shaun Wade (CB, Ohio State)
I think he would’ve been a high pick this year. He’s a five-star talent who is water-tight in coverage but with the recovery speed and fight to be a top cornerback.

Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama)
Had he not suffered an ACL tear before the season started, Moses could’ve entered the draft this year and been a top-15 pick. He’s a 132.48 SPARQ talent.

Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson)
It was a major shock when he opted not to declare for the draft this year. He ran a 4.43 at SPARQ and jumped a 37 inch vertical. He will be a high draft pick.

Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida)
He’s a tight end but he plays like he could be a #1 target. He destroys teams on in-cutting routes. His catching radius is superb. He was already running a 4.70 at 6-6, 240lbs in High School and it won’t be a surprise if he gets that down to the 4.5’s.

DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
He had a coming out party in 2019 and was, at times, arguably Alabama’s top receiving threat. He’s extremely quick, sure-handed and he kills teams on slants.

Jaylen Waddle (WR, Alabama)
He’s quick and explosive (37 inch vertical) and is rapidly developing into a big time playmaker in the SEC.

Reshod Bateman (WR, Minnesota)
He was incredible in 2019. He caught everything. He took over games and dominated — making improbable grabs, scoring touchdowns and looking every bit a quality pro prospect.

Kwity Paye (EDGE, Michigan)
He’s explosive and active off the edge with excellent bend-and-straighten and the ability to threaten with speed or power.

Najee Harris (RB, Alabama)
Another player who stunned everyone when he chose not to declare this year. He has fantastic size, explosive power and he can be a threat as a runner or receiver.

Justin Fields (QB, Ohio State)
He’s good but not as good as the media say. He plays in an offense that churns out mass production at quarterback every season. He needs to take another step forward in 2021 but he’ll miss J.K. Dobbins.

Liam Eichenberg (T, Notre Dame)
Good kick-slide and gets into position very quickly when defending the edge. He has ideal tackle size at 6-6 and 305lbs and has a chance to develop into a first rounder.

Pat Freiermuth (TE, Penn State)
His body control running routes is superb. He can contort and twist to make difficult catches. It would be nice to see him play in-line a bit more for the sake of a complete assessment but he’s a dynamic, natural receiving tight end with huge potential.

Gregory Rousseau (DE, Miami)
He looks like a long, lean EDGE but he does his best work with the bull rush and moving inside. If he can develop a speed rush too — he could be a high pick. He needs to threaten the edge more often.

Marvin Wilson (DT, Florida State)
A former #4 overall recruit who incredibly ran a 4.56 short shuttle at 332lbs at SPARQ. He has the athletic potential to be a very high draft pick.

Walker Little (T, Stanford)
He’s 6-8 and has fantastic size. He was the top SPARQ scorer in his class at offensive tackle (107.25). He needs to bounce back from an injury plagued 2019.

Jake Ferguson (TE, Wisconsin)
A former four star recruit, Ferguson ran a 4.15 short shuttle at SPARQ and added a 35 inch vertical. He’s a traditional blocker who needs to become a regular feature in the passing game.

Nate Landman (LB, Colorado)
Full blooded, all-action linebacker who jumped a 37 inch vertical at SPARQ. He’s been nicknamed ‘the hammer’ by teammates. Landman has 260 tackles in the last two seasons and hasn’t missed a single game. He’s the heart and soul leader on Colorado’s defense.

Jamie Newman (QB, Georgia)
He’s transferred from Wake Forest where his deep-ball throwing was exceptional. His placement, velocity and accuracy downfield is impressive. He has a chance to make a name for himself at Georgia.

Brevin Jordan (TE, Miami)
The #20 overall recruit in 2018 — Jordan ran a 4.21 short shuttle at 250lbs at SPARQ. That kind of short area quickness and change of direction will put him on the NFL map. He’s a unit who gets around the field and is tough to bring down.

Carlos Basham Jr (DE, Wake Forest)
He’s a bit of a clean up artist but you see flashes of real quickness and power. If you give him a route to the QB he can explode, eat up ground quickly and finish.

Seth Williams (WR, Auburn)
He’s so smooth as a route runner and glides into position. He tracks the ball well, makes difficult catches and he looks like a 4.4 runner with good size.

Tylan Wallace (WR, Oklahoma State)
His stock will depend on his recovery from injury and his testing. He doesn’t look like anything more than a 4.5 runner but he has incredible body control, no wasted movement and he has a natural ability to track the football.

Damonte Coxie (WR, Memphis)
He’s tall and lean with long arms — creating a big catching radius. He runs the red line well and he’s an accomplished pass catcher. His stock will depend on his ability to run well and prove to teams he can create easy separation at the next level.

Brock Purdy (QB, Iowa State)
He’s creative, mobile, can throw from difficult angles and off his back-foot with velocity, he can deliver a touch pass or drive the ball downfield. He’s one to watch.

Mock draft competition results

Another big thanks to community member David for setting this up. He sent me this note to reveal the results…

Thanks everyone for participating and for a great and very needed draft season! The last 3 days & nights bore witness to both emotional highs & some entertaining lows. Once the dust settled and the BAC levels lowered, the SDB community once again finds itself united in support our bless-ed Hawks. Now the results are in. Out of 160-ish entries, (I counted on my fingers so if you think you got jobbed let me know) these are the number of times each of the Seahawks’ draft picks were chosen by a member.

Jordyn Brooks @ 1.27 — 0
Darrell Taylor @ 2.48 — 28
Damien Lewis @ 3.69 — 14
Colby Parkinson @ 4.133 — 0
DeeJay Dallas @ 4.144 — 0
Alton Robinson @ 5.148 — 8
Freddie Swain @ 6.214 — 1
Stephen Sullivan @ 7.251 — 2

There was a 3 way tie at the top.

TDD correctly guessed Darrell Taylor & Damien Lewis.
Greg Haugsven got Darrell Taylor & Alton Robinson.
NickATL got Damien Lewis & Alton Robinson.

We had to go to the 1st tie breaker. Who got their players in the correct round? Drum roll please………………

Ladies and gentlemen… Put your hands together for SDB’s inaugural Mock Draft Champion…

NickATL!!!! who correctly guessed both Lewis in the 3rd and Robinson in the 5th. Congratulations!!!

Rounding out the bottom of the pack was none other than our very own Kenny Sloth… A Ducks fan of all things (-1).
Thanks again y’all and hopefully we get to enjoy a 2020 NFL season followed by a 2021 NFL Draft.

Peace out!
DC

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Seahawks 2020 draft class

R1 — Jordyn Brooks (LB)
R2 — Darrell Taylor (EDGE)
R3 — Damien Lewis (G)
R4 — Colby Parkinson (TE)
R4 — Deejay Dallas (RB)
R5 — Alton Robinson (DE)
R6 — Freddie Swain (WR)
R7 — Stephen Sullivan (TE)

Thoughts on Seattle’s 2020 draft

The Seahawks know they need to be tougher.

They’re no longer the bully in the NFL. They’re not even the bully in the NFC West.

The attitude, intensity and swagger of the LOB era is missing. Their run defense is poor. Their pass rush is poor. They miss tackles. They struggle to defend the perimeter.

They’re trying to fix the problem.

They added a thumping, physical linebacker, a speedy edge rusher who plays with attitude and a violent run blocker with their first three picks. They followed it up with more pass rush help, a big move TE and a fierce running back.

They’re going to keep trying to create the team they want. They crave to be the punishing, physical, take-your-soul team that they used to be.

Smart, tough, reliable.

It makes sense. It’s reasonable. It’s something they’ll need to reclaim if they’re going to get back to the top.

If you take a step back and acknowledge, rightly, that the Seahawks were never going to blow your socks off with this class — you can look at it through a positive lens. It wasn’t realistic to address the large collection of needs they had. They needed to do more in free agency for that to be the case. They’ve added fast, physical tough guys with upside and potential. That’s a good thing.

There are also issues though.

They didn’t draft a defensive tackle to help anchor or provide pass rush. In a reasonable DT class, that’s disappointing.

They drafted two pass rushers but they still require the veteran proven quality of a Jadeveon Clowney or Everson Griffen. It’s an absolute must that they secure one of those two as soon as possible.

They’ve not added a nickel corner. They need one. Ugo Amadi is not a guaranteed solution.

They’ve not added a developmental left tackle or further competition for Brandon Shell.

They’ll need to add at least one more running back to the stable.

There’s so much that still needs to be done.

While there’s nothing this draft class could really do to change this — the Seahawks have not moved the needle this off-season towards winning a Super Bowl. San Francisco added two first round picks then stole Trent Williams from Washington. The Cardinals nabbed DeAndre Hopkins and Isaiah Simmons.

In comparison, the Seahawks have been strangely quiet. They’ve padded their depth. Their biggest investment so far is on a linebacker — despite the fact Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright are taking up $25m in cap space this year.

Russell Wilson keeps Seattle a contender of sorts but his presence shouldn’t be taken for granted. You can’t pretend that this team isn’t dragged along by the quarterback. It is. And there’s been a lack of aggression this off-season. Failing to land the pass rushers in free agency or improve the front seven forced them to prioritise both areas in a draft that was superior at offensive tackle and the skill positions early.

Russell Wilson called for superstars. They haven’t been added.

The roster, currently, is good enough to once again make the playoffs. Taking the next step — being a genuine contender and reaching a Super Bowl — requires more talent. Whether it’s developed or added. There’s still an awful lot of work to do.

The problem is — they no longer have the benefit of draft picks and a heap of cap space to work with. They are somewhat limited — even if they start cutting the likes of Justin Britt to create space.

The next few weeks are vital. They have to find a way, somehow, to add more.

Thoughts on each pick

R1 — Jordyn Brooks (LB, Texas Tech)
I need to spend some time over the next few days studying him closer but the initial thought is you can see why the Seahawks like him. He’s extremely physical. He knifes through gaps with suddenness and explodes to the ball carrier. His attitude and intensity will appeal to a team still seeking an edge. His ability to defend the run and handle the perimeter is much needed.

R2 — Darrell Taylor (EDGE, Tennessee))
He bends-and-straightens as an edge rusher as well as anyone in this class. He’s classically sized for the position with the length and build to play early downs and get after the quarterback. His pass rush win percentage (18.6%) is good. He needs to develop a repertoire and develop his technique vs the run. He might not have a major impact early in his career but he has the upside to develop into a top pass rusher. Going into the 2019 season he was being tipped as a first round possibility.

R3 — Damien Lewis (G, LSU)
He’s a top-50 talent in this draft. He’s perfectly suited to play guard with the size and length (33 inch arms) to bulldoze opponents. The Seahawks love explosive linemen and he scored a 97.1 in weighted TEF. He was superb at the Senior Bowl, scoring PFF’s top grade in 1v1’s among offensive linemen. Lewis is a physical tone-setter in the running game who plays with passion and leaves everything on the field.

R4 — Colby Parkinson (TE, Stanford)
Going into the 2019 season, Parkinson was being touted as a potential first round pick. He was used as a big receiver at Stanford and didn’t do much blocking at all. Reportedly he didn’t drop a single pass in 2019. The Seahawks possibly saw a player with first round potential who suffered a little bit as Stanford stalled. We’ve noted consistently how much attention they pay to the three cone at tight end. Anything around 7.10 is the ballpark. Parkinson ran a 7.15. They could try to develop him into a complete TE or they could use him as a big target.

R4 — Deejay Dallas (RB, Miami)
Dallas was on our list of ‘physical ideals’ from the combine. He also runs with toughness and physicality. He lacks the top level explosion to jump-cut from tacklers and his upside will always be somewhat tempered. However — he loves to hammer defenders and gain yards after contact and if he’s given a crease he has just enough speed to break off considerable gains. They badly needed some depth at running back.

R5 — Alton Robinson (DE, Syracuse)
His tape is underwhelming considering his physical profile and he didn’t shine at the Senior Bowl. His pass rush win percentage is 15.9% which is in the ‘good not great’ bracket. However, we’ve consistently noted they pay attention to the short shuttle on the D-line and his 4.32 time was the second fastest at this years combine. He’s also an explosive tester scoring a 3.41 in TEF (the same mark as Marcus Davenport).

R6 — Freddie Swain (WR, Florida)
He’s a 4.46 runner and we know the Seahawks want their wide outs in the 4.4 range. Swain is a slot receiver with the quickness to separate and he has no limitations in terms of running across the middle to get open or sprinting downfield. His route running needs some work. His main asset to Seattle will likely be his ability to compete quickly as a kick returner.

R7 — Stephen Sullivan (TE, LSU)
Sullivan had an incredible journey to LSU and he has outstanding length (35.5 inch arms) on a 6-5, 248lbs frame. He ran a 4.66 at the combine and jumped a 36.5 inch vertical. His agility testing, however, was dreadful. That’s one of the main reasons he’s lasted this long. He’s a high character team player who could develop into a big target (the Seahawks are listing him as a receiver). He had a good Senior Bowl. Hopefully he produces some of this magic in Seattle.

Undrafted free agents

I will update this list as we go along. Here are the reported signings so far:

Anthony Gordon (QB, Washington State)
Eli Mencer (DE, Ualbany)
Anthony Jones (RB, Florida Atlantic)
Chris Miller (S, Baylor)
Gavin Heslop (CB, Stony Brook)
Seth Dawkins (WR, Louisville)
Marcus Webb (DT, Troy)
Debione Renfro (CB, Texas A&M)
Kemah Siverand (CB, Oklahoma State)
Josh Avery (DT, Southeast Missouri)
Tyler Mabry (TE, Maryland)
Tommy Champion (T, Mississippi State)
Aaron Fuller (WR, Washington)

Other draft notes

— The first pick was a difficult one to project. After that? I’m happy with the way we identified potential targets. Things like the three cone for tight ends, weighted TEF for offensive linemen, explosive traits and size for running backs and the short shuttle for pass rushers all proved accurate yet again. It shows we generally know what to look for. All of their selections apart from Stephen Sullivan were listed on our board. Realistically I’m not sure we could’ve done much more to prepare for this draft.

— I take a lot of pride in getting more first round players right (28) than any other mock draft scored by the Huddle Report. I liked the way we approached this draft and that will be a lesson for future years.

— I much preferred the broadcasting format they were forced into due to coronavirus. Can we keep it? It was fun, intimate and cut away a lot of the fat.

— Trey Wingo is a superb host. World class. The gold standard.

— Running backs don’t matter? 10 went in the first three rounds and 12 in the first 120 picks.

— Well done to the NFL for persisting with the draft. Lots of people criticised the decision and used the overused ‘tone deaf’ term. We all needed a distraction and the NFL provided it in a safe and professional manner. This was the most enjoyable draft experience I can recall from a broadcasting and entertainment perspective.

A message to the community

None of us ever thought we’d be in this situation — trying to work our way through a global pandemic. I don’t know how many of you have had the virus, have the symptoms currently or have family or friends who are suffering. You may even have lost loved ones. Yet the fact we’ve been able to spend these last few weeks talking Seahawks and draft — I’ve found it energising. A needed distraction from the reality of the situation we all face.

We’ve done things we haven’t done before with the interviews and videos. It’s been a pleasure, from the start of the college football season to this point at the end of April. That’s because of the people in this community. We don’t always agree. We can argue. But we’ll always come together and continue to be civil.

Thank you for supporting this web site. Thank you for caring about anything I have to say. Thank you for giving me an opportunity. And I hope Seahawks Draft Blog has helped — and will continue to help — during this difficult time.

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