New Seahawks’ DE Ziggy Ansah still is recovering from shoulder surgery that is expected to keep him out of training camp or longer; some league sources believe Ansah could miss the first month of this season, at least.
At first this felt like good news in terms of Ansah’s health and availability. One day after free agent signings no longer impacted comp picks — the Seahawks were signing the biggest name left on the market. With so much concern about his shoulder injury (and it’s the main reason he’s still available) this felt like a positive review of the situation. If the shoulder was a big problem, would they be signing him this early in the process?
As it turns out the shoulder might still be a problem. Adam Schefter’s tweet above claims he could miss the start of the season. That’s probably why the contract is worth only $5m with so much more tied into incentives. The $5m isn’t that much of a gamble for a player of Ansah’s quality. If he wants to make real money in 2019 he has to produce.
Even so — there’s a real possibility that for all the clamouring for Ansah among fans and media, health could seriously impact his ability to get on the field and impact games.
The good news is the contract. As noted, the Seahawks are not really on the hook for much up front. It’s not a big commitment. It’s a heavily incentivised deal and therefore well worth rolling the dice. You can’t seriously criticise the signing. Seattle is taking a calculated gamble where the rewards are big and the risks are only based in disappointment rather than impact.
It does mean they’ll need to sign more players as cover though. This isn’t a one-and-done situation in the third wave of free agency. Seattle’s pass rush was inadequate before the Ansah signing and if there’s doubt about his ability to start the season — they’re going to need to add more players.
Ansah’s incentive-loaded contract allows them to do that. So whether it’s Nick Perry, Allen Bailey or someone else — they have the room to add another EDGE. When this team was at its best they could rotate multiple quality pass rushers (Bennett, Avril, Clemons/Clark). They also need to add a defensive tackle. There’s more work to be done.
And while the younger players like Jacob Martin, Rasheem Green and L.J. Collier will get their shot to contribute and develop — there’s a lot of development needed. Following the draft and now with the addition of Ansah, this team looks a lot deeper and more competitive. It already had talent at key positions. Further calculated moves in free agency to make this roster even more competitive are distinctly possible given the cap situation. They’re not stopping here and that’s something all fans can take encouragement from.
The Seahawks have also signed nickel cornerback Jamar Taylor today. He’s 5-11 and 192lbs with the quickness and agility to work in the slot. The signings keep coming.
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Sources: The #Seahawks have emerged as the front-runner to sign star FA DE Ziggy Ansah. They visited with him in late April and need a big-time pass-rusher after dealing Frank Clark. The contract has not been finalized yet. He also visited with the #Bills, who remain interested.
The Seahawks’ pass rush in its current state is inadequate. They have to do something and that was acknowledged by both Pete Carroll and John Schneider following the draft.
The thing is, there’s a reason players are still available at this stage. In Ziggy Ansah’s case it’s an existing shoulder injury, age and inconsistency. Ansah has shown the ability to dominate games but he also has a two-sack season on his resume (in 2016 when he played 13 games).
For all the clamouring for the Seahawks to sign him from fans and media — the deal carries a decent element of risk because of the health of his shoulder. They ultimately need to make a call on whether the risk is worth it and based on Ian Rapoport’s tweet above they’ve come to a positive conclusion.
Yet they also need to leave enough cap room for further additions. Even by adding Ansah the D-line still needs more. All they’ve done so far is replace Dion Jordan with L.J. Collier and Shemar Stephen with Demarcus Christmas. Ansah would be a replacement for Frank Clark. They needed more going into the off-season — not simply to replace departing players. They need at least one more defensive tackle and maybe another (cheaper) EDGE.
Clearly there are some things to weigh up. That’s why Rapoport is saying ‘front runners’ and not ‘done deal’. It does seem inevitable though.
So what would they be getting?
Ansah had an outstanding combine running a 4.63 at 271lbs then adding a brilliant 4.26 short shuttle. He’s plenty explosive (34.5 inch vertical) and he has length (35 1/8 inch arms). Whether he’s quite as sharp as he was in 2013 after a few years in the league is a big question mark but clearly Ansah is one of the best athletes playing D-line in the league.
TFL’s are usually a better gauge of impact than sacks. Here’s Ansah’s numbers per season and NFL ranking in brackets:
Ansah played 80 games for the Lions (seven in 2018) and amassed 52 sacks and 271 total quarterback pressures. The BYU-alumnus has been linked to various teams but will be turning 30 before the 2019 season begins, bringing his long-term viability into question.
Ansah’s ability doesn’t stop with his pass-rushing prowess. He has displayed his run-stopping ability, as he’s earned a 69.0-plus run-defense grade in four of his six seasons. The edge defender’s most prolific season occurred in 2014 when he caused 64 quarterback pressures (T-8th) and earned an 82.5 overall grade (6th). Ansah will have to turn back the clock following an injury-riddled year where he earned a 74.5 defense grade, but there may not be a surplus of suitors with the pass-rusher-heavy class entering the NFL Draft this year.
It’s encouraging to read a positive review of his run defense. Aside from needing to upgrade their pass rush, the Seahawks need to be tougher against the run.
The Seahawks have done a good job of bringing out the best in pass rushers over the years. They turned journeyman Chris Clemons into a productive starter. Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril both excelled. Raheem Brock had a nine-sack season in 2010. They’ve helped Frank Clark become of the best paid players in the league.
That has to appeal to Ansah — especially on a likely one-year deal and a chance to return to the market in 10 months.
If they sign him it’ll likely be the first of multiple moves. They’re not going from Bennett, Avril and Clarke to Collier, Martin and Green. Competition is required, plus a flash of proven quality.
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The #Seahawks want to keep Bobby Wagner and have the flexibility to extend his contract. The question is, what will it cost after C.J. Mosley reset the market? Those who know Wagner, who is representing himself, say don’t expect a discount. @nflnetworkpic.twitter.com/d3GcyCXTB4
Maybe it’s because it’s a quiet time in the NFL calendar but for some reason Bobby Wagner’s contract situation has become a ‘thing’.
It isn’t.
The Seahawks had a serious problem on their hands a few weeks ago. They had four key players all out of contract after the 2019 season — Wagner, Russell Wilson, Frank Clark and Jarran Reed.
By paying Wilson and trading Clark they’ve all but solved the problem. The franchise tag is free and available next year if needs be. If they can’t agree terms on a new deal with Wagner, they will undoubtedly tag him. They’re unlikely to use the tag on Reed.
In fact it’s somewhat likely, whatever happens with Wagner, that they allow Reed to set his own market in free agency before making a call on whether to retain him. They did that with Michael Bennett in 2014. It’s hard to gauge Reed’s value coming off the most productive year in his career for sacks. The Seahawks probably need to see if he can do it again in 2019. Reed in turn could make a lot more money if he goes into free agency off the back of two 10-sack seasons.
None of this really matters at the moment though. The fact is there’s no drama here. One way or another Wagner is staying in Seattle. There’s a decent chance he and the Seahawks will come to an agreement on an extension this summer. If not — he gets tagged. And they can tag him for two years if needs be — tying him to Seattle for three more seasons. By that point he’d be approaching 32.
This is all very different to the Russell Wilson situation. There’s not four players to try and keep. There’s nobody like Mark Rodgers playing silly games in the media. The franchise isn’t going to be in limbo over uncertainty over the middle linebacker like it would be over the quarterback. That’s no review of Wagner’s importance to Seattle either. It’s simply a reality. He’s a sensational player and by far the best at his position. But nobody’s questioning the future of the franchise if the Seahawks choose to tag him in 2020.
The tag actually makes a lot of sense for the team.
Thanks to the Jets, the linebacker market is in a weird place. Before free agency the highest paid players at inside linebacker were Luke Kuechly ($12.3m APY) and Wagner ($10.75m APY). Kwon Alexander, coming off a serious knee injury, surprisingly reset the market at $13.5m a year. Then, for no apparent reason other than major competition for his signature, the Jets decided to give C.J. Mosley $17m a year.
Presumably Mosley’s market was red-hot. There’s no other explanation for topping Alexander’s contract by $3.5m per season. Paying an inside linebacker $17m a year is quite preposterous. Especially for a player who is very much in the ‘good not great’ category like Mosley.
It leaves the Seahawks needing to argue their case to a player representing himself. Just because the Jets made a daft decision doesn’t necessarily mean they have to be a slave to the market. The franchise tag number for a linebacker in 2019 is $15.443m. The Seahawks could keep Wagner for a similar amount next year on the tag. Then, if no extension was agreed, they’d have to pay 120% of Wagner’s salary to tag him again in 2021.
So there’s no real incentive for the Seahawks to blow New York’s market-changing decision out of the water. Therefore the onus is on Wagner to either insist on topping Mosley’s salary or come to a reasonable agreement that works for both parties.
You might argue — but why go down this road? Won’t it create drama with Wagner? A popular player on the team?
It’s simple business. I sometimes wonder if fans and media make a bigger deal of the franchise tag than players. The tag this year led to mega-contracts for Demarcus Lawrence and Frank Clark. Lawrence was tagged twice and it never had a negative impact in Dallas. Now he’s one of the richest men in NFL history.
Indeed the only real noise we’ll hear about this will be on social media with the numerous calls of ‘pay the man’ if indeed it ever gets as far as the tag for Wagner. That’s despite the fact the Seahawks would actually be paying him extremely handsomely if they tagged him twice ($34m fully guaranteed over two years having already invested $47m in him previously).
We don’t need to overthink this. Wagner will be in Seattle one way or another for at least the next three seasons. No drama. No concern.
There’s one other thing to address — Seattle’s decision to draft two linebackers this year. Are they hedging against Wagner’s future?
No, they are not.
Here’s what Pete Carroll said in his end-of-season press conference immediately after the 2016 season:
“We need some youth at the linebacker spot now. Bobby and K.J. played 1000’s of plays this year between the two of them and were extremely successful but we need to address that. We didn’t really get anybody that made a difference in the last couple of years that can really fight to take those guys job. Think if somebody could battle K.J. and Bobby for their starting jobs? That’s what we need to draft towards, so we’ll be looking there.”
In 2016 Wagner played 99.35% of the defensive snaps. Wright played 97.41%.
There’s a very good reason why Carroll identified youth at linebacker as a vital need. He knew he couldn’t ask Wagner and Wright to keep playing practically every defensive snap.
However, the 2017 draft came and went and despite spending 11 picks none were used on a linebacker. In the 2018 draft they only added Shaquem Griffin (who was more of a blitzing nickel-LB than an orthodox MIKE or WILL).
The Seahawks have been seeking youth at this position for two years and three drafts. Simply put, none of their ‘type’ of linebackers were available until this year (this article describes their type in more detail).
That’s why they drafted Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven. They ‘fit’ what the Seahawks want at the position. They finally have their youth and depth at linebacker.
Now they can spell Wagner, Wright and Mychal Kendricks. They have cover against injuries. They have special teams value. Kendricks is also out of contract in 2020 and Wright’s two-year deal has an out after one year. If they’re hedging against anyone it’s Wright and Kendricks, not Wagner.
I’ll say it again — there’s no drama here. The Seahawks love Bobby Wagner. He will either receive a contract extension or be tagged. It’s all good.
And tomorrow the Seahawks can start signing pass rushers. It should be an interesting week.
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I’m starting to look through the rookie class and here are some of the notes I made on three of Seattle’s day-three picks.
Ugo Amadi (S, Oregon)
It was a really pleasant surprise watching Amadi. His testing numbers were only OK. He ran a 4.51 at 5-9 and 199lbs plus a 4.19 short shuttle and a strangely poor 7.21 three cone. He only jumped a 32.5 inch vertical. That’s probably why he lasted as long as he did because on tape you don’t see any of this. He’s incredibly sudden and quick. You see genuine dynamism when he blitzes and he covers ground very quickly. He has an excellent feel for sitting in coverage then reading/reacting.
I came away believing he could play free safety. Initially you look at his make-up, projection and some of the tape and you assume nickel. There’s no doubt he has the capability to move closer to the LOS and play as a big nickel type. His tackling appeared fine overall with some room for improvement. He has some versatility.
Yet I came away really intrigued by his free safety potential. Look — he isn’t Earl Thomas. He’s not that rangy, cover-every-blade type of defensive back. You see his quickness on tape though and combined with his awareness and ability to cover ground quickly — it’ll be intriguing to see how he handles a more orthodox safety role.
Amadi is a bundle of energy on the field. He celebrates every hit, tackle or big play. He’ll energise his team mates if he plays with the same confidence you see at Oregon. He was voted a permanent team captain. Importantly he’s been able to make big plays — including 25 career PBU’s and nine interceptions with four touchdowns. The Seahawks need playmakers at the back end. Whether he’ll earn a starting role in 2019 remains to be seen but don’t be shocked if Amadi inserts himself as a long term feature in the secondary. I liked him a lot more than I expected and he has a lot of potential.
Travis Homer (RB, Miami)
He’s smaller than they usually draft at 5-10 and 201lbs but there’s absolutely no doubt Homer is a Seahawks style running back. He finishes, he runs people over and never volunteers to dip out of bounds. He brings physicality to the position but also has an excellent ability to cut-back against the grain to exploit holes and provide misdirection. He has a very fluid weaving style to find a crease and run into daylight. He’s tough to bring down and runs with a purpose.
His physical profile backs this up. He jumped a 39.5 inch vertical. Explosive traits are a lot more important than pure speed at the running back position. Although he ran a very decent 4.48 at the combine he doesn’t have a second gear when he breaks free and is often tackled from behind by a chasing defender.
As a pass protector he’s very good. Not Damien Harris level but not far off. That’ll help him compete for the third down back role. As a catcher there isn’t much to see on tape. Homer was mainly used on dump-offs and passes into the flat. His hands seem fine and he can chip away in the passing game even if he’s not an X-factor.
Strangely enough his running style is very similar to Doug Baldwin. Watch his body when he accelerates — they just have very similar body language as runners.
Pete Carroll said Homer was the top special teams player on their board and he’ll have a big role there and for that reason he has a legit shot to make the roster. He needs to improve his ball security though. He fumbled four times — once every 42 carries — at Miami. Even so I’m surprised he lasted into round six.
John Ursua (WR, Hawaii)
The thing I really like about Ursua is NO wasted movement. He gets into his routes quickly and gets on with the job. It’s why I never rated Andy Isabella (the now Cardinals receiver). Watching Isabella at times was akin to watching a break-dancing competition. Ursua is the complete opposite. The Hawaii offense asked him to line up in the slot and get into a route quickly then settle into a soft zone in the defense. He was very good at sensing the right place to be and he made it count with 1343 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2018 alone.
I really like the way he reads a secondary to find ways to get open. On multiple occasions he would read the two deep safeties and if they split to the outside in coverage he’d get beyond the linebacker and settle. If the safeties stayed home he’d break off to the sideline knowing it’d be very difficult for a bigger defender to stick. Hawaii did a very good job too of putting him in favourable coverage situations and he often gained decent mismatches against the LB or safety.
I like how he was able to keep on the move and uncover in the red zone. You can see why the Seahawks like him for a scrambling quarterback. Ursua isn’t a dynamic athlete but he’s savvy. He’s not Doug Baldwin physically. He only runs a 4.58 and his three-cone of 6.78 is about two tenths slower than Baldwin’s. I’d forget about any comparison to Baldwin. He’s a pure slot who gets open with no-nonsense routes and awareness. He is limited to the slot though with his size and the only real plays he made by the sideline were outs and wheel routes.
Ursua competes for the ball and he’s a reliable target. He’s competing with a very crowded receiver room and will need to make every opportunity count. His intelligence and ability to get open without relying on quickness and athleticism makes him an interesting test case for whether that translate to the next level.
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The Seahawks might have to call a few teams, including the Bills
The Seahawks met with Ziggy Ansah this week and previously met with Nick Perry, Allen Bailey, Corey Liuget and Al Woods.
Given four of those meetings happened right before the draft — there’s a good chance they anticipated not being able to load up their defensive line depth.
Pete Carroll has already admitted this will be a busy couple of weeks. They have to do something. They won’t start the season with a starting line of L.J. Collier, Jarran Reed, Poona Ford and Rasheem Green (with Jacob Martin in support).
For starters, where’s the competition? They’re deep at several positions apart from defensive line. More importantly they lack any kind of proven experience and quality outside of Reed.
They used to have Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Frank Clark.
The Seahawks need to acquire someone with proven ability to come in and provide consistent pressure. Thus, the meeting with Ansah. He’s a collectors item as a legit pass rusher still available on the open market in May.
I’ve seen fans calling for the Seahawks to sign him now. They’re saying ‘forget the comp pick you’d lose. Just make sure you get him’.
That’s not a decision you can make lightly.
Ansah has a legit shoulder injury. It’s so legit his agent had to come out and admit he’s in rehab and will be in a better position to sign a contract later in the off-season.
The Seahawks and other potential suitors can’t sign him without a full medical check. If it’s bad news, he won’t be coming to Seattle. As desperate as they might be for a pass rusher, they’re not going to waste $10-12m (or more) on a player who won’t play.
Hopefully there’s good news on his shoulder and the Seahawks can land him next week on a one year deal. It’d solve a big problem and in 12 months time open up the possibility for a comp pick if he signs elsewhere or he could even extend his stay in Seattle if all goes well.
If it’s bad news on Ansah (or if he goes elsewhere with the Bills and Ravens reportedly showing interest) — they need alternatives.
Are Perry and Bailey enough to make you feel comfortable? Bailey had his most productive season for sacks in 2018 with six. Perry is only a year removed from a seven-sack season.
It’s not great but it might be a band-aid for a year. There’s nothing particularly scary though. Not like Ansah. Not like Frank Clark.
They might want more. And while this is a team still in the midst of a re-set — they’re also intent on competing. We saw that last year. They will be targeting a deep playoff run in 2019. They’ve improved their depth (a big need) and they’ve paid their quarterback. There’s no ‘wait until next year’ here.
With 10 draft picks in 2020 including two second rounders, two thirds and two fourths — they have some options.
Don’t rule out some veteran trades.
We’ve already talked about Jadeveon Clowney. The Frank Clark trade likely sets a precedent on price and it might be difficult to haggle with the Texans. That said — Clark went for a first and second rounder simply because a team (Kansas City) was willing to pay the price. If nobody is willing to give that up for Clowney, the Texans have a call to make. Keep him for one more year or let him go now and get a better pick a year earlier.
They have until July 15th to get a long term deal done. That’s the deadline. If we get close to that date and no extension nears, could the Texans make a deal? We’ll see. It’s still more unlikely than likely at this stage.
However, if they were willing to accept a package with a high point of one of Seattle’s second round picks — it could become an option.
You might ask — why would they pay Clowney and not Clark?
It’s a fair point to raise. I think the best answer is they don’t have to pay Clowney. The one-year rental with Sheldon Richardson backfired because he didn’t get paid big money and the Seahawks signed too many free agents to get a comp pick anyway.
Clowney is different. There’s a strong chance he would get paid next year. In the last three seasons he’s accumulated 54 TFL’s (considered a better statistic for production than mere sacks but perhaps not as strong as TFL’s + pressures combined). In 2017 his 21 TFL’s was #2 in the league and in 2016 he led the NFL with 17. Last year he had 16 but only ranked at #11.
In comparison, Frank Clark had only 11 TFL’s in 2018 and had 32 over the last three seasons. So there’s a considerable difference.
Furthermore, the Seahawks were very conscious this year not to impact their comp picks with outside free agents. If they retain that approach next year — and assuming Clowney gets paid — they’d be essentially swapping a second rounder for a third and a year of quality edge rush.
That’s if they don’t re-sign or extend him — which they could do.
It’s a mildly risky strategy as we saw with the Richardson trade. Yet the Rams received no criticism for their one-year rental of Sammy Watkins because they did get the third round comp pick.
For more on Clowney’s effectiveness and development, watch this video by Brett Kollmann:
There are other options too. Gerald McCoy is seemingly destined to leave Tampa Bay. He’s perhaps not quite the player he once was aged 31. It feels like the Seahawks need an EDGE more than anything. Someone who can threaten with speed and has years on their side and something to prove rather than a heavy wallet.
If Ansah signed with the Bills it could make Jerry Hughes expendable. He’s always been more of a 3-4 rusher anyway and the Bills are very much a 4-3 team these days. Seattle’s 4-3 under might be a better fit for him. Hughes turns 31 this year but he had 13 TFL’s in 2018 (two more than Frank Clark) and 12 in 2017. At his age, $10.4m cap hit and the fact he’s out of contract next year — there could be a deal there.
Another option could be Kyler Fackrell. He had 12 TFL’s in 2018 and 10.5 sacks in a breakout year. The Packers have added Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary this off-season. Fackrell is nowhere near as established as the other names suggested but he might have more upside and more to play for.
Aside from that the options appear limited. That’s why the Seahawks could be more aggressive than you might think — either with Ansah or via trade with someone like Clowney or Hughes. While they are rebuilding through the draft they still want to compete. The lack of an established pass rusher is a major hole on the roster.
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Lions’ DE Ziggy Ansah – who along with Ndamukong Suh are the most high-profile free agents that remain unsigned – is in Seattle today visiting the Seahawks, per source. The Seahawks could use another DE having traded Frank Clark to Kansas City.
This isn’t a surprise. It’s not a sign that a deal is necessarily forthcoming either.
Ziggy Ansah is the most talented pass rusher available on the market. It would be shocking if the Seahawks didn’t meet with him, given their need to add a DE.
You have to meet with him to answer the questions regarding his validity as a signing. How healthy is his shoulder? How motivated is he to continue his NFL career? How much will it cost to sign him?
Many teams are doing their homework. Ansah travelled to meet the Ravens before the draft. As exciting as this news will be to many fans — they’ll likely be deeply concerned when, in a few days time, it’s revealed Ansah is off meeting with another team. He’ll be doing the rounds.
Here’s the reality. The Seahawks, or any other team seeking to protect comp picks, won’t sign Ansah for another week. That’s when signings don’t impact your comp picks. After that — they can sign whoever they want.
It’s possible they’ll also meet with Ndamukong Suh. They need to meet with all of the options out there and get a sense for what is viable.
Ansah has missed 14 games in the last three seasons and is currently rehabbing after shoulder surgery. The Seahawks are as well placed as anyone to take a chance on his health given their positive cap situation and desperate need for a pass rusher.
Even so — they’re not going to make a move for the sake of it. We’ll find out next week whether today’s meeting leads to anything.
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If you missed our extensive review of the 2019 Seahawks draft class, click here.
What’s next?
The Seahawks currently have approximately $18m in free cap space. That could increase by another $7m if Doug Baldwin retires. There will be a further saving when Kam Chancellor is cut later this summer.
Pete Carroll was misquoted yesterday by the local Seattle media and it was implied he stated people would be ‘excited’ by their subsequent moves. Here’s the actual, less interesting quote:
“We’re not done. We’ve got work to do and we’re excited about what’s coming up. You guys will see in time.”
They’re acknowledging there’s work to be done on the pass rush. They probably anticipated this before the draft and that’s why they met with Corey Liuget, Al Woods and Allen Bailey last week. They previously spent time with Nick Perry.
In 2018 Bailey had six sacks (the most productive season of his career). Perry is only a year removed from a 7.5 sack season. They’re unlikely to be able to acquire a 13-sack edge rusher at this stage of the off-season. Finding two players who might be able to combine to produce that level of production could be a solution.
They also need to add a defensive tackle and Liuget or Woods could fill that void.
Inevitably people will talk about Ziggy Ansah and Ndamukong Suh. They too could be options and the Seahawks might explore their market if they haven’t already.
Ansah is recovering from shoulder surgery and there are concerns about when he’ll be ready to play again. He’s always been a hot-and-cold player — capable of dominating one week and then disappearing for stretches of a season.
There’s no doubting Ansah is the most talented player available but he’ll be no use to the Seahawks nursing an injury on the sidelines or belittling the fire and brimstone they just added via the draft. They’d need to be convinced he’s ready and determined to have an impact in 2019. Fans will call for his signing but we just don’t know how motivated he is. That’s something for the team to find out.
Suh is in a strange place. He admitted that he basically mailed it in during the 2018 regular season. He hasn’t had a sniff of interest during free agency. It’s possible he’s just become so rich that he isn’t motivated to go all-out every week. He’s made $139m so far in his football career.
It seems NFL teams are sceptical about whether he has anything left in the tank. Suh at his best would be a fine addition. A Suh coasting through the season and undermining the ‘always compete’ identity will be the last thing this team seeks to add.
So the options are limited. There might be a lot of soul-searching over the next few days. Any player still available on the open market is going to be flawed. Whether it’s age, motivation or loss of effectiveness.
That’s why I think they might at least consider what’s out there in the trade market. That doesn’t necessarily mean a big splash either. They might look for value.
Learning from mistakes
Every year I like to reflect on our draft coverage and see where we could’ve done a better job. This years example was pretty obvious.
At the end of the 2018 season we spent a fair bit of time wondering what they’d do at linebacker. It seemed inevitable K.J. Wright would depart in free agency. Mychal Kendricks was expected to re-sign but who knew what would happen with his court case?
Clearly a plan was needed at linebacker. When they re-signed both Wright and Kendricks, it threw us off the scent.
I assumed that was a review of the linebacker class — or at least an acknowledgement that they had to focus on other areas in this draft. We didn’t talk about the position at all. Then they drafted two linebackers who were ideal fits for what they look for at the position.
It was a difficult one to project. Going into the draft with only five picks — and with big needs elsewhere (DL, WR, DB) — it would’ve been a curious projection to pair the Seahawks with a couple of linebackers.
However, I should’ve spent more time at least discussing and looking at Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven.
A couple of years ago we noted how they seem to pay attention to the short shuttle when considering linebackers. We’d also heard Carroll talk about his determination in 2017 to add youth to the linebacker position. Only Shaquem Griffin was added in the two subsequent drafts — and none of the prospects in the 2017 or 2018 class ran a short shuttle quite like Cody Barton.
His 4.03 shuttle was the fastest at the combine among linebackers and was the second fastest by a linebacker in the last five years. Burr-Kirven’s 4.09 is the eighth fastest time in the last five years.
Even if we didn’t mock the two players to Seattle — we know enough about what they look for at the position to bring their names up in the general conversation. It should’ve been an easy win — to note they were likely Seahawks targets. And it would’ve led to a payoff for us as fans when both players were eventually drafted.
Gary Jennings is a good example of that. We talked about him throughout this process because he was an obvious Seahawk — from his forty time, to his frame, to his catch percentage, to his ability to compete for the ball in the air.
Moving forward I’m not going to let free agency moves or a perceived lack of need prevent us from identifying and discussing obvious Seahawks. If a player has an ideal physical profile for Seattle, we’ll talk about them.
An early look at 2020
Here are some of 2020 eligible names who could be a big part of next years draft…
Laviska Shenault Jr (WR, Colorado)
It was difficult to watch Colorado in 2018 knowing the sensational Shenault Jr wasn’t eligible for the draft this year. He’s 6-2 and 220lbs and does it all. He can make plays as a runner or receiver, he can grind out yards in the red zone or get downfield. He’s a mismatch weapon who could easily land in the first round next year.
Grant Delpit (S, LSU)
When people were projecting fifth round pick Deionte Thompson in the top-10 last season, I liked to compare Thompson to Delpit to make a point on the huge difference between the two. Delpit is a legit playmaker with range, size and physicality. He’s 6-3 and 203lbs and had five interceptions, five sacks and 9.5 TFL’s in 2018. He ran a 4.04 short shuttle at SPARQ testing, jumped a 37-inch vertical and achieved an overall score of 114.54. He’s a top-10 talent.
Chase Young (EDGE, Ohio State)
With Nick Bosa’s season ending prematurely in 2018, Young was given centre stage to show why he could be a top-10 pick next year. He’s 6-5 and 265lbs with superb quickness rushing the edge with the frame to handle run duties too. He recorded 14.5 TFL’s and 9.5 sacks and he has a great chance to develop into a big-time NFL rusher.
Willie Gay Jr (LB, Mississippi State)
Whenever you watched Mississippi State last season it seemed like Gay Jr was making a huge play. He’s 6-2 and 235lbs, flies around the field and just has a knack for turnovers and impact. He jumped a 39-inch vertical at SPARQ, ran a 4.26 short shuttle and achieved an overall score of 128.22.
Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
He could’ve been a top-15 pick this year. Brown flashed in numerous games in 2018 and is a complete defensive tackle — combining power in the run game with quickness and an ability to shoot gaps to get into the backfield. He had 10.5 TFL’s in 2018 and five sacks. It was surprising he chose not to declare. He’s listed at 6-5 and 325lbs but he plays with great quickness.
Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)
Another player who could’ve been a high pick this year but surprisingly chose not to declare. Davis underachieved in 2018 and allowed Quinnen Williams to be the star for the Crimson Tide. However, as we saw against Georgia in the 2017 National Championship game, Davis has the size, length and quickness to draw comparisons to Calais Campbell.
Jerry Jeudy (WR, Alabama)
The 2018 Biletnikoff Award winner, Jeudy looks destined to follow Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley as a top-level first round receiver from Alabama. He had 1315 yards last season and 14 touchdowns. He’s not the biggest at 6-1 and 192lbs but he’s incredibly sudden and capable of being a factor on intermediate routes and as a downfield threat.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama)
He’s already been anointed as the #1 overall pick next year but I’d pump the breaks on that. It was all too easy for Alabama last season but when things got tougher at the end of the year, Tagovailoa got hurt and some flaws were exposed. He’s a good quarterback but he’s not Trevor Lawrence and it’s not a sure-thing he ends up the top prospect next year.
Jabari Zuniga (EDGE, Florida)
A player we mocked to the Seahawks before he chose not to declare. Zuniga is 6-4 and 257lbs and plays with quickness and intensity. He’ll chase down the ball carrier and compete to the whistle. He wasn’t quite as exciting as Jachai Polite in 2018 but he’ll be the main man next season and has a chance to take the next step.
Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon)
Everyone thinks the Miami Dolphins are trying to ‘tank for Tua’. They seem to be forgetting the reports stating Dolphins brass were enamoured with Herbert and were ready to write-off the 2019 quarterback class when he chose not to declare. Like Tua he’s no sure thing. He has the tools but he’s inconsistent.
Ceedee Lamb (WR, Oklahoma)
A four-star recruit who was the ideal compliment to Marquise Brown for the Sooners. The 6-2 and 189lbs receiver recorded 1158 yards and 11 touchdowns and provided Kyler Murray with a target who could make contested catches and get downfield. With another good season he could find a home in round one.
Steven Montez (QB, Colorado)
We couldn’t anticipate how bad Nebraska were going to be in 2018 but Montez’s performance in a big road win put him on the map. His deep-throwing ability is exceptional, he has a rocket arm and he has the mobility to make plays as a runner. He’s a terrific, underrated talent.
Jake Fromm (QB, Georgia)
There are times where Fromm looks like a legit NFL passer. He has a reasonable physical profile with a decent-not-great arm, 6-2 height and 220lbs size. He’s led Georgia to compete in the SEC and they should’ve won the National Championship a year ago. Can he take a step forward and convince NFL teams he’s a pro-starter?
Bryce Hall (CB, Virginia)
Speed, speed, speed. He’s been clocked as capable of running at 22mph and you see it on tape. Watch this play (click here) for two reasons — a great run by Seahawks’ sixth round pick Travis Homer and the unbelievable closing speed of Bryce Hall. He had two interceptions in 2018.
Tee Higgins (WR, Clemson)
A classic big target who makes the Tigers’ offense tick with Trevor Lawrence. He’s 6-4 and 210lbs and ran a 4.23 short shuttle and jumped a 34-inch vertical at SPARQ. He can go up and get the football and make contested grabs. His stock will likely be determined on whether he can run a lot faster than he did at SPARQ (4.75). He had 936 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2018.
Trey Adams (T, Washington)
Back injuries, doubts over whether he’d continue to play football and two lost years have hampered Adams’ stock. Yet it’s easy to forget he was once seemingly destined to be a top-15 NFL pick. If he can get back on the field in 2019 and have a strong season, he can get back into that range — especially with an expected major down year on the O-line.
Henry Ruggs (WR, Alabama)
The other big playmaker for the Crimson Tide, Ruggs is only 6-0 and 183lbs but he’s lightning quick. He ran a 4.25 forty this spring and recorded 741 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2018. The NFL loves dynamism and speed at receiver and Ruggs made his fair share of big, impact plays last year.
K.J. Hill (WR, Ohio State)
He ran an unreal 3.93 short shuttle at SPARQ and jumped a 37-inch vertical. You see that quickness and agility show up on tape. Hill is adept at getting open and could be the next dynamic weapon to come out of Ohio State. He’s 6-0 and 198lbs and could take on the #1 target role in 2019.
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#29 (R1) L.J. Collier (DE, TCU) #47 (R2) Marquise Blair (S, Utah) #64 (R2) D.K. Metcalf (WR, Ole Miss) #92 (R3) Cody Barton (LB, Utah) #120 (R4) Gary Jennings (WR, West Virginia) #124 (R4) Phil Haynes (G, Wake Forest) #132 (R4) Ugo Amadi (S, Oregon) #142 (R5) Ben Burr-Kirven (LB, Washington) #204 (R6) Travis Homer (RB, Miami) #209 (R6) Demarcus Christmas (DT, Florida State) #236 (R7) John Ursua (WR, Hawaii)
Using NFL.com and Bob McGinn’s superb website, here are quotes on every player…
L.J. Collier — “Collier’s toughness, size and strength are traits seen typically from players who develop into quality starting ends.”
Marquise Blair — “He got three targeting penalties on purpose. If he wasn’t crazy I’d take him in the second round.”
D.K. Metcalf — “DK’s a freak… You line him up at X and he’s taking the lid off coverage. That’s what he’s doing. Smart kid. Loves football.”
Cody Barton — “Man, that (bleep) is a football player… He’s all over the field… A really strong, aggressive guy at the point of attack and a really consistent finisher.”
Gary Jennings — “Jennings was one of the fastest players at the Senior Bowl, according to Zebra Technology tracking, and his 4.42 combine time and huge numbers in explosive testing are sure to push him up draft boards.”
Phil Haynes — “Powerful guard prospect with well-built frame that can handle more mass. Haynes was a four-year starter and is known for durability and leadership.”
Ugo Amadi — “He’s strong and physical in press and is a willing run supporter which gives him a shot as a sub-package down safety with punt return talent.”
Ben Burr-Kirven — “He’s a (expletive) good player… Guy’s all over the field. Fun to watch. Tough and instinctive. Plays with his hair on fire. Good athlete. Good in space. All-out effort. Most productive player that I saw. High motor, finds the ball, runs well.”
Travis Homer — “A little undersized, but runs big and he already possesses NFL-level toughness in pass protection.”
Demarcus Christmas — “Upper-body power and twitch to pop and shed single blocks… Has some ability to batter the pocket with his rush.”
John Ursua — “His vision and ability to create plays with the ball in his hands makes him very hard to defend and bring down when in space. Ursua has extremely sticky hands and brings in just about anything that’s thrown his way.”
Last year they committed to reclaiming their identity. They became younger and hungrier, re-established the running game and made a necessary turn. This draft takes things a step further. They selected strong, tough, physical players with speed.
They’ve bolstered the depth and quality of their roster while significantly improving special teams. The likes of Blair, Barton, Amadi, Burr-Kirven and Homer might not start in 2019. They will, however, have a great chance to begin their careers as high-impact special teamers.
I wanted to embed this tweet because it’s important:
Evaluating your team’s draft:
1) Do the picks indicate an internally inconsistent “how we win/what we value” philosophy?
2) Is it a valid/sound philosophy?
I say this is as a Steeler fan who has watched them lurch between production, measureables, leadership as a draft ethos https://t.co/xEMNZJzzZl
Internal consistency and an established vision that you stick to and believe in is vital in the NFL. Following the two Super Bowls, Seattle lost their way. The running game collapsed. ‘All-in’ became ‘always-complaining’. As players became older and more cynical, the team suffered.
The reset was a return to clarity. A fresh commitment to the preferred identity and vision. When your team knows what it wants to be and builds accordingly — you give yourself the best chance to succeed.
So what else can we say about this draft class?
Firstly, they got better value than most people will have you believe. Taking D.K. Metcalf at #64 is fantastic value considering he was being touted as a top-10 pick after the combine. I’ve been mocking L.J. Collier in the top-40 since the Senior Bowl plus Marquise Blair in round two. They went in the range they were supposed to go.
Cody Barton was a projected second or third round pick (taken in round three) and Ben Burr-Kirven was graded in round three by Bob McGinn’s sources (they got him in round five).
Furthermore, by trading down the Seahawks were able to acquire value similar to a top-10 pick:
Top 5 teams in terms of added value in draft pick trades (Rosen trade not included) thus far, and the equivalent pick of that value:
Seahawks No. 6 or 7 pick Vikings Late 1st-round Colts Early 2nd-round Bengals Early 3rd-round Dolphins Early 4th-round
If anyone tells you they were reaching for players and trading down was a waste, don’t listen to them.
With mystery surrounding Doug Baldwin’s future they landed a receiver many expected to go in round one (D.K. Metcalf), followed up by selecting another who screams Seahawks in Gary Jennings and then traded back into the seventh round to get John Ursua.
For years Carroll has sought a big, dynamic target. Now he has one in Metcalf. He’s probably the most boom or bust player in the draft but with the last pick in round two, it was worth a shot. Is he David Boston? Is he Josh Gordon? We’ll find out.
Jennings is a classic Seahawks receiver and ticks every box. He ran a 4.42 and jumped a 37-inch vertical. He’s 6-1 and 214lbs. He had a 75% catch rate in 2018 and showed he’s a very capable deep receiver who can operate in the slot too. He clocked a top speed of 21.03mph at the Senior Bowl. He was destined to end up in Seattle.
The Seahawks gave up a 2020 sixth rounder to move back into the seventh round to select John Ursua. He led the FBS with 16 receiving touchdowns in 2018. He’s been carrying a hamstring injury but still competed at his pro-day, running a 4.58 forty, a 6.78 three cone and jumping a 10-0 broad jump. Apparently he runs a 4.08 short shuttle. He’s 5-9 and 178lbs.
Having already drafted two receivers, they likely felt they couldn’t convince Ursua to sign as an undrafted free agent and wanted to make sure they got him.
Chris Lindstrom (3.18)
Garrett Bradbury (3.15)
Andre Dillard (3.13)
Erik McCoy (3.05)
Kaleb McGary (3.02)
Elgton Jenkins (3.01)
That’s pretty good company and speaks not only to Haynes’ physical potential but the value Seattle got by taking him in round four.
He’s a four-year starter, a team captain and he has great size (6-4, 322lbs, 33.5-inch arms). He’s known for durability and leadership. He can provide competition at both guard spots immediately.
Travis Homer is smaller than they’ve usually preferred at running back (he’s 5-10 and 201lbs). However, he’s fast and explosive — running a 4.48 and jumping a 38.5 inch vertical. He plays bigger than his size and excels in pass protection. Don’t be surprised if Homer has the inside track on the third-down role (especially if C.J. Prosise fails to take his last chance in Seattle).
Charles Davis mentioned on the NFL Network that Homer was a quality special teamer.
What have they gained on defense?
They added two linebackers with the kind of agility and quickness they’ve been craving for years. After the 2016 season Pete Carroll noted they needed to find some youth at the linebacker position. They’d relied on Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright for years. In 2016 both players practically played every snap. They needed some relief.
The Seahawks proceeded to ignore the position in the subsequent draft and only drafted Shaquem Griffin a year ago. The reason? College football simply hasn’t been pumping their type of linebacker into the league.
Barton’s 4.03 is the second fastest among linebackers in the last five years. Burr-Kirven’s 4.09 is the eighth fastest in that time frame.
Throw in the physicality and passion for the game with that quickness and agility and you have a pair of Seahawks linebackers. Having waited so long and with such a dearth of players matching their ideals in the last few years, it’s no wonder they took this opportunity to add both Barton and Burr-Kiven.
Strike while the iron is hot.
You might ask why they drafted two linebackers after re-signing Mychal Kendricks and K.J. Wright. There a couple of reasons I think. Firstly — both Barton and Burr-Kiven are quick and work well in space. The Seahawks haven’t got close to slowing the Rams down in the last three meetings between the two teams. Now they have the personnel to be creative and try to get a handle on LA’s misdirection-heavy offense.
The Patriots showed a way to combat the Rams and it included safety/linebacker hybrids playing up at the LOS purposely to take away the sweeps, reverses and plays in space.
Secondly — Bobby Wagner is a free agent next year. Everyone assumes a deal is a formality. As we’ve seen with Frank Clark that’s not always the case. Kendricks is only contracted for 2019 and Wright’s new deal is for two-years but has an out after 2019. They might be fine at linebacker this year but the future is far from certain. Now they have some depth at the position after years of relying too heavily on Wagner and Wright.
Collier is one of my favourite players in the draft. I wish he tested better but here’s the facts — he’s a bad ass who wins with power, hand-use, speed, stunts and setting up blockers.
Aside from a great attitude, toughness, the ability to rush the passer in multiple ways and his likeness to Michael Bennett — Pete Carroll noted pressure percentages during the off-season.
Collier’s pressure percentage in 2018 was 19.2%. Here’s how he compares to two of the bigger names in the draft who also went in round one:
Clearly the numbers prove he was right up there with the best pass rushers in this draft based on production. He might not be flashy or have the big name status. He was highly productive, however.
He also has an excellent 82-inch wingspan and 34-inch arms despite his relatively modest height (6-2). He uses his length well. Hand-use and technique is so important at the next level. College speed rushers often flame out because it’s so easy in the NCAA to run beyond bad offensive tackles. Speed-to-power is the key in the NFL. You have to be able to engage/disengage, win with a push-pull or club/rip. Can you bull-rush? Fight through a block? Collier does all of these things and still flashes the ability to win crashing the edge.
Marquise Blair is a player we consistently mocked in round two. His speed (4.48) and sledgehammer hitting stood out on tape. He needs some coaching — especially to avoid flags. That’s where Seattle excels — developing defensive backs. The Seahawks could reclaim a fear factor at the second level with this pick.
Before taking Blair, Earl Thomas was the only defensive back they’d drafted in the first two rounds in the Carroll era. That goes to show how highly they must rate him.
Ugo Amadi was voted a permanent team captain at Oregon. He’s described as good in run support which is important for the Seahawks. It seems like he could be competing for the nickel spot, replacing Justin Coleman. He had big production in 2018 including five TFL’s, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), eight pass breakups and he scored on a punt return.
Demarcus Christmas was once considered a possible mid-round prospect but never really took the next step at Florida State. He’s not your typical Seahawks defensive tackle — he has sub-33 inch arms (32 3/4 inches) and he ran a 5.07 short shuttle. He has potential and upside and they only spent a sixth round flier to acquire him.
If you were hoping for physical football players who play with speed and intensity, you’ll like this class. If you wanted the Seahawks to build up their defense, special teams and add targets amid concerns about Doug Baldwin’s future — you’ll like this class.
So what’s the one glaring issue that remains?
Pass rush.
The Seahawks needed to build up their defensive line even before trading Frank Clark yet they only added L.J. Collier at #29 and Demarcus Christmas in round six.
Here are the changes on the defensive line since last season:
IN — L.J. Collier, Cassius Marsh, Nate Orchard, Demarcus Christmas
OUT — Frank Clark, Shemar Stephen, Dion Jordan
Losing their top pass rusher is a big loss. The Seahawks need to replace Clark’s threat and production. They’re also left relying on young players. Collier, Rasheem Green and Jacob Martin are not Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Chris Clemons.
This could be a big problem for the Seahawks barring a huge increase in performance by Green and Martin. It’s difficult to be optimistic about the pass rush and run defense — two areas that were adequate at best in 2018.
Could they have done more in this draft? Perspective is needed. Despite the depth of quality on the D-line the draft never quite fell for them to take advantage. The top linemen went early limiting their options in the first two rounds. The EDGE rushers in particular evaporated.
There’s not really much they could’ve done. Run through each of Seattle’s picks and you’ll see what I mean. The linemen came off the board in awkward areas.
There’s no doubt they will add veterans when the compensatory picks are no longer affected next week. They already met with Allen Bailey, Corey Liuget and Al Woods in the last week — suggesting they anticipated this being an issue. They can sign Nick Perry at any point because he was cut by the Packers. Ziggy Ansah is also available although he’s still recovering from shoulder surgery.
Are any of these players the answer? It’s hard to imagine they’ll provide a solution.
So what are they going to do?
They have eleven 2020 picks. Will they make trades for veterans? Possibly.
And consider this — they have cap room now with Clark gone. That cap space will increase further if Doug Baldwin retires.
Are they more prepared to pay him as a proven game-wrecker and former #1 overall pick than they were Frank Clark? Would they give the Texans a first round pick? Is that even the asking price?
Are there any alternatives?
They have to do something because the D-line doesn’t look up to scratch currently. It’d be a shame if all the promise emanating from this draft class and last years re-set was let down by a sub-standard defensive line.
One quick final point on Clowney vs Clark. It’s worth noting that in the last three seasons Clowney has recorded 54 TFL’s. In 2016 and 2017 he was either ranked first or second in the NFL for TFL’s. In that same three year period, Clark has 32 TFL’s.
Here’s the TFL breakdown:
2018
Clowney — 16 (11th in NFL)
Clark — 11 (40th in NFL)
2017
Clowney — 21 (2nd in NFL)
Clark — 10 (47th in NFL)
2016
Clowney — 17 (1st in NFL)
Clark — 11 (29th in NFL)
Total
Clowney — 54
Clark — 32
It’s something to consider when weighing up whether they’d be willing to pay one player and not the other.
What else didn’t they get?
They may be disappointed not to tap into the depth at tight end (although the need at receiver perhaps took some of the attention there).
It was also a surprise that they didn’t draft a single outside cornerback to come in and compete. This will likely be a target area in undrafted free agency.
Quotes, videos and notes on Seattle’s picks
Check out Brett Kollman’s video breakdown of D.K. Metcalf:
“DK’s a freak… You line him up at X and he’s taking the lid off coverage. That’s what he’s doing. He’s a slot receiver. Smart kid. Loves football. He’s better than Stephen Hill coming out, more productive than Josh Gordon coming out. But he’s kind of more in their light than Julio (Jones). Julio has better flexibility, hips, routes.”
“He’s a workout phenom. He can’t catch and he can’t run routes and he doesn’t separate well. Everybody talks about how great he looks but what great receiver is just big? Julio, but Julio wasn’t even that big. The top receivers aren’t these monsters. Odell (Beckham), Antonio Brown. A.J. Green is slender. Being that big doesn’t make you a good wide receiver. In fact, it’s the opposite.”
“Little bit of a wild horse rider,” said one scout. “Not a bad kid. Will knock the (bleep) out of you. Super fast. Big-time downhill player.” Described by one scout as a classic overachiever. “Man, that (bleep) is a football player,” said another scout. Finished with 235 tackles (24 ½ for loss), nine sacks and five takeaways. “He’s all over the field,” said a third scout. “A really strong, aggressive guy at the point of attack and a really consistent finisher. He’s really good in coverage and a good pass rusher. He does everything pretty well. Nothing excellent.” Recorded the fastest LB clocking in the short shuttle (4.03). Wonderlic of 27.
And here’s the blurb on Ben Burr-Kirven, who was rated as a third round prospect:
Led FBS in tackles last season with 176. “He goes against everything I believe in as far as size,” said one scout. “He’s Dat Nguyen. He makes every tackle.” Finished with 338 tackles (only 11 ½ for loss), four sacks and 13 takeaways. “He’s a (expletive) good player,” said a second scout. “He’s just small. Guy’s all over the field. Fun to watch. Tough and instinctive. Plays with his hair on fire. Good athlete. Good in space. All-out effort. Most productive player that I saw. High motor, finds the ball, runs well. Just undersized. Gets bounced around. Really smart.” Wonderlic of 35. “Makes about 20 tackles a game,” a third scout said. “Only problem is, if he doesn’t beat the block initially he gets engulfed.” From Menlo Park, Calif.
Played two seasons for the Utes after spending time at a junior college. Summarized one scout: “He tries to hit you like a strong and he’s built like a free.” One of the most violent strikers in the draft. “He’s the most aggressive head-hunter,” said a second scout. “I think he’s had four targeting calls. He’s got range. He’s got everything you want. Just really undisciplined. Will probably be off a few boards. He’s had some anger issues. Never been in trouble but he’s just been hard to manage. One of the more fun guys to watch.” His two-year stats included 106 tackles (five for loss), two picks and four PBUs. “Where he’s deficient is coverage,” a third scout said. “Just change of direction. I would not be afraid to line up a good tight end against this guy. He’s not going to be good in man coverage.” From Wooster, Ohio. “Oh, my God,” said a fourth scout. “He got three targeting penalties on purpose. If he wasn’t crazy I’d take him in the second round.” Wonderlic of 22.
Fifth-year senior from Munday, Texas. Generally played DE but some teams project him to 3-technique. “He’s that ideal hybrid guy,” one scout said. “Because he’s a pass rusher he’ll go higher. Between second and third round. He can rush the passer. He has violent hands. He’s got power and quickness.” Finished with 82 tackles (20 ½ for loss) and 14 ½ sacks. “I had him more as an edge,” said a second scout. “He knows how to play. He’s not gifted athletically. He reminds me a little bit of that Charles Tapper from Oklahoma a few years ago. He’s got that inside move. Besides that, he’s not going to threaten as a pass rusher. In run support he can leverage. He’s a backup.”
And remember — no tipping picks please in the comments section.
Seattle’s board
#29 (R1) L.J. Collier (DE, TCU)
#47 (R2) Marquise Blair (S, Utah)
#64 (R2) D.K. Metcalf (WR, Ole Miss)
#88 (R3) Cody Barton (LB, Utah)
#120 (R4) Gary Jennings (WR, West Virginia)
#124 (R4) Phil Haynes (G, Wake Forest)
#132 (R4) Ugo Amadi (S, Oregon)
#142 (R5) Ben Burr-Kiven (LB, Washington)
#204 (R6) Travis Homer (RB, Miami)
#209 (R6) Demarcus Christmas (DT, Florida State)
#236 (R7) John Ursua (WR, Hawaii)
The Seahawks traded the #114 to Minnesota for #120 and #204. With the pick, the Vikings selected Oklahoma guard Dru Samia.
#120 (R4) — Gary Jennings (WR, West Virginia)
In practically every seven-round mock draft we did for 2019, Jennings was involved. This was one of the most predictable picks for the Seahawks this year. He’s a classic Seahawks receiver and ticks every box. Jennings ran a 4.42 and jumped a 37-inch vertical. He’s 6-1 and 214lbs. He had a 75% catch rate in 2018 and showed he a very capable deep receiver who can operate in the slot too. He clocked a top speed of 21.03mph at the Senior Bowl. We had him in round four to the Seahawks in our final mock projection.
#124 (R4) — Phil Haynes (G, Wake Forest)
When we did our TEF scores this year, Haynes was the second most explosive offensive lineman in the class scoring a 3.22. Only Iosua Opeta (3.62) beat him. The next five names were Chris Lindstrom (3.18), Garrett Bradbury (3.15), Andre Dillard (3.13), Erik McCoy (3.05), Kaleb McGary (3.02), Elgton Jenkins (3.01). He’s a four-year starter, a team captain and he has great size (6-4, 322lbs, 33.5-inch arms). He’s known for durability and leadership.
#132 (R4) — Ugo Amadi (S, Oregon)
He was voted a permanent team captain. Are you noticing a theme? Leadership, toughness, accountability. He’s described as good in run support which is important for the Seahawks. We’ll see how they use him — I think it’s pretty likely they’ll let him compete at nickel. He ran a 4.51 forty and a 4.19 short shuttle. He had big production in 2018 including five TFL’s, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), eight pass breakups and he scored on a punt return.
#142 (R5) — Ben Burr-Kiven (LB, Washington)
There have been a few themes this year — toughness, leadership, physicality. Ben Burr-Kiven is another one who fits that. There’s another blossoming theme too — special teams. It looks like the Seahawks are going all out to build up that unit after some disappointing seasons on kick coverage. Marquise Blair, Cody Barton, Ugo Amadi and Burr-Kiven look like they were all drafted with improving special teams in mind. Like Cody Barton he ran an exceptional short shuttle (4.09). We noted two years ago how the short shuttle appeared to be a primary test for Seattle at linebacker. He also ran a 6.85 three cone and a 4.56 forty. Those are great times.
Led FBS in tackles last season with 176. “He goes against everything I believe in as far as size,” said one scout. “He’s Dat Nguyen. He makes every tackle.” Finished with 338 tackles (only 11 ½ for loss), four sacks and 13 takeaways. “He’s a (expletive) good player,” said a second scout. “He’s just small. Guy’s all over the field. Fun to watch. Tough and instinctive. Plays with his hair on fire. Good athlete. Good in space. All-out effort. Most productive player that I saw. High motor, finds the ball, runs well. Just undersized. Gets bounced around. Really smart.” Wonderlic of 35. “Makes about 20 tackles a game,” a third scout said. “Only problem is, if he doesn’t beat the block initially he gets engulfed.” From Menlo Park, Calif.
#204 (R6) — Travis Homer (RB, Miami)
Highly explosive and fast running back who ran a 4.48 forty and jumped a 38.5 inch vertical. He’s smaller than the Seahawks usually like at 5-10 and 201lbs. According to Lance Zierlein, Homer is “a little undersized, but runs big and he already possesses NFL-level toughness in pass protection“. If his pass protection skills are strong, there’s a good chance they’ve drafted him to compete to be the third down runner. Charles Davis mentioned he’s a big time special teams player.
#209 (R6) — Demarcus Christmas (DT, Florida State)
This is an interesting final pick for a few reasons. Firstly, Christmas has 32 3/4 inch arms and ran a 5.07 short shuttle. Those are two things the Seahawks have avoided in the Carroll era. Christmas was once considered a possible mid-round pick but never quite took the next step at Florida State. He’s 6-3 and 294lbs. He’d flash plenty of times at FSU but consistency was an issue. He’s a worthwhile flier at this stage and they needed some defensive tackle depth.
#236 (R7) — John Ursua (WR, Hawaii)
The Seahawks trade back into the seventh round, giving up a 2020 sixth rounder. They select John Ursua — who led the FBS with 16 receiving touchdowns in 2018. He’s been carrying a hamstring injury but still competed at his pro-day, running a 4.58 forty, a 6.78 three cone and jumping a 10-0 broad jump. He’s 5-9 and 178lbs. The fact they’ve drafted three receivers only further emphasises the doubt surrounding Doug Baldwin’s future.
That’s it for the Seahawks 2019 draft. A big review piece is on the way shortly.
