I’ve just woken up to see the big news from last night so here’s some thoughts…

— The Seahawks placed a big emphasis on culture, fit and familiarity. It’s not a surprise to see Jarran Reed return. At the combine John Schneider talked of his importance and value in the locker room.

— The deal is a good one for both parties. The Seahawks are not committing major money on a long term contract but they keep a key player at their biggest area of need. Reed gets a decent salary and can reach the market again in two years. Win-win. A good start to free agency.

— Either way, the success and failure of this free agency period wasn’t resting with Reed. They need to improve the pass rush. On day one hardly any of the top pass rushers left the market. That could be a good sign — is it colder than many anticipated? Or is it just slow to get going? We’ll find out soon. But the last time the market was chillier than expected the Seahawks landed Bennett and Avril.

— Luke Willson joins Jacob Hollister in returning to Seattle. Suddenly, the Seahawks have an army of tight ends. Clearly they are placing a lot of emphasis on the position. For that reason, I’m loathe to totally rule out them adding another (eg Hunter Bryant) in the draft. After injuries hammered the position in 2019, it seems like they’re taking no chances in 2020. Yet their moves so far could easily be inspired by the weak draft at the position.

— As noted earlier — it’s probably a good thing Jadeveon Clowney is biding his time.

— Can anyone remember a few weeks ago when Field Gulls decided to write a long article saying there’s absolutely no way Minnesota would trade Stefon Diggs for a first round pick in the 20’s?

— Today is a big reminder to all of the people who dismiss trade suggestions during the lull between the end of the season and free agency starting. Deals are always unlikely until they happen. And they happen all the time. It’s best to stay open minded. Because next year nobody will anticipate the equivalent of DeAndre Hopkins for a second and David Johnson, Calais Campbell for a fifth or Stefon Diggs for a first and change.

— The Dallas Cowboys had a good 2-3 years in terms of front office decisions. Allowing Dak Prescott’s contract to run down, getting into a potential Kirk Cousins situation with him on the tag and being forced to give Amari Cooper $20m a year to stop him going anywhere else is… an error.

— The 49ers retained Arik Armstead on a big contract and then paid out to keep Jimmie Ward. They also acquired the #13 pick but lost DeForest Buckner. That’s an exciting first day for the Niners but I’m not sure it makes them better.

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Source says answer on Jadeveon Clowney's future could still take "some time, days maybe." Obviously it remains fluid though.

— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 16, 2020

Despite a fair bit of doom-mongering on twitter, the tweet above is probably good news for the Seahawks.

It’s been a relatively quiet first day of the legal tampering period for Seattle. With other blockbuster deals happening within the NFC West (DeForest Buckner leaving the Niners, DeAndre Hopkins joining the Cards) — the Seahawks are yet to make a move.

Importantly, none of their likely D-line targets are off the market apart from Arik Armstead.

A lot of people have been pointing to Buckner’s new $21m-a-year deal in Indianapolis as a bad sign for Seattle and their pursuit of Clowney. Why though?

If he was going to agree terms on a fat contract that was too rich for the Seahawks, he likely wouldn’t be taking his time to consider his next move. He’d just be signing on the dotted line. If there are things to consider and a process to play out, that likely means he hasn’t been immediately blown away by the offers on the table.

Furthermore — the Colts made a bold trade to acquire Buckner. The minute you chuck the #13 overall pick to San Francisco, you immediately hand the player a heap of leverage. You don’t trade away top-15 picks for non-elite players. You also don’t trade away top-15 picks on rentals. The Colts had to sign him and pay him.

Clowney is in a very different boat as a free agent.

There may come a time when desperate teams throw money at him to make a splash. That could still take him to another club. Many big name free agents, including Tom Brady, are yet to make a call.

Yet it’s also possible teams simply aren’t willing to pay him at an elite rate.

The Seahawks have clearly made retaining Clowney a priority. A bit of patience might land him at the price their most comfortable paying. We’ll see.

As for Seattle’s quiet start overall — it’s been fairly quiet for most teams with a few big headline moves. The players they need are still out there. The time to judge will be when the signings are made, not now.

Meanwhile they have given Jacob Hollister a high tender:

The #Seahawks are giving TE Jacob Hollister the second-round tender, source said. They signed Greg Olsen and have Will Dissly coming back, but they value Hollister, who was their third-leading receiver last season.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2020

This would suggest they’re less likely to draft someone like Hunter Bryant.

And George Fant is moving on to the Jets after signing for $10m per year:

Former Seahawks’ OT George Fant reached agreement with the Jets on a three-year, $30 million deal that includes $13.7 million guaranteed, per @JFowlerESPN and me.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2020

Increasingly it was trending towards Fant getting the starting opportunity he was looking for. There’s no news yet on Germain Ifedi. The Seahawks were never going to be shopping in the high-end market at tackle with such a major need on the D-line. Expect some kind of veteran hedge if Ifedi also departs, followed by some draft competition.

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If you missed yesterday’s free agency preview podcast, check it out…

According to Adam Schefter, the new league is set to begin as planned this week. The ‘legal tampering’ period of free agency will start on Monday.

We’re already seeing deals being agreed. The Titans have re-signed Ryan Tannehill and the Colts Anthony Castonzo. Bradley Roby is reportedly returning to the Texans.

We’ve also seen Calais Campbell traded to the Ravens in principal.

The price? A fifth round pick.

We need to talk about this trade.

Why so cheap? Why didn’t the Seahawks go for him?

Let’s get into it.

Why only a fifth rounder?

Trade suggestions or proposals are always dismissed as unrealistic until the point they occur. Then everyone acts surprised. Campbell for a fifth. Clowney for a third. Diggs for a fifth.

Unexpected stuff happens all the time in the NFL.

Campbell has been exceptionally productive in his three years in Jacksonville. He was consistently graded as a top-five defensive lineman by PFF. In 2019 he had 6.5 sacks working the interior to go with 33 pressures and 16 QB knockdowns.

He’s a quality player. The price probably reflects a number of aspects:

1. Jacksonville’s acceptance that they’re in a rebuild

2. His age

3. Their respect for him

4. His desire to go to a certain team

The Jags save $15m with this trade. They move on from a player who turns 34 this year and probably won’t be part of their next core. They also have a lot of respect and admiration for Calais within the organisation and probably worked with him to find an ideal destination rather than trying to milk what they could get.

Not everything is a clinical business decision. Most things are, granted. But not everything. I suspect Campbell instructed the Jaguars of his preference and they worked on a deal. They probably did their due diligence at the combine to get a feel for what was on offer. My guess would be that after gathering all the information, they worked with the player to get him his preferred move.

Why didn’t the Seahawks just offer a higher pick?

For starters, it’s possible Campbell didn’t fancy it. Geographically there might be reasons. He also spent many years playing for the Cardinals. Ending his career with a rival NFC West team might not have been his preference.

The move to Baltimore will carry huge appeal. They were 14-2 last year. They have an exciting young quarterback and a fierce defense. Unlike the Seahawks, they don’t play in the toughest division in football.

They also use a scheme that Campbell is familiar with from his Cardinals days.

There’s every chance he had his heart set on a move to Baltimore and there’s nothing anyone could’ve done to change that. Especially if the Jags were motivated to move him to the team he wanted to go to.

There’s also something else to consider.

The Seahawks have cap space to spend but they don’t have a bottomless pit. The key is going to be to prioritise where they use their money.

Pete Carroll has already specifically named Jadeveon Clowney as a ‘huge priority’. Keeping Clowney will not be cheap. If you trade for Campbell, it limits your ability to get that done.

He also spoke very clearly about the LEO and the five technique positions. They want a premier pass rusher and a dynamic defensive end partner. Presumably that means Clowney and one other. That is do-able in free agency with their cap space and the expected massive cap increases in future seasons due to the passing of the new CBA.

It’s very difficult, however, to sign two players to fill those positions while also spending $20m guaranteed on Calais Campbell.

They’ve also spoken of their desire to keep Jarran Reed (a point re-emphasised by Jeremy Fowler earlier). Once again — they are big on culture, familiarity and fit.

At the moment they’re probably just not in a position to make this trade and guarantee they can do the other things they want to do. I don’t think you’re likely to see any moves until they know where they stand with Clowney. That could happen by the end of today for all we know. But clearly they aren’t there yet.

The news of this trade will disappoint many Seahawks fans. We’re all well aware of Campbell’s talent after the years he had in Arizona. Carroll and Schneider have been searching for their version of Calais for years too. Now that he was available for such a cheap price — people will wonder why they didn’t make this move.

Heck — I’m pretty sure this is the only website that even considered it a possibility that he’d be available. Like anyone else, I found this news deflating.

Yet when you take a step back and consider his possible preference, the likelihood of the Jaguars organisation to do him a solid and Seattle’s need to prioritise the five technique (Clowney) and LEO positions — it likely meant this simply wasn’t to be.

Make no mistake though — now is the time for the Seahawks. They have to be pro-active and aggressive this off-season. In free agency and the draft. The defense in particular needs a major talent injection. They deserve an opportunity to show their hand and reveal what their plan of action is for the 2020 season.

And we’ll have every opportunity to analyse and judge that plan in the coming days.

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If you’re stuck for something to do this weekend, here’s a nice long Seahawks podcast…

We’ve talked a lot about the lack of pass rushing depth in this draft. Yet it’s still worth considering the limited options.

The Seahawks have selected a defensive lineman with one of their first two picks in each of the last five drafts (L.J. Collier, Rasheem Green, Malik McDowell, Jarran Reed, Frank Clark). With D-line being their biggest need by far this off-season, it stands to reason they’ll consider extending this run to six.

That could come in a couple of different forms too.

The Seahawks were at their best when they had multiple edge rushing options. The Clark-Bennett-Avril trio or the Clemons-Bennett-Avril trio previously were highly effective (along with support from Bruce Irvin). They might be able to sign two edge rushers in free agency but three might be a stretch. If so, the Seahawks might seek to find a third wheel in the draft.

They also might need to replace Jarran Reed or Al Woods.

Currently they have three picks in the first two rounds — #27, #59 and #62. I think this is the range where if you want a pass rusher — you need to consider it. The options will evaporate quickly.

At #27 one name stands out. Julian Okwara is 6-4, 252lbs and he has 34.5 inch arms. He also has 10 1/4 hands. That’s the profile of a LEO pass rusher. Despite looking quite lean and light on tape he’s surprisingly powerful — as shown by his 27 reps on the bench press at the combine.

He didn’t do any drills because he’s still recovering from a broken leg suffered during the 2019 season although he did appear at #10 on Bruce Feldman’s 2019 freak list:

Okwara’s speed is why he cracked the top 10 this year. Notre Dame has clocked his top speed at 21 mph — a time you’d expect from a speedy wideout but not from a 6-5 pass rusher.

The quickness shows up during games too. He beats tackles quickly to the corner. He has excellent get off and the ability to convert his speed into power. As noted recently, he ranks highly in terms of pass rush win percentage and pressures and 33% of his tackles at Notre Dame were for a loss.

He’s the most obvious LEO candidate and should be a top-40 pick (especially with the limited options in this class). If the Seahawks prioritise adding an extra EDGE in the draft, he could be their top pick.

With their picks in round two I think there are four options. I’m not convinced any or all will last to the end of round two. However, we saw them make a small trade up for Jarran Reed in 2016. They’ve also been prepared to trade up for D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in recent years.

The Florida pass rushing duo of Jabari Zuniga and Jonathan Greenard stand out for differing reasons.

Greenard is a highly impressive individual. He was established as a team leader quickly after transferring from Louisville. His interviews are mature and enjoyable. He carries himself like a pro off the field and teams will love his character and attitude.

On the field there are some key strengths. His run defense is very impressive at 263lbs. You can play him on early downs. He has unnatural length (35 inch arms) for his height (6-3) and he’s powerful enough to stun offensive tackles, create separation and then play the ball carrier. He did this against Georgia’s Isaiah Wilson at 350lbs.

As a pass rusher he’s not a sudden, explosive rusher. You don’t see many easy wins with quickness and burst. It wasn’t a surprise that he ran a 4.87 at the combine — that was expected.

However, his 4.34 short shuttle and 7.13 three cone are both excellent times. That’s in Seattle’s wheelhouse for a player at his size based on players they’ve selected in the past.

His 17.2% pass rush win rate isn’t among the leaders in this draft but it’s similar to A.J. Epenesa (17.5%). At the end of round two here’s what you’d be getting — a prospective team leader who will fit into your culture beautifully, a player who can set the edge but still provide some spark as a rusher, has a deep repertoire and can potentially play either side of the line.

Zuniga is a different type of player. He’s much quicker off the edge than you’d think. He doesn’t always show it consistently but he has tremendous get-off. That’s no mean feat for his size. He’s incredibly well put-together at 6-3 and 264lbs. He looks like a BAMF pass rusher.

At the end of 2018 I was mocking him to the Seahawks in round one. He chose not to declare and return to Florida. He and Greenard were on fire to start the 2019 season before both got hurt. As a consequence his stock never really took off.

As noted in our combine coverage — he was the only pass rusher who got close to running a top 10-yard split. His 1.61 time is on the brink of elite. The fact he’s doing that at a muscular 264lbs is all the more impressive.

He also ran a 4.64 forty — a great time for his size.

Not only that, he’s incredibly explosive. He scored a 3.76 in TEF — the top score among defensive linemen this year and the fourth best score among D-liners since we started using the formula:

Myles Garrett — 4.21
Ben Banogu — 4.05
Solomon Thomas — 3.83
Jabari Zuniga — 3.76
Ed Oliver — 3.72

He also led the class in weighted TEF with a 99.2 — similar to the top offensive linemen like Tristan Wirfs. He is a sensational combination of speed, quickness and explosive power.

His pass rush win percentage was a healthy 20% although his pressure percentage is a more modest 15.8%. That perhaps correlates with the flashes he shows but not necessarily a level of consistency.

Even as I’m writing these words I’m tempted to bump him up with Okwara. With the complete dearth of pass rushers in this class he could go earlier than many are currently projecting. His inconsistent play, the 2019 injury and a nondescript Senior Bowl could keep him on the board.

If you want to take a shot on an athletic pass rusher and if Okwara isn’t an option, Zuniga is the best bet. He’s not the long, lean LEO type like Okwara but he has a skill set that can threaten off the edge.

I wrote in detail about Curtis Weaver a few days ago so I won’t rehash the whole article here. Essentially he lacks the prototype size, frame and length for the Seahawks (or anyone else). Yet his pass rush win percentage and pressure percentage are among the best in the class and his 4.27 short shuttle can’t be ignored. It’s comparable to some of the top pass rushers in the NFL currently.

If the Seahawks consider him despite the lack of traits he could provide a specialist rush edge to the rotation. I suspect he’ll be a second or third round selection.

The final name is a defensive tackle and another player we’ve discussed a lot already. For years the Seahawks have looked for their answer for Calais Campbell. Raekwon Davis could be the latest attempt to find a solution.

The two players are physically similar:

Calais Campbell
Height: 6-8
Weight: 290lbs
Arm length: 35 3/4 inches
Hand size: 9.5 inches
Forty: 5.11
10-yard: 1.74
Vertical: 29.5 inches
Broad: 9-3
Three cone: 4.69
Short shuttle: 7.45
Bench: 16 reps

Raekwon Davis
Height: 6-6
Weight: 311lbs
Arm length: 33 7/8 inches
Hand size: 11 inches
Forty: 5.12
10-yard: 1.78
Vertical: 28 inches
Broad: 9-3
Three cone: 4.86
Short shuttle: 7.95
Bench: 24 reps

There are some clear similarities. The forty times are practically identical and they both recorded a 9-3 broad jump. The vertical jumps are similar.

Davis performs better in the bench press but his extra size and shorter arms provided an advantage. Campbell was quicker in the three cone and short shuttle but he was also 21lbs lighter than Davis.

On tape they can be similar too. Davis plays end as well as tackle. Despite his height he anchors superbly and doesn’t lose many leverage battles. He’s strong at the POA and can absorb blocks to fill gaps. He’s much more athletic than you’d expect from a player of his size and he’ll work across the line and sprint to the sideline to chase ball carriers and quarterbacks.

Look at how he turns the corner:

A lot of people focus on his lack of production. That will be an oversight if the NFL does the same. The key is to unlock that potential. It’s there. We’ve seen it. Yet if he never even scratches the surface of Campbell’s ability as a rusher — there are still so many positives.

Tony Pauline and Lance Zierlein both think he should go in round one and I agree. The complete lack of momentum behind his stock and the lack of pass rush production could see him drop. After all — it happened to Jarran Reed.

I suspect you might have to move up from #59 to land him. I’m not sure he lasts that deep into round two. There isn’t anyone like Davis in this class though. You’d be getting a solid contributor who can start quickly and do a lot of the things you want at the next level. The upside potential will be the difference between his selection being a useful pick and a great pick.

These aren’t the only options. Yetur Gross-Matos didn’t do a complete workout at the combine so we don’t have a full data set for him. I really like LSU’s Rashard Lawrence. Justin Madubuike had a terrific combine but it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly his role would be in the NFL other than specialist interior rusher. We also didn’t see Joshua Uche or K’Laivon Chaisson at the combine.

In other news…

According to Lance Zierlein, Tee Higgins ran a 4.58 at his pro-day, a 4.53 short shuttle and jumped a 31 inch vertical. These are all horrible numbers.

Higgins said he skipped the combine because he needed a ‘rest’. He’ll be able to chill out during the first round of the draft too because he’ll be having a quiet night.

A flurry of teams are cutting players today to create cap space. The Vikings parted with Linval Joseph and Xavier Rhodes — probably in an attempt to franchise Anthony Harris. The Bengals cut Cordy Glenn and the Lions cut right tackle Ricky Wagner. The Titans parted with Delanie Walker and the Chargers cut Brandon Mebane.

Keep an eye out on potential Seattle interest in players like this. They don’t impact the compensatory picks. Is Glenn finished or could he provide a solution at guard or right tackle? Wagner played with Russell Wilson at Wisconsin. Does Joseph have enough pop left to come in and secure the interior of Seattle’s D-line? Can Walker provide a move-TE draft hedge and is a reunion with Mebane a possibility?

There are likely to more names to add to the list as the weekend goes on. We should also find out what the Seahawks plan to do with their own potential cap casualties.

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Former Washington TE Jordan Reed is visiting the Seahawks today, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2020

A year ago, shortly after the 2019 draft, the Seahawks traded a seventh round pick to New England for Jacob Hollister. The move created very little fanfare at the time. A year on, it probably deserves greater focus.

I think the Seahawks are extremely motivated to incorporate a dynamic move-TE into their offense.

I don’t think the trade for Hollister was just for depth. I think it was a specific plan to add a particular skillset. Someone who can operate as a ‘big slot’ or a mismatch at the second level. A chain mover, big-play creator and a compliment to Seattle’s speed at receiver.

Hollister finished 2019 as Seattle’s third leading target, despite originally failing to make the 53-man roster. Eventually he was re-signed following Will Dissly’s injury and played 11 games.

He was thrust into a more significant and complete role than was perhaps intended. Yet it provided a glimpse into what his type of skillset could offer the offense. He played well and he was a factor.

Jordan Reed has been one of the top move tight ends in the NFL since entering the league in 2013. He was recently cut by the Redskins after a series of concussions limited his playing time.

The fact that they’re meeting with him just weeks after signing Greg Olsen is telling. It suggests that they do in fact want a pass-catching ‘big slot’ tight end on the roster. Greg Olsen and Will Dissly (when healthy) will be your more conventional tight ends. There’s room for another in the Hollister/Reed mould.

It’s also indicative of what the Seahawks are looking for at the position. Two days ago I highlighted Hunter Bryant as a possible draft target for Seattle. A lot of people assume because of his lack of size and only running a 4.74 forty that he won’t be on their radar. It’d be wrong to focus on either of those aspects.

The forty yard dash doesn’t matter at tight end. Throw it out. Forget about it. Look at some of the times run by tight ends in recent history:

Rob Gronkowski — 4.68
Hunter Henry — 4.66
T.J. Hockenson — 4.70
Zach Ertz — 4.76
Travis Kelce — 4.61
Will Dissly — 4.87
Jordan Reed — 4.72

Many of these times are similar to Bryant’s 4.74 — including Reed’s 4.72.

Because we’ve had 10 years to study and research what the Seahawks have generally looked for at every position, it’s easy to see the clear trend when it comes to the agility tests at tight end.

A strong performance in the short shuttle and a sub-7.10 in the three cone is the consistent trend:

Luke Willson — 4.29 (ss), 7.08 (3c)
Will Dissly — 4.40 (ss), 7.07 (3c)
Nick Vannett — 4.20 (ss), 7.05 (3c)
Anthony McCoy — 4.57 (ss), 6.99 (3c)
Zach Miller — 4.42 (ss), 7.01 (3c)
Jimmy Graham — 4.45 (ss), 6.90 (3c)
Greg Olsen — 4.48 (ss), 7.04 (3c)

Hunter Bryant ran a 4.46 short shuttle and a 7.08 three cone.

Now let’s go back to the previous list of TE’s. They all performed well in the three cone and not the forty:

Rob Gronkowski — 7.18
Hunter Henry — 7.16
T.J. Hockenson — 7.02
Zach Ertz — 7.08
Travis Kelce — 7.09
Will Dissly — 7.08
Jordan Reed — DNP

Bryant is right there. His agility testing compares favourably with the top TE’s and the players at the position Seattle has drafted.

And when you watch him on tape the one player you think of is Jordan Reed. Lance Zierlein made that exact comparison in his NFL.com player profile.

Bryant has the character they look for. He’s been working out with Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. I think he will be a target for the Seahawks in this draft.

The signing of Olsen could easily be viewed as insurance for Dissly. After back-to-back seasons were ended by extremely serious injuries, Dissly doesn’t need any pressure to race back into the team. Olsen can be the expected starter and Dissly can contribute, try to stay healthy and earn the ability to be the long term solution as Seattle’s orthodox TE.

On the other side though, I think they want a move TE. By meeting with Reed they’re setting the table. You let the situation play out. If Bryant isn’t available to them in the draft, they could sign Reed as an alternative. Or they could re-sign Hollister. They would have options and they seem to be assessing all of those options now.

It’s also possible they sign a player to fill this role before the draft as a ‘hedge’.

Either way — I’d wager they sign a mobile mismatch tight end at some point. It appears to be an element they want on this offense.

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Before getting into today’s piece, a quick reminder in case you missed some of the articles published over the last few days:

— Updated 2020 draft tier list
— Why Curtis Weaver deserves more attention
— Free agency thoughts and predictions
— Thoughts on 20 potential Seahawks videos

Tom Pelissero from the NFL Network has been speaking to NFL executives to get a feel for the start of free agency. His article provides some interesting notes.

Firstly, he believes there’s a chance George Fant will receive at least $10m on the open market. The Seahawks almost certainly won’t stretch to that, so it seems there’s a decent chance he’ll be moving on:

“The market is also expected to be strong for a couple young players who have mostly been reserves: Halapoulivaati Vaitai (Eagles) and George Fant (Seahawks). Both players could command $10 million a year, and maybe more.”

Meanwhile Germain Ifedi is expected to be in the $12m bracket:

“Bryan Bulaga (Packers) is expected to do well for a soon-to-be 31-year-old right tackle with a long injury history, potentially landing in the $10 million to $12 million range. Germain Ifedi (Seahawks) could potentially push toward that same range.”

Increasingly it looks like the Seahawks are going to have to sign a cheap veteran right tackle as a draft hedge. It also looks like one of those first three picks will have to be saved for a right tackle. Luckily, this is a good looking class at the position.

How much will it cost to keep Jarran Reed?

“Jarran Reed (Seahawks), D.J. Reader (Texans), David Onyemata (Saints) and A’Shawn Robinson (Lions) could all land north of $10 million, too.”

I think the Seahawks would be willing to stretch to about $12-13m for Reed. That’s the top of the market for a defensive tackle. They love Reed’s fit in the locker room. If Jadeveon Clowney moves on, they will probably act to keep Reed. They can’t afford to lose both of their best starters on what is already a struggling D-line.

Speaking of Clowney…

“The franchise tag is likely to pick off several names here, including Yannick Ngakoue (Jaguars), Matt Judon (Ravens) and Bud Dupree (Steelers). So, if you don’t break the bank for Jadeveon Clowney, you’re looking at a group of pass rushers who could all land in the $12 million to $15 million range.”

There’s no indication teams will be willing to break the bank for Clowney. It’s more interesting to know that some of the other names are in the $12-15m range though:

“That’d be another huge payday for two veterans: Robert Quinn (Cowboys), who enjoyed a revival last season with 11.5 sacks in Dallas, and Jason Pierre-Paul (Buccaneers), who had 8.5 sacks in 10 games after returning from a fractured neck. Dante Fowler Jr. could land in that same range if the Rams don’t franchise tag him.”

$12-15m for Fowler would be a decent price in the current market. You might be able to fit that type of contract alongside Clowney. There’s also no mention of Everson Griffen, so he could be even cheaper.

Two days ago I mentioned the possibility of finding a value signing at receiver. With such a strong draft class at the position, it could provide opportunities for smart teams. Pelissero backs this up:

“Beyond Amari Cooper, who seems destined to stay with the Cowboys, the only receiver NFL executives expect to really get paid big is the Jets’ Robby Anderson. A generational WR class in the draft figures to depress the market overall, but Anderson still could land a deal in the $12 million to $15 million range.”

Meanwhile the Seahawks are reportedly meeting with recently cut T.J. Carrie. The former Browns nickel corner was popular in Cleveland. He was a John Dorsey addition and didn’t survive the regime change.

Seattle has often sought cheap value at nickel corner. We’ll see if Carrie is available at the kind of price that could solve a need for next season.

There were two significant pro-days today — Oklahoma and Wisconsin. I’ll update the post if results are revealed beyond what I have here.

Wisconsin receiver Quintez Cephus ran a 4.56 after a disappointing 4.73 at the combine. Reportedly Jonathan Taylor looked good during route running drills. There’s an extremely good chance he’ll be a first round pick and he could go a lot earlier than people are currently projecting.

Oklahoma defensive tackle Neville Gallimore continues to baffle. He ran a 4.79 at 304lbs which is great. Yet his agility testing is extremely poor. He ran a 5.10 short shuttle at the combine and while he bettered it to a 4.69 at his pro-day — that’s still a surprisingly poor time given his straight-line speed. He did jump a 30 inch vertical and a 9-3 broad after passing on both tests in Indianapolis. He would be a 2.91 TEF tester.

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There’s been a bit of time since the combine and I wanted to spend a bit of time talking about a collection of players who either stood out or could be on Seattle’s radar.

Antoine Winfield Jr (S, Minnesota)
There are reportedly some injury concerns with Winfield but everything else screams high draft pick. He ran a 4.45 and jumped a 36 inch vertical. His field drills were among the best by any prospect in Indianapolis:

He had seven interceptions in 2019. I’m not sure the Seahawks will look for a player like this after acquiring Quandre Diggs. However, they’ve placed a high value on production as we saw when they drafted Tedric Thompson despite his moderate physical profile. He’s a superb player with a great attitude and NFL bloodlines and could easily sneak into the first frame or top-45.

Josh Metellus (S, Michigan)
The safety group ended the combine with a flourish. Metellus looked extremely comfortable in backpedal, transition and locating the football:

He was handpicked by John Harbaugh to be one of Michigan’s 2019 captains. He plays with the kind of attitude and personality Seattle tends to like with great tackling consistency and a fierceness in run support. The Seahawks already have a lot of safeties on their roster so we’ll see how keen they are to add more. Metellus just looks like a dude, he moved well at the combine and could be a day three find.

Nick Harris (C, Washington)
Harris had an excellent field drill performance at the combine. Shaun O’Hara and Joe Thomas loved his workout, in particular his mirror drill:

A lot of people picked up on Harris’ struggles at the Senior Bowl in 1v1 drills. Yet when we spoke to Jim Nagy on the podcast, he noted the test is weighted in favour of the defensive linemen. Harris played well during the game and in scrimmages. He has the attitude Seattle likes, the personality that will fit in their culture. He’s athletic and tenacious. Don’t be surprised if the Seahawks like him a lot more than the media and isolate a part of the draft where they’ll target him.

Shane Lemieux (G, Oregon)
Nothing stood out about Lemieux’s testing. His vertical and broad were unspectacular. His three cone and short shuttle were poor. He has short arms (32 1/4). However — I loved his tape. He’s physical, gets after defensive linemen and really takes it to an opponent. He energised the rest of Oregon’s O-line with some highlight-reel blocks, including hip-tossing an Auburn lineman early in the season opener. During field drills I thought he looked fluid, loose and he moved really well — which was surprising considering his agility testing was so off:

He ticks a lot of boxes for Seattle — leadership, run blocking, intelligence. It’ll just be a case of how much they can look beyond a non-ideal physical profile but he looks like a high value mid-round pick.

Cam Akers (RB, Florida State)
Akers had a ‘wow’ workout at the combine. He just looked so quick and sudden. His feet are incredible. They had a new footwork drill where the players had to step in and out of some pads at speed. Akers looked like he was performing ‘riverdance’:

His change of direction and explosion is obvious. He’s right in Seattle’s wheelhouse at 5-10 and 217lbs plus a 35.5 inch vertical. I think he’s going to go earlier than people recognise. The Seahawks need to add a runner and they probably need a runner like this to compliment Chris Carson. Don’t fall off your chair if they take Akers at the back end of round two.

Hunter Bryant (TE, Washington)
The forty yard dash for tight ends is massively overrated. Here are some times to consider:

Rob Gronkowski — 4.68
Hunter Henry — 4.66
T.J. Hockenson — 4.70
Zach Ertz — 4.76
Travis Kelce — 4.61
Will Dissly — 4.87
Jordan Reed — 4.72

Hunter Bryant ran a 4.74 and a lot of people gave up on him there and then. I hope the NFL feels the same way because he has Jordan Reed level potential as a move tight end. There is one test that consistently correlates with quality tight end play and that’s the three cone. We’ve already identified the time Seattle focuses on. They’ve only added tight ends who run faster than a 7.10. Here’s the list above and their three cone times:

Rob Gronkowski — 7.18
Hunter Henry — 7.16
T.J. Hockenson — 7.02
Zach Ertz — 7.08
Travis Kelce — 7.09
Will Dissly — 7.08
Jordan Reed — DNP

Hunter Bryant ran an excellent 7.08. That’s why he’s capable of being an excellent tight end at the next level. That’s why he’s likely to be on Seattle’s radar. In comparison, Cole Kmet ran a 7.44 three cone. They traded for Jacob Hollister a year ago to try and add a move-TE compliment to join Ed Dickson and Will Dissly. They could target Bryant in round two to pair with Greg Olsen and Dissly in 2020.

Hakeem Adeniji (G, Kansas)
During the Senior Bowl I spoke a few times about how impressive Adeniji looked. Then at the combine he was second only to Tristan Wirfs in TEF, showing to be a truly explosive lineman with major upside. The Seahawks love linemen that have played multiple positions. Adeniji has experience at tackle and guard and he’s taken snaps in practise. He’s been extremely durable in his career, he has 34 inch arms, he’s in terrific shape with minimal bad weight. He’s the type of player you bring in and let him get after it. He could be an option in the third or fourth round.

Kyle Dugger (S, Lenoir-Rhyne)
There was a moment where Dugger threatened to gatecrash the first round. He touted the possibility of a 4.3 forty but only delivered a 4.49. He still jumped a 42 inch vertical and an 11-2 broad.

He’s not the most fluid mover. There’s a little bit of stiffness as he changes direction. Dugger is such an alpha though and he has major special teams value. He could be developed to play linebacker or safety. He’s shown tremendous grit to succeed at a small school and even get to the combine. He’s exactly the type of character they love to bring in. His combine testing, however, suggests he needs some work and adjustment. That could temper his stock, making him a more realistic target later than he was recently being projected.

Willie Gay Jr (LB, Mississippi State)
We’ve been talking about Gay Jr since mid-way through the 2018 season. He flashed so many times when studying Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat. His 2019 season was a waste for various reasons that’ll need investigating. When he’s actually on the field though — for me he’s a first round talent:

He’s sensational in coverage, he constantly flies around and makes plays. We know the Seahawks target linebackers who either run a sub-4.1 short shuttle or test through the roof overall. Gay Jr is a 149 SPARQ athlete. If he falls due to the 2019 issues, he could provide a mid-round steal. I sense his stock will rise in draft rooms after the combine though.

Jeremy Chinn (S, Southern Illinois)
A year ago Jim Nagy referred to Marquise Blair as a Seahawks type of player when he was discussing the 2019 Senior Bowl. This year, he compared Chinn to Kam Chancellor in terms of physique. You don’t see Bam Bam on tape at all — but Chinn is 6-3, 221lbs and looks an imposing figure. I thought he moved very well for his size during field drills:

He ran a superb 4.45 and jumped a 41 inch vertical plus an 11-6 broad. Nagy has since suggested he could go in round two. That might be a bit rich for the Seahawks but he’s another guy who just looks the part, has tested like a pro and he’s someone coaches will love to try and develop.

Jonathan Taylor (RB, Wisconsin)
There’s very little to say about Taylor that’s new but I had to bring him up again. He has everything the Seahawks look for in terms of size and explosive testing. He’s a terrific character. He says he wants to play for the Seahawks. I think they’d love to have him — but after running a 4.39 it’s hard to see him getting out of round one.

Jabari Zuniga (DE, Florida)
A year ago we were mocking Zuniga at the end of round one to Seattle. Then he chose to return to Florida rather than declare for the draft. His 2019 season was plagued by an ankle injury. That said — he’s basically the only dynamic EDGE who tested at the combine. He ran a 1.61 10-yard split which is good at 264lbs.

He’s explosive and has baseball mitts for hands. He looks the part of a classic defensive end. Every now and again a good pass rusher lasts into round three and everyone wonders how it happened three or four years down the line. That could be Zuniga in this draft. He didn’t have a great Senior Bowl though.

Jonathan Greenard (DE, Florida)
He was a fun player to watch in 2019. There are concerns about a wrist injury. It was also well reported prior to the combine that he wasn’t going to run a great forty (he ran a 4.87). Even so — he had some really good agility testing at 263lbs with a 7.13 three cone and a 4.34 short shuttle. Seattle places great value in those tests. Greenard’s short shuttle is in the same ballpark as Rasheem Green and Sam Hubbard — two players they seemingly liked in 2018. He also has vines for arms (35 inches) and has outstanding character and tenacity. He’s an alpha. He was the emotional leader for Florida. Depending on how you view the injury he could either be a second rounder or a mid-round option who gives you a really good chance to get a quality contributor at a good price.

Matt Peart (T, Connecticut)
I’ve seen the tape and it’s not great. There’s a lot of things he needs to work on. However, the coaches speak very highly of him during interviews. He has experience at right tackle. He’s 6-7, 318lbs and has nearly 37 inch arms. He ran a great 5.06 forty and he scored a 3.08 in TEF. There are traits to work with here as a day three project. If nothing else, he could be a nice swing-tackle option replacing George Fant if he departs.

Cesar Ruiz (C, Michigan)
I was banging the drum for Ruiz throughout the 2019 season and he delivered a tremendous performance at the combine. He’s perfectly sized to play center with extreme explosive traits (3.25 TEF score). He has the +33 inch arms, he ran a 5.08 forty. He looked highly athletic during field drills:

We know the Seahawks like Michigan players. He lost his father at a young age and has had to battle for a NFL career. I can’t believe he gets out of the top-25 in round one. If he does, just draft him.

Isaiah Wilson (T, Georgia)
To me he just screams prototype Seahawks right tackle. He’s massive (6-6, 350lbs) but none of it is bad weight. He looks like a new Terminator, sent back in time to blow up the left side of a defensive line. He finished second only to Tristan Wirfs in weighted TEF — meaning he’s basically the second best combination of size and traits on the O-line in this draft class.

He dominates in the run game and along with Andrew Thomas, helped create the best pair of blind-side pass protectors in college football. The Seahawks will be lucky if he gets to #27.

Jalen Reagor (WR, TCU)
There are so many receivers we could talk about but I feel like we’ve covered the class a lot. I want to re-focus on Reagor. His 4.47 was slower than expected but it’s still in Seattle’s 4.4-or-faster range. It’s his explosive testing that makes the difference for me. His ability to go up and get the football is so evident on tape and his 42 inch vertical totally matches what you see in games. He’s that downfield, chunk play threat Seattle loves and he could be an option at #27 if he lasts that long.

Curtis Weaver (DE, Boise State)
I’ve already written about Weaver in more detail this week so I won’t go over old ground too much. He might not look like a prototype rusher and certainly his lack of length could be a turn-off for Seattle. However — his short shuttle (4.27) at his size (265lbs) is comparable to some of the top pass rushers in the league and his pressure percentage and pass rush win percentage are among the best in the draft. The Seahawks need pure pass rushers and that’s what Weaver is — albeit in unconventional packaging. I think he’s a possible second or third round pick.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, LSU)
A word of caution — there won’t be a single article between now and April where I don’t take any sniff of an opportunity to write about CEH. Forget the 4.60 forty. He jumped a 39.5 inch vertical and that matters a lot more. He’s a highly explosive, incredibly physical, team-energising runner. The kind Seattle loves in terms of playing style. He’s not their typical type given his lack of size but I can’t remember seeing a more natural route-runner at running back.

The Seahawks need someone who can move the chains and score points. That’s Edwards-Helaire. Whoever gets him will land an absolute gem. For me he’s a top-40 lock but if he lasts beyond that you’re getting a steal.

Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)
We’ve talked about Seattle’s long search for their own version of Calais Campbell. It’s still on-going. Davis tested in a very similar way to Campbell at the combine and his ability to stack blockers, play with great leverage despite his size and flash athleticism is freaky and warrants attention. I thought his field work was excellent too. Look how he turned the corner on the final bag below (and remember he’s 6-6 and 311lbs):

A lot of players on this list are ‘grown men’ types. Davis is a physically intimidating presence. The Seahawks have lacked some of that on their D-line since Michael Bennett’s departure and the days of Tony McDaniel eating up the interior. Jarran Reed provides an edge but he missed a chunk of the 2019 season. Davis alongside Reed in 2020 would be a nice look (or Calais Campbell, if the Jags are feeling generous).

There are a lot more players I could add to this list. Austin Jackson is the type of explosive, athletic offensive lineman they like to develop. I think he’s going to go in the top-20. Matt Hennessy and John Simpson both had great combines. Damien Lewis had an explosive workout before getting hurt during drills. There are a whole bunch of receivers we could discuss — including Denzel Mims, K.J. Hamler, Bryan Edwards (who could provide real value and looks like a Seahawk) and Justin Jefferson. Rashard Lawrence played with fire at LSU. And Julian Okwara will be one to monitor when he eventually has his pro-day.

This was simply a collection of players I wanted to talk about today that either enhanced their stock or could be on Seattle’s radar.

There are a several alpha types on the list. That could be a focus for the Seahawks this year. John Schneider famously said a few years ago they want to go back to being the bully. They never truly got back to that. There could be a chance this year.

Elsewhere today, it was confirmed the Seahawks have received comp picks in rounds three, four and six. Meanwhile, they’ve also promoted Dave Canales to passing game coordinator and appointed Austin Davis as quarterbacks coach (per Albert Breer). I interviewed Davis nine years ago when he was at Southern Miss. It’s great to see him enjoy a NFL career both as a player and now as a coach in Seattle.

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Just a few thoughts a week away from free agency…

Who are the six?

When Pete Carroll spoke to John Clayton at the combine he mentioned they’d narrowed their search for free agent pass rushers to ‘half a dozen’ targets.

So who are they likely to be? This is my guess…

1. Jadeveon Clowney
Carroll stated it was a ‘huge priority’ to retain Clowney.

2. Yannick Ngakoue
Tony Pauline reported last week they were interested in trading for him.

3. Everson Griffen
He was linked to a Carroll reunion as soon as he opted to void his Vikings contract.

4. Arik Armstead
He’s an ideal fit for the five technique and can play inside or out.

5. Dante Fowler
He has the speed they look for off the edge and he was productive in 2019.

6. Robert Quinn
He’s an injury risk but led the league in pass rush win percentage in 2019.

Their willingness to narrow the options also hints at a very focused and determined approach to land both the ‘premier pass rusher’ Carroll wants for the LEO and the run defender who can also rush at the five technique.

Again, they had Clowney in 2019 and he alone wasn’t enough. They need to add to the D-line, not maintain the status quo. With their remaining cap space (which can be increased with some predictable cuts) they have possibly earmarked a set amount for both the LEO and the five tech.

If the list above is a sound prediction, it could mean they’ve budgeted for Clowney or Armstead — followed by the addition of one of the four pass rushers.

Who they sign to play the LEO could depend on how much they spend on Clowney/Armstead. What’s left of the budget? If there’s more available than expected — perhaps they can splash for Ngakoue via trade? If the budget is lower than intended, it could mean trying to work something out with the older veterans Griffen or Quinn. And it’s always possible Fowler has a colder than expected market given what happened a year ago. Some players just don’t turn the league on (so to speak).

There’s also the possibility of an unexpected trade.

What happens with Jarran Reed?

It’s pretty clear the Seahawks are strongly motivated to retain Reed. Culture and familiarity has an even greater importance these days. Both Carroll and John Schneider have praised Clowney and Reed for their ‘fit’.

However, first and foremost they’ve got to get the edge rush sorted. Until that happens, everything else has to take a backseat. If Reed gets a significant offer in the first wave of free agency the Seahawks might have to accept defeat. They’ll probably be hoping he remains available long enough for them to sort out the LEO and five — and then they can see if there’s a deal to be done with their remaining cap room.

There’s a precedent for this. In 2011 they were able to retain Brandon Mebane after he reached the market, while making significant moves to sign Sidney Rice, Zach Miller, Tarvaris Jackson and Robert Gallery.

After all, Everything seems unrealistic until it happens. Remember — the teams with hard cash to spend (like the Seahawks) can structure contracts to fit. You also need to factor in the likely rise in cap space over the next few years if the new CBA is ratified plus the fact several big contracts (Duane Brown, Justin Britt, K.J. Wright) will no longer be on the books within a couple of years.

The Seahawks know they need to improve the D-line. That’s hard to do if you lose one or both of your two (only?) quality starters. They might be more motivated than they usually would be to keep Reed. It’s not an ideal way to start attacking the off-season by losing one or two key players on a unit that’s already your greatest need.

I think with Reed it’ll simply come down to what the market tells him. If he’s a $12-13m a year player, they might stretch to that. It’s the current top end of the market. If it’s less, what does he do? Move on for a prove-it deal? Players very rarely stay with their original teams when they sign prove-it deals. They usually go somewhere where the scheme gives them the best chance to pad stats. That’s not a one-gap, stop-the-run-focused Seahawks interior D-line.

You might say $12-13m is too much and would be better spent elsewhere. You might have a strong case. Remember though — culture, familiarity and fit. The Seahawks love what Reed brings to their locker room and that is hugely significant.

What might they do on the O-line?

Some people will want the Seahawks to invest big on the offensive line in free agency rather than prioritise the pass rush. That’s fine, I suppose, if you’re prepared to say, ‘come and get some’ to the rest of the league with Rasheem Green and L.J. Collier as your two starting defensive ends.

You can’t throw money at every position. Given the Seahawks had a MVP caliber season from Russell Wilson in 2019, they ran the ball effectively and finished with a top-five DVOA offense — it’s pretty clear how they can improve to take a step forward in 2020. It’s upgrading one of the NFL’s worst pass rush units.

Their recent O-line plan also deserves a lot more credit than it receives.

It’s very difficult to draft quality young offensive linemen unless you’re picking early in the draft. The entire league — every team — is desperately searching for good O-liners at an affordable price.

Seattle has been drafting near the end of round one for eight straight years. They tried to go young towards the end of the LOB era and it ended very badly. More recently they’ve signed proven veterans with a lot of experience, combined with drafting and developing younger players in the later rounds.

J.R. Sweezy, Mike Iupati and D.J. Fluker are not Quenton Nelson. They’ve had their iffy moments over the last couple of years. They’ve also not prevented the offense from succeeding at an explosive level.

With major money set to be spent on the D-line, it’s highly likely their approach will continue. I suspect they’ll sign a veteran at right tackle if Germain Ifedi and George Fant depart. Someone like Jared Veldheer. He’d be cheap, experienced and provide a hedge ahead of the draft. Darryl Williams could be an alternative. That way they can look at potential early round options (Isaiah Wilson, Prince Tega Wanogho, Lucas Niang) but also later round options (Matt Peart, Alex Taylor) if needs must.

They’ve spent the last two years developing Jamarco Jones and then Phil Haynes. Eventually you have to give these players a chance to win a job. That might be your competition at left guard, with a veteran or new rookie added to the mix.

I’m not sure they’ll be much more adventurous than that unless an unexpected opportunity presents itself. That was T.J. Lang a few years ago. Seattle had a bit of money to spend and took a shot at Lang. If a similar situation emerges — perhaps for someone like Graham Glasgow — they might have a nibble there. But that might be the extent of their O-line flirtation in free agency.

The Justin Britt situation also remains an interesting one. They’ve not even cut Ed Dickson yet so nobody should expect a decision to have been made on Britt. It might depend on what happens during the legal tampering period and how much cap space they feel they need. If he goes he’ll need replacing. That could be Joey Hunt (who is an unrestricted free agent) or Ethan Pocic. It could be someone like Alex Mack if cut (and affordable) or a draft pick (Cesar Ruiz would be ideal but if not — Matt Hennessy, Nick Harris, Lloyd Cushenberry or Tyler Biadasz are options).

An opportunity at receiver?

This is such a loaded receiver class in the draft that certain free agent wide outs might receive a cooler than expected market.

(I don’t think that’ll be the case for the O-line despite it being a good offensive line class — the league just needs linemen too much)

There might be a chance to get a really good player who ends up needing to take a short-term contract. Imagine you’re a free agent and you don’t get a big offer. Wouldn’t you go and spend a year with Russell Wilson to try and boost your stock for 2021?

It’s something to consider. The Seahawks have been opportunists in the past. Wilson needs more weapons. There might be a value signing to be had at wide out.

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In Saturday’s updated tier list, I put Boise State’s Curtis Weaver in tier five.

He deserves a lot more attention but I understand why it isn’t happening. He’s dropped from 300lbs to 265lbs. Lance Zierlein says he has a ‘soft frame’ in his NFL.com scouting report. He’s not a svelte, long and lean pass rusher.

He does have great agility though and that counts for something.

In our big combine review we mentioned the focus Seattle has placed on the short shuttle for pass rushers.

The ability to change direction quickly, pivot and accelerate is naturally a key component for any edge defender.

Despite being a 265lbs EDGE, Weaver tested with the linebackers at the combine. It’s strange how they separate the defensive tackles and defensive ends but then still have clear pass rushers working out with middle linebackers.

Weaver ran a 4.27 short shuttle at the aforementioned 265lbs. Had he worked out with the defensive linemen, that would’ve been the fastest time:

Curtis Weaver — 4.27
Alex Highsmith — 4.31
Alton Robinson — 4.32
Jonathan Greenard — 4.34
Derrek Tuszka — 4.34
Jason Strowbridge — 4.37

His time also beat Willie Gay Jr’s 4.30 at 243lbs and Zack Baun’s 4.31 at 238lbs. Gay was celebrated for his fantastic workout in Indianapolis (rightly so) while Baun is often projected as a top-40 prospect as a rush linebacker. Weaver’s 4.27 has received a lot less attention — despite the fact he’s much heavier than both Gay and Baun.

So how does a 4.27 compare with other players who recently entered the draft?

Joey Bosa (269lbs) — 4.21
Shaq Lawson (269lbs) — 4.21
Curtis Weaver (265lbs) — 4.27
Solomon Thomas (273lbs) — 4.28
Jordan Willis (255lbs) — 4.28
Rashan Gary (277lbs) — 4.29
Dante Fowler (261lbs) — 4.32
Chandler Jones (266lbs) — 4.38

Bosa, Lawson, Thomas, Gary, Fowler and Jones were all first round picks — while Willis is one of the top testers in recent memory.

The time is also in Seattle’s wheelhouse for the positon. Cassius Marsh — whose weight was up and down at college depending on where he was asked to play — ran a 4.25. Obum Gwachum ran a 4.28.

What about the three cone?

Weaver’s 7.00 was identical to Zack Baun’s and was marginally quicker than Willie Gay Jr’s 7.08. Again, Weaver is a significantly heavier player.

It would’ve also been the second fastest time among defensive linemen this year:

Derrek Tuska — 6.87
Curtis Weaver — 7.00
Jonathan Greenard — 7.13
D.J. Wonnum — 7.25
Alex Highsmith — 7.32
Alton Robinson — 7.32

Here’s how his three cone compares to the veteran players listed earlier:

Jordan Willis (255lbs) — 6.85
Joey Bosa (269lbs) — 6.89
Solomon Thomas (273lbs) — 6.95
Curtis Weaver (265lbs) — 7.00
Chandler Jones (266lbs) — 7.07
Shaq Lawson (269lbs) — 7.16
Rashan Gary (277lbs) — 7.26
Dante Fowler (261lbs) — 7.40

Last week we noted Seattle’s focus on pressure percentage. In the last two seasons, Weaver’s number is 18.4% — tied for first among draft eligible prospects alongside Julian Okwara. I don’t have the specific 2019 number but his pressure percentage in 2018 was 21.6%.

In terms of career pressures in college, Weaver recorded 147. Only Chase Young had more (150) among 2020 draft prospects.

He’s also in the top-five for pass rush win percentage in 2019:

Chase Young — 27.2%
Joshua Uche — 27%
Julian Okwara — 23%
Curtis Weaver — 22.9%
Alex Highsmith — 21.7%

His pass rush win percentage in 2018 (when he was fully healthy) was an incredible 31.1%.

These are all appealing numbers. It’s just the frame that makes you pause.

The Seahawks haven’t drafted anyone who looks like Weaver. He’s only 6-2 but quite heavy for the height. He has short 32 3/8 inch arms. Cassius Marsh had arms just shy of 33 inches and they brought him in but generally they stick to the +33 inch arm bracket.

It’s not just a Seattle thing either. I can’t think of anyone he really looks like or compares to. The league is always suspicious of players who fit that description.

What he did in college, albeit against relatively weak opponents, is top level. His agility testing paints a clear picture as to why he succeeded. Yet there are physical limitations and an unnatural pass rush frame to balance things out.

For that reason, he might not go as early as he otherwise would. Yet there will come a point in the draft when someone will take a shot on him in the hope that the agility testing and college production will translate.

And it’s not like players don’t overcome limitations. Za’Darius Smith was 6-4 and 274lbs at his combine with 32.5 inch arms. He ran a 4.66 short shuttle, a 4.83 forty and jumped a 29 inch vertical. In 2019 he was one of the NFL’s top pass rushers after signing a big contract in Green Bay as a free agent.

I suspect the team that does take him will do so with the intention of making him a pass rush specialist. That’s probably why he ultimately worked out with the linebackers. Like the two Smith’s in Green Bay — his best role might be suited to playing aggressively in space on key passing downs. He’s not a dominant run blocker and it might be a stretch, with his physical profile, to imagine him operating as an every-down DE in a 4-3 formation.

It shouldn’t be a surprise though if he excels in the role of a situational, specialist rusher in a 3-4 and turns it into a big second contract.

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