Dear Seattle Seahawk General Manager John Schneider,

Please stop being cute and just sign defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, or move on already. This stalemate is driving me nutzoid, and when I go nutzoid, bad things happen to my human’s furniture (plus, I cough up hairballs, which is gross).

I have a need, a need for speed in the pass rushing department, and last year, it was hard to watch your defense, and the lack thereof. Gimme the pass rush, John Schneider!

Or Ima gonna go nutzoid during this shelter in, and lord knows what may happen to this household. I might even be forced leave a poop on my human’s pillow.

Thus far, the only moves that you have made to fix the pass rush have been bringing back defensive tackle Jarran Reed for two years, and then signing former Seahawk fun guy Bruce Irvin. Don’t get me wrong, these are fair moves, but then you just stopped. That ain’t cool, yo.

That’s like feeding your fan-base dried figs and a few handfuls of walnuts during the day with the promise of a full course meal at 5pm, and then at 5pm, you start with a Caesar salad and a small bowl of french onion soup, and then you go take a pot nap, leaving them hanging. That really ain’t cool, John Schneider!

Look, at this point, I don’t even care if you bring back Clowney. That’s how desperate I’ve become. I mean, I would prefer Clowney, but I would gladly settle for Everson Griffen, or a value priced combination of Jabaal Sheard, Benson Mayowa, or Michael Bennett. Just bring in a couple more proven pass rushers.

Please don’t think that you can go into the 2020 season with Irvin, Reed, Rasheem Green, Shaquem Griffin, and LJ Collier as your main pass rushing rotation. That ain’t going to cut it, John Schneider!

Look, I’m sorry I just yelled. I know that you have a salary cap that you need to manage and you need to factor in future contract extensions like corners Shaquill Griffin or recently added Quinton Dunbar. That’s why I say that if you aren’t going to commit to Clowney, just bring in Everson Griffin for a rental.

Or trade for somebody like Baltimore’s Matt Judon.

Just do something.. like now. Pretty please.

Don’t go into the draft in a month forcing a need in a draft class that isn’t deep on the defensive line. That’s what dumb dumbs do, and I know you’re no dummy. So don’t act like one.

Plus, this non action of yours is REALLY BORING. With this Covid 19 shelter in, it’s not cool to bore your fan-base. We need action. I mean, it is pathetic watching my human starring into his smart phone every hour on the hour to see if there is any breaking news, only to see him flop it down in bitter disappointment.

Do you think it is fun to watch a middle aged man sulk? DO YOU?!

It sucks.

Sorry that I yelled again, John Schneider.

Okay, I got that off my chest. I trust that you will do something. I liked the Dunbar trade. I even liked bringing in wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (even though my human was a little annoyed that it wasn’t Michael Bennett). I am just asking you to do something soon.

It’s going to be really annoying to watch Everson Griffen sign with Buffalo only to then watch Tennessee out bid you for Clowney once teams are allowed physically examine players, and then you are forced to settle for Benson Mayowa days before the draft. Don’t bring that on my human, and don’t subject me to watching that.

Please.

Loves and hugs,

Earl Thomas Eastwood, 12th Cat For Life

I apologize for being a few days late about responding to this most recent signing. The Covid 19 shelter in has been a major impact in my life, like I am sure it has for anyone else who reads this little blog. However, given a few days since this signing has afforded me some deeper thoughts on it (head’s up; I really like this move).

Here are my thoughts.

Russell Wilson wants “stars” but does John Schneider?

During the Pro Bowl last January, Russell Wilson dropped a minor bombshell during an interview by saying that he wanted to see his team add stars during free agency. It was a out of character thing for Russ to do, but you could understand it. The 2019 Seahawks relied heavily on journeyman talent on both sides of the ball, from tight end and receiver depth, to defensive line and into the secondary. Still they managed to win eleven games and were one inch away against the San Francisco 49ers at home from winning twelve and the division. Had Seattle had better options at rush end, better coverage players at the back end of the defense, and more play-making options on the offense, Seattle could have had home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Thus far, general manager John Schneider hasn’t really brought in any “stars” to the team. At least, he hasn’t brought in any A-Listers. At best, I think we can say that tight end Greg Olsen, rush end Bruce Irvin, cornerback Quinton Dunbar, offensive guard Chance Warmack, offensive tackle Brandon Shell, and now recently added receiver Phillip Dorsett are all recognizable names in the league. A few of them are former first round picks, and a couple of them have been quality starters. At this point, Dunbar is probably the one addition that has the greatest chance of being a true star in this league moving forward, but at best, I think we can call this a collection of B-list talent.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with quality B list talent. Some of my favorite Hollywood actors are B-Listers, and there is every chance that a B-Lister can become an A-Lister once given the right opportunity (see how Quentin Tarantino resurrected John Travolta’s career out of the gutter after casting brilliantly him in Pulp Fiction). An argument could be made for each of these recently acquired players that Seattle is a great opportunity for them to have big impacts, as they are all players filling big needs for the club.

Most of these signings are also talents who were productive players in 2019, and Dorsett is no exception. With the Covid 19 pandemic likely to take away off-season training programs for all NFL teams, my hunch is that John Schneider is looking to add as much proven veteran talent as he can get to stay ahead of the competitive curve once preseason practice is allowed in August. 2020 very well might not be the year for a true contending team to rely on a handful of rookie players to make an impact. They will have no mini camps to soak in the playbooks, get acquainted with established players, and they will be forced to learn on the fly once Summer training camp begins.

So, in short, instead of signing a few big name A-List star players, Schneider is searching for short term value on the veteran market, and he is looking for them in high volume. In my opinion, given the circumstances, this is not a bad idea at all, and I’m sure Russ understands.

What does Phillip Dorsett add to the offense?

In a word, speed, and lots of it.

By adding Dorsett, and assuming he wins the third receiver role, Seattle will boast one of the fastest three receiver sets in the league when he is matched with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. They now have three legit pass catchers who can all take the top off the defense, and his skill set is probably a great match for the offense that Seattle likes to run.

Dorsett is a good route runner, and while he is a smaller player at 5-10 and 190 pounds, he is a capable blocker during run plays. Because he is more polished that David Moore, Seattle can also probably use more motion plays when in three receiver sets by either placing him or Lockett in the slot and moving them around. This could open up both the passing, and the run game with more jet sweep possibilities.

Dorsett also has familiarity with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer when Schotty was the quarterback’s coach in Indianapolis. He also played college ball in Miami with Jake Heaps who one of Russell’s best friends, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Russell had good intell from Heaps on what kind of player and teammate Dorsett is. It was rumored right before free agency began that Dorsett would be a target for the team.

In reality, though, I think Dorsett is most likely a quality veteran hedge for receiver that Seattle will likely take in the draft in April. The 2020 draft class is widely considered historically deep, and the safe bet is that Seattle will select of these pass catchers at some point in the draft, and possibly a couple of them. With Dorsett on the team, there will be no need to rush an rookie along in a condensed training camp situation. They could afford to red shirt a player with major upside.

In multiple ways, this was a sharp signing for Seattle. I really dig it.

Further thoughts about how Covid 19 will impact the Seahawk offseason

The more this pandemic sits with me, the more I realize that 2020 is probably not the year for a contending team to rely on a bunch of rookies. Thus, I would not be surprised at all if we see Seattle trading away 2020 picks for proven NFL players on reasonable deals sitting on other NFL rosters. I think this could especially be the case for the defensive line and fixing the pass rush.

This 2020 class is not regarded as a great class at defensive line, especially at defensive end. There is a chance Seattle might be able to land a decent defensive tackle prospect with their first pick, but they would probably have to use that pick on one if they wanted to land one. By the time they select on the back end of round two, they might have been all scooped up.

Thus, I think it is very possible that we could see Seattle trading day two or day three picks for veteran players to match with Jarran Reed, Rasheem Green and Bruce Irvin, especially if they are unable to reach a deal with Jadeveon Clowney and have to settle for players such as Benson Mayowa. Teams that they could likely make deals with are teams that will not go into the 2020 season as true contenders, but are building for the long term and want picks.

Looking over other NFL rosters, it is interesting to me that teams like the Giants, the Jets, the Raiders, the Bears and Washington all have somewhat log jams at defensive tackle types. It’s possible that Seattle could look to improve their pass rush by adding more interior pass rush to go along with Jarran Reed, and thus take pressure off of rush ends. As there is a dearth of rush end talent in the league, more teams seem to be doing this.

There’s a few rush end types on building clubs that Seattle could target as well. Let’s remember that one of the first moves John Schneider made as the team’s new GM in 2010 was trading as mid round pick for defensive end Chris Clemons, who at the time was definitely not considered A-List talent in the league. That move became a hugely beneficial one for the club heading into the Super Bowl seasons.

This is just stuff to keep in mind as we head into April. If Seattle lands a quality veteran defensive end and defensive tackle through trades, or free agency, they will be better in position to take advantage of the true areas of talent in this draft class, which is receiver, running back, and offensive line. If Seattle wants to fulfill Russell’s request for stars, reaching on a defensive lineman with their first pick is probably not the best move to make. Taking an explosive offensive playmaker is.

Stay safe out there friends, and go Hawks!

A long and lean pass defending machine lands in Seattle. Hurray!

Rejoice, Twelves.

Seriously. Get outside today, and shout it in the streets, and shout it to the sky. Then run back inside quickly because we are in a shelter in situation. The Seattle Seahawks made a trade that fixed their cornerback situation for the 2020 season.

Let us break it down.

Why Quinton Dundar is a big deal for Seattle

Slightly under looked last season because Seattle’s pass rush was so nada, was the weak secondary play at corner and nickel. Simply put, Pete Carroll did not trust what he had on the field. Thus, he chose to do two things that annoyed a lot of Seahawk fans, inspiring many of them to decide that he had gotten too old and the game had surpassed him (total nonsense). He chose to keep his base defense on the field for the majority of the time because he felt his three linebackers provided better coverage than his nickel corners, and he called softer coverage because he didn’t trust his corners (likely Tre Flowers) to play aggressive bump coverage against receivers.

Because Pete Carroll’s golden rule on defense is to not get beaten over the top, these decisions gave most quarterbacks the opportunity to dump the ball off quickly with the short passing game. This allowed most offenses, even the bad ones, to march the ball up field with relative ease. Once they got in the red zone, however, Seattle’s defense was able to tighten by using the back of the end zone as an extra defender, and often times, this would result in the offense settling for a field goal or turning the ball over. As bad as Seattle’s defense was, they were actually a decent red zone squad (kinda oddly).

Thus, 2019 showcased a Seattle defense that was the ultimate definition of a “bend don’t break” group, and I’m quite positive that the head coach was just as unsatisfied with it as most fans were. For all the talk about how Seattle could not generate a pass rush (even with Jadeveon Clowney added), Seattle’s situation at corner and nickel was crippling to that pass rush. Had Carroll had the level of play he needed at corner, he very likely would have called more aggressive coverages, he would have had a nickel defender on the field more often than not during obvious passing situations, this would have very likely taken away shorter route options for quarterbacks, and that all would have led to more sacks for the defense. During his press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, Carroll flat out stated that a big part of fixing the pass rush was fixing the play in the secondary.

Enter Quinton Dundar who Pro Football Focus graded as the second best corner in the game last year by his level of play, behind only one Richard Sherman. This is a significant move by Seattle to fix the position. This move gives Seattle a quality starter opposite of Shaquill Griffin, it allows them to play more nickel, and ultimately to play more aggressively.

Like Sherman, Dundar is a long lean corner who was a former receiver in college. He understands route concepts and that affords him the ability to play aggressively with confidence. This is a huge deal for Seattle’s defense in 2020 with the Arizona Cardinals adding all world reciever DeAndre Hopkins, the Rams still being loaded at receiver, and the 49ers likely to add a quality receiver with a deep draft class next month. Seattle needed to make a move like this, and they should be congratulated by addressing this position aggressively with a proven veteran with pro bowl potential still in his prime.

Bravo.

Why was Dunbar available for a mere 5th round pick?

This is a good question to ask yourself. For one thing, Dunbar comes was an injury history. That doesn’t appear to scare Seattle, though, as last year they traded for Jadeveon Clowney who has an extensive injury history of his own. This injury history likely drove his market down, as there are also decent corners still available on the free agent market.

The other thing that likely made this move a pretty affordable one is that he is on the last year of the three year deal he had with Washington, and was demanding either an extension with the club, or to be traded. Thus he was forcing his way out of DC, and it became a buyer’s market for his services.

Still, it was just last week that Denver traded for pro bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey and sent a mere seventh round pick to Tennessee for his services, and last year Seattle sent a 5th round pick to Detroit for pro bowl alternate safety Quandre Diggs. Often times there is great value to be had with trades when teams are looking to unload veterans that are either deemed too expensive or too discontent. Like Diggs last year, Seattle took advantage of the situation and acted.

What does this mean for Seattle signing Clowney or another quality veteran pass rusher?

It’s tough to know just how much this impacts a potential Clowney signing. Dunbar’s contract isn’t an expensive one. So it is highly possible to fit Clowney and maybe one more veteran pass rusher under the cap after a little juggling.

However, since Dunbar is coming to Seattle was only one year left on his deal, Seattle might want more flexibility to sign him long term if he proves to be a great fit. Seattle also has Shaquill Griffin playing in a contract year and probably wants to extend him, as well. Thus, from this perspective, Seattle might be angling to bring in veteran pass rushers on short term deals, and should Clowney find a longer term deal greater than what Seattle is offering, he could be out-y.

However, thus far, Clowney hasn’t found that deal, and as the days go by, it feels more and more unlikely that he will, as other teams are making moves that are shrinking their salary cap space. There is still a pretty realistic chance that he returns to Seattle on a short term deal that will allow him to re-enter the market next year for a chance at landing the big contract that he is seeking. There is also a pretty realistic chance that, as the days go by, resentment towards Seattle grows more with Clowney, and he chooses a shorter term deal elsewhere.

Should Clowney ultimately decide to leave Seattle, I think Everson Griffin, Benson Mayowa, Michael Bennett, and Jabaal Sheard all become likely targets, and Seattle might look to bring in a couple of these guys. Either way, it would be great to see this resolve soon. I still give it about a 50/50 chance Clowney returns.

With this addition of Dunbar, though, I will say this. I am becoming less concerned about Seattle’s pass rush in 2020. Even if they were to only add Mayowa and maybe one of the other veteran pass rushers not named Clowney, Seattle’s ability to play more aggressive on the back end of their defense will allow for better pass rush.

Another thing to keep in mind; they have invested relatively high picks over the last few years in LJ Collier and Rasheem Green that they would ideally like to see takeover as starters. Signing a couple veterans to longer deals probably shrinks the likelihood of either doing that.

So as the tea leaves begin to really settle in, it seems more and more likely that Seattle will settle by signing proven vets on short terms, and then probably looking to add more through the draft. This draft class is not considered a deep one for the defensive line, however, so if Seattle is going to do that, expect them to take a defensive lineman early this April.

But that is then, and this is now, and I say “welcome to Seattle, Quinton Dunbar!”

Blessed be, and go Hawks.

Bring back Bennett? May not be a bad idea.

Well, here we are Twelves. We are exactly one week through NFL free agency, and thus far, the Seattle Seahawks have signed defensive tackle Jarran Reed and old friend, defensive end Bruce Irvin, and a hand full of journeyman offensive linemen.. and that’s it. Rather surprisingly, still sitting out there waiting for a gig is star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

It’s surprising that he has not found a suitable deal thus far, as many thought he would be the hottest pass rusher on the market. However, the truth of the matter is that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, teams can not have their doctors look at the core injury that he has been recovering from, and teams have shied away from his expensive asking price, including the Seattle Seahawks.

Reportedly, Seattle has made him an offer, but he has obviously not bitten, and thus we have a frustrating stalemate. While this stalemate has lingered, we as Seahawk fans have watched a number of other high end pass rushers sign contracts with other teams. This has caused a bit of a panic with some fans and bloggers who follow the team.

I’m here to say relax, folks. The Seahawks have a plan. They will fix the pass rush. It’s just that we haven’t seen it yet, and the league wide consensus seems to be that Clowney will likely return to Seattle on a short term deal so that he can re-enter the market in another year or two for a bigger deal more to his liking.

I’m also going to say that if Clowney doesn’t return to Seattle, the pass rush will likely still improve from last year. For one thing, it practically can not get any worse, and for another, Pete Carroll will not going into the 2020 season without adding significantly to the front four.

Here is what I think might happen.

Adding familiar faces

I think it could become hugely important for Seattle to land multiple pass rushers who intimately know Pete Carroll’s defense. With this current virus pandemic expected to last weeks, if not months, it legitimately threatens the NFL’s off-season training programs, and the chances of any Spring mini-camps after the draft.

There are still some sexy names sitting out there that Seattle could pursue. They could add Ndamukong Suh to pair with Jarran Reed to potentially create an intimidating inside rush. They could trade for a top edge rusher in Yannick Ngakoue or Matt Judon, who are both sitting on franchise tags. They could definitely make a splash move or two like this, but none of these players are familiar with Carroll’s system, and with without mini-camps likely being available, they would be forced to learn on the fly come actually training camp in august.

Thus, it might be wiser for Seattle to show restraint and look at veterans on the market that know the system and even some that have natural chemistry with players already on the roster. Currently sitting out there in free agency are Clowney, Everson Griffin, Clay Matthews, Michael Bennett, and Benson Mayowa. Each of these pass rushers are familiar with Pete Carroll’s defense either by playing for him in Seattle or in college at USC.

Laugh all you want to about the return of Michael Bennett and Benson Mayowa to as legitimate fixes to Seattle’s ailing pass rush, but both players were more productive than Clowney in the sacks column last year. So was Griffin and Matthews (Griffin was significantly so).

For sake of argument, let’s assume that Clowney leaves, and Seattle signs just the two former Hawk pass rushers in Bennett and Mayowa. Recently added Bruce Irvin collected 8.5 sacks in 2019, while Mayowa had 7, and Bennett had 6.5. Irvin and Mayowa likely would rotate as the primary leo ends, and Bennett works with Rasheem Green and LJ Collier at the five tech (Green was the team leader in sacks last year with 4). Between Irvin, Mayowa, Bennett, and Green, that’s 26 sacks right there. Seattle had 28 for the entire season in 2019.

Then when you factor in the likelihood of a full season from defensive tackle Jarran Reed, more contributions from rush linebacker Shaquem Griffin, and further steps forward from Collier and potentially defensive tackle Poona Ford, plus blitzing contributions from linebackers and defensive backs, it quickly becomes realistic to project Seattle pass rush improving significantly. This doesn’t even include who Seattle might look to add in the draft this Spring.

Personally, I think that if they lose Clowney, they probably bring in Everson Griffin on potentially a two year deal, and then one of Bennett or Mayowa. Landing Griffin would be a huge boost, in my opinion. In all honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Seattle eventually add Clowney and Griffin, and we are all breathing big sighs of relief, but this piece is looking at all angles, including losing Clowney.

A further case for bringing back Michael Bennett

This idea isn’t just me pontificating bringing back another aging veteran who was a personal favorite of mine. This is about bringing back a player that still showed the ability to rush the passer in 2019, and one that knows this defense exceptionally well.

Adding Bennett would also mean bringing back a player that knows Jarran Reed, Bruce Irvin, and linebackers Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright really well. Part of making a pass rush functional is chemistry, and I would argue that lack of chemistry had as much to do with Seattle’s pass rush dysfunctions in 2019 as anything. Ziggy Ansah couldn’t get healthy enough for training camp, Jarran Reed was suspended for the first six games, and Clowney was a late addition who had to pick up the defense on the fly. Bennett knows this defense and key players in the front seven. That’s a benefit.

I also think that his veteran presence would likely help Rasheem Green and LJ Collier out immensely. Both players comped to Bennett coming out of college. Why not take the opportunity for both to actually learn for Bennett? Seems prudent to me.

Finally, Bennett has expressed a strong interest in returning to Seattle to finish his career out. Who knows if Seattle has interest, but from where I look this, I say this is a situation to monitor.

Relax

Relax Seahawk fans. I think one way or another, Seattle will fix this pass rush this year, and frankly, there is bigger things to worry about.

Take care of yourselves during this pandemic. Don’t stress, get rest, stay distant from others in public, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, workout in safe places, wash your hands, clean your surfaces, and go Hawks.

Bruce is back!

Writing this piece makes me happy. I have always been a big Bruce Irvin fan, and I thought it was a mistake that Seattle let him leave in free agency after the 2015 season. Yes, they already had Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, and Frank Clark as primary pass rushers, but Bruce had developed into a very good SAM linebacker, and doubled as a capable pass rushing end. As my dear old dad used to say, you can never have enough pass rushers.

I had hoped that he would have returned a couple seasons ago when the Raiders decided to tank their season, and released him, but he ended up signing with Atlanta. I had my fingers crossed last off-season that Seattle would bring him home, but he ended up signing with the Panthers where he enjoyed an 8.5 sack season. So when news broke late yesterday after that Bruce had signed with Seattle, I told my wife that I would do a cartwheel in our backyard if the next news breaking was that they were bringing back Michael Bennett, as well. I was pretty darn happy about it.

What does the Bruce Irvin Signing Mean For the Seahawks?

People can choose to over-inflate the signing or dismiss it. Yes, it’s true that Bruce is older now at 33, but he has always been one of the more freakishly athletic edge rushers in the league, has only played eight seasons, and he is still showing production. He might be one of the youngest 33 year old players in the league, and Seattle desperately needs productive pass rushers. From this perspective, this was a really good signing.

For one, he knows Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, KJ Wright, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr, and the Seattle culture really well. The other important thing is that Seattle mostly needs help at the rush Leo end spot, and at this stage in his career, that is what Bruce is. He is likely a solid upgrade from the Ziggy Ansah failed experiment last year.

Personally, I don’t fret about his age. As I stated, I think he is still one of the more athletic speed rushers in the league, and I wouldn’t bet against him playing beyond his mid thirties, if he finds a niche in the league where he is used as a pass rushing specialist. That’s what I think he is most likely going to be in Seattle, which is great.

Which also leads me to saying this; I don’t think Seattle is near done shopping for pass rushers. I think there is an increasing chance that either Jadeveon Clowney returns to Seattle or they trade for Jaguar end rusher Yannick Ngakoue. I think there even a chance that they could wow us, and do both. I also would not rule out a return to Seattle by one Michael Bennett, or an Everson Griffin signing (who played college ball for Pete at USC).

I wouldn’t even rule out a trade for a player that we are not thinking about. How many people woke up yesterday morning thinking that Denver would send a seventh round pick to Tennessee for star defensive tackle Jurrell Casey? Personally, I would have loved to have seen Seattle make that deal, but regardless, that deal at least gives me confidence that more deals are likely out there and Seattle will be in the mix.

At any rate, this pass rush is not remotely fixed yet. Bruce is a nice start, but I can’t wait to see what lands next. We shall soon see.

Seattle loads up on veteran offensive lineman

Over the last 48 hours Seattle has signed veteran guard/center BJ Finney, and tackles Brandon Shell and Cedric Ogbuehi. Finney and Shell both signed two year deals, and Ogbuechi signed a one year contract.

Shell likely replaces right tackle Germaine Ifedi to the joy of many Seahawk fans. Make no mistake, he’s nowhere near a pro bowl level player, but he has graded slightly better than Ifedi over the years by Pro Football Focus, and is coming in on an inexpensive deal. My ultimate reading on this is that he is a hedge for a player that they will likely draft this Spring to be the likely long term starter. This draft class is loaded at offensive tackle.

Ogbuehi is probably a cheap replacement for George Fant. He will compete to be the swing tackle. He will also most likely be looked at as the next run blocking “big tight end” that Fant was, as he was used in the role in Jacksonville last year.

The more interested signing, in my opinion, is BJ Finney. Based off of comments I’ve read from Steeler fans, he was a highly valued swing guard and center in Pittsburgh, and was a capable starter when called upon. Pro Football Focus graded him out to be a pretty good pass blocker. This could be a sneaky good signing for Seattle. There is a chance that he takes over at guard for Mike Iupati, but I actually think that there is a greater chance that he ends of replacing Justin Britt at center.

Britt is coming off of a serious knee injury and is carrying an expensive salary in 2020. If Seattle is to remain aggressive in fixing its pass rush, releasing Britt saves about $9 million off of the cap. After the Finney contract, that would be about a $5 million savings. Watch for this move to likely happen.

What to expect for Seattle moving forward in free agency

Expect them to significantly continue to add to the pass rush. It will likely happen through free agency and trades. Keep these names in your mind; Jadeavon Clowney, Yannick Ngakoue, Everson Griffin, Matt Judon, and Michael Bennett. I think there is a decent chance any combo of these names are going to be Seahawks soon.

I would also expect them to look to add more in their secondary. They’ve been linked to Damarious Randall who could come in to be the starting nickel corner. I’d love that signing.

I would also very much expect them to add veteran help at running back, but they probably won’t move as fast there. The main goal will remain fixing the pass rush and then I would expect the other chips to follow.

So there we have it. Stay safe, friends.

Go Hawks.

Seattle keeps it’s prized interior defender

For us football crazed nutballs, the NFL off-season is a godsend. In any regular year, the NFL off-season marks a time when fans for all 32 teams can dream about what their team can become. It officially starts with free agency and works itself to the draft. I almost get as excited for it as I do the regular season. I call it the Dream Season.

This year, I feel that this NFL off-season is especially needed. The Covid 19 virus has now become a global pandemic, and because of this, sports leagues are rightly shutting down. As sports fans, I believe we very likely need this off-season now more than ever. We need to dream, and feel positive about our teams. We need this distraction.

Here are some of my thoughts about the first day of “unofficial” free agency.

Defensive Tackle Jarran Reed Stays in Seattle

Personally, I’m really glad to see the big fella back, and a two year $23 million deal seems fair for a guy who is a plus run defender, and capable inside pass rusher. I think some fans were down on him at the end of the season, and felt that he was expendable, but it never seemed like the team was, and it didn’t seem like the league was either. I think Reed perfectly fits what Pete Carroll likes at defensive tackle. He loves big bodies that can anchor and have the ability to push the pocket. That is Jarran Reed, and I think they hold onto a guy who’s best football is likely still ahead of him.

I also think that two years feels win win for both the player and the team. For the team, it solidifies the interior of the defense line for a couple more seasons, and for Reed, it allows him to enter the market again at a reasonably young enough age. Seattle has done well in the past signing defensive linemen to shorter term deals in Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Alan Branch, and others. A shorter term contract tends to make a defender play hungrier. I like the idea of a hungry Jarran Reed for two more years.

Tight End Luke Willson Stays in Seattle

Yay. My favorite Canadian tight end product is staying home. Luke Willson is the ideal Seattle Seahawk. He’s a positive locker room guy, a fun guy, he’s a good run blocker, and a capable pass catcher. There is a ton of cultural value to keeping a guy like this on your roster, and with his return Seattle should be pretty set at tight end, with no rush to hurry back Will Dissly from his Achilles injury.

Seattle Tenders Restricted Free Agents Jacob Hollister, David Moore, and Others

In addition to keeping Reed, Seattle made moves to help secure a few restricted free agents. Tight end Jacob Hollister, receiver David Moore, center Joey Hunt, and defensive end Branden Jackson all should be back in 2020.

What’s interesting to me is that the team chose to place a high second round tender on Hollister. This means that they will pay him roughly $3 million for 2020, and should any team signs him to a contract, they would have to surrender a second round pick to Seattle. This also means that they likely see Hollister as a valuable piece to their roster in 2020, even with the signing of Greg Olsen, and the returns of Will Dissly and Luke Willson.

The NFC West Is Becoming The Best League In Football

What out for the Arizona Cardinals. Not only do they have one of the more exciting young quarterbacks in the league in Kyler Murray, they just magically dumped off overpaid running back David Johnson to Houston for hall of fame level wide receiver  DeAndre Hopskins to pair with Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk. They also placed the transition tag on Keynon Drake who severely outplayed Johnson. They also have a top ten pick in this year’s draft that is loaded at offensive tackle and top heavy at defensive line. They could easily be the surprise team of the conference in 2020.

Then you have the division champion San Fransisco 49ers who held onto their prized defensive linemen Arik Armstead, and shipped off his interior mate DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the 13th overall pick in the draft. San Fransisco will now have two picks in the first round, and this draft is looking historically deep at receiver and is good for offensive line. It’s going to be really interesting to see how they reload.

The Rams are more pinched. They don’t have a lot of cap space, and they don’t have any high picks, but this is still a team that has Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey on the defense, and they are still loaded with star power on the offense.

Seattle’s advantage is clear. It’s MVP talent Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll, and their proven formula as a Super Bowl wining quarterback and coach combo. Don’t be surprised if Seattle pulls off a surprise trade of their own to stay up with the others in the division. Who or what, I don’t know yet. It could another star to the defense, or a play-maker on the offense, but I suspect they will be willing to go bold this year. They might just simply be waiting to see if they can retain Jadeveon Clowney before they make that kind of move.

At any rate, this is looking like a spectacular division. I’m pretty excited about it, and Seattle needs to nail this off-season to take it over. Let’s see if they do it.

Go Hawks.

With NFL free agency about a week away, I thought it would be a good time to do some tea leaf reading with each of the main Seattle free agents that are set to hit the market. Historically, under the Pete Carroll and John Schneider regime, Seattle has preferred to reward their own players as opposed to bringing in high profile types via the free agency route. The 2013 signings of Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett happened when the market quieted down and they came to them on short team friendly deals.

The one year that was an exception was 2011 when they spent big bringing in Sidney Rice, Robert Gallery, and Zach Miller. They where still a building team then, and they had plenty of cap space to be aggressive. This year Seattle will have more cap space available to them than they have had since 2011, and it is quite possible that they will be as aggressive as they back in that year. Both Pete Carroll and John Schneider have stressed the importance of improving the team’s pass rush, and Russell Wilson made a rare outward plead for adding more “stars” to both sides of the ball.

With all that said, I would expect Seattle to retain a few key veterans while looking to add from outside. The following is a list of the biggest key names with reasons for and against re-signing.

Defensive End Jadeveon Clowney.

Reason For: Clowney is a rare athlete at defensive end. His unique length and strength and speed creates constant disruption against the pass and run, and he is still young enough that his best football could be in front of him. For any great pass rush to happen, a defense needs at least one player that can be a true disruptor and that is his game. He is also one of the very best edge defenders against the run and Seattle plays in a division with teams that love to run the ball. It’s a tough argument to make that allowing your best defensive linemen to leave will help improve you biggest need, which is improving the pass rush. By all accounts, Clowney was a great locker room guy in 2019 and can be a cornerstone leader of the defense moving forward.

Reason Against: For as talented as Clowney is, he has rarely played a full healthy season, and as the saying goes, your best ability is availability. Signing Clowney to a contract North of $20 million will make it more difficult to add more quality to the defensive line through free agency, and Seattle most likely needs to add multiple players.

Return Probability:  So so. On the surface, the arguments for keeping Clowney outweigh the arguments against it. However, his healthy history coupled with his likely asking price is a concern. If Seattle pays him a salary that is annually more than $20 million a year but he only plays 10 to 12 games a season for the next few years, that might not be a great investment. That’s probably why we are seeing reports floating out there that Seattle would love to keep him but not at a cost greater than $18 to $20 million. Therefor, I give it about a 50 percent chance he returns. He could find his market colder than expected, or a team ponies up beyond where Seattle is willing to go. We shall see.

Defensive Tackle Jarran Reed

Reasons For: While he isn’t a superstar player in this league, Reed is a well rounded interior defender who is strong against the run and is a capable pass rusher, and those kind of players are hard to find. The team loves him and he is considered a leader on the defensive line. At age 27, like Clowney, there is still likely better ball in front of him. While he had a down statistical year, Pro Football Focus still rates him within the top 50 free agents set to hit the market and well ahead of other defensive tackles that had better 2019 stats. He is a home grown talent and rewarding him shows others on the team that it is still Seattle’s preference to reward their own.

Reasons Against: Under Carroll and Schneider, Seattle has historically found great value on the free agent market at defensive tackle with the like of Alan Branch, Tony McDaniel, Kevin Williams, Ahtyba Rubin, and Al Woods, and there appears to be a lot of depth on the market this year with the 2016 defensive tackle class starring at free agency. Seattle could find a similar enough player on the market without paying as much, and they might even be able to sign a couple to further build back depth.

Return Probability: Decent. From the team’s perspective, I think they would love to keep him. Reed wants big money, but with the free agency class this year, I think there could be enough good young interior players entering the market that it could drive costs down a bit. This is why I think Seattle might reach a deal with Reed once he tests the market. It could be short term, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the club and the player come to an agreement on a longer deal once they have felt the market a bit.

Defensive Lineman Quinton Jefferson

Reasons For: Outside of Clowney, Q Jeff might have been Seattle’s most productive defensive lineman in 2019. His ability to play multiple positions is valuable to Seattle’s 4-3 hybrid scheme, like a poor man’s version of Michael Bennett in year’s past. His interior pass rush win rate was top twenty in the league last year according to Pro Football Focus. Like Reed and Clowney, John Schneider has outwardly expressed a desire to see him return. Rewarding him also shows others on the team that Seattle values their own, and prefers keeping them over adding from outside.

Reasons Against: Like Clowney, Q Jeff hasn’t had a great history of staying healthy through a full season. Seattle has two similar players already on their roster in first round pick LJ Collier, and former third round pick Rasheem Green, and retaining Q Jeff might hamper their development. Q Jeff might be a better fit as a defensive end for a team that runs a 3-4 defense than a team the mainly runs a 4-3 like Seattle, and could easily get a better offer than what Seattle is willing to go towards.

Return Probability: A mild chance. I like Q Jeff a lot. I love that he is a sell made player, and a family man. I love that he is versatile and therefore, he is valuable. However, I see at least two other players on the roster who can grown into his role, and I think he is likely to find a hotter market and is likely be priced out of Seattle’s range. I think team’s the run 3-4 defenses are going to look intently at this guy, and I could see New England really valuing him. It all depends on how far Seattle is willing to go to pay him. He could have a hotter market than Reed.

Linebacker Mychal Kendricks

Reasons For: He is one of the more athletic coverage linebackers in the league, and Seattle needs to add speed to the defense and not lose any. Kendricks is also a very capable blitzer. Pete Carroll has consistently raved about his play and clearly values his athletic traits. He can play all three linebacker spots reasonably well.

Reasons Against: For as well as he moves in coverage, he is not always the best tackler, and missed way too many tackles in 2019. He is also an older player who has been injury prone over his two seasons in Seattle. Seattle has three young linebackers who could vie for his roster spot.

Return Probability: Iffy. I think Carroll would like to see him back, but GM John Schneider pumped the breaks a bit during his Scouting Combine press conference. Seattle is going to be aggressive this off-season in fixing its pass rush and that is likely to get expensive with veteran contracts. Something has to give and Seattle has enough younger players behind him that they can justify not spending here. I think he more likely returns if they decide to cut KJ Wright to save a few, and I don’t think they do that.

Offensive Tackle Germaine Ifedi

Reasons For: He has improved his game enough with each year as a starter that he has become a serviceable starter in the league after a very rough early start to his career. Carroll has expressed a desire to keep as much of his offensive line together as they can for continuity purposes. He is a young player who can continue to grow and get better.

Reasons Against: He was a Tom Cable guy and might not be an ideal fit at right tackle to what current offensive line coach Mike Solari would prefer. He might not be an ideal fit for what improviser Russell Wilson needs at tackle and might be a better fit on a team with a taller quarterback who can get the ball out quicker. One of the main reasons for all the false starts is his lack of quickness going against speed rushers. This year’s draft class offers numerous athletic offensive tackle prospects and Seattle could find a cheaper replacement through the draft.

Return Probability: Slim. If Seattle was serious about keeping him around long term, they would have picked up his fifth year option off of his first round rookie contract last year. While they probably viewed him as a better option at right tackle than George Fant, they likely haven’t seen him as a long term building block on the offensive line. It feels like he’s likely not a great fit for a short scrambling quarterback and needs to be in a system with a tall passer who gets the ball out quicker. I think he moves on.

Offensive Tackle/Tight End George Fant

Reasons For: He is a versatile player that is athletic enough to play blocking tight end in the run game and he played well enough at left tackle in place of injured starter Duane Brown that the team could see him as an eventual replacement at left tackle down the road. He could be adequate replace for Germaine Ifedi at right tackle.

Reasons Against: Seattle may not view him as a great option at right tackle because he was a raw athletic coming out of college who had more of a basketball background than a football one, and only really learned enough football skills to play comfortably on the left side of the line.

Return Probability: Not great. The way I see it, if Seattle would have thought he was decent competition at right tackle for Germaine Ifedi, we would have seen him there, and we never saw him there. I think he wants to be a left tackle not just because it’s a position that pays more but it’s where he is most comfortable. While there is good draft prospects this year for left tackle, a team might decide that they have seen enough positive play on tape that they might offer decent enough money for them to bring him in. The Jets are already reportedly interested and I think there will be other suitors.

Offensive Guard Mike Iupati

Reasons For: He fits the profile of what Seattle prefers at guard with line coach Mike Solari, and he is a proven capable starter. He is an older player who understands the system well. Carroll expressed a heavy interest in keeping the line together as much as possible and if they lose Ifedi, losing Iupati means having to replace 3/5’s of the line, and that’s not a great recipe for continuity.

Reasons Against: Seattle has younger players behind him in Phil Haynes and Jamarco Jones who each have shown enough promise to warrant giving them a chance to be the starter. This is a good enough draft class at offensive line that could find solutions there, as well.

Return Probability. Good. Carroll has expressed an interest in keeping as much of the line together as they can, and Iupati is enough on the older side of football where he probably isn’t going to find a great market, especially with a good offensive line draft class around the corner. Seattle could bring him back on another inexpensive one year deal, and open up competition between him and Haynes or Jones. He might feel that his chances are still good enough to hold off the young pups for another year.

Running Back Marshawn Lynch

Reasons For: With Chris Carson coming back from a major hip injury and Rashaad Penny likely not going to be ready at the start of the regular season, Seattle needs a reliable option to mix in and be a capable starter if called upon. While his days as a featured back are probably over, Marshawn’s physical running style would be a good mix with Carson, and he would be a solid short yardage back. Marshawn’s ability to inspire other players has value.

Reasons Against: With Carson set to become a free agent in 2021 and Penny coming back from a major knee injury, Seattle might prefer to draft a player that could become a future starter rather than use valuable salary cap space on an aging veteran. Marshawn might decide that retirement suits him in 2020.

Return Probability: So so. There is solid reasons for Marshawn to return. It doesn’t appear that he has slowed down much, and he is a proven veteran. His physical style lends well with how Seattle likes to run, and it can have a positive effect on others. Even if Seattle drafts or signs a younger player, they still might decide to add Marshawn into the mix, if Marshawn still wants to play. That’s the big “if” for me. Does Marshawn want to play a full season? Does he want to be involved with off-season workouts and training camp? He was not a big fan of those during his first go around in Seattle.

Tight End Luke Willson

Reasons For: He is a solid blocking tight end, and should Seattle lose George Fant in free agency, he could have a niche on running downs. He is a great locker room guy, and team player. With Will Dissly’s injury history and Greg Olsen’s age, Seattle might want as much quality depth as they can get with their tight ends, and Willson is a proven vet.

Reasons Against: Seattle invests heavily in free agency to rebuild the defensive line, and they find a cheaper solution to add tight end depth through the draft.  George Fant returns to Seattle and the need for Willson or another tight end isn’t as high.

Return Probability: Goo. Willson might have more value in Seattle than on other rosters. He is a journeyman player that probably won’t see a big market, and John Schneider has already stated that the team wants him back.

In Conclusion

As I type all this up, I realize that it’s difficult to project who stays and who goes. These are just the tea leaves that I am seeing. Clowney could well be the player Seattle will aggressively look to bring back, even at the cost of keeping other key players. Ideally, they would want to keep Clowney, Reed, and Jefferson, and add another veteran speed rusher, but that could prove too expensive, and something might give. That could force them to look for value at defensive tackle like they have done in years past.

Rumors of how much Clowney is asking for and what the team is willing to spend is likely posturing on both sides. Both sides probably want to reach a deal, but all it takes is one team on the market to throw more money at Clowney than Seattle wants to spend for it not to materialize. That’s probably why we are hearing rumors of Seattle being interested in trading for Jaguar pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue. It’s probably Plan B.

With the other players, I think both the offensive tackles are propably out-y, and the jury is out on many others. Seattle will be in wait and see mode until they resolve the defensive line issues.

Once we get closer to free agency, I will compile a list of players that I think Seattle will likely target, especially for their defensive line.

Go Hawks.

Let Russell cook with this guy.

Ah yes. March is upon us, and with it, Spring shall be springing, and thus, so shall the 2020 NFL off-season. Like the yellow forsythia in bloom that ushers in the sweet smells of Spring, so does the NFL Scouting Combine Indianapolis usher in free agency, the draft, and other means for teams to build their programs before live practices begin in the Summer.

It is no small coincidence that the rookie combine happens just a couple weeks before free agency. The combine is the universal information gathering tool that lets all 32 teams know more accurately just what type of draft eligible players are coming out of college. What coaches and scouts see on tape only provides so much information about a player. How the player moves through agility drills, how high they jump, how much they lift, how fast they run, and how long they measure all provide valuable information on how their skills will likely translate in the pros. Once the league gathers this information, the teams with then know more properly how to approach free agency, trades, and then the draft in another month.

For the Seattle Seahawks, it has been the widely held belief that their biggest task this off-season is to fix their defense which ranked 26th in the league last year, and chiefly in that, fix their pass rush that collected only 28 sacks for the season. They also could be looking to replace their starting right tackle and left guard on the offensive line, and they might need to add a running back and additional help at receiver. In short, they have a busy off-season starring at them.

So, with that, let’s break down what all happened in Indianapolis last week, and where it all likely will lead us.

The Head Coach and General Manager Speak

Pete Carroll and John Schneider both held press conferences that shined some useful light on how they see their roster, how they see this draft class, and which of their own free agents they would like to see back with the club this Fall. Both Carroll and Schneider were quick to address the obvious need to improving the pass rush.

Both figure heads also noted the strong desire to see defensive end Jadeveon Clowney return. None of this is unexpected news. What was a bit more interesting to me was hearing Schneider mention fairly strongly the desire to see defensive tackle Jarran Reed back. “We definitely want him back, absolutely. Great guy. Great locker room guy.”

Schneider also noted that they would like to keep defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson and tight end Luke Willson. He were more vague about other veteran pending free agents including offensive tackles Germaine Ifedi and George Fant, and running back Marshawn Lynch.

My reading of the tea leaves on this is that they think they have three reliable vets that they build with on the defensive line, if they can somehow retain Clowney, Reed, and Jefferson, and they are looking for a pure outside speed rusher to add to that mix. Carroll was on the 710 ESPN the following day with John Clayton specifically stating the need to find another rush end, and that they have at least a half dozen veterans in mind that they would like to target in free agency. Whether or not they can keep all three and add to that with another quality vet is another matter that we will touch more on later.

Another thing that I found interesting was, when pressed about how he thought the secondary played last year, GM John Schneider basically confessed to wanting to see better play on the field. When you couple that with Carroll saying that improving the pass rush doesn’t just come with adding to the defensive line but also improving coverage, you begin to formulate a pretty clear idea that they are going to be looking at corners, nickels, and possibly more safeties again this year. It wouldn’t surprise me if they draft a corner higher this year than they have historically, but more on that also later.

The other thing I found pretty standout is that when asked about the receivers in this draft class, John Schneider wasn’t just glowing, he was gushing about the level of talent. My simple reading into this is that the “Let Russell Cook” crowd on Seahawks Twitter should rest comfortable feeling that Seattle is probably going to walk out of this draft with another legit weapon for Russ, maybe even two. To make all this more clear on the level of talent we are talking about, the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has graded 27 receivers in this class with a third around grade or better. That’s almost an entire round of talent, and if that holds true, this year could be a historic draft class for the position.

So, let’s break down the positions and what it means for the Seahawks this year.

Multiple Quarterback Talents Appear To Be There

On the surface this means little for the Seahawks. They have locked Russell Wilson into a deal for four more years. Furthermore, the fanciful idea of drafting a talented quarterback high and then trading one of the two players for gobs of high draft picks isn’t really there because Wilson’s deal has a “no trade” clause. If Seattle drafts a quarterback out of this class, it will likely be in the late rounds, and he will be a developmental player that might be able to compete for the backup spot.

How this helps Seattle is simple. There are five quarterbacks thought to be first round talents, and that means a better likelihood of a really talented player falling to Seattle if all are drafted before their first pick. There is a good chance that this could happen.

There Is Serious Talent At Running Back And Seattle Might Draft One High.. Again

A big contingent of Seahawks Twitter is not going to like that subheading. Much of modern football analytics has devalued the position, but here is the thing, as I see it.

Seattle is a running football team, as is the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, and the San Francisco 49ers (All playoff teams last season). Seattle also has major questions about the health and durance of lead back Chris Carson, and even more concern over the health of his potential heir apparent in Rashaad Penny. Penny might not even make it back from his knee injury until halfway through the regular season.

For all the talk of Seattle needing to add pass rush, I think the under talked about thing starring at them is the need for another running back, and one that can be a capable every down starter. It’s entirely possible that Seattle looks to free agency and that includes bringing back Marshawn Lynch (who I think they should bring back anyway). However, should the defensive line rebuild prove spendy (very likely), they might not be able to afford to spend much on the market for a runner.

So, here is goes..

If Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor is sitting there at 27 when Seattle is picking, I think Seahawk Twitter might need to brace themselves. Taylor has FREAKISH athletic talent to go along with size, and he openly stated how much he wants to play for Seattle and play with Russell Wilson. Jonathan Taylor has Saquon Barkley like talent, there is every chance he will be long gone before Seattle picks, but I’m just saying, if he is there, I don’t know how Pete Carroll passes on him.

Alternatively, there are a few other backs with size and explosive traits that Seattle loves to acquire but this does not appear to be a deep draft for them. If Seattle wants Cam Akers or AJ Dillon, they might have to use one of their second day picks on them. This is probably another reason why it is likely that they will try to trade back. They probably want to get as many picks as they can in the 40 to 100 range to fill holes and running back is likely to be one of them.

This Is A Ridiculously Talented Wide Receiver Class

Let. Russell. Cook.

I am all for that, and I am all for Seattle grabbing not just one of these talents, but at least two. I don’t know about you, but I spent the majority of the 2019 season in almost a constant state of fear each game about Tyler Lockett getting injured. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the DK Metcalf story, but beyond Metcalf (and for a blimp on the radar of Josh Gordon), there wasn’t much on the roster beyond these two as pass catchers. In fact, the third leading receiver was fourth string tight end Jacob Hollister.

Get Russell one of these guys, at the very least. For all the fans that are begging for more pre-snap motions, and other advancements to the passing attack, Russell needs more. This is what this draft truly has to offer for Seattle. Some of these guys will be long gone before Seattle drafts, but some will be there when they pick first, and some might even been there when they pick twice in the second round. Just get him one of these guys.

A few names to keep in mind that fit Seattle’s tendencies in targeting faster more athletic receivers include Baylor’s Denzel Mims, TCU’s Jalen Reagor, Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool, and LSU’s Justin Jefferson. It wouldn’t shock me of one of these guys is a Seahawk this Fall. There’s many others that would also be welcome additions, but those guys above all strike me a Seahawk players.

Tight Ends Are Not Nearly As Talented

This doesn’t appear to be a great tight end class, and this is probably another reason why the team acted quickly to sign former Panther Greg Olsen once he hit the market, and why Schneider volunteered that they want Willson back.

Offensive Linemen Are Explosive And Plentiful In This Draft

I see why John Schneider and Pete Carroll have been a bit mum on the returns of Germaine Ifedi this year. The other great news coming out of this combine is that wide receiver is not the only exciting position group. There are multiple offensive tackles the meet Seattle’s threshold for arm length and athleticism.

In fact, this a rare class that seems to have more athleticism, in general, on the offensive line than the defensive line. I think it is entirely possible that Seattle could take one of these tackles with their first pick to play right tackle and then transition to left once Duane Brown has decided to call it a career. A few of these guys tested so incredibly explosive that, with the combination of their enormous size, there is no way that they even make it to Seattle’s first pick, but a few players to keep in mind for Seattle later on are as follows; Ezra Cleveland of Boise State, Austin Jackson of USC, Matt Peart of UConn, Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson both out of Georgia. There are a number of others, as well. I think it is a pretty strong possibility that Seattle’s next starting right tackle comes out of this class.

There’s also some pretty interesting guard and center options that could appeal Seattle, especially if Mike Iupati doesn’t return, or if Justin Britt becomes a salary cap casualty. It’s entirely possible that Seattle could come out of this draft with two quality starters on the offensive line, if the draft lands right for them.

Pass Rush Is Lacking In This Class

If Pete Carroll came into this combine hoping for solutions to add to the speed rush portion of his defensive line, this combine might have added a few more wrinkles to his face. There wasn’t much to offer. It was thought to be a weak defensive line class before the draft, and these performances confirmed it. There was no participant that had Seattle’s requirements of length that showed the athleticism and quickness to likely play rush end for them.

Seattle has a very defined profile in what they look for to play rush end. His defense is predicated on having a rush end that has at least 33 inch arms, and they need to run the 10 yard split exercise in the 1.5s of seconds. Every rush leo that they are acquired over the years has these two traits from Chris Clemons to Jadeveon Clowney and all in between.

Nobody ran the 10 yard split under 1.6 during this combine. Now there were a few players thought to be higher end talents that chose not to run these drills (saving them for their on personal pro days), but even if a few of them did manage a 1.5 10 yard split, because of the dearth of edge rush talent, it’s probably pretty unlikely that they last to where Seattle picks in round one.

Here’s the other bit of unfortunate news out of this. Jadeveon Clowney’s price tag probably just shot way up after these guys ran, and so did a lot of other veteran edge rushers that are set to go on the free agent market. If Seattle is going to go the veteran free agent method of improving the pass rush, it could get really expensive. If they go that route, there could be a surprise cut on the horizon of a popular player or two.

They might have to look towards trading for someone on an existing contract that is more cap reasonable, but because of the dearth of talent, the asking price from the team looking to maybe trade will also surely also go up. Does Seattle really want to trade their first round pick to Denver for 30 year old Von Miller and miss out on drafting a premier offensive lineman or receiver?

On the slightly more positive side, this class seems to have some interesting options at defensive tackle should they lose Jarran Reed in free agency, but if Seattle wants one of them, they might have to use their first pick because there aren’t a bunch of options and they might not last deep into round two. A few of these guys probably won’t even make it to where Seattle picks, but Justin Madubuike of Texas A&M tested really well and Raekwon Davis of Alabama has interesting length the Carroll seems to like inside.

There Are A Few Interesting Linebackers Out There

It’s debatable how in need Seattle is at linebacker. There are some feelings out there that Seattle could cut KJ Wright if they decide to spend big money reshaping the defensive line. They would save about $10 million if they cut him, and they could find a cheap replace in this draft class with LSU’s Patrick Queen, Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray or Mississippi State’s Willie Gay Jr who are all highly athletic football players, and maybe one of these guys will be there with the first pick. However, cutting KJ seems to  potentially create a further need and then you have to spend a high pick replacing him if you don’t trust that Cody Barton is ready to take over.

Personally, I think Barton was drafted to take over the WILL spot for Wright eventually, and if they move on from Wright early, it will be Barton’s job to lose. I also think Barton more naturally fits the WILL spot than the SAM one he was thrust into starting at, and if Seattle does draft a linebacker, it will be a guy the plays more naturally at the SAM. That’s probably maybe why they met with Wisconsin’s Zack Baun. Baun could easily be the plan if they are looking to get cheaper at linebacker in the base defense, and he’s a perfect SAM. The thing is, again, you’re looking probably burning a high pick.

I’m not against drafting one of these guys. They are all good players. I’m just not sure how much the need is there. Free agency will likely shed more light on this area.

If Seattle Wants To Add A Outside Cornerback, They Might Draft One Early

The highest that Seattle has ever drafted a corner under Pete Carroll is in the middle of round three in 2017 when they took Shaquill Griffin. Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell, Tre Flowers have all been later round picks. Under Carroll, Seattle is very stringent on length at outside corner. They all play with at least 32 inch arms.

There is only a small handful of what looks like quality outside corners in this class that have that requisite arm length, and one of them is likely going in the top ten of the draft. Interestingly enough, Seattle met with Alabama corner Trevon Diggs, and Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall. If Seattle likes Diggs, they are probably going to have to draft him with their first pick, if he is still there. If Hall is a guy that they really like, they probably will have to take him in round two.

Alternatively, because Justin Coleman played nickel corner for them really well with sub 32 inch arms, they could consider drafting a pure nickel corner at some point during day two or three. There appears to be more better options for them there in this draft than at outside corner.

It will be interesting to see what they do. I have no idea what they are thinking. All I know is that when I fall back on the words of Schneider and Carroll during their press conferences, it seems like there is room to consider them drafting the position early this year for once. I’m considering it a real possibility, especially if there is a serious run of offensive tackles and receivers in front of where they pick first, and if Diggs is still there.

It’s also worth noting the there is a few really interesting safeties in this class in Grant Delpit, Kyle Dugger, and Jeremy Chinn. Dugger has been described as a definite Seahawk safety and plays a style similar to Kam Chancellor. On paper, it seems like Seattle is a bit overloaded at safety, but should they decide to draft Dugger early because he is the best player on their board, they might perhaps consider shifting Marquize Blair to nickel where I think he has played some corner in the past in college.

I wouldn’t be totally shocked if, one way or another, Seattle addresses their secondary with an early pick again this year. We shall see.

So What Does This All Mean For The Seahawks Now?

Judging by how this scouting combine went, it seems like Seattle is sitting in bit of a tough spot looking to fix their defensive line through the draft. It’s unfortunate because they desperately need speed and it’s never fun to hit the free agent market with desperation in the air. I think there is now a legitimate chance that they could loose Jadeveon Clowney, and I think they are probably wisely preparing for that.

I wouldn’t be shocked if they try to lure in Everson Griffin who played for Pete Carroll years ago at USC, and I also wouldn’t be surprised if they might look to bring back Bruce Irvin, and probably pursue Dante Fowler. I think that there is a more decent chance that Jarran Reed and Quinton Jefferson return as the primary inside rushers. I also wouldn’t be surprised if there is a trade or two in the works to really solidify this unit.

If they can reshape the defensive line with a few veteran moves, this draft really does shape up nicely for Seattle to land impact players on the offensive side of the ball. For as much as Carroll loves to run the ball, he loves to acquire special pass catching talent, and this draft class is loaded. If they don’t spend big on the offensive line, there are players to replace the likes of Ifedi and Iupati through this draft class. There’s also probably going to be a few running backs that will appeal to Seattle and it won’t be a surprise if one is taken relatively early.

There is also some interesting options at linebacker and in the secondary and possibly defensive tackle.

If I had a lay an educated guess on how this will go down, I would expect to see Seattle make a few splashy free agent moves or a trade to fix the defensive line, and then if they still have their first round pick, I would expect them to move down a bit in the draft (like they always do), and I would expect them to target receiver, offensive line, secondary, and probably running back. If they can get four or five picks between 40 and 100, they might well be able to get some really interesting players to contribute this year.

That’s my best educated guess, anyhow.

It’s going to be fun to see how it all shakes out. I could, of course, be wrong on a lot of this. Wouldn’t be the first time.

Go Hawks.

The best chin in American football is now a Seahawk (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

A few weeks ago, superstar Seattle Seahawk quarterback Russell Wilson volunteered in an interview that he wanted his team to be aggressive this off-season in acquiring ‘superstars.” He mentioned adding to the pass rush (with Jadeveon Clowney) and some to the offense. This was a fairly uncharacteristic volunteer by Russell, as he is more regularly a “stay in you lane” sort of player, but it was also understandable. Seattle played a lot of football in 2019 against arguably stronger rosters and they relied on a lot of Russell magic to sneak out wins. Rarely did a game feel comfortable, and by the end of the season as they headed into the playoffs, even the most optimistic fan probably felt a bit spent.

On Tuesday February 18th, 2020, the Seattle Seahawks reached a one year $7 million deal with 34 year old veteran tight end Greg Olsen that included a $5.5 guaranteed portion. Those $5.5 million in guarantees tell me that they see this addition as more than an aging veteran coming in to be a role player and role model for the younger fellas on the roster. They likely see Olsen as a major piece to the puzzle towards building a Super Bowl contender in 2020.

The one year deal also probably signals that they haven’t given up on the upside of their younger tight ends in Will Dissly and Jacob Hollister, and this is probably even more encouraging than the addition of this crafty veteran. While Seattle is poised to have a big off-season in acquiring veteran talent to help their pass rush and possibly fill a few other positions, the ultimate goal of any franchise to to build a solid foundation off of younger players.

Despite his back to back seasons of being lost to injury, Dissly, in particular looks, to have the talent of being a foundational piece in the future, and Hollister impressed in 2019 when he was thrust into duty as a pass catcher. The addition of Olsen not only buys time for Dissly to properly mend coming back from his achilles injury, it also exposes these two younger talents to one of the most rock solid veteran players in the entire league. From this standpoint, this signing also makes a lot of sense.

As fun as this move is, it does not come without some risk. There is a reason why such a talent found himself available on the market. Olsen has missed 18 games over the past three seasons, for an average of over 5 games a season (on the more positive side of that, though, he only missed two games last year). He will be 35 years old when they start playing live ball this Fall. Will Dissly has yet to prove that he can stay healthy for a full season. It isn’t unfathomable to think that Jacob Hollister could still find himself the starter again at some point in the season.

What Seattle is betting on is that Olsen will stay fairly healthy, and Dissly will eventually come back strong, and that Hollister will take the next step forward. If health is relatively positive at this position, Seattle is going to have a really interesting three headed monster here. All three are solid pass catchers for Russell Wilson.

This is just move number one for adding “stars” to the team. With over $50 million in available cap space, I would look at the bulk of the remaining moves to be improving the pass rush. It could start with retaining Jadeveon Clowney and or Jarran Reed, or it could mean bringing in multiple players from outside via free agency and or trade. It looks like there could be A LOT of options available on the market. It’s going to be fascinating to see how Seattle attacks it.

If they lose Clowney in free agency, would they consider trading for Kansas City’s superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones? These are the type of splash moves I think we could ultimately end up seeing to fulfill Russell’s stated wishes this year.

And I can’t wait for it.

Go Hawks!

In the end, sometimes you just can’t stop greatness

I gotta admit it; I thought the San Francisco 49ers were going to win this game. It wasn’t just during the course of the game, either. I woke up Sunday morning feeling that way. The 2019 San Francisco 49ers were built to defeat the 2019 Kansas City Chiefs, and I think they would have had Jimmy Garoppolo hit Emmanuel Sanders with that deep pass during the final minutes of the game. Instead, we have this 31-20 Chiefs victory that isn’t, in any fashion, a true indication about just how close this game actually was.

This is my Seahawk fan breakdown of the match.

The Good

This game literally came down to the play of Jimmy Garoppolo, and when San Francisco needed big plays from him to win it, he failed. From the Seattle perspective, this is what you want to see. On top of a potential Super Bow hangover, there will be a cloud existing over this team in the former of a question mark as to whether Jimmy G is the long term answer at the most important position on their roster.

It’s pretty clear that head coach Kyle Shanahan leaned into their run game down the stretch into their post season, their schedule will be tougher next year, their roster may not be as deep, and their innovative run game will be more scouted out. Will Jimmy G have the confidence that they need from him to pull out close games with his arm, or will he be more prone to wilting under pressure? This will likely be the big story-line heading into their off-season now.  This is good news for the other teams in the NFC West.

The biggest thing emotionally for me heading into this match was that I did not want to see Richard Sherman win a Super Bowl in a 49er uniform. Call me petty on this, but I just did not want that. There is too much iconic history of Sherman in Seattle, and as a life long Seahawk fan, I did not want to see that shared with their most despised division rival. This is not to be taken that I am Anti Richard Sherman. I still love the guy, and would root for him to win another Super Bowl on a team that wasn’t a division rival, but not in that uniform ever. Just cannot do it.

It was awesome to witness Andy Reid finally win a Super Bowl and to have a generation of Kansas City Chief fans get to experience the special euphoria of Super Bowl victory. Oh, yeah, another thing, that Patrick Mahomes kid is pretty easy to root for.

The Bad

The San Francisco 49ers feel like a team that is likely here to stay for a while. They have a talented young roster, and a brilliant young head coach, and a quarterback who still has room to grow. Seattle might top them in 2020, or maybe the Rams will, but if I were to step back, and objectively look at their roster, they feel like a team that should remain a major pain in the division for the next few years. Seattle has a lot of work to do to figure out how to beat them, especially that run game.

With the Kansas City Chiefs winning, this will likely stoke the flames of the Fire Pete crowd on Seahawks Twitter who want to see Seattle become more of a passing team. A San Francisco victory would have dampened those flames considerably. I am all for “letting Russell cook” more, but to think Pete Carroll is suddenly going to become Andy Reid just isn’t dealing with reality, and to think that Jody Allen is ever going to fire him while he continually produces playoff teams is silly talk. How about we find a happy medium with this, and give Russell a few more weapons to where they can open things up a bit more on first downs, and call this thing good? Good? Great. Moving on.

The Ugly

I didn’t get to see the halftime show because I had to watch my toddler, but I heard it was pretty “pole dance-y.” Whatever. I’m fine to have missed it.

Moving Forward

As much as I would like to believe that this was the 49ers’ window, I think it is more likely that their window is just now opening. Seattle has got to figure out how to more properly beat them. With Russell Wilson, they have the quarterback to do it, as we have seen him do it, and we just seen Patrick Mahomes do it similarly with his legs and his deep ball, but Seattle needs to figure it out on defense. Kyle Shanahan’s play calling it just too good.

I think Seattle’s main off-season agenda has got to be fixing their defense in a way that can counter San Francisco’s explosive running game and to get Jimmy Garoppolo passing on third and longs. It feels like speed needs to be vastly improved on all three levels of their defense for that to happen, and it will be a major chore to get it done.

Seattle must figure out how to properly rush with four players while stopping the run. That probably means enough size up front combined with speed on the edges, and another play-maker or two on the defense either in the secondary or linebacker. They will have at least $60 million in cap space to do this defensive renovation. They also need to probably add another weapon or two on the offense to “let Russell cook.”

John Schneider, you have lots of work to do over these next few months. I’m going to be excited to see how you get it done.

Go Hawks!