What happens next? How much cap room have they got? What is the strength of the draft? And why is perspective needed on the Dallas loss?

Time to get into it. Here are some of the key points going into the off-season…

1. They have limited cap room

The Seahawks are currently projected to have $60m in cap space in 2019. That’s seventh most in the NFL. And it’s a red herring.

Seattle has only 34 contracted players for 2019, the lowest number in the league. The Colts, with a league-high $122m to spend, have 41 contracted players. It means that while the Seahawks have some money to spend, a fair portion of it will need to be spent filling out the roster.

They can create cap space by parting with Kam Chancellor. There was no financial gain to be had here in 2018. It would’ve actually cost them an extra $5m. In 2019 the situation is different. They’ll save $2.8m ($13m cap hit and $10.2m in dead money).

They’ll also save $2.75m if they cut Jaron Brown. Barkevious Mingo would save $3.3m (they might prefer to spend that on K.J. Wright and/or Mychal Kendricks).

The $60m quickly shrinks when you consider they’ll pay to keep Frank Clark. The franchise tag cost $17.143m for a defensive end in 2018. They may decide to use the transition tag ($14.2m cost in 2018) which would give the Seahawks an opportunity to match any offer made to Clark.

The Seahawks don’t have a good history with transition tags, however.

Such a move would allow Clark to set his own market though. It’d be a calculated gamble. The Chicago Bears used the transition tag on Kyle Fuller this year. It paid off as a tactic — he agreed a four-year, $56m extension two months later. He was able to set his market and then come to an agreement with the Bears.

For the purpose of this piece, let’s use the most expensive scenario — an $18m franchise tag. So wipe away $18m from the $60m projected cap space for 2019. You always need to save about $7-10m for the draft and injured reserve.

This leaves approximately $30-35m for any further moves.

I asked Pete Carroll in London whether he intends to keep J.R. Sweezy and D.J. Fluker. His answer was a resounding ‘yes’. They also have big calls to make on K.J. Wright, Mychal Kendricks and Justin Coleman.

Jordan Simmons, David Moore and Austin Calitro are ERFA’s and will likely be kept. They’ll have a decision to make on Malik Turner and Akeem King (also both ERFA’s).

George Fant is a restricted free agent and seems almost certain to be retained. Joey Hunt, Quinton Jefferson, J.D McKissic, Branden Jackson and Tyler Ott are also RFA’s. Do the Seahawks tag them or try to negotiate separate, cheaper deals?

Shamar Stephen, Dion Jordan, Mike Davis and Brett Hundley are free agents you’ll either need to retain or replace.

Take all this into account and it won’t leave much money to spend.

A realistic expectation is a repeat of a year ago. Calculated moves in the second and third wave of free agency. A big splurge, however, does not seem likely.

2. They only have four draft picks

The Duane Brown trade (second rounder), Brett Hundley trade (sixth rounder) and Shalom Luani trade (7th rounder) has left the Seahawks with a league-low four draft picks. They are not expected to gain any further comp picks either.

What does this likely mean? Trading down again.

The Seahawks will own either the 21st or 22nd overall pick depending on the result of the Eagles vs Bears game. A year ago they traded down from #18 to #27, collecting a third and sixth round pick in the process. It’s fair to imagine they’ll work on trying to find a similar deal this year.

3. What are the strengths of the draft?

It’s an incredible year for defensive linemen. One of Bob McGinn’s scouting sources is quoted as saying, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams, Clelin Ferrell, Rashan Gary, Dexter Lawrence, Ed Oliver and Christian Wilkins will likely go early. It’s possible Derrick Brown, Jachai Polite, Raekwon Davis, Josh Allen, Zach Allen and Jaylon Ferguson go early too. That’s how good this class is for defensive linemen.

The list doesn’t stop there.

Jeffery Simmons has top-15 talent but could last due to an off-field incident dating back to High School. Brian Burns and Montez Sweat are long and quick but there are concerns about their ability to play early downs vs the run. D’Andre Walker is underrated while Dre’Mont Jones, Jabari Zuniga and Jerry Tillery are names to monitor.

The depth will easily stretch into the late first or early second round.

4. Could this impact free agency?

Possibly. With the price of defensive linemen growing year after year, we could see a regression in 2019. Teams might be prepared to play the draft class against the veteran free agents. The top players (Lawrence, Clowney, Clark) will still get paid. The next tier of players might be left frustrated.

The Seahawks need a player or two to buy into the Michael Bennett/Cliff Avril approach from 2013. Short term prove-it deals. Seattle has an advantage here. Although they’ll have to pay Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner top money, Seattle’s only other pending 2020 free agents are players like Nick Vannett and Barkevious Mingo (assuming they extend Frank Clark and Jarran Reed).

If a player like Anthony Barr, for example, ends up with a cold market — he might opt for a prove-it deal. And the Seahawks can say to any player in that situation — we’ll have the 2020 money to pay and keep you if you perform. They kept both Bennett and Avril in a similar situation.

Another option for the Seahawks could be to try and sign an ageing veteran. Cameron Wake, Brandon Graham, Clay Matthews and Terrell Suggs are all free agents in the off-season. All could be available at a reasonable price on a short-term basis.

5. Is it a good draft class for defensive backs?

It’s an uninspiring cornerback class and the safety group is even worse. Bob McGinn’s sources note: “This class of safeties lacks quality and quantity.”

Johnathan Abram — a hard hitting former Georgia DB who transferred to Mississippi State — is considered the best safety prospect and only a second round prospect. Alabama’s Deionte Thompson gets a lot of hype but he has limitations. One of McGinn’s sources says: “I’ve watched all the Alabama tapes and I can’t grade him… I don’t see the guy doing things.”

A high pick at safety seems highly unlikely given the class. Tony Pauline has reported strong interest from the Seahawks in tall, physical cornerback Jamal Peters of Mississippi State. He looks like a prototype for Pete Carroll’s defense and could be a target in rounds 3-4.

6. What are the keys to the off-season?

Here are five potential priorities:

1. More pass rush
2. More speed
3. Keep building the culture
4. Improve the depth
5. Build on the experience of 2018

In terms of improving the roster, the main priority could be finding more playmakers on defense.

Here’s why:

Used @CowboysStats to check out the Seahawks defenders EPA for this season as a total. Over the dashed line is good, under the dashed line is not as good. This stat obviously only credits players who make a direct play, such as a tackle or forced fumble, not someone who prevents pic.twitter.com/pUs3mOf6vn

— Magnus Bendixen (@BendixenNFL) January 2, 2019

Seattle’s defense is a well organised, properly coached unit with togetherness and spirit. They will need more than just Frank Clark, Jarran Reed, Bobby Wagner and Bradley McDougald to become a top-tier unit.

The encouraging thing is how well Jacob Martin played in his handful of snaps. It hints towards a bright future. It also might be that he works best in a limited role. We’ll find out over the next year or two.

The graph also highlights how well Quinton Jefferson contributed and it’s a shame Dion Jordan couldn’t have a greater impact.

They still need more. Whether it’s on the D-line or among the defensive backs, they need 3-4 more names to get among the group of four in the top right corner of the graph.

7. Please, let’s not do this for eight months

A lot of Seahawks fans have decided the loss yesterday was down to an unwillingness to adjust. The Cowboys did an excellent job shutting down the run, so why didn’t the Seahawks just cut Russell Wilson loose? Perhaps, as some believe, like they did in Carolina against the Panthers?

A few quick points here…

The Seahawks struggled to run the ball in Carolina and trailed by three points at half time. The deficit was four points against the Cowboys. To start the second half against the Panthers, Seattle ran the ball three straight times. Then they hit a 54-yard deep pass on 3rd and 12. They followed up with two more runs before scoring on a red zone throw to Tyler Lockett.

On the following drive, they started by running the ball three out of five times.

They only really turned to Wilson when they trailed by seven points with less than seven minutes left in the game.

It’s not true that a major adjustment occurred early in the second half against Carolina. They continued to run and play for manageable third downs.

They turned to the pass right at the end of the game when they needed to press. They still required a low percentage deep-shot on fourth down to result in a touchdown, a missed field goal by Graham Gano and some Wilson-to-Lockett magic to win the game.

The approach in Carolina was actually very similar to the approach in Dallas. Keep it tight, try and take it down to the final possession. The Seahawks would’ve been in the same position had they managed to stop Dallas on their final scoring drive to give Wilson the ball back. Instead, they had back-breaking pass interference penalties on third down and gave up a 3rd and 14 run by Dak Prescott.

Pete Carroll’s approach — and it is his approach despite all the grief directed at his offensive coordinator — helped get this team to the playoffs against the odds. It helped regain a productive running game and helped Russell Wilson put up career-best numbers. It helped win in Carolina and at home against the Packers, Chiefs and Vikings. It helped this team compete against the Rams — twice.

Here’s the perspective for Carroll’s philosophy. There’s a reason very few people predicted the Seahawks would go to the playoffs. The roster, really, isn’t as good as some have maybe started to believe. Not yet, anyway. It’s young and growing.

The Seahawks spent a season playing a style that would help them be competitive. It enabled them to stick in games where, arguably, they otherwise would’ve struggled. And with a quarterback very capable of finding a way to win at the end — taking it down to a final possession worked on multiple occasions in the regular season.

If Wilson had the football in the fourth quarter with two minutes on the clock and a six-point deficit, there’s a decent chance they would’ve beaten the Cowboys.

Seattle’s defense is 3-4 quality players short and was exposed in some games. The protection was extremely suspect when they focused on the pass in weeks one and two.

The style, the approach — it’s probably designed on purpose to suit the players on the roster and cover up weaknesses.

In Dallas, they played their way. Just as they have all season.

They came up short. That’s football.

8. No, they don’t need to fire anybody

Sports fans always need someone to be accountable when things don’t work out. The strange thing is, things did work out for the Seahawks this year.

They got to the playoffs in a year with modest external expectations. That’s a success. They were energised, entertaining and had some good wins mixed in with some frustrating losses.

In a reset year, this was a strong showing.

The key now is to add more talent, add more depth and get better. Not start overhauling the staff and roster again.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

The Seahawks travelled to Dallas with belief, hope and an ambition to make an entertaining season, improbably, a Championship one.

Sadly, they didn’t play anywhere near well enough to win a playoff game on the road.

The Cowboys were more physical, dominated the line of scrimmage and thoroughly deserved to win.

Their defense played with the same intensity that shut down Drew Brees and the Saints. They took away the run, made the Seahawks play to their tune and Dallas were the ones dictating the tempo of the game.

Every time the Seahawks tried to establish momentum, the Cowboys took it away:

1. Seattle kicks a field goal for a 6-3 lead before half time. Moments later, Dallas races downfield to lead 10-6.

2. Seattle scores a touchdown and converts a two-pointer for a 14-10 lead. Dallas races downfield to lead 17-14 at the start of the fourth quarter.

3. K.J. Wright intercepts a pass in the end zone. Seattle followed with two offensive penalties, went three-and-out and kicked back to Dallas. A long drive ensued, with Dak Prescott’s 16-yard run on 3rd and 14 essentially the game-winner.

Before the game if you’d said the Seahawks would win the turnover battle and make several explosive plays to Tyler Lockett — it’d sound like a winning formula.

They didn’t win because unlike most of the season — Seattle was dominated physically at the LOS. Dallas ran for 164 yards and completely shut down Seattle’s running game (73 yards). The Seahawks were made to earn everything. Even their big plays — the shots to Tyler Lockett, the fourth down to Doug Baldwin, the K.J. Wright interception — all required a supreme level of talent to get the better of an inspired Dallas team.

On the other hand, Seattle had errors and will rue missed opportunities.

They kept it close because they nearly always do. Yet the Cowboys played better and deserved to win.

It was a disappointing end to a season that still achieved two things:

1. Everyone moved on. Any ill-feeling or concern about big names departing was all but extinguished. The Seahawks needed a fresh start.

2. People can genuinely look forward to what’s next. I’m not sure that was possible the last two years. The end felt like it was coming. Then it came, at least for some popular players.

The Seahawks now embark on a post-season looking for ways to take the next step. In 2013 it meant trading for Percy Harvin and signing Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. Whether the Seahawks can be that bold remains to be seen. They’ll have limited cap space and only four draft picks.

So what is next?

For starters they have to keep the new core together. Frank Clark will either receive a contract extension or the franchise tag. Jarran Reed has earned an extension. Re-signing J.R. Sweezy and D.J. Fluker will be a priority. There are big calls to make on K.J. Wright (who played brilliantly), Justin Coleman and Mychal Kendricks (depending on his legal situation).

They’ll need to find some value in free agency. They won’t have the big dollars to spend. It’ll mean more calculated moves, akin to 12 months ago. The second and third wave of free agency will likely be their target area.

They will own the 21st overall pick if the Eagles beat the Bears tomorrow. Otherwise, they own the 22nd overall pick. It’s an exceptional draft class for defensive linemen. It’s nowhere near as strong at safety and cornerback.

They need to add more key players to the young defense. Are there veterans who can come in and compliment Clark, Reed, Bobby Wagner and Bradley McDougald? Can they find one or two more dynamic pass rushers? Can they find someone to make some plays in the secondary?

Can they acquire more speed? The league is getting quicker and more explosive every year. It’s not an amazing class for receivers in round one but there will be options from day two onwards that include fast, explosive pass-catchers. Can they get quicker in the front seven on defense or in the secondary?

Here are five potential priorities:

1. More pass rush
2. More speed
3. Keep building the culture
4. Improve the depth
5. Build on the experience of 2018

That’s how I see it. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section.

We’ll start looking ahead to the draft and free agency options immediately this week.

The 2012 season showed that a fun season can lead to a Championship season. That’s the hope Seahawks fans can carry into the off-season. This roster clearly isn’t as loaded as it was in 2012 and there’s a lot more work to do than there was six years ago. It does feel, however, that the team is connected again and heading in the right direction. Even if tonight was a bitter ending to a promising season.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

If I were the Cardinals, I’d be letting Kyler Murray’s people know we’d consider taking him with the #1 overall pick.

Yes, Arizona drafted Josh Rosen a year ago. Yes, it’s too early to make an accurate judgement on his ability to develop into a franchise quarterback.

However, the Cardinals job doesn’t appear to be particularly appealing. They struggled to replace Bruce Arians last year and were the last team to fill their coaching vacancy.

Is it any more attractive 12 months on?

Mike McCarthy turned down an interview. So did Eric Bieniemy.

There are lots of things to consider. Are you going to get time? Steve Wilks didn’t. It’s not a franchise known for big spending or high ambition to win. Is there some potential on the roster or are they justified in earning the #1 pick?

You’re also hanging your future on the development (and success) of Rosen.

Let’s not forget, he was the fourth quarterback selected in 2018 (after Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Josh Allen). There were mixed feelings about him going into the 2018 draft. He had his suitors, of course. But a lot of decision makers were lukewarm to him.

It’s very possible coaches like McCarthy and Bieniemy don’t want to put their reputations in the hands of a quarterback they don’t believe in.

Murray, for me, is the real deal. I’ve written a lot about him over the last few weeks. I’ve mocked him multiple times in round one, including with the top pick.

I think he’s similar to Patrick Mahomes. That’s not a view taken simply because Mahomes is flavour of the month and possibly the NFL MVP. Murray, legitimately, shares some of the same traits. That same ability to be running at full speed out of pressure and improbably throwing a dart downfield on a dime for a huge, game-changing completion. His arm strength, accuracy, elusiveness, creativity.

He is special.

He’s not as big as Mahomes but he’s much faster. He’s a mix of Mahomes and Michael Vick or Lamar Jackson.

Not convinced? This one throw against Alabama recently says it all:

This is the passing ability that could make Kyler Murray a first round pick in the NFL draft. That’s simply an incredible touchdown pass for Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/Bv5NKutSE9

— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) December 30, 2018

That’s as good as it gets. Sprinting away from the pressure, probably in two minds whether to scramble and get what he can on the ground. Then instinctively he sees a small opening downfield. He launches the ball on the run without needing to reset his feet. Despite throwing off his back-foot, Murray gets it 50-yards downfield.

It’s an inch-perfect pass. The receiver has two defenders with him. If Murray under-throws that ball at all it’s picked off. It has to be on the money. And he manages to put it in the one area where the defenders have zero chance to play the ball. It hits the receiver in stride. It’s the most perfect downfield bomb you’ll ever see.

Murray might be the most exciting player I’ve written about on this blog. Seriously. We’ve been going since 2008 and I haven’t seen anyone quite like this. His range of throws, accuracy at every level, sprinters speed to be an X-factor as a runner and his elusiveness are unmatched. I think in the right scheme, he could be even better than Mahomes. His 5-9 and 190lbs frame will be a concern to some. I’m taking the chance.

Would the Arizona job be more attractive if there was an opportunity to work with a talent like this? I think so. And while admittedly it’d take Murray opting to play football instead of baseball — it’s clearly a decision he’s giving a lot of thought. I hope he chooses football. He’s too good, too exciting. I want to see if his game translates — even if he ends up competing in the NFC West against the Seahawks.

This is the first time Arizona has had the first overall pick in a generation. If Murray is available, don’t let the decision to draft Josh Rosen influence your choice. Shoot for greatness. Let them compete. More often than not you need to get the QB position right to win a Super Bowl. To be consistently great you certainly need a winner at QB.

Keep searching until you find the guy.

If the Cardinals aren’t interested — the Giants, Broncos, Dolphins and any other team without a quarterback solution should be picking up the phone about a trade if Murray declares.

He’s the best draft eligible player for 2019.

He’s by far the best draft eligible quarterback.

He’s a potential superstar in the making if he chooses football over baseball.

Playoff predictions

I don’t usually do predictions but thought I would this year ahead of the post-season. We’ll see how many are accurate…

Wildcard round

Indianapolis @ Houston

This will come down to Indy’s blossoming O-line versus the Texans’ fierce pass rush. Andrew Luck is comeback player of the year without any doubt but he’s also prone to a bad turnover (or two). Can Houston impact his play? I think they will.

Winner: Texans

Los Angeles Chargers @ Baltimore

Losing to the Ravens at home during the regular season will be a useful lesson for the Chargers. They can learn from their mistakes and make amends. I think LA’s defense might end up winning this more than the play of Philip Rivers.

Winner: Chargers

Seattle @ Dallas

This is the type of game where I think homefield is the difference maker. The Seahawks have the better coach and better quarterback. But the Cowboys have been on a roll at home. So in a coin-toss type of game, I’ll side with the home team.

Winner: Cowboys

Philadelphia @ Chicago

The Nick Foles story is extremely fun and charming. But the Chicago defense is playing lights out. I think this will be a crushing, physical and comfortable Bears win.

Winner: Bears

Divisional round

Houston @ New England

Another year, another Patriots home game in the playoffs. They’ve beaten Houston already and Tom Brady makes enough plays here to send New England to another AFC Championship game.

Winner: Patriots

Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City

The Chargers stunned the Chiefs during the regular season with a win in Kansas City. This will likely be another highly entertaining, well-contested game. This time, the Chiefs edge it.

Winner: Chiefs

Chicago @ Los Angeles Rams

Great defense vs great offense. Usually in the playoffs the great defense wins through. I just think Aaron Donald will create too many problems for Mitchell Trubisky and the Rams will make enough offensive plays to win.

Winner: Rams

Dallas @ New Orleans

The Saints will be highly motivated to get revenge for their loss in Dallas. They get an emphatic, comfortable win here to progress to the NFC Championship game.

Winner: Saints

Championship games

New England @ Kansas City

Patrick Mahomes puts on a show and the Patriots struggle to keep up. Despite their defensive issues, Kansas City rides homefield advantage and an explosive offense to the Super Bowl.

Winner: Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams @ New Orleans

The last meeting ebbed and flowed throughout and this would likely be another high scoring contest. The Saints are the more complete team with a superior defense. That, plus homefield advantage, proves to be the difference.

Winner: Saints

Super Bowl

Kansas City vs New Orleans

A dream for the NFL as they get a battle between two highly productive and popular quarterbacks, both at opposite ends of their careers. Patrick Mahomes impresses to make it a competitive game for three quarters. Then, at the end, the Saints’ superior defense proves to be the difference.

Winner: Saints

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

Tony Pauline is reporting interest from the Seahawks in cornerback Jamal Lewis. He’s not the only player they might have their eye on from the Mississippi State defense.

This is an interesting group. It starts with Jeffery Simmons at defensive tackle, who we discussed last week. Simmons had the best three plays to start a game I think I’ve ever seen from a defensive tackle in the Outback Bowl.

On the first defensive snap of the game, he was far too quick for the right guard and just exploded through the A-gap to drop the running back for a four-yard loss. On the next play he controlled the right guard at the LOS and the running back, opting to run right at Simmons, sprinted straight into an area with no lane. Then, on third down, Simmons used a swim move to beat the center with ease and hammer the quarterback for a sack.

This game was a collectors item. For most of the year, Simmons had to handle double teams. It limited his ability to make plays as a pass rusher but he still recorded 14.5 TFL’s (and added 2.5 more in this game). It gave us an insight into what he’s capable of facing a consistent 1v1 opportunity.

With 8:53 left in the third quarter, Simmons drove the center into the backfield with a fantastic bull-rush before disengaging and sacking the quarterback. At the start of the fourth quarter he ploughed his way into the backfield and hit the quarterback (at the same time as Montez Sweat, who had a nice rush off the edge too).

Simmons is the real deal. He has a frame comparable to Ndamukong Suh. He has minimal body fat at 6-4 and 300lbs. He’s big, powerful and highly athletic. He controls the LOS as a run defender and has the quickness and explosion to be a playmaker. Issues off the field dating back to High School might put off some teams. If he can convince people he’s a changed man, he’ll likely be a very high pick in the draft.

Safety Johnathan Abram might be the best in a very average looking year for the position. He’s tough, physical and lays a hit. There are some concerns about his athletic limitations and a big combine will be necessary to max out his stock. He had a mixed day in this game.

Early on he had a big tackle for a loss, reading a WR screen and making a nice break on the ball to force a six-yard loss. There were several well timed hits and he helps set the tone on the back-end of the defense.

He also gave up a 75-yard touchdown. Lined up in the slot, Abram was caught staring at the quarterback allowing a receiver to run straight by him. It was a huge, back-breaking blown coverage. As the safety, he must’ve known he didn’t have deep help? What was he doing focusing on the QB and allowing that receiver to get downfield uncovered?

Abram often lines up in this position with the option to blitz. With 13:29 left in the third quarter he was quick enough to get to the quarterback. He met in the backfield with Montez Sweat, who was given the gift of a blocking tight end to beat.

There were other iffy moments. He was flagged on a pass interference call on a deep shot to the left sideline and was beat in a mismatch against tight end T.J. Hockenson, giving up a big 22-yard reception. He made amends with a decent stop on third down on the following drive, to give Mississippi State a shot to win.

Overall he’s a good player but I get the sense Seahawks fans, spoilt by Earl Thomas, want elite play at the position. There’s nobody in this class capable of quenching that desire.

Jamal Peters wasn’t targeted until there was 1:09 left in the first half. On a deep shot to the left, Peters did an excellent job squeezing his receiver to the sideline to take away any opportunity to make a catch in bounds. Great technique. He also made a big special teams stop to start the second half on a kick-off return. Peters limped off the field with 3:39 left in the third quarter but it didn’t look too serious.

Montez Sweat is long, lean and quick. You can imagine the Seahawks liking his frame and style as a potential LEO rusher. He was pretty quiet apart from the plays already mentioned above. It’s difficult to determine his stock. I’ve watched a lot of Mississippi State’s games from 2018. There weren’t any horrible games where he was hammered in the running game. Josh Allen at Kentucky had some of those. You wouldn’t say run defense is a strength for Sweat but he didn’t look like a liability either.

That said, we’re projecting to the NFL here. He looks about 240lbs with a very lean frame. If he’s going to play early downs, he’ll need to convince teams he can be explosive and strong at the point and help set the edge. That’s a big ask at his size. If he gets to the combine having added a few pounds of muscle and tests well in the 10-yard split, vertical and broad jump — it’ll help. At the moment it’s fair to wonder if teams will merely see him as a situational rusher capable of making an impact albeit in limited snaps. The combine is big for him. To his credit, he knows how to use his length and keep his frame clean and he’s a long-strider with great initial quickness.

Whenever you watch Mississippi State, sophomore Willie Gay Jr. makes a big play. He’s one to watch for the future. He had a huge, game-changing interception at 17-6 to Iowa. They quickly scored twice to lead 19-17 (aided by a special teams fumble by Iowa after the first score).

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

Perspective is important. This was an ugly game but let’s just remember a few things, now that the Seahawks have beaten the Cardinals 27-24:

1. When the Seahawks beat the Cardinals in Arizona in week four, Pete Carroll played that game exactly the same as this one. They were facing a rookie quarterback playing behind a bad offensive line. Trust the defense and running game to win it for you. Accept a close game and trust in the process. Seattle did win both games in almost identical fashion. Job done.

2. The Seahawks play a tough, physical brand of offense. It’s very difficult to play at maximum intensity when you know, consciously or sub-consciously, the most important thing today was to avoid injuries.

3. It’s even tougher to play your tough, physical style of offense missing your starting left guard, your starting right guard and your backup right guard. It’s even worse when you have to kick your right tackle, who is returning from injury, into the right guard slot and start a guy who’s been playing tight end at right tackle. That’s a lot to take. So yes, the offensive line was bad today. It’s hardly a surprise.

4. The Cardinals have given Seattle fits for years with creative blitz packages. Throw that into the mix too. But here’s the thing — the Seahawks also recorded six sacks in this game. Both D-lines dominated overmatched O-lines missing key players.

5. It’s better to have a special teams nightmare today than next week. Two blocked punts (one returned for a touchdown) and too many returns. That can’t happen in Dallas. The Seahawks need a clean game in all three phases to beat a Cowboys team that has won a lot of games in the second half of the season and been consistent winners at home.

6. Instead of focusing on the negatives, embrace how well Frank Clark, Jarran Reed and Chris Carson continue to play. Clark is destined for the franchise tag. Reed will almost certainly get a contract extension in the off-season. The new core is emerging to go with the starting O-line, Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner.

7. No major injuries occurred in this game.

8. Give the Cardinals some credit. They didn’t mail it in like a lot of other teams in week 17. Win one for Larry Fitzgerald? For Steve Wilks? For pride? Whatever it was, they came to play on defense. Sometimes it’s easy to forget there’s actually another team playing the game. So while Seahawks Twitter provided the usual in-game running commentary, overreacting to every single negative, maybe just take the win and congratulate the Cardinals for making it a game?

This is a Seattle team that won 10 games and made the post-season against the odds. The offense was highly productive. The defense has been fun. The whole team has entertained us a lot more than they did a year ago. The Seahawks aren’t flawless and they can improve. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss that in the off-season.

For now, it’s onto the playoffs.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

It’s difficult to predict how teams will view Jeffery Simmons.

It’s also a challenging conversation to have.

Simmons was filmed punching a woman as she lay on the floor. The incident occurred in High School.

Rick Cleveland at Mississippi Today notes in this article:

“…three years ago when, between high school and college, Simmons was found guilty of simple assault and malicious mischief for striking a woman repeatedly. If you’ve seen the video, you know: It was ugly.

“Then-Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin, now in the same position at Florida, stood by Simmons amid much criticism. Stricklin talked to community, church and school leaders in Macon. He talked to Simmons. In short, he determined that Simmons was a good kid who had made a terrible mistake.”

Opinions will be mixed on how Simmons should be judged as he prepares to enter the NFL. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to look at this, personally. If you believe he doesn’t deserve a chance in the NFL — or that he at least doesn’t deserve to be a high draft pick — that’s a thoroughly plausible position to take.

Equally, it’s understandable if you see Simmons as a man who has worked to make amends and shouldn’t be judged eternally for one regrettable and horrific act.

Here’s more from Rick Cleveland:

“Simmons has been – and this is no exaggeration – a model student-athlete. He has achieved better than a 3.0 GPA in human development and family science. He has landed on SEC Academic Honor Roll twice. He has participated in all sorts of community service, speaking at camps, schools and serving as a mentor in Macon. He won Mississippi State’s Newsom Award last spring for his work on the field, in the community and the classroom. His is a story of redemption.”

It’s a complex situation. A few weeks ago I didn’t want to discuss Simmons and left him out of my mocks, projections and articles. After studying the situation more, I think that was a wrong position to take. Because there is at least some evidence that Simmons is a changed man. There is evidence that he’s worked to make amends. That doesn’t mean teams will readily draft him (some will, some won’t) but a conversation is at least warranted.

The video above, posted after he made the decision to declare for the NFL Draft, shows a level of maturity that you witness every time Simmons speaks. To listen to his interviews and those of team mates discussing him as a man, you couldn’t have imagined what happened in that video.

On Christmas Eve, Pete Carroll was asked about Frank Clark. The Seahawks took Clark in round two despite the fact he had been dismissed by Michigan following an allegation of domestic violence. It led to several weeks of criticism in the media, with John Schneider and Pete Carroll attempting to justify their decision. They claimed they’d done their homework and investigated the situation. That, for some, wasn’t enough of a justification.

Here’s Carroll’s answer from Monday about giving Clark a chance when others were unwilling to:

“I think it’s more of a philosophical outlook and also a confidence that you can help guys and if you can sense they’ve got the stuff that it takes, then, you know, obviously you take risks sometimes on guys because of their background. But because a guy’s a young guy and he has some challenges or concerns or whatever doesn’t mean that’s who he is or that’s what his life is going to be like. It’s an easy way to kop out on going for it. When you have people who have the potential and you can sense it in them and you get that feeling then it’s a matter of working through it but staying with them and being there for them and giving them the opportunity to do something really special. A lot of times people get labelled and they don’t get an opportunity to do the special things they’re capable of doing and I like to think we’re always looking for those opportunities because once you connect and you attach a guy to what he really can become, some of the greatest stories come out of it. We’ve been witness to those. It’s all about giving a guy a chance.”

When I heard this answer, I immediately thought of Simmons. My own study is admittedly limited. I don’t have access to private investigators or meetings with coaches and team mates like NFL teams do. But you genuinely, honestly, get a sense that Simmons has turned his life around. That there is some potential in him to be great off the field, not just on it.

Carroll’s answer above felt totally applicable to Simmons.

So from now on, I’m going to consider him as an option for the Seahawks and other teams in round one. I will, however, totally respect anyone who disagrees strongly with that thought. I hope others will likewise respect all views in this challenging discussion.

Why would he fit as a player in Seattle?

I’ve watched six Mississippi State games, focusing on Simmons. As noted in previous articles, in all but one game (vs Alabama) he faced near constant double teams. It limited his ability to make plays as a pass rusher. As a consequence, he only had one sack in 2018. However — he often controlled the LOS and handled the two blockers. He’s difficult to move and very capable of planting the anchor to force runs outside.

He also shows a great ability to work down the line with lateral agility to make plays in the running game. At 6-4 and 300lbs he’s very light on his feet and able to shift down the line to stretch plays out, find lanes and attack the ball carrier.

Simmons ended the season with 14.5 TFL’s. That’s how good he was at controlling the LOS and making plays against the run. In comparison, Jachai Polite had 16.5 TFL’s in 2018. Clelin Ferrell had 17 TFL’s. They had 11 and 10.5 sacks respectively. Simmons made a similar amount of TFL’s with nowhere near the sack numbers. That’s highly impressive and indicative of his ability to be a great run defender.

That’s not to say he’s a mere two-down nose tackle. He has a frame similar to Ndamukong Suh. He’s tall and thick but carries minimal bad weight. He also looks a bit like Jonathan Allen in his build. Matched up 1v1 he might be a more dynamic pass rusher at the next level. There certainly won’t be any need to take him off the field on third downs.

A Simmons/Reed duo with Clark rushing the edge would be a terrific looking base D-line (with a possible free agent addition completing the quartet). The Seahawks might prefer to seek out raw speed off the edge and find a way to plug in a veteran defensive tackle (as they’ve often done) but it’s worth remembering how enamoured they were with Malik McDowell in 2017. They wanted a partner for Jarran Reed and someone who could control the LOS and still make plays in the running game. A Calais Campbell type. Simmons has the potential to do that role too.

It’s highly possible that as this process plays out, teams satisfy themselves with Simmons’ character and he leaves the board before Seattle’s pick. If he falls into the 20’s because of the High School incident, I think it’s likely the Seahawks will consider selecting him. And it’s very easy to get excited about a line that includes Simmons, Jarran Reed and Frank Clark.

Generally I think they’ll be big fans of the Mississippi State defense. They’re tough, fast and physical. Tony Pauline is reporting they’re interested in cornerback Jamal Peters. It equally won’t be a surprise if they admire Simmons’ interior ability, Montez Sweat’s raw speed off the edge or the physicality of Johnathan Abram at safety. There are other names too. It’s a good group.

One other quick final note for now — Kyler Murray is #1 overall in this latest mock. Get ready for this to develop into a more common theme as the process plays out, especially if Murray keeps the NFL option open until mid-January. Murray is legit and, for me, the most dynamic and special player eligible for the 2019 draft. If I needed a quarterback I’d be plotting a move to land him. Forget the size. He is a fantastic talent worthy of the top pick — even if you have to trade up.

First round mock draft with trades

#1 Denver trades up to select Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma)
The Broncos have a good team (#12 DVOA) but lack a Championship caliber quarterback. Kyler Murray is a phenomenal talent and if he declares, could end up being the top selection. The Cardinals collect a bounty of picks to move down.

#2 San Francisco — Nick Bosa (DE, Ohio State)
The 49ers, courtesy of the Broncos trade, see Bosa fall right into their laps.

#3 New York Jets — Rashan Gary (DE, Michigan)
The Jets need someone who can work the edge. Gary, the former top recruit in High School, will be highly coveted despite a middling college career.

#4 Oakland — Quinnen Williams (DT, Alabama)
The Raiders try to fill their Khalil Mack void with Alabama’s dynamic one-year wonder.

#5 Miami trades up to select Dwayne Haskins (QB, Ohio State)
With Justin Herbert opting to return to Oregon, the quarterbacks are in short supply. Teams might be aggressive to get the best available.

#6 New York Giants — Clelin Ferrell (DE, Clemson)
Ferrell has great size and length and wins with technique and speed.

#7 Buffalo — Dexter Lawrence (DT, Clemson)
Lawrence is incredible and the PED issue shouldn’t be a problem. He’s huge, athletic and will be a high pick.

#8 Tampa Bay — Devin White (LB, LSU)
Once considered the next Leonard Fournette in High School, White has developed into a terrific linebacker.

#9 Jacksonville — Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson)
Wilkins will excel at the combine and teams will love his personality.

#10 Washington trades up to select Drew Lock (QB, Missouri)
The Redskins have massive guarantees tied to Alex Smith. They need a cheap rookie QB to provide long term security and short-term insurance.

#11 Atlanta — Ed Oliver (DT, Houston)
Oliver is highly talented but what is his NFL fit? He’s too small to be an every-down DT and he lacks the length and size to play the five-tech or DE.

#12 Arizona — Cody Ford (T, Oklahoma)
After trading down with the Broncos, Arizona makes a much needed investment in the O-line.

#13 Philadelphia trades up to select Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)
The Eagles move up to select a player who can anchor their D-line for years to come.

#14 Green Bay — Josh Allen (LB, Kentucky)
Allen is an excellent pass rusher but has issues defending the run, meaning he is scheme specific and needs to operate as a 3-4 OLB.

#15 Detroit — Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
After trading down with the Dolphins, the Lions select a complete defensive tackle. Brown is the real deal.

#16 Houston trades up to select Greedy Williams (CB, LSU)
Williams is overrated but the Texans need a corner and make a bold trade into the top-20.

#17 Cleveland — Marquise Brown (WR, Oklahoma)
Hollywood Brown has the quickness to separate and make plays at every level. Baker Mayfield gets his answer to Antonio Brown — Marquise’s cousin.

#18 Cincinnati — Mack Wilson (LB, Alabama)
After trading down with the Eagles, Cincinnati drafts a replacement for Vontaze Burfict.

#19 Pittsburgh — Devin Bush (LB, Michigan)
Bush has limitations but there are teams in the NFL who need help at linebacker.

#20 Tennessee — Jachai Polite (EDGE, Florida)
If Polite lasts this long it’ll be a steal for the Titans. He beats double teams and plays with a relentless motor.

#21 Minnesota — David Edwards (T, Wisconsin)
Edwards is tough, physical and a consistent force in the running game.

#22 Indianapolis — Zach Allen (DE, Boston College)
The Colts luck-out again with a player who played so well in 2018 and was unblockable at times.

#23 Oakland — Dre’Mont Jones (DT, Ohio State)
If the Raiders seriously want to upgrade their pass rush, Jones can be a real interior force.

#24 Baltimore — D’Andre Walker (LB, Georgia)
The Ravens might lose Terrell Suggs in free agency. Walker is underrated and warrants first round talk.

#25 Seattle — Jeffery Simmons (DT, Mississippi State)
Simmons has done a lot to prove he’s a changed man and I think, it’s possible, that will resonate with teams and he’ll go in round one.

#26 Carolina — Taylor Rapp (S, Washington)
Tony Pauline says the Panthers are focused on the safety position. In this mock the Panthers trade down twice to get into range for their guy.

#27 New England — Jaylon Ferguson (EDGE, Louisiana Tech)
Ferguson needs technical refinement but is loaded with potential and had major college production.

#28 Oakland — Rodney Anderson (RB, Oklahoma)
The injury history is a concern. However, Anderson is a massive talent and could still go early.

#29 LA Chargers — Jerry Tillery (DT, Notre Dame)
Tillery was recruited as a left tackle but has shown to be a dynamic interior defender.

#30 LA Rams — Byron Murphy (CB, Washington)
The best cornerback in the draft falls to the fortunate Rams.

#31 Kansas City — Jabari Zuniga (EDGE, Florida)
The Chiefs might require a replacement for Dee Ford.

#32 Green Bay — Jonah Williams (T, Alabama)
I don’t think he’s a first round prospect.

The trades

#12 Denver moves up to #1 Arizona
The Broncos give up a bounty to go up and get Kyler Murray with the top pick.

#15 Miami moves up to #5 Detroit
With limited quarterback options in this class, the Dolphins also make a big aggressive move to go and get Dwayne Haskins.

#16 Washington moves up to #10 Carolina
Alex Smith faces a difficult recovery from a broken leg but the Redskins are paying him a fortune in guarantees. They move up to draft Drew Lock as cheap insurance. The Panthers are happy to move down and collect picks while getting into range to draft a safety.

#18 Philadelphia moves up to #13 Cincinnati
The Eagles often focus on the trenches in the draft and sense an opportunity here with the highly talented Raekwon Davis still on the board.

#26 Houston moves up to #16 Carolina
The Panthers again move down because they’re in the safety market. The Texans see Greedy Williams drop and decide to move up to get a much needed cornerback.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

I was invited onto the Seahawkers Podcast immediately after the game to record this instant reaction debate. check it out…

This was a significant victory.

Written off by many as a floundering team destined for a top-10 pick, the Seahawks have shown they’re anything but the Titanic.

They’re far from perfect. There are still improvements to be made. Yet here they are, in the playoffs and with another winning season.

Pete Carroll truly does deserve coach of the year recognition.

Look at some of the other long-standing coaches in the league. Look at the peaks and troughs of Sean Payton’s time in New Orleans, Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh or John Harbaugh in Baltimore.

They’ve all won one Super Bowl, just like Carroll. They’ve also had to repair or rebuild a roster. Not completely. They’ve consistently had the same quarterback. But they haven’t maintained a level of consistent winning like Carroll.

Payton, for example, had three consecutive 7-9 seasons before last year. He had four 7-9 seasons in five years, in fact. The Ravens went 5-11, 8-8 and 9-7 before this year. Tomlin, perhaps the most maligned of the three, has faired better. He had a pair of 8-8 seasons surrounded by a heap of wins.

Carroll just keeps winning.

Look at the issues he’s had to deal with too:

— The fallout of that Super Bowl

— Russell Wilson’s ‘injured’ season in 2016

— The complete collapse of the running game in 2017

— A legendary but ageing (and in some cases malcontent) defense being replaced

Despite all of this, it’s been one winning season after another.

That deserves some form of recognition because only Bill Belichick has been able to win with any kind of similar regularity. And the Belichick Patriots have never had to share a division with a team anywhere like the Harbaugh Niners, the Arians’ Cardinals or the McVay Rams.

A lot of credit also has to go to the quarterback. On a highly entertaining night, he watched Patrick Mahomes do what he does. And for a moment in the fourth quarter, this started to feel like the Chiefs/Ravens game from week 14. Baltimore dominated and were on the brink of victory several times. Mahomes refused to be beaten.

Tonight, Russell Wilson was the man refusing to be beaten.

Mahomes is clearly the NFL MVP (in my opinion) and a player who will likely win multiple Super Bowls in a career already destined for greatness, Wilson has already achieved greatness. This was merely the latest example.

The Seahawks officially have earned another winning season. They’re 9-6 with only a home game against the Cardinals to come. They’ll have the chance to decide how long they want to play their starters against an opponent preparing to fire its coach and gain the #1 overall pick in the draft.

Will they treat it as a pseudo-bye week? With so many injuries mounting, we might see a lot of backups next week. Dallas awaits in the Wild Card round.

Some other quick notes…

— Russell Wilson + Doug Baldwin is a combo you dream about when you don’t have them. Any talk of moving on from either is absurd.

— Credit to Mike Solari and the offensive line (again). No Germain Ifedi, J.R. Sweezy leaves the game and D.J. Fluker is nowhere near 100%. They don’t have Jordan Simmons either. They still delivered another huge day in the running game and gave Wilson enough time to work his magic in the second half against some talented pass rushers.

— Akeem King had a fantastic game, mostly lining up against Travis Kelce.

— Why weren’t the Seahawks prepared to pay top dollar for Earl Thomas? Three reasons defensively — Frank Clark, Jarran Reed and Justin Coleman. All at a good age, all played very well again tonight. All needing to be kept or extended this off-season. Seattle doesn’t have as much cap room as you think. Only a couple of teams have fewer players contracted for 2019. They’re going to need to add bodies in free agency with only four draft picks. They absolutely can’t afford to lose a trio of players who are a huge part of the new core. They’re going to need to make every penny count this off-season.

— Sebastian Janikowski has now missed five field goals and three extra points this season. We’re living in an era of football where expecting perfection is unrealistic. Even the leagues established best kicker, Justin Tucker, cost the Ravens a game this season by missing a late extra point. It’s also worth acknowledging that Janikowski hit game-winning kicks against Arizona and Carolina. That said, at the very least they need to re-open the competition in the off-season. They need to find their answer to Robbie Gould. A seasoned veteran, completely consistent. It’d be worth paying a little more money for too. Janikowski can still be that man — but he surely can’t afford to miss any more. Especially in the playoffs.

Merry Christmas to all.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

If you’re not following Tony Pauline’s ‘Draft Analyst’ website & podcast, you should be. Tony is the #1 source for draft info and has accurately named a number of Seahawks draft targets over the years.

Today, he is reporting they are enamoured by Mississippi State cornerback Jamal Peters.

He’s a former four-star prospect who was recruited by Alabama, Auburn and Clemson before opting to stay in Mississippi. He’s listed at 6-2 and 220lbs — so he has the size they look for at cornerback. I haven’t studied his tape but will be taking a long look this evening.

Peters hasn’t been the most productive player with zero interceptions this year and only three in four years in the SEC.

Adding more depth and competition at corner is vital this off-season. Tre Flowers has had an excellent rookie season and Shaquill Griffin has started every game in his second year. If either were to get injured, there would be issues. Seattle is used to having strong depth at corner. That isn’t currently the case.

Pauline says Peters was being discussed as a second round talent in pre-season but is now viewed predominantly as a third rounder. The Seahawks only have picks in rounds one, three, four and five.

It won’t be a major surprise if they target defensive line help in round one and then cornerback competition with their second selection. Peters is definitely a name to remember.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

#1 Arizona — Nick Bosa (DE, Ohio State)
Having drafted a quarterback early a year ago, the Cardinals take Bosa to pair with Chandler Jones.

#2 Oakland — Quinnen Williams (DT, Alabama)
A one-year wonder who’s still a teenager, Williams has emerged as a nailed-on top-five pick.

#3 New York Jets — Rashan Gary (DE, Michigan)
Gary had an underwhelming college career but he was the #1 recruit for a reason and has enormous potential.

#4 TRADE w/SF — Denver — Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma)
The Broncos make a big move from #13 to go and get Murray — arguably the top draft eligible prospect. Fantastic talent.

#5 Jacksonville — Dexter Lawrence (DT, Clemson)
Back in the day, Lawrence was #2 only to Rashan Gary in the recruiting rankings. An exceptional talent worthy of a top grade.

#6 Atlanta — Clelin Ferrell (DE, Clemson)
Ferrell would be a high pick in any draft. He has ideal length and the ability to win with speed or power.

#7 TRADE w/DET — Miami — Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon)
So far I haven’t included Herbert because there’s a feeling he won’t declare. This week he’s in. Miami moves up to get him.

#8 New York Giants — Cody Ford (T, Oklahoma)
Ford has exceptional feet for a man with his size. If nothing else he’ll be a top guard.

#9 Tampa Bay — Devin White (LB, LSU)
A brilliant athlete once touted as the next Leonard Fournette, White switched to defense and never looked back.

#10 Buffalo — Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson)
Ideal three-technique who will test well at the combine and wow teams with his personality.

#11 Green Bay — Josh Allen (EDGE, Kentucky)
Allen could have issues defending the run so a 3-4 scheme suits him best.

#12 TRADE w/CAR — Philadelphia — Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)
The Panthers might look to move down to get into range for a safety. The Eagles could target one of the top defensive linemen.

#13 TRADE w/DEN — San Francisco — Jachai Polite (EDGE, Florida)
Polite was superb this season, beating double teams and playing with relentless effort.

#14 Cincinnati — Ed Oliver (DT, Houston)
The issue for Oliver is size. He’s about 275lbs but lacks the length and style to play defensive end. Is he an every-down defender?

#15 Cleveland — Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
Even this early, Cleveland would be getting a steal with Brown. A complete defensive tackle.

#16 TRADE w/MIA — Detroit — Byron Murphy (CB, Washington)
Murphy is the best draft eligible cornerback. Sudden, aggressive and tough.

#17 Washington — Drew Lock (QB, Missouri)
The Redskins can’t afford to sign another veteran QB because of the huge guarantees due to Alex Smith. So they almost have to draft one if Smith can’t go in 2019.

#18 TRADE w/CAR via PHI — Houston — Greedy Williams (CB, LSU)
The Texans need a corner. With the (somewhat overrated) Greedy Williams still on the board, they move up.

#19 Indianapolis — Jaylon Ferguson (EDGE, Louisiana Tech)
Ferguson is raw and needs refining but there’s talent and potential to work with.

#20 Tennessee — Zach Allen (DE, Boston College)
Allen is big like a five-technique but quick like a defensive end. He had a great 2018 season.

#21 Minnesota — David Edwards (T, Wisconsin)
We’ll see if he declares but teams will like Edwards’ competitive nature and character.

#22 TRADE w/SEA — Oakland — Marquise Brown (WR, Oklahoma)
The Raiders need an offensive playmaker. They move up to land ‘Hollywood’ Brown, the cousin of Antonio.

#23 Baltimore — D’Andre Walker (EDGE, Georgia)
Walker looks like an ideal AFC North defender. Strong, tough, quick and productive.

#24 Pittsburgh — Dre’Mont Jones (DT, Ohio State)
A possible five-technique or interior rush specialist, Jones is slippery and consistently gets into the backfield.

#25 TRADE w/OAK — Seattle — Jabari Zuniga (EDGE, Florida)
Zuniga quietly had a fantastic season and if he tests well at the combine he could sneak into the top-40.

#26 New England — Daniel Jones (QB Duke)
The Patriots have to think about the future and Jones has some of what they like at the position.

#27 Oakland — Damien Harris (RB, Alabama)
Explosive, physical, breakaway speed and great in pass-pro — Harris can be a feature back at the next level.

#28 Kansas City — Jerry Tillery (DT, Notre Dame)
He was recruited as a left tackle but switched to defense. Tillery is tall, long and can create pressure.

#29 TRADE w/HOU — Carolina — Taylor Rapp (S, Washington)
The Panthers reportedly want a safety but none are worth taking early. They can trade back and get Rapp in this range.

#30 LA Rams — Jonah Williams (G, Alabama)
Williams plays tackle but needs to kick inside. He’s overrated but could provide a solid option at guard.

#31 LA Chargers — Greg Little (T, Ole Miss)
Little is a bit stiff at tackle and might need to move inside to guard — just like Jonah Williams.

#32 Green Bay — A.J. Brown (WR, Ole Miss)
Brown can line up in the slot and compete for the ball as an outside receiver. Is he athletic enough to go earlier than this? Debatable.

The trades included…

Denver trades with San Francisco to move from #13 to #4
Miami trades with Detroit to move from #16 to #7
Philadelphia trades with Carolina to move from #18 to #12
Houston trades with Carolina to move from #29 to #18
Oakland trades with Seattle to move from #25 to #22

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!

We can all do with moving on from yesterday, so here’s an updated tier list. Several new names have been added today — including Cody Ford the left tackle at Oklahoma and Iowa tight end Noah Fant.

I re-watched three games to get an angle on Ford and was blown away by his footwork. He’s listed at 6-4 and 338lbs. Despite that, I couldn’t believe how easily he moved as a blindside blocker. He attacks pass rushers with a wonderful set, keeping balanced throughout and quickly getting into position. He never extends too far allowing the inside counter. His size and foot-speed make it incredibly difficult to find a way past him with a conventional 1v1 rush.

In the running game there were multiple examples where he squared up, kept his hands inside and plowed the defender backwards to create space. This is especially useful in the red zone where he often drove the LOS into scoring position on the left side of the line.

He doesn’t have conventional tackle size. We’ll need to see how he measures. In fairness he looks like a big guard — the type Seattle would love to plant at right guard in their current scheme. I don’t see this as much of an issue though. If anything it provides some security. You can try him at left tackle and if it doesn’t work, you’ll likely get a very useful interior lineman with a quality skill set.

I’m not sure I can recall a guy with this size moving with this quickness and balance to get into a pass-pro set. It’s a unique quality he has and in a down year for offensive linemen in round one — there’s no doubt at all Ford has a big opportunity to go in the top-15. Even if he doesn’t look like a conventional tackle and might find a long term home at guard.

Tier 1 — the top of the class

Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma)
Nick Bosa (DE, Ohio State)

There’s no reason to hold back. Kyler Murray might be the best draft eligible player for 2019. He’s an exceptional talent. He’s an accurate passer making a wide range of throws at different levels of the field. He’s a dynamic athlete capable of improvising and breaking off big gains as a runner. He’s one of the most exciting prospects I’ve studied since starting this blog in 2008. If I need a quarterback and I have the #1 pick this year (and he chooses the NFL over baseball) — I consider taking him first overall. That’s no knock on Nick Bosa either. He’s a complete pass rusher with the quickness, power and motor to be every bit as good as his brother Joey. With the Cardinals having the inside track on the #1 pick, Bosa appears likely to be the top selection.

Tier 2 — likely top-10 picks

Quinnen Williams (DT, Alabama)
Rashan Gary (DE, Michigan)
Dexter Lawrence (DT, Clemson)
Clelin Ferrell (DE, Clemson)
Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson)
Ed Oliver (DT, Houston)
Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)

Quinnen Williams has been a dominant force for Alabama but there will be some mild concerns about his age (19) and the fact he’s a one-year wonder. Rashan Gary and Dexter Lawrence wowed High School recruiters and were the #1 and #2 top prospects in the country. One scout for Rivals called them the best defensive tackle duo he’d ever seen in one single class. They’ve long been destined for the pro’s and NFL scouts will love this pair. They will go early. Clelin Ferrell has ideal size and length and would be a high pick in any draft. Christian Wilkins is a phenomenal player with fantastic athleticism, prototype three-tech size, excellent character and technique. Ignore his critics. Ed Oliver is extremely dynamic but there will be some questions asked about his fit at the next level due to his lack of length and size. Raekwon Davis is a monster built like Calais Campbell.

Tier 3 — possible top-15 picks

Devin White (LB, LSU)
Jachai Polite (EDGE, Florida)
Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
Cody Ford (T, Oklahoma)

Devin White was once considered the next Leonard Fournette. He was projected as a running back in High School, then he added a lot of bulk and lost some speed. Recruiters started to project him to full back, believe it or not. Then he slimmed down at LSU and became an elite college linebacker. Jachai Polite’s motor never stops. His effort is incredible. He lacks length and size but he’s extremely quick and aggressive as a pass rusher and has been productive despite facing a number of double teams in 2018. Derrick Brown is a complete defensive tackle. He controls the LOS, shows excellent discipline in the run game and makes an impact as a pass rusher too. Cody Ford looks like a guard but has the footwork and balance to play tackle.

Tier 4 — possible top-20 picks

Zach Allen (DE, Boston College)
Josh Allen (EDGE, Kentucky)
David Edwards (T, Wisconsin)

Zach Allen has been a force all season. He’s big and looks like an interior rusher but still wins with get-off, speed and his hand use and technique is on-point. The combine will be big for him but he has a legitimate chance to secure a place in the top-20. Josh Allen has been a consistently effective pass rusher all season. He’s probably best suited to playing as a pure 3-4 OLB in a scheme like Pittsburgh’s. Georgia had success running right at him and Vanderbilt’s tight end also handled him. Even so, he gets to the QB and makes plays. David Edwards is a pure right tackle but teams will like his attitude, consistency and toughness. We’ll see if he declares as a junior.

Tier 5 — Top-40 talent

D’Andre Walker (LB, Georgia)
Dre’Mont Jones (DT, Ohio State)
Byron Murphy (CB, Washington)
Marquise Brown (WR, Oklahoma)
Damien Harris (RB, Alabama)
Jerry Tillery (DT, Notre Dame)
Rodney Anderson (RB, Oklahoma)
Brian Burns (EDGE, Florida State)

We’ve been saying all season that D’Andre Walker is underrated and it took a big performance against Alabama to finally gain some recognition. Walker is very strong against the run despite his linebacker size. He’s capable of rushing the passer as a defensive end, dropping into space and he always plays with a high intensity. Dre’Mont Jones is slippery and quick and consistently finds his way into the backfield as a pass rusher. Byron Murphy flies to the ball-carrier and looks like a naturally gifted defensive back. He plays cornerback for Washington but I’d love to see him tried at free safety. Marquise Brown is sudden and a fantastic playmaker. He’s Antonio Brown’s cousin. Damien Harris is highly explosive and the complete running back. Jerry Tillery was recruited as a left tackle before switching to defense. He’s as big as Raekwon Davis and provides an alternative later in the top-40. Rodney Anderson will not go early due to injury concerns but in terms of pure talent — he’s right up there. Explosive, great size, tough. An excellent prospect who just needs to stay healthy. Brian Burns had a terrific year and could be listed higher but there are legitimate concerns about his weight (is he really playing in the 220’s?).

Tier 6 — best of the rest

Noah Fant (TE, Iowa)
Kaden Smith (TE, Stanford)
Drew Lock (QB, Missouri)
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (CB/S, Florida)
Jaylon Ferguson (EDGE, Louisiana Tech)
Taylor Rapp (S, Washington)
Jeffery Simmons (DT, Mississippi State)

Noah Fant was under-utilised at Iowa but reportedly jumps a 42-inch vertical and runs a short shuttle of 3.95 seconds. If he manages that at the combine he’ll go in the top-45. Kaden Smith has great agility for his size and has a shot to develop into a complete tight end. Drew Lock could easily be the first quarterback taken and could’ve been a first rounder this year. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson switched to nickel corner from safety in 2018. He’s extremely physical and plays with personality and attitude. He can be boom-or-bust. Jaylon Ferguson had major production in 2018 but plays with raw technique. With a good combine, some teams will believe he’s worth selecting early to develop. Taylor Rapp is athletic with the ability to leave an impression and could be the first safety off the board. Jeffery Simmons didn’t have many splash plays this year but he regularly had to battle double teams and played well against the run.

Still intriguing

Gerald Willis II (DT, Miami)
Jabari Zuniga (EDGE, Florida)
Johnathan Abram (S, Mississippi State)
Christian Miller (LB, Alabama)
Steven Montez (QB, Colorado)
Austin Bryant (EDGE, Clemson)
Benny Snell Jr. (RB, Kentucky)

Gerald Willis will need to explain to teams a bizarre college career that started at Florida, appeared to be going way off the tracks and then ended with a fantastic year of production in Miami. He’s undersized and might be a specialist rusher but he plays with supreme agility and will test well in the short shuttle. Jabari Zuniga doesn’t get as much attention as Jachai Polite but he had a terrific 2018 season and is a good combine away from a big rise. Johnathan Abram is a playmaking safety but there are concerns about his athletic upside. A big combine performance could push him into the top-40. Christian Miller will test well and has developed into a more complete player in 2018. Steven Montez isn’t expected to declare for the draft but if he changes his mind could still provide an intriguing alternative to the big name quarterbacks. Austin Bryant is a pure pass rusher who will make plays in a rotation. Benny Snell ran with toughness and authority all year for Kentucky.

Overrated players (or players who might go earlier than they should)

Greedy Williams (CB, LSU)
Jonah Williams (G, Alabama)
Greg Little (T, Ole Miss)
Deionte Thompson (S, Alabama)
Deandre Baker (CB, Georgia)
Montez Sweat (EDGE, Mississippi State)
A.J. Brown (WR, Ole Miss)
N’Keal Harry (WR, Arizona State)
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (WR, Stanford)
D.K. Metcalf (WR, Ole Miss)
Dwayne Haskins (QB, Ohio State)

Greedy Williams will likely be the first cornerback off the board, possibly in the top-15. However, he still needs a lot of work and shares some of the same issues as Deandre Baker when tracking the ball in the air. Williams has the size and looks the part but might underwhelm at the next level. I think he’s overrated and generally projected too early. Jonah Williams plays left tackle at Alabama but is a pure guard, lacking the length and foot-speed to play outside. He’s best blocking head-on 1v1 and has limitations. I wouldn’t consider him a round one prospect, especially at tackle. Greg Little similarly looks a bit stiff handling the edge and might need to kick inside to guard.

Deionte Thompson is a long, lean safety. He isn’t rangy or particularly fast. He might run in the late 4.5’s or 4.6’s. He’s physical but I don’t understand the first round hype. The Seahawks could view him as a day-three corner convert based on his frame. Deandre Baker lacks size, struggles to track the ball and might not test particularly well at the combine. There are character flags lingering over Montez Sweat according to Tony Pauline and while he’s a capable college pass rusher, he’s very lean and his success might not translate to the next level. A.J. Brown competes for the ball in the air but how athletic is he? Is he just another Laquon Treadwell? N’Keal Harry wins plenty of contested catches and has YAC ability but struggles to separate. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is merely a useful redzone target and jump-ball specialist. He might be a day-three pick. D.K. Metcalf has a ton of potential. However, he has a serious neck injury. He’s declared to set the wheels in motion for a pro-career, rather than spend 2019 sitting out at Ole Miss. His long-term future is still a question mark. He likely just wants to get into the league. I doubt he’s expecting to be drafted early. Dwayne Haskins has talent and production. There were also a lot of easy throws to a long list of highly explosive and athletic playmakers. Personally, I think he’s a day two pick with some potential.

Players I’m still unsure about

Daniel Jones (QB, Duke)
Devin Bush (LB, Michigan)
Jawaan Taylor (T, Florida)

Daniel Jones has shown flashes of quality at Duke and could slip into the 20’s. I need to do more study before confirming that thought. Devin Bush is not bad player at all. However, there are some concerns and I don’t see a first round prospect. Bush was asked to be very aggressive by Michigan. He had two key roles — attack the LOS to try and make plays in the backfield and cover passes to the flat. That’s not his fault but it makes for a difficult evaluation. There wasn’t too much in the way of read-and-react, discipline vs the run and zone coverage. In one game I saw him attack the LOS leaving a simple outside cut for the running back to break off a big gain. He needed to be less aggressive and simply force the runner back inside. He has energy and speed but it’s hard to get a sense for how his game translates to the next level watching Michigan play. Todd McShay included Jawaan Taylor in the top-20 of his first mock draft. I haven’t studied Taylor and intend to in the coming days.

You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.

Become a Patron!