Seahawks Draft Blog

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Leighton Vander Esch is really good

March 10, 2018 /

Open a mock draft over the next few days and you’ll very likely see the Seahawks paired with a defensive player at #18.

Most mocks don’t include trades so it won’t really mean much. The Seahawks are as likely as any team to move down, considering they don’t own picks in rounds 2-3. Even so, the mocks are interesting to read because it’s an outsider view on where the Seahawks are at.

Unfortunately, most will overreact to the Richard Sherman departure. They’ll put a cornerback at #18 despite the fact the Seahawks have a proven record of doing the opposite. They’ve waited until day three for their corners and drafted a profile. The earliest they’ve taken a corner is round three and it’s almost certain they won’t take a corner any earlier this year.

If there’s one position Pete Carroll is comfortable coaching up, it’s corner.

The most likely early pick will be something to help the running game. Pete Carroll has identified this as a major cause for concern. Anyone following the team closely will know how desperate the situation became in 2017. One running touchdown by a back all year. That isn’t Pete Carroll football.

They’re unlikely to just blame this on the O-line too. Having invested so many early picks on the unit, it’ll likely be up to Mike Solari to get more out of the group. They might make some changes but a ‘just one more high pick‘ approach might be unlikely — even if there are some exceptional guard candidates this year (Isaiah Wynn, Will Hernandez etc).

It’s fashionable to play down the importance of the running back position but we’ll see how the Seahawks approach it in April.

If they were going to go defense early (a proposition much more likely if they acquire extra stock in rounds 2-3) it probably wouldn’t be a corner. I’m not sure it’d be a defensive lineman either. There’s isn’t any quite special enough. Nobody with Bruce Irvin’s 4.4 speed or Cliff Avril’s 1.50 split to work the edge. Marcus Davenport didn’t have a bad workout but it wasn’t particularly exciting either.

Bruce Irvin, Frank Clark, Malik McDowell — all freakishly athletic and physical in their own different way. Nobody is particularly unique among this D-line class outside of Bradley Chubb and Vita Vea.

And that’s why both Chubb and Vea will go in the top-10.

So what would the Seahawks do if they wanted to take a defensive player in round one? And what would they look for?

It’d probably have to be a player with cornerstone potential. Someone who can develop into an integral part of the next core. It’d also need to be someone with leadership qualities and eye-catching physical numbers.

Derwin James will be a name that springs to mind. It’s difficult to judge his stock at the moment. He had a terrific combine but that wasn’t unexpected. He’s considered a leader. The only thing holding him back somewhat is position (few teams take a box safety early). Are you getting a major, significant impact if you take him in round one? At Florida State his tape was, in fairness, frequently quite dull. What counters that is the ability of James to develop into a greater playmaker given his testing numbers and the impact he might provide for a young defense breaking in a new identity.

For those reasons, he could interest Seattle.

That said, there might be an even more appealing option.

I spent some time today looking closely at Leighton Vander Esch. It’s high time he earned widespread recognition as a likely top-20 pick.

His first-step quickness at 6-4 and 256lbs is legit. He explodes to the ball and has enough range to play inside or outside linebacker. So often it’s difficult for opponents to get to him — whether it’s a running back covering the blitz or even a lineman. He’s just too quick, too agile:

When he needs to power through a blocker, he can do that too:

We’re talking about a highly athletic, physical and at times violent player. He plays the game bigger and stronger than the opponent and has the attitude and passion on the field you want to see for the position. He loves to fill gaps vs the run, he’ll chase down the ball-carrier from behind and he has a knack for being in the right place due to an instinctive feel for the game.

Last year he had eight TFL’s, three interceptions, four sacks and four forced fumbles. At the next level he’ll be a stat machine and a playmaker.

He ran a 4.65 at the combine which is fine. Not outstanding but fine. Vander Esch more than made up for it elsewhere. He had an outstanding 4.15 short shuttle highlighting his extraordinary quickness for his size. Mike Gesicki was lauded for his short shuttle time (4.10) but Vander Esch is nine pounds heavier.

He showed off his mobility/agility during the drills:

He also managed a 39.5 inch vertical, a 10-4 broad and a 6.88 three-cone.

A man weighing 256lbs shouldn’t be able to move like this covering a pass to the flat (and bonus points for the hit):

This might be my favourite clip. Look at the way he diagnoses the play, works across the line, avoids blockers and executes the tackle. Not to mention the way he stands over the ball-carrier afterwards and gives him a little, ‘enjoy it down there’:

Can he drop into coverage, read the play and make a pick? You bet:

Let’s look at how his testing numbers compare to some of the players already in the league:

Short shuttle

Thomas Davis — 4.01
Von Miller — 4.06
Shaq Thompson — 4.08
Luke Kuechly — 4.12
T.J. Watt — 4.13
Vic Beasley — 4.15
Leighton Vander Esch — 4.15
Sean Lee — 4.16
Khalil Mack — 4.18
Anthony Barr — 4.19
Lavonte David — 4.22
Bobby Wagner — 4.28
Jordan Willis — 4.28
Zach Cunningham — 4.29
Jamie Collins — 4.32
K.J. Wright — 4.35
Haason Reddick — 4.37
Telvin Smith — 4.57

Quicker in the short shuttle than Bobby Wagner and placed nicely between Luke Kuechly, Sean Lee, Khalil Mack and Anthony Barr. He also ran the same time as Vic Beasley.

Three cone

Von Miller — 6.70
Tyus Bowser — 6.75
T.J. Watt — 6.79
Anthony Barr — 6.82
Jordan Willis — 6.85
Leighton Vander Esch — 6.88
Sean Lee — 6.89
Vic Beasley — 6.91
Luke Kuechly — 6.92
Shaq Thompson — 6.99
Haason Reddick — 7.01
Zach Cunningham — 7.03
Telvin Smith — 7.04
Khalil Mack — 7.08
Jamie Collins — 7.10
Thomas Davis — 7.10
Bobby Wagner — 7.10
K.J. Wright — 7.21
Lavonte David — 7.28

Again, this is impressive company. This time he’s quicker than lee and Kuechly (but ran a comparable time) and was considerably quicker than Mack, Wagner and Telvin Smith.

Vertical jump

Jamie Collins — 41.5
Vic Beasley — 41
Khalil Mack — 40
Leighton Vander Esch — 39.5
Bobby Wagner — 39.5
Jordan Willis — 39
Luke Kuechly — 38
Tyus Bowser — 37.5
Sean Lee — 37.5
Von Miller — 37
T.J. Watt — 37
Lavonte David — 36.5
Thomas Davis — 36.5
Haason Reddick — 36.5
Zach Cunningham — 35
Anthony Barr — 34.5
K.J. Wright — 34
Shaq Thompson — 33.5
Telvin Smith — 31.5

It’s never a bad thing to be as explosive in the vertical jump as Bobby Wagner (despite carrying an extra 15lbs in weight). Vander Esch is again nicely placed near Mack and above Kuechly, Lee and even Von Miller.

Broad jump

Jamie Collins — 11-7
Haason Reddick — 11-1
Bobby Wagner — 11-0
Vic Beasley — 10-10
Khalil Mack — 10-8
T.J. Watt — 10-8
Tyus Bowser — 10-6
Von Miller — 10-6
Anthony Barr — 10-5
Zach Cunningham — 10-5
Jordan Willis — 10-5
Leighton Vander Esch — 10-4
Luke Kuechly — 10-3
Sean Lee — 10-0
K.J. Wright — 10-0
Lavonte David — 9-11
Telvin Smith — 9-11
Shaq Thompson — 9-9
Thomas Davis — 9-7

Vander Esch didn’t perform as well as Wagner and Mack here but he’s in the same range as Barr, Kuechly and Lee.

Forty yard dash

Bobby Wagner — 4.46
Haason Reddick — 4.52
Telvin Smith — 4.52
Vic Beasley — 4.53
Von Miller — 4.53
Jordan Willis — 4.53
Luke Kuechly — 4.58
Thomas Davis — 4.60
Sean Lee — 4.60
Jamie Collins — 4.64
Shaq Thompson — 4.64
Tyus Bowser — 4.65
Lavonte David — 4.65
Khalil Mack — 4.65
Leighton Vander Esch — 4.65
Anthony Barr — 4.66
Zach Cunningham — 4.67
T.J. Watt — 4.69
K.J. Wright — 4.71

Even in the forty yard dash — his time didn’t initially stand out but it’s as quick as Mack and and Barr and in a similar range to Kuechly and Lee.

This isn’t a draft class loaded with legit first round graded players. It’s still easy to look at certain prospects and imagine star-quality. Saquon Barkley obviously has it. I think Ronald Jones II has it too. Bradley Chubb, Vita Vea, Quenton Nelson, Tremaine Edmunds. At least a couple of the quarterbacks could become big names in the league and I wouldn’t rule out Derwin James having an excellent career too.

It’s possible a decent number from this class could become top players in the league.

Vander Esch also has that kind of feel.

He can learn to shed better but he has the arm length (34 inches) to improve there. If he plays outside it won’t be as much of an issue (he played inside for Boise State).

I think you’re talking about a player who will fly to the ball, play fast and raise the intensity level of your defense. You can trust him to play the run and pass, he’ll be instinctive and he won’t just be a tackle collector. He will make plays, force turnovers and impact games.

I’m not sure whether the Seahawks will contemplate drafting him given their needs in the running game. He could end up in Oakland, Washington or Green Bay inside the top-15. It’s not improbable.

As Seattle begins a new chapter on defense, you can’t necessarily pick and choose where your blue-chip players will come. Vander Esch would be a temporary SAM and possibly a long term WILL. If they had their full compliment of picks, Vander Esch might be able to give them the type of attitude and talent they require as they turn over a new leaf.

He might not end up in navy blue but he’s still a player worthy of a high projection this year.

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Seahawks seven round mock draft

March 9, 2018 /

The projection

R1/2 — Running back (one of Ronald Jones II, Nick Chubb or Kerryon Johnson)
R3 — Dalton Schultz (TE, Stanford)
R4 — Leon Jacobs (LB, Wisconsin)
R5 — Tyquan Lewis (DE, Ohio State)
R5 — Tre Flowers (DB, Oklahoma State)
R5 — Dorian O’Daniel (LB, Clemson)
R5 — Jordan Thomas (CB, Oklahoma)
R7 — Natrell Jamerson (S, Wisconsin)
R7 — Chase Edmonds (RB, Fordham)

Round one — #18
Trade down

It feels inevitable the Seahawks will trade down. The value in this draft will come in rounds 2-3. With no pick currently in either round, Seattle is highly likely to try and acquire some stock in that range. They could trade down into the late first or early second. What can they get in return? The only precedent we have is the 2013 trade between Dallas and San Francisco. The Niners moved from #31 to #18 and gave up a relatively early third round pick.

First pick — R1/2
Running back

Many fans will want the Seahawks to consider adding an O-liner here. It’s a very valid position to take. This is an extremely good class for interior offensive lineman. We’ve talked a lot recently about the possibility of Isaiah Wynn or Will Hernandez. Both players could be a consideration.

However, if the Seahawks retain Earl Thomas and don’t add extra picks in the second or third round, they’ll be limited. Having already spent a bounty of high draft picks on Duane Brown, Ethan Pocic, Germain Ifedi, Justin Britt and Rees Odhiambo, they might feel it’s time to invest in a different area of the team. They’re also creating the kind of cap room that could enable them to sign a veteran in free agency.

‘Getting by’ at running back hasn’t worked for two straight years. For all the talk about ‘finding running backs anywhere’, Seattle’s collection of mid/late round picks, UDFA’s and free agents haven’t brought about a solution. They were at their best when they had a consistent, physical, reliable running back with exceptional skill. It’s time to find another and this is the draft class to do it.

With their first pick in this seven round projection, the Seahawks select one of Ronald Jones II, Kerryon Johnson or Nick Chubb.

Round three — acquired via trading down in round one
Dalton Schultz (TE, Stanford)

The Seahawks need to address the tight end position at some stage, possibly with a rookie and a free agent. Jimmy Graham is on the way out and Luke Willson is also hitting the market. They could re-sign Willson or another veteran. That could be a blocking TE like Virgil Green or Niles Paul. It’s also quite possible they will spend a high pick on the position.

Schultz’s main responsibility at Stanford was to block. He frequently opened up lanes for Bryce Love and was a major factor in the running game. The Seahawks need someone who can be a factor as a blocker and make the occasional chain-moving catch.

Zach Miller did this job superbly and Schultz had a very similar combine:

Zach Miller
Height: 6-4
Weight: 256
Arm length: 32
Hand size: 10
Forty: 4.86
Vertical: 34
Broad: 9-7
Bench: 16 (pro day)
Short shuttle: 4.42
Three cone: 7.01

Dalton Schultz
Height: 6-5
Weight: 244
Arm length: 31 1/4
Hand size: 9.5
Forty: 4.75
Vertical: DNP
Broad: 10-0
Bench: 15
Short shuttle: 4.40
Three cone: 7.00

They’re particularly similar in the short shuttle and three cone plus their explosive testing and size/length are similar. Schultz was quite a bit quicker in the forty.

Round four
Leon Jacobs (LB, Wisconsin)

The Seahawks love speed at linebacker. Jacobs was one of the few to run particularly well at the combine, recording a superb 4.48 at 6-1 and 246lbs. He also jumped a 34.5 inch vertical and managed a 10-2 broad jump. He’s explosive and fast and also has good length (33.5 inch arms). Jacobs put up 26 reps on the bench press (second only to Malik Jefferson among linebackers). His short shuttle time (4.44) was similar to K.J. Wright’s (4.46). After re-watching some Wisconsin yesterday, Jacobs plays with real intensity. He’s a hitter with good closing speed and he can offer some value as a pass rusher. He could be an option to play strongside linebacker.

Round five
Defense time

This isn’t a bad round to own four picks. There will be some value on defense in this range. The four players I’m projecting are Tyquan Lewis (DE, Ohio State), Tre Flowers (DB, Oklahoma State), Dorian O’Daniel (LB, Clemson) and Jordan Thomas (CB, Oklahoma).

Tyquan Lewis had an explosive workout at the combine (35.5 inch vertical, 10-2 broad jump) and has the ideal size to play inside/out (6-3, 270lbs). He also has 34 inch arms. Lewis had a strong Senior Bowl and is a mature, well spoken individual. He could develop quickly into a strong voice on the team.

Tre Flowers competed as a safety at the combine but looks every bit a cornerback. He’s 6-3 and 200lbs with 34 inch arms. He ran a 4.45 forty and managed a 34.5 inch vertical and a 10-2 broad. He’s long and lean and as soon as he started working out in Indianapolis, he just looked like a Seahawks cornerback project.

Dorian O’Daniel is a skull collector on special teams. He’s not the biggest (6-0, 223lbs) or the fastest (4.61) but he ran an excellent 4.07 short shuttle and a 6.64 three cone. These short area tests are vital for linebackers (highlighted here) and O’Daniel found a way to make plays for Clemson in 2017 (11.5 TFL’s, two interceptions, two touchdowns).

Jordan Thomas is 6-0 and 187lbs and has 32 inch arms. He only ran a 4.64 forty but he became only the fifth player since 2010 to run a sub-four second short shuttle (3.94) with 32 inch arms (joining Kevin King, Byron Jones, Tye Smith and DeAndre Elliott). His short shuttle (6.28) is the fastest in 10 years at the combine by an enormous 0.16 seconds. Thomas has some issues but there’s a lot to work with here.

Round seven
Natrell Jamerson (S, Wisconsin) & Chase Edmonds (RB, Fordham)

Wisconsin’s Natrell Jamerson is another fantastic special teams player. Seattle’s special teams wasn’t good enough last year for many reasons and I’ve deliberately looked for players who excelled in that area. Jamerson can return kicks and is an excellent gunner. He had 20 special teams tackles on kickoff coverage. He’s also rangy, running a 4.40 at 5-10 and 201lbs. Jamerson added an impressive 25 reps on the bench press (pretty incredible at his weight) plus a 35.5 inch vertical and 10-0 broad.

Yesterday Tony Pauline reported the Seahawks sent a number of people to watch Chase Edmonds perform at his pro day:

Fordham running back Chase Edmonds stood on most of his combine numbers but looked terrific in position drills, especially catching the ball, for the 18 teams who were on hand. Edmonds ran more than a dozen routes coming out of the backfield as well as lining up as a receiver. He did re-run the 3 cone (6.89s) and short shuttle (4.00s).

The Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons sent multiple people to watch Edmonds’ workout and the running back spent time with the New York Jets, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans.

Edmonds is smaller than they’ve drafted previously (5-9, 205lbs) but he’s also reasonably explosive (34 inch vertical, 10-2 broad). It could indicate they are looking for a complimentary back of this size. For what it’s worth, Ronald Jones II is also 205lbs. Perhaps if they don’t get Jones II they’ll look for a similar runner?

No offensive linemen!?!
If it doesn’t happen early, it might not happen. At the end of the day, they have a collection of highly drafted linemen already. Unless they’re planning major changes to the line, they might be looking to fill one or two spots only. And they might want a more veteran-influenced O-line. So it’s possible they address this next week and focus on other areas. It’s not necessarily what I would do — but they’re limited with their solitary early pick.

What else could it mean for free agency?

— If they plan to draft Ronald Jones II, potentially they could pair him with a bigger veteran like Carlos Hyde or Jonathan Stewart.

— Re-sign Bradley McDougald or consider adding Eric Reid.

— Sign a receiver (Marqise Lee?) and a veteran tight end (or re-sign Luke Willson). They might add a big target too.

— Find some veteran D-line options. With the freed cap room they might be able to retain Sheldon Richardson but they might prefer the 2019 comp pick. Luckily this is one area where they have a proven track record (Clemons, Bennett, Avril, Clark, Jordan). If Ndamukong Suh is cut, would the Seahawks look at him? It wouldn’t cost a comp pick.

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A deeper look into the combine numbers

March 8, 2018 /

Jordan Thomas has freaky agility

Since 2010, only five cornerbacks with 32 inch arms (Seattle’s prototype) have managed a sub-4.00 short shuttle:

2018 — Jordan Thomas (3.94)
2017 — Kevin King (3.89)
2016 — DeAndre Elliott (3.94)
2015 — Byron Jones (3.94), Tye Smith (3.96)
2010-2014 — No qualifiers

Thomas is the new name on a select list that includes two players Seattle eventually added (Elliott & Smith).

He also ran a 6.28 three cone. That is 0.16 seconds faster than anyone else in the last 10 years of the combine:

Jordan Thomas (2018) — 6.28
Buster Skrine (2011) — 6.44
Chykie Brown — 6.50
Grant Haley (2018) — 6.51
Avonte Maddox (2018) — 6.51
Will Davis (2013) — 6.52
Shiloh Keo (2011) — 6.55
Josh Robinson (2012) — 6.55
Kevin King (2017) — 6.56
Terrance Mitchell (2014) – 6.57
Patrick Peterson (2011) – 6.58
Curtis Brown (2011) — 6.59
Terrence Frederick (2012) — 6.59
Malcolm Jenkins (2009) — 6.59
Coty Sensabaugh (2012) — 6.60

That’s quite an achievement for Thomas. He’s not just quicker than the rest of the field, he’s considerably quicker.

On top of this, Thomas had a 38 inch vertical and a 10-4 broad jump.

The downside is he’s only 6-0 and 187lbs so he’s not the biggest but he does have 32 inch arms and a 77 6/8 inch wingspan. An average NFL cornerback has 31.5 inch arms and a 75.5 inch wingspan.

According to his NFL.com bio, Thomas is “known by scouts as an ‘over-thinker’ who has bouts of low confidence”. He’s also said to be an inconsistent tackler.

Neither aspect is particularly Seahawky. However, his athletic testing and length might interest the team late in the draft.

Running backs also excel in the short shuttle

Saquon Barkley is known for his low centre of gravity and ability to change direction quickly with explosive power and agility. He ran a 4.24 short shuttle. Nick Chubb ran a 4.25 and Kerryon Johnson a 4.29. Pretty similar times.

Without doubt Barkley is quicker and much more sudden than Chubb or Johnson but it was interesting to see how they compared in the short shuttle. They were all similarly explosive too with comparable vertical jumps.

If speed matters, is this guy an option?

Leon Jacobs, a linebacker from Wisconsin, had a quietly excellent combine. At 6-1 and 246lbs he ran a 4.48, jumped a 34.5 inch vertical and managed a 10-2 broad jump. He’s explosive and fast and also has good length (33.5 inch arms). Jacobs also put up 26 reps on the bench press (second only to Malik Jefferson among linebackers).

His short shuttle wasn’t too bad either. He ran a 4.44 — a time that compares favourably to K.J. Wright’s 4.46. If the Seahawks want speed in the front seven, Jacobs could be an option as a late-round SAM/LEO.

How quick was the safety class?

Eight players ran a 4.4 or faster at the 2018 combine. How does that compare to previous years?

2018 — 8
2017 — 5
2016 — 2
2015 — 3
2014 — 4
2013 — 3
2012 — 0
2011 — 0

At the 2011 combine the two fastest safety’s were Jeron Johnson (4.53) and Mark LeGree (4.56) — both acquired by the Seahawks.

This is the fastest group of safety’s in draft history. It’s perhaps indicative of the way college football and the NFL is going. It’ll be a surprise if the Seahawks don’t tap into the supply at some point.

Big receiver has a big day

Courtland Sutton (6-3, 218lbs) ran a faster short shuttle (4.11) than 5-10, 180lbs Keke Coutee (4.15). Coutee was quicker in the forty (4.43 vs 4.54) but in terms of agility and change of direction, that’s a nice comparison for Courtland Sutton. Essentially he’s as quick-footed as a much smaller back and he was more explosive in the vertical and broad. Sutton also managed the 11th best three-cone time by a receiver in the last 10 years.

Lauletta and Gesicki stand out

Here are the top-15 performers in the short shuttle at the 2018 combine. It’s a weird group. I’ve included position and weight in brackets:

Grant Haley (CB, 5-9, 190) — 3.94
Jordan Thomas (CB, 6-0, 187) — 3.94
Jaire Alexander (CB, 5-10, 196) — 3.98
Avonte Maddox (CB, 5-9, 184) — 4.00
Troy Akpe (S, 6-1, 200) — 4.01
Dylan Cantrell (WR, 6-2, 226) — 4.03
Josh Jackson (CB, 6-0, 196 — 4.03
J’Mon Moore (WR, 6-2, 205) — 4.04
Andre Chachere (CB, 5-11, 197) — 4.07
Chase Edmonds (RB, 5-9, 205) — 4.07
Justin Jackson (RB, 6-0, 193) — 4.07
Kyle Lauletta (QB, 6-2, 222) — 4.07
D.J. Moore (WR, 6-0, 210) — 4.07
Dorian O’Daniel (LB, 6-0, 223) — 4.07
Mike Gesicki (TE, 6-5, 247) — 4.10

Kyle Lauretta of all people is the one mixing it with nimble, smaller running backs and cornerbacks. The list also highlights Mike Gesicki’s freaky athleticism. He’s 21lbs heavier than the next biggest player on the list (Dyan Cantrell).

How important is the vertical and broad for running backs?

Here are some of the notable testers over the years:

David Johnson — 41.5 vertical, 10-7 broad
Christian McCaffrey — 37.5 vertical, 10-1 broad
Kareem Hunt — 36.5 vertical, 9-11 broad
Alvin Kamara — 39.5 vertical, 10-11 broad
Jay Ajayi — 39 vertical, 10-1 broad
Jordan Howard — 34 vertical, 10-2 broad
Melvin Gordon — 35 vertical, 10-6 broad
Jerick McKinnon — 40.5 vertical, 11-0 broad
DeMarco Murray — 34 vertical, 10-4 broad
Adrian Peterson — 38.5 vertical, 10-7 broad
Jonathan Stewart — 36.5 vertical, 10-8 broad

The historical average for a RB at the combine is:

Vertical: 35 inches
Broad: 9-11

As we can see, many of the top runners in the league exceeded the league average in both tests. There are recent exceptions though:

Ezekiel Elliott — 32.5 vertical, 9-10 broad
Leonard Fournette — 28.5 vertical, DNP
Le’Veon Bell — 31.5 vertical, 9-10 broad
Mark Ingram — 31.5 vertical, 9-10 broad

LeSean McCoy and Todd Gurley didn’t work out at the combine.

Here are some of Seattle’s notable running backs and how they tested:

Marshawn Lynch — 35.5 vertical, 10-5 broad
Chris Carson —37 vertical, 10-10 broad
C.J. Prosise — 35.5 vertical, 10-1 broad
Thomas Rawls — 35.5 vertical, 9-8 broad
Christine Michael — 43 vertical, 10-5 broad
Robert Turbin — 36 vertical, 10-2 broad

And here’s a reminder of some of the big names from the 2018 combine:

Saquon Barkley — 41 vertical, DNP
Ronald Jones II — 36.5 vertical, DNP
Nick Chubb — 38.5 vertical, 10-8 broad
Kerryon Johnson — 40 vertical, 10-6 broad
Sony Michel — DNP, DNP
Derrius Guice — 31.5 vertical, DNP
Rashaad Penny — 32.5 vertical, 10-0 broad
Royce Freeman — 34 vertical, 9-10
John Kelly — 35 vertical, 10-0 broad
Bo Scarborough — 40 vertical, 10-9 broad

How do the vertical jumps stack up?

Here are the top-15 testers this year:

Terrell Edmunds — 41.5
Mike Gesicki — 41.5
Joshua Kalu — 41.5
Matthew Thomas — 41.5
Troy Akpe — 41
Saquon Barkley — 41
Siran Neal — 40.5
Chandon Sullivan — 40.5
D.J. Chark — 40
Derwin James — 40
Kerryon Johnson — 40
Bo Scarborough — 40
Oren Burks — 39.5
D.J. Moore — 39.5
Josh Sweat — 39.5

Now here are the top three jumps from the last three years:

2017

Obi Melifonwu — 44
Speedy Noil — 43.5
Marcus Williams — 43.5

2016

Daniel Lasco — 41.5
Jalen Ramsey — 41.5
Josh Doctson — 41
DeAndre Elliott — 41
Dadi Nicolas — 41
Sterling Shephard — 41

2015

Chris Conley — 45
Byron Jones — 44.5
Ameer Abdullah — 42.5
Davis Tull — 42.5

Denzel Ward is rising for a reason

And it’s not just because this is an ugly looking cornerback class overall. Aside from running an excellent 4.32 and jumping a 39 inch vertical, Ward also managed an astonishing 11-4 broad jump.

Only five players have achieved a superior jump in the last ten years:

Byron Jones — 12-3
Obi Melifonwu — 11-9
Jamie Collins — 11-7
Chris Conley — 11-7
Bud Dupree — 11-6

Ward’s effort is identical to Julio Jones’ 11-4 and an inch longer than Jalen Ramsey’s 11-3. Clearly he’s a highly explosive and sudden athlete. He appears destined to be taken very early in round one.

Jaire Alexander also rising?

He’s started to appear in the first round of a few high profile mock drafts. It’s absolutely fair. Alexander was one of the very few cornerbacks to come out of the combine drills with any credit. He looked incredibly smooth, sudden and focused. It’s not a stretch at all to think he’s the second best corner in this class.

He also tested exceptionally well at the combine. He ran a 4.38, jumped a 35 inch vertical and a 10-7 broad. His best feat was possibly a sub-4.00 short shuttle (3.98). Alexander doesn’t fit Seattle (5-10, 196lbs, 31 inch arms) but he’ll certainly interest other teams.

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Seahawks trade Bennett, Sherman next?

March 7, 2018 /

The end of an era is forthcoming.

Michael Bennett is being traded to the Eagles. Richard Sherman has reportedly ‘said goodbye’ to team mates. With Cliff Avril and Kam Chancellor unlikely to play for the Seahawks again too, a legendary defense is moving on.

And none of this should be a surprise.

Michael Silver called this weeks ago. Following the 42-7 blowout against the Rams, Silver (who was in Seattle for the game) reported a very detailed breakdown of what was going to happen in the off-season.

“…reality bites — and next year, in all likelihood, the Seahawks will look very, very different. It’s something the front office has refrained from referring to as a rebuild, instead preferring the word transition. Yet given the Seahawks’ salary-cap situation (the team is currently pressed up against the spending limit) and the wear and tear on so many of their defensive stalwarts, big changes could indeed be coming, including a death blow to the Legion of Boom.

“Of the four Pro Bowl defenders who missed Sunday’s game, only outside linebacker K.J. Wright is likely to return in 2018. Safety Kam Chancellor’s season-ending neck injury, suffered last month, could be career-threatening; if he does try to keep playing, it likely wouldn’t be in Seattle.

“Fellow Legion of Boom stalwart Sherman, who tore his Achilles tendon in November, will be 30 next spring and is due to make $11 million (with a $13.2 million salary-cap number). The Seahawks shopped him in trades a year ago and are expected to move forward without him in 2018.

“Avril, who turns 32 in April, suffered a season-ending neck and spinal injury in early October which may end his career; either way, his time in Seattle is probably done. Improbable as it sounds, it’s possible the Seahawks would also move on from another accomplished defensive end: 32-year-old Michael Bennett, a versatile player who signed a three-year, $31.5-million contract extension last Dec. 30.”

This wasn’t hearsay or a hunch. It was clarity.

So why is this happening? Here’s my best guess:

1. The Seahawks need to get cheaper on defense. As noted in early January, they spent $93,714,666 on their defense last season, more than any team in the NFL. The split between offense and defense was 36.37% vs 55.98%.

Of the 12 biggest cap hits on the roster, nine were defensive players. The three offensive players were Russell Wilson, Jimmy Graham and Luke Joeckel. Graham and Joeckel are both free agents.

There needs to be more balance in the spending. It’s probably no surprise that while there’s been this huge difference in offensive vs defensive spending, the running game has collapsed and the offensive line continues to struggle.

2. As we’ve talked about a lot during this crucial off-season, some of these moves are not being made for 2018 financial gain. Many talked about the likelihood of Michael Bennett staying in Seattle because the potential saving this year was minimal. This was never really the point.

By trading Bennett now, the saving in 2019 is much more significant. And at the end of the day, Pete Carroll’s mantra is ‘win forever’ not ‘win for one more year’. Especially when the likelihood is Seattle wouldn’t be a top contender in 2018. Those days, sadly, seemed to have passed. The 2017 season wasn’t a mirage.

Now they can accelerate the churn. They will always be competitive with players like Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright on the roster. Wilson is one of the very best players in the league, let alone quarterbacks. The Seahawks might not be a top-10 favourite for the Super Bowl in 2018 and, realistically, probably won’t win it.

But by 2019 and 2020, they might be back at the top. It didn’t take the Philadelphia Eagles or Atlanta Falcons very long to change their fortunes, after all. Both of those teams reloaded with an injection of youth at key positions. Seattle can do the same.

3. The Seahawks need to get younger. Former writer for this blog Kip Earlywine recently suggested during a conversation that we might be experiencing a repeat of Pete Carroll’s time with the Patriots. An older, veteran locker room where the message didn’t quite resonate. Carroll has enjoyed incredible success working with younger players at USC and predominantly younger players in Seattle. Perhaps the message of competition, buying in and playing fast requires an element of youth?

Here’s a quote from Richard Sherman from December 2016:

“It’s always Pete. It’s always Pete,” he said. “We going into the Kumbaya meeting room and sit there and, ‘Kumbaya.’

“They are effective. It’s a different element for the younger guys. Older guys, we kind of see it every year, so the younger guys, give them something different.”

At the time it sounded like Sherman was being dismissive of the type of meeting that might’ve resonated when he was an outspoken young corner blazing a trail during his second season in the league.

It’s immensely difficult to keep a core group of players for such a long time. It’s a challenge to keep winning and keep the message fresh. There’s a reason why the Patriots consistently churn and work around the two focal points (QB and HC).

4. Injuries destroyed the team last year. Not just the players missing games — the sheer number of players on the injury report or not practising. It’s very difficult to preach ‘always compete’ when what you’re really doing is ‘always managing the health of the roster’. Age plays a part in this. Seattle acquired a bunch of warriors who gave everything for this team. After nearly a decade together, it’s no surprise the injuries started to stack up.

Those are just my initial thoughts. Whatever the reasons, one thing is clear. This defense, along with Marshawn Lynch, gave Seahawks fans an era of football we could only dream about. What a journey. I’ll never forget the growth in 2012, the march to a Championship in 2013, the ‘tip’, the comeback against Green Bay, the agony of that New England Super Bowl loss.

From a personal point of view, all of this happened at a time in my life when I got married (2010) and had two kids (2013 & 2017). I’ll never forget the amazing comeback in 2013 against Houston. My son was born and I didn’t think anything could make that day any more perfect. As Richard Sherman returned that pick six and eventually Steven Hauschka kicked the winning Field Goal, I thought to myself, ‘now I know this is the best day of my life’.

What a ride it has been. We’ll likely never experience anything like it again. And we should all be eternally grateful for experiencing this amazing run.

Meanwhile Ian Rapoport is also reporting the Seahawks are meeting with Brian Cushing today.

I’m going to push everything back a day in terms of the blog. I’ll still do the Google Hangout later at about 3:30pm PST. The piece on the combine details we haven’t discussed will be published tomorrow and the Seahawks seven round mock will wait to Friday. After all, they might have some more picks by then.

As things stand they have this haul: 1, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7

Live Google Hangout at 3:30pm PST

March 7, 2018 /

If you have any questions for the Q&A, post them in the comments section. I’ll be uploading a new article later today and the video will appear at the top of the piece so you can listen live or later in the day.

Got some very interesting info to share in the Hangout.

I’ve also got two articles ready to roll for this week. A seven-round Seahawks mock draft (two scenarios, likely posted Thursday) and some details from the combine that haven’t been touched on so far.

Plus don’t forget to check out the new mock draft (click here) and the latest podcast appearance (below):

Updated first round mock draft: Post-combine

March 6, 2018 /

Before we get started, I was invited onto the Field Gulls podcast yesterday to discuss the combine. Check it out below. Plus if you missed it over the weekend, don’t forget to listen to the Seahawkers Podcast appearance from Sunday (click here).

Two quick notes before we get into the mock…

— This draft is going to provide much better value in rounds 2-3 than it is in round one. I’m using this projection to emphasise this. I suspect teams will be happy to trade out of the back-end of round one and might be willing to take relatively cheap deals to do so.

— The Seahawks trade down from #18 here and take an offensive linemen. However, this is on the basis they manage to accumulate extra picks in rounds 2-3. There are mixed reports doing the rounds. Jason La Canfora recently said he expects Earl Thomas to be traded, while Ian Rapoport is saying Thomas is staying in Seattle. If the Seahawks don’t trade Thomas (their only realistic chance to gain extra picks in rounds 2-3) I think it’s much more likely their first pick will end up being a running back, either in the late first round or early second round.

Updated first round mock draft

This mock draft contains several trades.

#1 Cleveland — Saquon Barkley (RB, Penn State)
#2 Cleveland (trade w/NYG) — Josh Allen (QB, Wyoming)
#3 Buffalo (trade w/Ind) — Sam Darnold (QB, USC)
#4 NY Giants (trade w/Cle, via Hou) — Quenton Nelson (G, Notre Dame)
#5 Arizona (trade w/Den) — Josh Rosen (QB, UCLA)
#6 NY Jets — Bradley Chubb (EDGE, NC State)
#7 Tampa Bay — Vita Vea (DT, Washington)
#8 Miami (trade w/Chi) — Baker Mayfield (QB, Oklahoma)
#9 San Francisco — Tremaine Edmunds (LB, Virginia Tech)
#10 Oakland — Denzel Ward (CB, Ohio State)
#11 Chicago (trade w/Mia) — Calvin Ridley (WR, Alabama)
#12 Cincinnati — Minkah Fitzpatrick (S, Alabama)
#13 Washington — Da’Ron Payne (DT, Alabama)
#14 Green Bay — Marcus Davenport (DE, UTSA)
#15 Denver (trade w/Ari) — Leighton Vander Esch (LB, Boise State)
#16 LA Rams (trade w/Bal) — Derwin James (S, Florida State)
#17 LA Chargers — Lamar Jackson (QB, Louisville)
#18 Atlanta (trade w/Sea) — Maurice Hurst (DT, Michigan)
#19 Dallas — Roquan Smith (LB, Georgia)
#20 Detroit — Rashaan Evans (LB, Alabama)
#21 Indianapolis (trade w/Buf) — Ronald Jones II (RB, USC)
#22 Indianapolis (trade w/Buf, via KC) — Mike McGlinchey (T, Notre Dame)
#23 Baltimore (trade w/LAR) — D.J. Moore (WR, Maryland)
#24 Carolina — Justin Reid (S, Stanford)
#25 NY Giants (trade w/NO) — Kerryon Johnson (RB, Auburn)
#26 Seattle (trade w/Atl) — Isaiah Wynn (G, Georgia)
#27 NY Jets (trade w/NO) — Billy Price (C, Ohio State)
#28 Pittsburgh — Harold Landry (DE, Boston College)
#29 Jacksonville — Tim Settle (DT, Virginia Tech)
#30 Minnesota — Taven Bryan (DT, Florida)
#31 Cincinnati (trade w/NE) — Will Hernandez (G, UTEP)
#32 Tampa Bay (trade w/Phi) — Derrius Guice (RB, LSU)

The trades…

Cleveland trades #4 & #33 to New York (Giants) for #2
Having taken Saquon Barkley with the top pick, the Browns make a deal to secure their preferred quarterback at #2.

Buffalo trades #21 & #22 & a 2019 pick to Indianapolis for #3
The Bills pull off a blockbuster move to go up and get Sam Darnold.

Arizona trades #15, #47 & a 2019 pick to Denver for #5
The Cardinals miss out on the top quarterbacks in free agency so make a big move, trading away their first picks in 2018 and 2019 plus a second rounder to land Josh Rosen.

Miami trades #11 & #73 to Chicago for #8
Adam Gase goes and gets his quarterback, with lingering doubts about Ryan Tannehill’s ability to stay healthy.

LA Rams trade #23, #87 & #195 to Baltimore for #16
The Rams are being aggressive and want to win now. They move up to get Derwin James and find a willing trade partner in Baltimore.

Atlanta trades #26, #90 and #200 to Seattle for #18
The Falcons want an interior defensive lineman and go up to get Maurice Hurst (Star Loutlelei was taken at #13 despite having a similar medical concern at the combine). The Seahawks want to move down and get a needed third round pick.

New York Giants trade #33 & #102 to Tennessee for #25
The Titans don’t like the look of the cornerback or linebacker options so take a deal to move down. The Giants trade up to get a lead runner in Kerryon Johnson.

New York Jets trade #37, #107 & #179 to New Orleans for #27
The Jets are after a center and move up to draft Billy Price.

Cincinnati trades #46 & #77 to New England for #31
The Bengals have to draft an offensive lineman early. Will Hernandez was one of the standout performers at the combine.

Denver trades #38 & #108 to Philadelphia for #32
The Buccs make a minor deal to move up four spots and select Derrius Guice before the end of the first round.

Tomorrow I’ll be publishing a seven-round mock draft for the Seahawks.

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The 2018 NFL combine review

March 5, 2018 /

Firstly, if you missed this earlier — be sure to listen to the Seahawkers Podcast below. I was invited on to talk about the combine:

The lasting memory of this combine will be — underwhelming, too many injuries and very few headline performances.

It highlighted the following:

1. The lack of legit first round prospects

2. The greater value in rounds 2-3 compared to round one

3. Confirmed this is a good draft for interior offensive linemen, running backs and linebackers (early) and not so much for cornerbacks, receivers or offensive tackles

The big positive was the athletic performance of the safety class which far exceeded expectations. We’ll start with a few thoughts on the defensive backs today…

Cornerbacks seriously underwhelm

This was one of the sloppiest group performances in recent memory. Numerous players had to stop and re-start certain drills. At one point Mike Mayock remarked:

“I think I’ve seen more guys get stopped in these drills than I’ve ever seen. Which is not a good thing.”

Iowa cornerback Joshua Jackson was stopped four times, including twice on one drill. It was a messy session with several players coasting or failing to execute.

Very few players impressed but Louisville’s Jaire Alexander was an exception. He excelled in the drills after running a 4.38. He doesn’t fit Seattle’s measurables at 5-10 and 196lbs with only 31 1/8 inch arms but he was the most impressive performer. Alabama’s Levi Wallace also had a strong outing but needs to add size at 6-0 and 179lbs.

Jackson coasted way too much and Mike Hughes was mostly unimpressive too. Both players have been touted as possible first round picks but there was very little evidence of that today. Denzel Ward ran well (4.32) but he had to at his size (5-10, 183lbs). Ward might be the only cornerback taken in round one and his stock might be limited due to his frame.

Safety’s put on a show

As disappointing as the cornerbacks were, the safety’s were the complete opposite. Many of the safety’s actually ran faster than the cornerbacks. The expectation was that this isn’t a particularly deep class at the position but on this evidence, there’ll be some intriguing options lasting into day three.

Stanford’s Justin Reid likely pushed his way into the first round conversation with his performance. Oklahoma State’s Trey Flowers is tall and lean (6-3, 202lbs) with great length (34 inch arms) and could be a possible cornerback conversion for the Seahawks. He ran in the 4.4’s.

Penn State’s Troy Akpe (6-1, 200lbs, +32 inch arms, 4.34, 41 inch vertical) and Terrell Edmunds (6-0, 217lbs, 33 inch arms, 4.47, 41.5 inch vertical, 11-2 broad) are worth a closer look in the coming days. Arizona’s Dane Cruikshank and Wisconsin’s Natrell Jamerson likewise warrant further study.

Derwin James did everything well in terms of testing and looked very smooth in transition and changing direction during the drills.

What did we learn about this draft class at the combine?

A normal draft class includes about 15-20 players graded in the first round. This year, that number could be lower. It’s possibly at about 10-15 but will vary from team to team.

It means the grade difference between a player drafted in the 20-30 range will be very similar to players taken in round two. This year, the best value is going to be found in rounds 2-3.

Rather than present a rare opportunity for the Seahawks to get a blue-chip player, at #18 they’re more likely to be just outside the zone where you’ll get true first round value.

What can we take away from this week for the Seahawks?

Pete Carroll reaffirmed his desire to improve the running game in a conversation with Mike Florio. Nothing about this combine suggests it won’t be Seattle’s #1 draft priority.

If (when?) the Seahawks trade down (possibly multiple times) they’re likely to address the running game first and foremost (RB, OL). That would be playing to the strength of the draft while addressing a key need.

With some appealing defensive talent likely to be available in rounds 3-7, they might be willing to wait to add to the defensive front seven and secondary.

Positon-by-position thoughts from the combine

Quarterback
Josh Allen showed off his exceptional arm talent and combined with his size and mobility, there’s a very good chance he and Saquon Barkley will be the first two players drafted. Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson didn’t do anything to harm their chances of going in round one and while Sam Darnold chose not to throw, it’s unlikely teams will be overly concerned by that. All five players could go in the first frame but the depth beyond that isn’t particularly good.

Seahawks targets: Unless they really want to take a punt on developing Luke Falk, it seems like a draft where the Seahawks will again bypass the position.

Running back
The deepest and arguably strongest position in the class, this was a good combine for the position and the Seahawks as they will likely add at least one running back in April. Nick Chubb showed he’s back to his explosive best following his knee injury, Kerryon ‘underrated’ Johnson had a sensational performance and Derrius Guice tested better than many (including myself) expected. Rashaad Penny and Royce Freeman performed well. Bo Scarborough will be well worth a pick in the fourth round range, while John Kelly is a dynamic complimentary back with the capability of carrying the load on occasion. We could see eight backs leave the board in the top-75. The only disappointment was Ronald Jones II’s hamstring injury running the forty. Expect a big performance at the USC pro-day from Jamaal Charles 2.0.

Seahawks targets: Nick Chubb has every physical trait the Seahawks have looked for in a running back in the Pete Carroll era. They’ve consistently valued explosive athleticism and a particular size. Kerryon Johnson isn’t just an explosive runner, he set the tone for Auburn during their SEC Championship game run. John Kelly and Bo Scarborough could be options in the fourth or fifth round range. And although Ronald Jones II suffered an injury, he has a genuine ‘IT’ factor and has to be considered an option too. A quick final point on Chubb. He’s often described as the ‘north-south’ compliment to Sony Michel. Chubb ran a faster forty (4.52 vs 4.54) and the short shuttle times are similar too (4.25 vs 4.21). Do not underestimate the importance of explosive traits for Seattle running backs. Chubb’s 38.5 inch vertical and 10-8 broad plus Kerryon Johnson’s 40 inch vertical and 10-6 broad stand out. It feels like at least one if not two of Chubb, Johnson, Jones II, Scarborough and Kelly will be wearing navy blue next year.

Offensive line
It’s not a good offensive tackle class. We’ll likely see 2-3 go in the first round because of the importance of the position but we might not see a single tackle garnering consistent first round grades. Kolton Miller and Mike McGlinchey might be the two who make it. On the other hand, it’s an outstanding looking interior O-line class. Quenton Nelson, Will Hernandez, Austin Corbett, Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller all excelled during drills and all but Corbett had an explosive workout according to TEF. Billy Price, Isaiah Wynn and Frank Ragnow didn’t work out but they could join Nelson, Hernandez and Corbett in being taken before the end of round two.

Seahawks targets: It’s a little difficult to say given the change of O-line coach. However, they have a fantastic opportunity to add both a new ‘franchise’ running back and a top option at left guard in this class. Wynn, to me, compares favourably to Zack Martin. He’s that good. Will Hernandez had an exceptional workout. He’s 20lbs lighter and looked the best during the kick-slide and agility drills. Both Wynn and Hernandez could go between 25-35. If they take a running back first, Corbett is an option if they still want to draft a guard early. Smith had the most explosive O-line TEF test (3.52) since we started recording data and he had a strong career at Auburn.

Wide receiver
It’s been clear for some time that this isn’t a class with multiple first round receiver prospects. Calvin Ridley didn’t test well athletically but he looked very crisp during drills and he’s adept at route running and finding ways to get open consistently. He might be the only wide out taken on day one. After that, D.J. Moore, Courtland Sutton and D.J. Chark might follow. All three tested well at the combine, particularly Moore (4.42 forty, 39.5 inch vertical, 11-0 broad) and Chark (4.34 forty, 40 inch vertical, 10-9 broad). James Washington didn’t have a great combine but there’s been plenty of talk that he’ll find a home in the 25-40 range.

Seahawks targets: It feels like free agency might provide a solution here. They might need to replace the production of both Jimmy Graham in the red zone and Paul Richardson. John Schneider recently talked about how hard it is for college receivers to transition to the pro’s and make an impact. There are big-bodied wide outs that could appeal on day three including Auden Tate, Simmie Cobbs and Marcell Ateman but none tested well here and the Seahawks have consistently looked for receivers able to run a 4.4. Equanimeous St. Brown could be a possible target after he ran a 4.48. Smaller, more dynamic players like Keke Coutee, Anthony Miller and Dante Pettis could provide some value. Antonio Callaway is a character flag disaster but might be the most natural receiver in the class after Ridley. Javon Wims at Georgia is another mid or later round possibility and he has some size.

Tight end
Before the combine it was distinctly possible no tight ends would be drafted in the first two rounds. Mark Andrews, Dallas Goedert and Troy Fumagalli were all very overrated. Mike Gesicki’s performance likely means at least one will find a home in the first two rounds. He had one of the all-time great workouts for a tight end, managing a 4.54 forty, a 41.5 inch vertical and a 10-9 broad jump. He tested well in the three cone (6.76) and short shuttle too (4.10). And he did all this at 6-5 and 247lbs. The thing is, he isn’t a blocker. At all. So he’s a step below O.J. Howard and he isn’t the dynamic sprinter that Evan Engram was. So we’ll see if teams want to take what amounts to a big slot receiver in the top-40. Apart from Gesicki, it was a middling tight end display with only likely H-back/full back Jaylen Samuels providing any intrigue.

Seahawks targets: Let’s assume they aren’t going to spend a high pick on Gesicki. They spent three years trying to turn Jimmy Graham into the complete tight end. Are they really going to spend the next three trying to turn Gesicki into something he isn’t too? They might look to re-sign Luke Willson and add a blocking tight end in free agency. If not, there are three names to keep an eye on. Stanford’s Dalton Schultz, Notre Dame’s Durham Smythe and Washington’s Will Dissly didn’t pull up any trees in Indianapolis. However, all three were asked predominantly to block in college and all three had success in doing so. Schultz in particular opened up many lanes for Bryce Love. If they want to add a ‘Y’ tight end, these three are players to monitor. Unless, of course, they are completely enamoured with a 6-5, 247lbs freak of nature.

Defensive line
Sunday’s session was a mixed bag. Only two EDGE rushers ran an elite 1.5 10-yard split (Harold Landry & Josh Sweat), only four pass rushers ran a sub-7.00 three-cone and the main highlight in the agility testing was Sam Hubbard recording the sixth fastest time for a D-liner in the last 10 years (6.84). We saw fewer explosive testers this year too. There were some big stand out performances though. Taven Bryan was a big winner, performing well in TEF (3.58) while still managing an excellent 1.68 10-yard split and a 4.48 short shuttle. Josh Sweat might’ve propelled himself into the second round with an incredible running and jumping display. Harold Landry likely secured a place in round one too. Several players didn’t run or jump particularly well but performed well in the drills including Tim Settle and Derrick Nnadi. Da’Ron Payne isn’t an explosive defender (TEF: 2.89) but he’s extremely quick (1.67 10-yard).

Seahawks targets: Sweat might be out of range for them now and the options at SAM/LEO appear limited. However, there are a number of appealing later round options. We know the Seahawks like their interior linemen and inside/out rushers to perform well in the short shuttle and 10-yard split. We also know they haven’t drafted a D-liner with sub-33 inch arms. Jalyn Holmes, Kentavius Street and Breeland Speaks all showed great quickness over a short area while Andrew Brown, B.J. Hill, Nathan Shepherd and Foley Fatukasi performed well in the short shuttle. There are several explosive testers they might look at too, including Tyquan Lewis (TEF: 3.48), Chad Thomas (TEF: 3.06) and Da’Shawn Hand (TEF: 3.14). Shepherd, a small school prospect, excelled in the drills to follow up a strong Senior Bowl performance. Sadly, he has 32 inch arms. We’ll have to see if that matters.

Linebacker
The first round options are attractive but there might not be quite as much depth at the position as we first thought. Tremaine Edmunds will likely find a home in the top-12. Leighton Vander Esch could go in the top-20 after a sensational performance in the jumps (39.5 inch vertical, 10-4 broad), short shuttle (4.15) and three-cone (6.88). Roquan Smith and Lorenzo Carter carry injury flags according to Tony Pauline but both could still find a home in round one. It was felt Rashaan Evans needed a good combine to secure a first round slot but he passed on running. It’s unclear if Malik Jefferson did enough to secure a home in round two after a good but not great display. It was disappointing that Darius Leonard only managed one forty (4.70) and didn’t compete in any of the drills.

Seahawks targets: Seattle could use some youth and speed at linebacker but it was sadly lacking here. Only six players ran a sub-4.55 forty (Jerome Baker, Lorenzo Carter, Tremaine Edmunds, Shaquem Griffin, Malik Jefferson, Roquan Smith) and all but two of those players (Baker, Griffin) are likely to go in a palatable range. Griffin was the talk of the combine after his 4.38 forty and the Seahawks might be interested in pairing him with his twin brother. There is another test the Seahawks seem to value at linebacker and that’s the short shuttle (more detail here). There were several players who ran an excellent 4.2 shuttle — Matthew Thomas, Oren Burks, Micah Kiser, Christian Sam and Fred Warner. Thomas (41.5 inch vertical, 10-11 broad), Burks (39.5 inch vertical, 10-11 broad) and Warner (38.5 inch vertical, 9-11 broad) all had explosive workouts while Kiser tested much better than expected and was a crucial leader for Virginia in college. They could find a late round option or two within this bunch.

Cornerback
As noted above, it was an unimpressive group. The way the drills were executed today was awkward and messy, with several false starts. At one point Deion Sanders remarked: “We’re missing the energy givers, the guys who know, man, I am the guy. I’m not seeing that yet in the corners.” He was right. Usually the CB class is loaded with alpha’s. This was a shy and retiring bunch seemingly trying too hard not to make a mistake. Jaire Alexander was the standout performer in drills but unless teams want to reach, there are limited first round options here. Denzel Ward could be the only corner to go early. Tarvarus McFadden had a very difficult morning.

Seahawks options: I’m going to include Tre Flowers here. He worked out with the safety’s but ran a 4.45 at 6-3 and 202lbs. He has 34 inch arms. He just looked like a Seattle corner running through the drills. Very few of the cornerbacks impressed today but Holton Hill, Levi Wallace and Isaac Yiadom are three names that fit their size/length criteria. Auburn’s Carlton Davis might go a round or two too early. If they add a cornerback in the draft this year, it might be someone who wasn’t invited to the combine they spot on the pro-day trail.

Safety
It took until the final session but finally there was a bit of a buzz around a positional group. For once several players overachieved. Many of the forty times were faster than the cornerbacks and the drills were a lot smoother and well executed. Troy Akpe ran a 4.34, jumped a 41.5 inch vertical and looked really good in his transition and backpedal. Justin Reid is built like a tank and ran a 4.40. He could go in the first round. Minkah Fitzpatrick likely secured a place in the 8-15 range of the first round while Derwin James put on a show in the drills and the tests. You would imagine, based on this performance, he’ll go in the top-20.

Seahawks targets: The first name I’m going to mention tested with the linebackers — Clemson’s Dorian O’Daniel. He didn’t run well (4.61) but he did manage a really good short shuttle of 4.07. He’s been touted as a safety convert for some time at 6-0 and 223lbs. He could be a later round target they try to develop as a strong safety. Terrell Edmunds was fast and explosive and has the bloodlines, Dane Cruikshank had a terrific workout and Natrell Jamerson excelled too. Jessie Bates III could be an option in rounds 2-3. If they want to take a safety early the most likely options are Derwin James and Justin Reid.

Any post-combine predictions?

— Saquon Barkley & Josh Allen will be the top two picks in the draft. Perhaps Cleveland will trade with the Giants to secure both players?

— The Seahawks will trade down at least once and will draft a running back early. The options? I think it’ll be one of Nick Chubb, Kerryon Johnson or Ronald Jones II. Ideally they’ll be able to acquire one of Will Hernandez, Isaiah Wynn or Billy Price too.

— Vita Vea will be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer and if not, his floor is Washington at #13.

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Live blog: Combine day four workouts — CB, S

March 5, 2018 /

Today is the final day of combine workouts. These are the cornerbacks to keep an eye on (because they all have +32 inch arms):

Chris Campbell — 33 4/8 (79)
Carlton Davis — 32 6/8 (79 3/8)
Brandon Facyson — 32 5/8 (78 4/8)
Holton Hill — 32 (77 2/8)
Chris Jones — 32 6/8 (78 2/8)
Jamarcus King — 32 7/8 (78 3/8)
Tarvarus McFadden — 32 4/8 (78)
Isaiah Oliver — 33 4/8 (80 5/8)
Chandon Sullivan — 32 3/8 (76 6/8)
Jordan Thomas — 32 (77 6/8)
D’Montre Wade — 32 3/8 (76 7/8)
Levi Wallace — 32 6/8 (77 3/8)
Isaac Yiadom — 32 3/8 (75 6/8)

It’s also worth keeping an eye on three safety’s in particular — Jessie Bates III from Wake Forest, Justin Reid from Stanford and Kameron Kelly from San Diego State.

(Players with 32 inch arms in bold)

Jaire Alexander — 4.43 & 4.38
Anthony Averett — 4.40 & 4.36
Tony Brown — 4.37 & 4.35
Chris Campbell — DNP
Andre Chachere — 4.61 & 4.50
Carlton Davis — 4.53 & 4.55
Duke Dawson — 4.49 & 4.46
Dee Delaney — 4.47 & 4.50
Brandon Facyson — 4.55 & 4.54
Rashard Fant — DNP
Rashaan Gaulden — 4.64 & 4.61
Grant Haley — 4.49 & 4.44
Davontae Harris — 4.44 & 4.47
Holton Hill — 4.50 & 4.54
Mike Hughes — 4.53 & 4.54
Donte Jackson — 4.32 & 4.37
J.C. Jackson — 4.49 & 4.47
Joshua Jackson — 4.49 & 4.60
Danny Johnson — 4.49 & 4.44
Taron Johnson — 4.51 & 4.52
Chris Jones — 4.58 & 4.63
Michael Joseph — DNP
Jamarcus King — 4.70 & DNP
Avonte Maddox — 4.40 & 4.42
Tavarus McFadden — 4.67 & 4.76
Quenton Meeks — DNP
Kamren Moore — DNP
Nick Nelson — 4.52 & 4.56
Parry Nickerson — 4.32 & dnp
Isaiah Oliver — 4.51 & 4.59
Darius Phillips — 4.60 & 4.55
D.J. Reed — 4.51 & 4.53
M.J. Stewart — 4.54 & 4.55
Greg Stroman — 4.52 & 4.49
Chandon Sullivan — 4.61 & 4.61
Jordan Thomas — 4.66 & 4.65
Henre Toliver — 4.64 & 4.65
Kevin Toliver — DNP
D’Montre Wade — 4.58 & 4.62
Levi Wallace — 4.48 & 4.68
Denzel Ward — 4.32 & 4.36
Isaac Yiadom — 4.53 & 4.54

Another day, another hamstring injury. Parry Nickerson pulled up after running a 4.32. Donte Jackson cramped up too after his run. This has been a major problem over the four days.

Pete Carroll here, looking like your dad trying to work a Microsoft Surface:

Overall that was a forty yard dash session lacking in headlines. Denzel Ward ran well but had to given his size. There aren’t many first round options here.

Deion Sanders just called Mike Hughes’ backpedal ‘horrible’ during the first set of drills and then went over to ‘coach him up’. He trotted back over after and said, amusingly, ‘it won’t happen again’.

Levi Wallace is light (179lbs) but looked quite polished and smooth in his backpedal. Louisville’s Jaire Alexander hasn’t got 32 inch arms but he’s arguably been the most impressive looking corner in the early drills. Quick, loose hips, good transition and he ran a good forty earlier.

Tarvarus McFadden hasn’t looked good. He ran poorly in the forty and just doesn’t look quick in transition or backpedal. ‘Laboured’ is the best way to describe his workout.

Isaiah Oliver is a little bit tight hipped but his transition was really good. He looks big too and ran a decent 4.51. Shame but he’ll probably rise a little bit in this underwhelming corner class. Would be a good option for Seattle albeit from round three onwards. Not early.

According to Tony Pauline, Roquan Smith and Lorenzo Carter have been medically red flagged by some teams:

Lorenzo Carter and Roquan Smith of Georgia both had terrific combine workouts. Carter, who I’ve always believed was a first-round talent, ran under 4.5 in the 40, bested everyone in his group with a broad jump of 10-feet-10-inches and posted a vertical jump of 39.5 inches. Roquan Smith ran 4.51 and will do the rest of the drills at his pro day. I have been informed both players were red-flagged medically by a number of teams due to past injury history. While I don’t expect the medical evaluations to be a drag on the draft stock of Carter and Smith, it is something likely to be part of the debate on draft day when each player is being considered.

Josh Jackson gets a few words for a sloppy start to a backpedal and find the ball drill. He was quite lethargic. The coaches also remind the DB’s they want them to high point the football. Chris Jones and Quenton Meeks just mistimed their jumps trying to go up and get the football.

Tarvarus McFadden didn’t even try to high point the ball, just ran under it and caught it in his arms. For all the hype McFadden had after the 2016 season for all the picks, there’s very little to get excited about here (and it was the same for his 2017 season in general).

Levi Wallace is putting on a bit of a show. Lovely backpedal, high pointed the football better than any of the other DB’s. Of all the players here so far that fit the Seahawks, he’s the one who stands out. He just needs to add some weight.

The NFL Network has now switched to an interview with Bill Belichick who is standing in the booth, telling Rich Eisen and Mike Mayock that they do an amazing job. Which is great for them. Not so entertaining for those wanting to watch the drills. Fair play to Belichick though, he just handed what appeared to be a substantial cheque to Eisen for his charity. And to be honest, Belichick is as relaxed as he ever is here. The mask has come off, he’s positively engaging and telling anecdotes. It was enjoyable to see him in a different light.

For the second time, the coaches aren’t happy with Josh Jackson. He had to re-start a drill twice because they wanted to see him working faster. It’s a backpedal, change of direction, flip-your-hips and run downfield drill.

Here are some of the official forty yard dashes:

Anthony Averett was forced to re-start his ‘W’ drill twice. A bit like yesterday, some of the execution on the drills has been off.

Mike Hughes hasn’t looked much like a first round prospect. Holton Hill was good moving through the motion of the ‘W’ drill but lacked explosion at the end.

Unbelievably, for a third time Josh Jackson was stopped by the coaches because they weren’t happy with the way he was conducting the drill. Jackson has been absolutely atrocious.

Deion Sanders summed up this cornerback session well: “We’re missing the energy givers, the guys who know, man, I am the guy. I’m not seeing that yet in the corners.”

Some of the safety jump results are coming in. Minkah Fitzpatrick had a 10-1 broad and Derwin James a 40-inch vertical.

Mike Mayock: “I think I’ve seen more guys get stopped in these drills than I’ve ever seen. Which is not a good thing.”

Denzel Ward didn’t do any of the drills after running the forty.

This has been nearly a three hour session. Similar to the QB/WR drills on Saturday, it’s just too long. We’ve had a long series of gauntlet drills and it all feels a bit unnecessary.

Safety broad jumps:

Minkah Fitzpatrick — 10-1
Joshua Kalu — 11-2
Derwin James — 11
Terrell Edmunds — 11-2

Safety vertical jumps:

Minkah Fitzpatrick — 33
Joshua Kalu — 41.5
Derwin James — 40
Terrell Edmunds — 41.5

Terrell Edmunds with an incredibly explosive performance there.

Here are the safety forty yard dash times:

Troy Apke — 4.35 & 4.39
Jessie Bates III — 4.51 & 4.56
Quin Blanding — 4.64 & 4.65
Sean Chandler — 4.67 & 4.66
Dane Cruikshank — 4.44 & 4.42
Terrell Edmunds — 4.48 & 4.50
Deshon Elliott — 4.58 & 4.62
Minkah Fitzpatrick — 4.47 & 4.51
Tre Flowers — 4.45 & 4.50
Marcell Harris — DNP
Ronnie Harrison — DNP
Godwin Idwebuike — 4.45 & 4.47
Natrell Jamerson — 4.40 & 4.46
Derwin James — 4.48 & 4.48
Joshua Kalu — 4.59 & 4.58
Kameron Kelly — 4.66 & 4.67
Siran Neal — 4.57 & 4.60
Max Redfield — 4.69 & 4.74
Justin Reid — 4.44 & 4.40
Stephen Roberts — 4.54 & 4.58
Dominick Sanders — DNP
Van Smith — 4.61 & 4.63
Trey Walker — 4.52 & 4.54
Armani Watts — DNP
Damon Webb — 4.63 & 4.69
Kyzir White — DNP
Jordan Whitehead — DNP

Troy Apke from Penn State is 6-1 and 200lbs with 32 2/8 inch arms. He just ran a 4.35. Trey Flowers is 6-3 and 202lbs with 33 7/8 inch arms. He ran a 4.45. Two very interesting guys there.

The safety times have been a lot more impressive than the cornerback times. It’s not even close. There’s a few guys here we’ll need to go back and look at.

Justin Reid’s 4.40 could easily push him into first round range.

Terrell Edmunds is the latest player to hurt himself running the forty.

That was a very impressive group. Troy Akpe, Terrell Edmunds, Dane Cruikshank, Tre Flowers, Justin Reid, Natrell Jamerson. There’s some tape to watch after the combine.

Derwin James looked really good with his backpedal and transition. Very smooth for a player of his size. Tre Flowers is long, athletic and lean. He looks like a Seahawks corner. There’s a name to keep an eye on.

Justin Reid is built like a tank. He looks incredible. Troy Akpe has really good hips. The guy can move. Loved seeing his range in the deep drop. Interesting prospect. Akpe’s official forty time is a 4.34 and he managed a 41 inch vertical.

Tre Flowers looks so much like a corner. Great big, long, lean guy.

Here are some of the official DB forty times:

The NFL Network has now cut away from the drills in order to show ‘Run Rich Run’ — Rich Eisen’s forty yard dash attempt. They might’ve had time for this and the drills had the cornerback session not dragged on for three hours.

He ran a 5.97.

I’m going to finish the live blog for now. The Network is finishing up with the Rich Eisen simulcam clips. Thanks to anyone who stuck with the live blogs over the last few days, really appreciate it. Review piece on the way shortly looking at the day and the combine overall.

What we learned about the front seven defenders

March 4, 2018 /

This promised to be one of the most intriguing days at the combine. In the end, it proved to be a little underwhelming.

I’ve detailed the reasons below but here’s the CliffNotes version — this isn’t a particularly fast group of front seven defensive prospects and the number of explosive testers is down from the previous two years.

Why are explosive physical traits important?

Pat Kirwan — a confidant of Pete Carroll — tells us why in this piece:

Every time a ball is snapped to start a play there is a critical element of explosiveness that takes place. When two players collide in an attempt to physically dominate each other, the athlete with the edge in explosiveness has the best chance to win the confrontation. It could be a blocker vs. a tackler, a tackler vs. a ball carrier, or many other examples of winning at the point of contact.

Explosiveness is defined in the dictionary as a violent release of energy, a sudden outburst. Football is a series of explosions. How do you measure it in athletes trying to play NFL football?

Take the vertical jump, standing broad jump and the bench press test results and add them together. If the combined score is over 70 there is a reason to consider the candidate at some point in the draft process for his explosiveness.

Kirwan’s formula is flawed because it diminishes the impact of the broad jump. A superb 9-7 only achieves a 1.2 point advantage over a below par 8-5. That’s why we developed our own formula (TEF) to essentially do what Kirwan intended — measure explosive traits equally and emphasise their combined importance.

For the last two years we’ve used TEF to measure offensive and defensive linemen and compare the results.

Explosive offensive linemen at the combine:

2016 — 6
2017 — 3

Explosive defensive linemen at the combine:

2016 — 26
2017 — 30

In total, that’s 56-9 in favour of the defense.

So what did we learn this year? It’s not what you might expect.

At the 2018 combine there were seven truly explosive offensive linemen:

Braden Smith — 3.52
Kolton Miller — 3.31
Wyatt Teller — 3.22
Scott Quessenberry — 3.22
Connor Williams — 3.18
Quenton Nelson — 3.07
Will Hernandez — 3.04

In comparison there are officially fourteen explosive testers in the defensive line class:

Taven Bryan — 3.58
Ade Aruna — 3.57
Kylie Fitts — 3.47
Bradley Chubb — 3.46
Harrison Phillips — 3.46
Marcus Davenport — 3.41
Harold Landry — 3.39
Marquis Haynes — 3.36
James Looney — 3.33
Foley Fatukasi — 3.31
John Franklin — 3.17
Trevon Young — 3.17
Da’Shawn Hand — 3.14
Dorance Armstrong — 3.01
Herclues Mata’afa — 2.98
B.J. Hill — 2.97
Olu Rotimi — 2.96
Deadrin Senat — 2.93
Da’Ron Payne — 2.89
Andrew Brown — 2.87
Reginald McKenzie — 2.83
JoJo Wicker — 2.81
Justin Jones — 2.72
Zay Henderson — 2.61
Derrick Nnadi — 2.50
Taylor Stallworth — 2.24

Quite a high number of the D-line class didn’t do the bench press, meaning we’re unable to give them a complete score. However, we can calculate a projection based on the historical average of reps for the position (24).

Josh Sweat — 3.68
Tyquan Lewis — 3.48
Sam Hubbard — 3.26
Rasheem Green — 3.24
Arden Key — 3.16
Chad Thomas — 3.06
Trenton Thompson — 3.02
Nathan Shepherd — 3.00
Breeland Speaks — 2.99
Tim Settle — 2.35
John Atkins — 2.22

All of these scores need to come with an asterisk. However, you get a general feel for how they might’ve performed.

Even if you include those who didn’t compete in the bench press, the total of explosive defensive linemen is down on the last two years:

2016: 26
2017: 30
2018: 22

Here are the 20 most explosive defensive linemen from 2016-18 (2018 prospects in bold):

Myles Garrett — 4.21
Haason Reddick — 3.93
Solomon Thomas — 3.83
Jordan Willis — 3.70
Ife Odenigbo — 3.61
Taven Bryan — 3.58
Ade Aruna — 3.57
Derek Rivers — 3.57
Carl Lawson — 3.54
Dean Lowry — 3.54
Sheldon Rankins — 3.52
Kylie Fitts — 3.47
Robert Nkemdiche — 3.47
Bradley Chubb — 3.46
Harrison Phillips — 3.46
Noah Spence — 3.46
Yannick Ngakoue — 3.44
Marcus Davenport — 3.41
Harold Landry — 3.39
Marquis Haynes — 3.36

Here are some other big-name NFL defensive linemen and their pre-draft TEF scores:

Mario Williams — 3.97
J.J. Watt — 3.82
Khalil Mack — 3.81
Aaron Donald — 3.53
Jadeveon Clowney — 3.50

10-yard splits are important

So it’s not the most explosive defensive line class. What about the 10-yard splits? These are especially important for pass rushers.

A 10-yard split in the 1.5’s is considered ‘elite’. Cliff Avril ran a 1.50 at his combine while Bruce Irvin managed a 1.55. For an interior rusher or inside/out rusher, anything in the 1.6’s is a solid time.

EDGE rushers with a 1.5 10-yard split

Harold Landry — 1.59
Josh Sweat — 1.55

Ade Aruna ran a 1.60, Kylie Fitts a 1.61, Trevon Young a 1.62 and Anthony Winbush a 1.62. Bradley Chubb and Marcus Davenport both ran 1.63’s. The NFL Network frustratingly didn’t show 10-yard split times for the linebackers, despite a number of EDGE rushers competing in that group. Considering Lorenzo Carter ran a 4.46 it’s highly possible he ran a 1.5 split. Hopefully the 10-yard numbers will be released for the whole group and we can add some names to the list.

Defensive linemen with a 1.6 10-yard split

Taven Bryan (291lbs) — 1.68
Rasheem Green (275lbs) — 1.66
Da’Ron Payne (311lbs) — 1.67
Jalyn Holmes (283lbs) — 1.67
Kentavius Street (280lbs) — 1.67
Breeland Speaks (283lbs) — 1.67

For a point of comparison, a year ago Malik McDowell was praised for running a 1.69 at 295lbs. So the likes of Bryan and Payne really helped themselves here.

Agility drills

The three cone and the short shuttle are very important for defensive linemen and edge rushers.

Bruce Irvin (4.03) and Frank Clark (4.05) both ran incredible short shuttles. Cassius Marsh’s 4.25 and Obum Gwacham’s 4.28 were also really good.

Quinton Jefferson, Jordan Hill, Jaye Howard and Malik McDowell all tested superbly in the short shuttle too (4.37, 4.51, 4.47 and 4.53 respectively).

Anything under 7.00 is considered a strong test in the three cone. Here is the list of defensive linemen that ran a sub-7.00 three cone:

Sam Hubbard — 6.84
Harold Landry — 6.88
Kylie Fitts — 6.88
Trevon Young — 6.99

Hubbard’s time is the sixth fastest in the last 10 years of the combine.

A year ago five defensive linemen ran a sub-7.00 — Jordan Willis, Pita Taumoepenu, Derek Rivers, Solomon Thomas and Derek Barnett. Three players managed it in 2016 — James Cowser, Joey Bosa and Shilique Calhoun.

Here are the top-15 times this year:

Sam Hubbard — 6.84
Harold Landry — 6.88
Kylie Fitts — 6.88
Trevon Young — 6.99
Dorance Armstrong — 7.12
Taven Bryan — 7.12
Marquis Haynes — 7.14
Arden Key — 7.16
Marcus Davenport — 7.20
Ola Adeniyi — 7.21
Hercules Mata’afa — 7.24
Rasheem Green — 7.24
Harrison Phillips — 7.28
B.J. Hill — 7.28
James Looney — 7.32

Here’s the top-15 in the short shuttle:

Harold Landry — 4.19
Kylie Fitts — 4.19
Dorance Armstrong — 4.23
Arden Key — 4.25
Josh Sweat — 4.28
Ola Adeniyi — 4.28
Sam Hubbard — 4.32
James Looney — 4.37
Hercules Mata’afa — 4.37
Rasheem Green — 4.39
Trevon Young — 4.40
Bradley Chubb — 4.41
Marcus Davenport — 4.41
Marquis Haynes — 4.45
Taven Bryan — 4.48

Landry and Fitts’ times are only the 12th fastest in the last 10 years. There’s nothing particularly outstanding about these numbers for the EDGE rushers.

Anything in the 4.3-4.5 range for bigger defensive linemen or inside/out rushers is pretty good. Here are the names that standout:

Rasheem Green — 4.39
Bradley Chubb — 4.41
Taven Bryan — 4.48
Andrew Brown — 4.48
Harrison Phillips — 4.50
B.J. Hill — 4.53
Nathan Shepherd — 4.53
Foley Fatukasi — 4.53

Again, it’s not an extensive list. The first three names will likely be first round picks. Shepherd looked very good today but the Seahawks have never drafted a defensive lineman with sub-33 inch arms.

Speed is important

After the 42-7 defeat to the Rams, Pete Carroll mentioned LA just looked faster than Seattle. It was a frank admission from Carroll, considering his Seahawks outfit has regularly been both tougher and faster than most opponents over the years.

The Seahawks need some speed — particularly at linebacker to play next to Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright.

There wasn’t much of it on show today.

Jerome Baker ran a 4.53 which is fine but not eye catching at 229lbs. Tremaine Edmunds ran a solid 4.55 but will be long gone before the Seahawks pick. Malik Jefferson’s 4.53 was solid but not spectacular.

The two names that stood out were obvious. Lorenzo Carter has always been an explosive athlete but now we know he’s extremely quick too. Shaquem Griffin stole the show, however, with a 4.38 that had Pete Carroll practically jumping out of his seat:

Griffin is an intriguing option for many reasons. There isn’t a grittier player in the draft. He has an incredible personality that just makes you feel good about yourself any time you watch one of his interviews. He plays with passion and tenacity and a clear love for the game.

Running a 4.38 at 227lbs is incredible. Now teams will have to have a think about where he plays at the next level. Is he an off-the ball linebacker? Do you let him run and cover in space? Do you try him at safety?

It’s important not to overreact to his great run. If you head onto social media you’ll already see people projecting him in round one or two. That isn’t very likely. However, it’s entirely possible he’ll be drafted in the middle rounds like his twin brother. And if the Seahawks want to add someone who can play some snaps at linebacker, add some legit speed to the defense and contribute in a big way on special teams — Griffin could be the man.

Linebacker explosive & agility testing

Some quick notes here:

— Lorenzo Carter followed up his 4.50 forty with a 36-inch vertical and a 10-10 broad jump. He’s an exciting player.

— Jeff Holland didn’t run particularly well but a 9-8 broad jump hints at some explosive traits. In comparison, Tremaine Edmunds jumped a 9-9.

— Malik Jefferson unsurprisingly tested well in the jumps with a 36 inch vertical and a 10-10 broad but it was interesting to see Micah Kiser also manage a 35.5 inch vertical and a 10-1 broad.

— Matthew Thomas might be a name to monitor. He’s 6-2 and 232lbs and will be worth a look post-combine. He ran a 4.57 and jumped a 41.5 inch vertical plus a 10-11 broad. Perhaps more importantly, however, he ran a 4.28 short shuttle. We’ve discussed in the past the importance of the short shuttle at linebacker. Oren Burks, Micah Kiser, Christian Sam and Fred Warner could be options for the same reason.

— Leighton Vander Esch ran a 6.88 three-cone and a 4.15 short shuttle. Both are really good for his size. His short shuttle time is the same as Vic Beasley’s. He’s going to go a lot earlier than many people realise. T.J. Watt ran a 6.79 and a 4.13 last year.

— Dorian O’Daniel made some plays for Clemson and a 4.07 short shuttle is the sixth best by a linebacker in the last five years (although you would’ve hoped for a better forty time — 4.61).

What does it all mean?

Here are some takeaways and predictions:

— Taven Bryan solidified his position in round one with an explosive workout coupled with some solid numbers in the speed/agility testing.

— Sam Hubbard, despite not running a forty yard dash, showed he has some quickness and explosion and probably boosted his stock.

— Da’Ron Payne didn’t have the most explosive performance but he performed well in drills and tested quickly across the board. He likely secured a place in the first round.

— The testing numbers won’t highlight it but Tim Settle, Nathan Shepherd, Justin Jones, B.J. Hill, Derrick Nnadi and Andrew Brown all flashed during drills. Settle showed great mobility for his size, Shepherd just had an all-round solid outing and Brown attacked the club/rip drill like a man possessed.

— Josh Sweat is an incredible athlete with unique length and size. He has an injury record to be wary of but he could be an option for a team like Seattle looking for a project in the middle rounds. He ran a 1.5 10-yard dash and has 34 5/8 inch arms and a wingspan of 84 1/8 inches. That’s special.

— The NFL needs to review why there’s been so many hamstring injuries at the combine this year. It started with Ronald Jones II on Friday and Vita Vea, Roquan Smith and several others hurt themselves running the forty yard dash. Is it preparation? Are they asking too much of the players in the build-up to the workout? They need to look into this.

— The best way to describe this front seven class for the Seahawks is this — there are appealing options from the middle rounds onwards. Today has reinforced, however, that the better value in the early rounds will probably come in repairing the running game. The interior O-line (Will Hernandez, Isaiah Wynn, Billy Price) and running back (Kerryon Johnson, Nick Chubb, Ronald Jones II) options are better than the defensive options. And the reverse is true from the mid-point onwards. If they acquire extra picks in the top-75 they might consider adding someone like Lorenzo Carter but this draft is set up for Seattle to address their much-maligned running attack.

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