I have been writing on this Seahawks blog for six years now. You would think by now I would have a more tempered view about this team. Every year, I start the season with high hopes and lofty expectations.. and then reality sucker punches me right in the nutsack.
This year proves no different. The first quarter of this game against the former AFC West rival Denver Broncos was such a brutally bad watch for a Seahawk fan that it made their retro jerseys look painfully fitting for any fan who remembers what happened in 1992.
So, a very funny thing happened to me while I watched Seattle’s inept offense give up its second safety in the game (something that hasn’t happened to an NFL team since the 1960s, gadzooks). After hyping up this offense and Geno Smith in a piece I wrote last week, I watched the first half unfold in abject terror, saw this second safety happen, and then I messaged friends saying that maybe this is the year that Seattle sucks enough to finally draft a top quarterback prospect next Spring, and maybe that’s a blessing.
The funny thing about that message is that I wasn’t at all upset. Mike Macdonald was hired by the Seahawks to fix what had become a horrendous defense under Pete Carroll, and to essentially take this team towards the direction of being the West Coast version of the Baltimore Ravens.
What I had seen through the initial minutes of the game was a Seahawk defense that looked vastly improved to the point of potentially becoming one of the best ones in the league this year. My feeling became centered around the idea that if Seattle were to end up with a losing season because of a bad offensive line, sporadic quarterback play, what have you, maybe the silver lining is actually being able to draft a top young passer next year to play on an inexpensive rookie contract for several years.
Then a short time later, Geno Smith must have been reading my mind because he scampered through the middle of the Denver defense like a bat out of hell with his hair on fire, blowing past defensive backs for a huge touchdown run that would make Lamar Jackson turn his head.
There are few things in this world that I am willing to guarantee. One thing that I will guarantee is that this game against the Broncos is going to lend ammo to those within the Seahawk fanbase who believe that Seattle needs to move off of Geno Smith. They will see the early sacks, the bad interception, and they will use those as prime examples when arguing with strangers on social media.
I will say this about Geno in this one against the Broncos. I don’t think he played a bad game. Outside of tossing that horrendous interception on the second play of the game, I thought he found his poise and efficiency once offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb made proper adjustments.
If anything, I think perhaps Grubb started the game off trying to go maybe too aggressive downfield against a very good NFL defense and defensive play caller, instead of taking a more methodical feeling it out approach with early runs. Let us remember that while Grubb was perhaps the best offensive play caller in college last year, he had never game planned against a proper NFL defense before in a meaningful regular season game. This game was essentially his baptism into becoming a NFL coordinator.
So when the first play of the game leads to a big sack, and the second play leads to an interception on a long downfield throw, I take faith that maybe now Grubb fully understands what he is in for with his advancement into the pros. His ability to make successful adjustments during the second half of this game can be taken as a positive sign of things moving forward towards that, I believe.
Therefore, if there is any silver lining to take away from this 26-20 victory over the Broncos, perhaps it is that Grubb now has a better feel for how he should call this offense. These games are not going to be Washington versus USC. Everyone is faster and stronger in the pros, and Seattle’s offensive line is not that where you can just chuck it around like you do in a game of Madden. Not yet, anyway.
Speaking of the offensive line, yeah, I know that was bad, but those big glorious bastards at least got to the run blocking better once Grubb started dialing into the run more. Let us remember that their new starting center Connor Williams is new to the scheme and is coming off a major knee injury from last December. Anthony Bradford is a first time starter, and Laken Tomlinson is new.
I get it that we all want things on offense to be great off the bat (nobody wants that more than me), but the reality is that offensive lines take time to gel together. The only player who was a starter on this line last year that played in this game was left tackle Charles Cross, that’s it. Let’s give this unit time to better find their groove before we reign down fiery balls of grievances towards general manager John Schneider.
Bradford is a big, physical, badass run blocker. Connor Williams is a great run blocking center. Let’s get K9 going early and often and give the big boys some confidence early in games.
I have faith Grubb is going to figure this out. Color me delusional, but I have faith this offensive line will get better this year.
For my money, though, outside of K9 running like a Marvel superhero, the real star in this first ever victory for new Seahawk coach Mike Macdonald was the whole entire defense. Damn, that was fun to watch.
I have not had this much fun watching a Seahawk defense play like this in many years. If this was a dress rehearsal for what is to become for this unit as this grueling NFL season wears on, I see this Macdonald defense sweeping the Tonys.
It was fitting that Kam Chancellor raised the 12th Man flag. This defense felt very much like the old Legion Of Boom era one. They were strong up front, fast to the ball, the tackling was stellar. The coverages were, by and large, very good. They brought pressures constantly even though they only netted two sacks, Bo Nix was hurried all day in a variety of ways, and had to resort to sandlot ball to make it a game in the final moments.
Nix, himself, I didn’t think played too poorly. He just didn’t look ready to play in an environment such as Lumen Field, but how many rookie quarterbacks do look like that? Plus, look at what he was going against.
Mike Macdonald is a master at creating NFL defenses. There can be no debate about this now. Clearly, he has Seattle’s defense on a fast track to becoming potentially a top one this year. While they still have a lot of work to do, the early returns are very encouraging.
Seattle’s inept first half offense gave up two safeties for four points. Had those plays not happened, Seattle would have essentially won this game 26-16 after Bo Nix’s touchdown run in the final minutes. Up to that point, the Seahawk defense held the Bronco offense to 9 points total through four quarters.
Seattle is building a beast of a team. This is what this game showed me more than anything else.
This defense is going to be a problem throughout the league once they fully gel. The defensive line is deep and strong. The safeties and linebackers are bad ass tacklers. The corners might be tops in the league.
I think the offense is going to catch up to it. The key is staying with the run game.
Just run the freaking ball. Do not overthink this thing. Get K9 the rock, and then let Geno and crew find their groove as the game wears on.
Seattle can be a really fun team this year if they stay with this formula. I can feel it. Can you?
Also, how about that key third down catch by Tyler Lockett in the end to ice it all away?
Every year, I hype up DK Metcalf and other young talents on this offense, and I forget just how clutch Lockett is. When the going got very tough in this one, this dude stepped up big time.
He’s special in ways that I do not think he gets nearly enough credit for, and he’s ours.
Behold, Reader. This is not a preview to pump up Seattle Seahawk fans as the NFL season begins to kickoff. I am not writing this to express blind optimism about my favorite team, either.
I am writing this to warn those quick to discount Seattle this year. Mark my words, this is team poised to wreck Sundays for millions fans across the league.
If you are a hopeful fan of Denver, Chicago, Minnesota, Miami, New England, Atlanta, and you have seen Seattle on the schedule, and you penciled in a W for your club, I hope you’re stocked piled with antacid tablets.
Seattle is going to roll on teams this year in ways I don’t think most are expecting.
I hear Mike Florio come onto local Seattle radio airwaves, and state that Geno Smith is a third tier starting quarterback, and I don’t even get upset about it. It just sounds silly in the face of so much salient data that suggests he’s more top ten-ish. So when I hear a major NFL talking head speak this way about Geno, it affirms what I think is about to happen.
Under Ryan Grubb’s play calling, Geno Smith is going to smoke teams this year in eye popping ways, and it’s going to stun folks. He is in the driver’s seat to not just remain Seattle QB1 for now, but to hold onto it perhaps a lot longer than many are anticipating.
People are free to roll their eyes at this assertion, and that is fine. I am not here to change opinion. I just exist on the internet to share what I see, and the vibes I feel.
The Seahawk beat writers are unanimous in their belief that Geno Smith is light years ahead of Sam Howell in this offense, and is poised to potentially have a very big year. These are not people paid to cover and talk about 32 teams spread across the league, and they are also not local radio hosts paid to wax on about the Mariners, Huskies, Kraken, and Storm while talking Hawks, as well. No, these are people who have been at Seahawk practices daily since July. All these beat writers are heaping praises on Geno. That should tell us something.
For myself, I had been skeptical of all of this until I showed up for a practice. What I saw was the sharpest passing I had seen out of practicing Seahawk quarterback, and I have been going to these camps for years. Geno was flawless that afternoon. I saw numerous tight spiraled, layered, downfield throws through tight windows all day long from him. It was a sharp contrast to the other two quarterbacks.
What we all caught a glimpse of from Geno, in his brief action during that opening drive of that last preseason game against Cleveland, when he torched their defense, is exactly what I saw at camp. It was completely affirming, in my eyes. Geno is going to ball out this year.
If there is one thing that I feel very confident in about this club this year, it’s all about how well Geno will fit this Ryan Grubb offense moving forward. I think there is a strong chance he will look better in it than Michael Penix Junior did at Washington the past two years.
So, while national writers such as Florio can speculate whether Seattle will pursue Dak Prescott next offseason (should he enter free agency), or whether they plan to turn the reigns over to the younger Sam Howell, or draft Deion Sanders’ kid, I sorta think that most articles due to be written in months ahead will revolve around Seattle working out a new extension for Geno Smith. This would be where I would place my chips on the Seattle quarterback speculation game, if I were a betting man at the Lummi Casino.
There are vibes about this team. They have been steady with the beat reporters, but the national media members who have come out to visit practices, are buzzing about it, as well. Former players, like Richard Sherman, who were part of Pete Carroll’s old guard and critical of the team after they fired the coach, have been visiting, and have been getting jazzed with what they witnessed. To a person, they have been singing praises of Geno, this offense, and all the cool ass shit Mike Macdonald is about to unleash with his defense.
Therefore, I am bought in wholeheartedly.
When enough people start saying the same stuff, something is definitely cooking. Macdonald will never allow his players to get ahead of themselves, but he has no reigns for me, and my optimism that he has inspired.
I believe that the Seattle Seahawks are going to kick ass this year. I think they are poised to do it.
On top of good play from the quarterback position, I think we see better offensive line play with the rising talent of Charles Cross at left tackle, and steady enough play at other positions. I think we see Grubb utilize weapons on this team in ways that we have not seen in ages. In fact, I expect huge breakout years out of Ken Walker, DK Metcalf, and Jaxon Smith Njigba this season. I see others making big contributions, as well.
We are about to see one of the most diverse group of receivers and runners even assembled out of a Seattle Seahawk team, and I cannot wait for it. Seattle is loaded with receivers who act like running backs after the catch, and they have runners capable of doing receiver stuff. Expect Grubb and Geno to have an aggressive mindset with all of them put to use.
But with all this good vibing on offense, it is the defense that stands the biggest chance of stunning the league. Since the fateful offseason, three years ago, that saw Seattle trade Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, Seattle has been loading up on its defensive line, and they are STACKED on it now.
They have spent high second round picks in back to back years on edge rushers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall, and they just drafted perhaps the best defensive player coming out of college this year in defensive tackle Byron Murphy II. They traded for talented defense lineman Leonard Big Cat Williams. Through free agency, they brought back bona fide badass Jarran Reed, added Swiss army knife Dre’Mont Jones, run stuffing nose tackle Johnathan Hankins, and they signed (and extended) talented edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu.
Add to this group, drafted versatile player Mike Morris, and recently added edge defender Trevis Gipson, and we might witness, this season, one of the most talented, diverse, and deep defensive fronts that Seattle has ever possessed in their fifty year history of being an NFL franchise. With this collection of talent, Mike Macdonald has it within him to morph his fronts week to week, depending on opponent. He has multiple players who can play end, tackle, and standup edge rusher. He can go 4-3 just as easily as showing 3-4 stuff. I’m fascinated to see how defensive coordinator Aden Durde and Coach Mac unleash these guys.
In fact, it was a fascinating decision to me seeing Macdonald hand pick former Dallas Cowboy defensive line coach Durde to become his first ever defensive coordinator in Seattle. Durde is credited for developing Micah Parsons, who was mostly a middle linebacker in college, into arguably the best defensive end in football in a few short seasons.
While Macdonald will initially call the plays for this revamped Seahawk defense, Durde will be groomed to eventually take the reins. In the meantime, we should expect him to develop and uncork the high upsides of Hall, Mafe, and Murphy. Do not be surprised if we see the biggest impact players on this defensive line playing on rookie contracts in short order. This potential should excite every Seahawk fan, and stress out every 49er, Ram, and Cardinals one (if AZ has fans).
But for as good as this defensive front should be, the real stars of this defense could come from its backfield with cornerbacks Riq Woolen, Devin Witherspoon, and Tre Brown. In fact, of all the talent on this roster who could garnish All Pro votes this year, I would pick Woolen and Spoon to lead the pack, even with the explosive talents of JSN, K9, and DK on the offensive side.
For as much of a ring leader as Spoon is expected to be, the player taking the biggest leap forward could become Riq Woolen, and if that happens, I think defense is going to be something to truly behold. After a promising rookie season in 2022, Woolen took a step backward last year, apparently due to injuries. No player on this team (outside of the quarterback) has more to prove to critics than the highly talented Woolen, and every indication through camp suggests that he is about to take a huge step forward this year. There exists no player on this roster with freakish athletic upside higher than that of this guy, and if he matches fundamentals with his God given natural talents, watch the fuck out, America.
Additionally, we should consider Tre Brown a quality starting cornerback in this league, and entering into a contract year, the expectation for him should be seeing him play with his head on fire every time he steps onto the field in nickel situations, which we should see this team play in very frequently each and every week. Don’t be surprised if Brown becomes talked about in December as a player the team must retain.
As for the safeties and off ball linebackers, I like this collection. There exists a glaring lack of big names in the middle of this defense, and it is something that will take Seattle fans time to get used to after a decade and a half knowing the names of Kam, Bobby, Earl, KJ, Quandre, and Jamal, but I think they are destined to enjoy what they see out of these no names led by Jullian Love, and a fella named Tyrel Dodson.
In fact, of all the new additions to this defense who I think stands the biggest chance to shine in front of fans, I think it is Dodson at middle linebacker. Macdonald’s unique scheme that offers complex rushes and zone blitzes is tailor made for a hyper active middle linebacker who can quickly attack the line and drop into coverage. Pro Football Focus loves Dodson’s abilities to do these things, and having only been signed to one year deal, he will have every incentive to play like a bat out of hell for a larger deal. Place your chips on this guy having a big year.
But these players are not the sole reason why I feel so optimistic about this team. The reason why I think they are poised to surprise is that they now have the coaches in place to hold players more accountable in terms of fundamentals, and scheme them in better ways that will play to their strengths.
With Ryan Grubb calling the offense, I think we see more of the West Virginia version of Geno Smith, and not the held back Shane Waldron Seahawk era one. Grubb will adjust to suit what Geno is most comfortable doing, and he will devise ways to get the most out of JSN, Tyler Lockett, and DK Metcalf.
On the other side of the ball, prepare to have a lot of fun watching this team. Aden Durde and Mike Macdonald are forming a defense that will best fit its talent. Teams studying Baltimore Raven tape to prepare for it could be walking into a trap. I think it gets morphed into its own beast, and I am excited to see it unfold.
Perhaps the biggest thing weighing in favor of Seattle this year is that they will be playing this season largely pressure free in comparison to other teams inside their division. In this sense, not only will they have the advantage of new schemes that divisional opponents will be unfamiliar with, they also won’t have the pressure from fans placed on them like other NFC West clubs will have.
There will most certainly be an immense degree of pressure on the San Francisco 49ers to get back to the Super Bowl this year before they need to pony up to pay Brock Purdy, and breakup key parts of their talented roster. There will also be pressure on Sean McVay in Los Angeles to build off of a successful campaign last year while now without the talent of Aaron Donald on his defense. I would suggest there is also pressure on the coaching staff in Arizona to take a big step forward in year two of their regime.
In Seattle, however, Macdonald and his staff will not feel this level heat. Their job is to set the new foundation of the Seattle Seahawks, and they have a talented enough roster to work quickly doing so.
Additionally, these players will most certainly be champing at the bit to prove any low expectation narratives of this team wrong. Talented veteran players who have been around for a while like DK Metcalf, Geno, Tyler Lockett, Charles Cross, K9, Nwosu, Mafe, Jarran Reed, and Woolen are going to be highly motivated to get past the underachieving rut this team had found themselves in during the last few years of the Pete Carroll regime.
You put these things together, and it becomes easy envision a fun year of football in Seattle.
Historically, teams like this are dangerous in the league. The Rams became this in 2016, in McVay’s first year. Houston was that last year. Jacksonville was that the year before. The Eagles were that a few years back with their new coaching staff.
When a talented, under coached team gets a fresh perspective placed upon it by a new staff, often times, good things happen. I think Seattle is well positioned in year one of the Mike Macdonald regime to be this sort of club this year.
So, sorry, Mike Florio, but I think you’re going to be dead wrong about Geno Smith. That’s okay. You can shift your Dak speculation to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Steelers, or the New York Giants.
Could I be wrong on all of this? Sure, I could. Seattle could suffer a rash of injuries to numerous key starters, and that prevents them from seeing any sort of winning season in year one of Macdonald.
But let me ask you this question.
If they become injury riddled, and yet still fight hard, and are competitive in games, and they look much more formidable than their win/loss record suggests, and they end up with a top ten pick next Spring, is that going to be a bad thing?
I don’t know everything when it comes to football, but I do know house money whenever I see it, and I see nothing but blue and green roses for this team moving forward. Let the chips fly as they may. I’m excited.
Due to family obligations over the next couple weeks, this the only preseason game review of the Seahawks that I am going to publish this Summer. Therefore, I am going to give it my best to make this a good one. Here we go.
From a Seattle perspective, I saw a lot of things to be encouraged about in this game, but let me start with the most important position in football.
The other week, my heart sank into my stomach with the news that Geno Smith got hurt at practice, was going to miss some days, and was getting imaging work done on his knee and hip. This wasn’t the news I wanted to hear about on any level. It was like the dread I felt in high school when someone told me that the girl I was dating was in the bathroom making out with the wrestler dude who never bathes. Fuck.
You see, a few days before that, I was at practice, and what I witnessed from Geno was an absolute marvelous day of crisp downfield passes. I mean, I am talking flawless stuff, and I have been going to Seahawk practices for years, and I cannot recall seeing a better day of passing from a Seahawk quarterback. Not from Russell Wilson, nor peak Matt Hasselbeck. Geno looked that sharp.
What I saw at that practice from Sam Howell was okay. He made some cool plays with his arm and legs, and yet he was also a bit inaccurate at other times. It was no contest, though. Geno Smith looked vastly superior.
So, when this news broke about Geno getting hurt, the Seahawks’ season flashed before my eyes. My gut told me that if Seattle had to rely on Sam Howell through a stretch of games in 2024, they would be hard pressed to make it to the playoffs in Mike Macdonald’s first year as head coach.
One preseason game does not a season make or break for any team, but after watching what Howell did in this game against the Herbert-less Chargers of Los Angeles, my confidence meter about these Seahawks has elevated. This is exciting.
I figured Macdonald would get this Seahawk defense turned around, and in this game against the Chargers, they showed boat loads of promise (more gushing later). Tacklers tackled, and coverage players covered, and pass rushers like rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy, Boye Mafe, and Derick Hall made plays. I am fully confident that Seattle is going to see a major defensive turnaround this year, and this game has deepened those thoughts.
What I had major questions about is whether the offensive line could effectively block, and whether Sam Howell could play within himself to find his plays, and be protective with the ball. I think Howell and the offensive line (when run blocking) acquitted themselves well in this one.
In my training camp observations the other week, I wrote that if Seattle were to rely on Howell to win meaningful games, they would need to lean further into the run. Apparently, Seattle agreed with this assessment.
When they leaned into the run against the Chargers, Howell’s game opened up. Success on the ground allowed Howell to roll out, scramble, and make plays with his arm and legs. It was fun to watch.
This is how you are going to best roll with Sam Howell. He’s got a niftiness to him as a scrambler, and like Russell Wilson, with a lower center of gravity and a strong arm, he throws well on the run. His best throws came when it looked like he was potentially going to scramble for yards, and also off of play action. When he throws strictly from the pocket, that’s where it can be more of an adventure with him.
In watching this game, it felt like offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb knew this about Howell, and he dialed up an impressive ground game to compliment him. Honestly, I might be more excited about Grubb’s ability to adjust to the talent he has a quarterback than I am at the quarterback, himself, and that is taking nothing away from Howell. In fact, I am more impressed with Howell after this live outing than I was at training camp the other week.
With Howell, it could be entirely possible Seattle has a young QB2 who might be better on game days that at times during practice. That is not hugely uncommon, but it is something to keep in mind now that we saw him in his first preseason game for Seattle.
Some people want to comp Sam Howell to Baker Mayfield because of his size and the number on his jersey, but looking at him in this game and at practice, I see a different QB in the league to compare him towards. While it is possible that Baker might be his ceiling, I kinda see Gardner Minshew as his potential floor, and that isn’t a bad thing, in my view.
Minshew was an absolute gamer in college for Washington State who, just like Sam Howell, didn’t impress at the scouting combine, and fell in the draft. Since then, he has fluctuated between being a good backup to serviceable starter on and off over the years. This sorta fells like potentially the career Howell might be destined for. I think he could start for a team and do some fun things, but he may never reach more than a middling status, and whatever team he is the QB1 for, might be looking to replace him through the draft or whatever.
This is sorta what I felt I watched with him against the Chargers. He made good throws, made good decisions, but also perhaps displayed some limitations with accuracy a bit, and it felt like Grubb kept the offense simple. I would happily take that in a QB2 for my team. Currently, he looks like a much better backup option than Drew Lock did.
In fact, with the toughness the Seattle offensive line showed in its run blocking against the Chargers, and the speed and strength, and discipline the defense showed, if Sam Howell had to start the majority of the games this year, I think Seattle could still be a surprise team. I think Howell has just enough talent, and Seattle has enough around him on this roster, that they finally have an offensive coordinator to maximize it all in a way that suits Howell.
This is what this preseason game sorta showed me.
Guards like Anthony Bradford and rookie Christian Haynes moved big bodies to clear running lanes for running backs Kenny McIntosh and rookie George Holani, who both looked solid. There was an unmistakable physicality to Seattle’s ability to run the ball inside with power and speed, and Grubb used just enough motion in his plays to keep the Charger defense guessing.
There was also an unmistakable ability for Seattle’s defensive line to play with aggression and toughness. Byron Murphy looks destined to become a star, but rotational players like Mike Morris, and Derick Hall, and Myles Adams looked pretty damn good, as well.
In fact, of all the second year players who might make the biggest positive leap forward this year, I would pick edge rusher Hall as my guy to watch out for. His bend, and power and speed was on display in this game just as I saw it in practice.
But the thing that probably has me most excited about the Seahawks in watching this preseason game is the discipline shown on defense. Collectively, I sensed a unit playing together. I did not expect this so early from these guys who are picking up a complex scheme that Macdonald is bringing over from Baltimore.
Even though Macdonald didn’t show anything super complex, you still felt the allusion of complexity, at times. Mike Morris, for example, would flex out from defensive tackle to being a stand up edge rusher, and properly make a play in coverage at 300 pounds, for goodness sake.
Tacklers met ball carriers and receivers for routine small gains, or limit run after catch opportunities. You don’t have to have a deep understanding of all the nuances of American football to see players in the right places making routine plays.
One of these tacklers who really impressed me in this game was rookie middle linebacker Tyrice Knight. He looked fast and efficient in coverage and in angling up to meet a ball carrier. He impressed me in camp as well, and it was encouraging to see him carry it forward in this game.
Outside of Murphy, he might be the one rookie on defense that Seattle really needs to see positive net gains from, and so far, things look positive. Depth at middle linebacker still feels like a major concern for me, but Knight is doing stuff to mitigate that right now. I need to see this trend continue.
In terms of the secondary and defensive line, I think Seattle looks to have an assortment of riches. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they use nickel and dime packages predominantly.
Backup safeties Coby Bryant and K’Von Wallace played like quality starters. Riq Woolen looks like he has regained his 2022 pro bowl form and has improved upon it. Seattle’s defensive tackle rotation looks tough as nails, and is ready to fuck shit up this year. The young edge rushing talents of Boye Mafe and Derick Hall feel excitingly bright, and I will repeat what I said above; I think Derick Hall is destined to be the breakout player this year.
We just need competent play at middle linebacker, and there were signs in this game that it could be there this year. Tyrel Dodson looked very capable at MIKE linebacker, Knight looked like he belongs in this defense, and, surprisingly, so did journeyman Jon Rhattigan. To me, this is all a sign that Seattle’s defense is being coached up well.
I do not mean this to be a huge knock on Pete Carroll and his great legacy in Seattle, but it has been years since I have seen a Seahawk defense look this fundamentally sound and on point in a preseason game, much less a game midseason. This basic level display of play, of see ball carrier, tackle ball carrier, drop into proper zone, and tackle pass catcher, has me really excited about the potential for the Seahawks this year.
If they can keep Geno Smith healthy enough, Ryan Grubb can fully maximize his playbook much like he did for two years at Washington. I mean, open this sucker up like a 1970’s muscle car on open roads in Montana, not the let’s play it safe stuff that was on display with Howell in this match.
You pair that with this sort of early preseason defensive effort shown from Mike Macdonald’s defense, and it is super easy for me to dream bigger this year for the Seahawks, and what they could do.
I think they now have the play callers in place on both sides of the ball with schemes to get the most out of the players on this roster. That can easily be good for eleven wins barring a bad rash of injuries to key players.
Are they on the same level as the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and such?
I’m not going to anoint them yet, but I am intrigued to find out how far the gap is between them and these more heavily anticipated NFC teams. I have optimism they might be on their way to closing in.
This Seattle team honestly feels like it isn’t just destined to become the Baltimore Ravens out West. It feels like it has the potential to be a hybrid of the teams that just played in the national championship game last January.
With Grubb running the offense, and Macdonald (who was also the mastermind of a dominant defense in college at Michigan as well as a dominant defense in Baltimore) calling the defense, I do dare to dream about Seattle becoming a perfect balanced mix of 2023 Washington and 2023 Michigan at the NFL level. The resulting effects of that union being an offense that aggressively attacks defenses married to a defense that’s number one goal is to confuse and disorient quarterbacks with relentless pass rush and tricky coverages.
What a marriage that would be. If they can gel towards that this year, this is going to be a fun season of football.
This one simple little preseason game against a Chargers team that didn’t have a lot of starters playing (Seattle rested a bunch of starters as well) has elevated my hopes. There is still a lot of work for Seattle to do to get to this perfect unified state of tying its offense to its defense and special teams, and Mike Macdonald acknowledged afterwards, but this was a positive step forward, no doubt about it.
This is going to be a very different Seahawks team than what we have seen in the last several years. You are going to feel them more up front more on both sides of the ball. You will see stronger fundamentals.
Mike Macdonald is not going to likely wow you with his personality. You won’t see him animated on sidelines like we have gotten to enjoy from Carroll for a decade and a half. Instead, you will see a stoic straight forward dude who will not allow his players to get ahead of themselves. Praises will be there from him, but it will be more measured. He will push them in ways in which many have not been pushed yet in their careers.
It was fitting that his very first preseason game was coached against his old Michigan boss Jim Harbaugh. The culture and vibe of this team on Sundays will be more Harbaugh-esque, and I support that with every fiber of my Seahawk fanaticism.
This is the change that I wanted to see happen for the Seattle Seahawks, and I think this game was a good step forward in that direct.
This is my good friend Ashley. Look how goofy this stoned assed motherf***er is!
We had so much fun from the berm watching training camp this weekend. I enjoyed watching tight spirals, and he enjoyed watching a couple middled aged bar hags in Daisey Dukes sitting ten feet away from us.
I got a lot of thoughts to tie into this. So, barrel down, Snowflakes. I am giving it to you straight.
Let me start this whole thing off by saying that I am not going to be delusional and proclaim that the Seattle Seahawks are going to be a top contending team this year. I think they can be a surprise team, and if they can stay healthy enough, I can see them back in the playoffs in Mike Macdonald’s first year as head coach, possibly wrecking the joy of other fanbases.
To say that the new schemes could uncork exciting potentials on this roster is an understatement. I felt all of last year that Seattle had talent on their roster that was not being maximized. What I viewed on the berm felt like a very positive step forward for a lot of those players.
I saw a lot of encouraging signs on Saturday that suggested to me they are on track to be that sort of team.
That said, there still exists a couple things that prevent me from fully buying into them becoming a truly dominant team this year. It really just boils down to two things.
For one, I believe that they play in one of the toughest divisions in the league with a ridiculously talented team in the Bay Area, a talented Rams team, and a team in Arizona that could be on the rise. While I think it is fool’s gold to buy into any hype that Kyler Murray and the Cardinals are going to finally have their shit together this year, I sense the potential of the Rams being on the upswing again, and the ridiculously talented San Francisco F*ck Faces are going to have all kinds of incentive to win it all this year before they have to pony up to make Brock Purdy the highest paid quarterback in the league in 2025.
The other issue is that, at least on paper, while I see a lot of talent spread across this Seattle roster, I see the wee potential of disaster on their offensive line, and at middle linebacker. In short, having your starting right tackle on the Physically Unable To Perform list at the start of this training camp is not the greatest omen to start things off this Summer. Additionally, Mike Macdonald needs middle linebackers Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson to stay healthy this, or we could see him forced to use a raw rookie fourth round pick linebacker starting in meaningful games (more on this rook later).
So, as I sit here and type out my thoughts in anticipation for real NFL football to begin, I got one thing I really need to see out these Seattle Seahawks this year.
I need to see some badass, go for the throat, toughness on both sides of the ball.
They got skill players who will make things interesting in games. I have already written about how I think Geno Smith continues to be vastly underrated as a quarterback. We all know Seattle is pretty loaded at receiver and running back. We know they have pretty good talent at corner, and there is some interesting potential on the defensive line. Barring massive amounts of injuries accruing at these spots, we should see Seattle hang with teams this year.
But I need to see a tough, aggressive, badass mentality like we haven’t seen here in a really long ass time.
Here are some of the impressions I came away with from what I saw at practice this Saturday from my seat on the berm that give me hope that Seattle can, in fact, be a pretty damn badass team this year, if they can stay relatively healthy enough.
Watching Geno Smith run this Ryan Grubb coached offense made me feel like I was watching Michael Penix Junior in the Washington Husky offense from the past two years. In fact, Geno looked just like a right handed version of Penix, and this should excite most Seahawk fans.
He was in full command of this attack, throwing perfect spirals to spots on the field where his receiver could easily catch against good coverages. Just like watching Penix in college, Geno wasn’t tossing easy gimme throws, either, but rather putting great passes downfield into windows. Everything from him was pretty damn crisp. This was a lot of fun to watch.
Barring injury, Seattle feels like they have not only their quarterback for now, but it feels possible that they got their guy for a good while, as well. I write this as a person who has been somewhat reluctant to say that Geno can be the long term fixture here, too, but after seeing it in person, I am more sold on Geno than ever. I never seen him look this sharp in Shane Waldron’s offense at this stage of training camp. I’m sold.
In terms of Sam Howell, from what I saw on Saturday, he looked much better than I was anticipating based on negative reviews through the first view days of camp when he apparently struggled. To my eye, he looked interesting, but I think we need to make important distinctions between him and Geno Smith in order to gain a realistic grasp of the Seattle QB situation.
For me, Sam and Geno are two very different styled quarterbacks and it almost isn’t fair to compare them. In fact, they are so different that I think each requires their own specific offense tailored to each of them.
Geno is a classic, tall, drop back passer who works well inside a pocket, but has enough athleticism to make plays outside the pocket, as well. He seems tailor made for the play-calling Grubb used at Washington that took the Huskies to the national title game. Penix was often compared to Geno and now I see why.
Sam, on the other hand, being shorter, I feel needs to be more on the move to find his groove (a la Russell Wilson). He threw on the run well on Saturday, at times, but the times he stayed in the pocket, it felt like he was a bit more hesitant. If Seattle were to operate out of a run heavy play action offense that used a bunch roll outs, I think Sam would be a natural fit for that style of attack. That’s not the Ryan Grubb offense we saw at Washington, however, and I think that if Geno were to get injured to the point of missing a view games, it would be up to Grubb to adjust his attack to better fit Howell.
I still like Howell as a developmental player, but I don’t see this as any contest between him and Geno Smith right now, and now I actually wonder if he would be better served in a different offense, elsewhere. I also wonder whether Seattle should look to the draft to find someone more with Geno’s attributes to groom behind him, eventually, if the Grubb Attack is something they want to ride with as their offensive identity, long term.
These are just my initial thoughts on the QB front for Seattle. Onto some other cool things.
Seattle is loaded with ridiculous levels of talent at receiver, Grubb appears ready to maximize it, and teams with iffy pass defenses are totally going to get royally hosed when they have to play them this year. Jaxon Smith Njigba feels extra in this offense, and DK Metcalf is about to do things that I don’t even want to spoil on this blog. Tyler Lockett had the day off, but depth players like Jake Bobo, Easop Winston, and Dareke Young stepped up and looked sharp. There are good players on this unit who will not make this team, and should probably end up on other rosters.
Ken Walker, Zach Charbonnet, and Kenny McIntosh should show big as runners, and receivers. K9 will probably be the star, but he will be complimented with rock solid talents mixing in behind him. Expect Seattle to use these backs in ways very foreign to what we have been used to in the fourteen years under Pete Carroll. Just wait for it.
Defensively, it felt like players got some good pressures on a few occasions, and I enjoyed seeing that. I think Jarran Reed, Uchenna Nwosu, and rookie Byron Murphy all got pressures for would be sacks (can’t hit QBs in practice), along with undrafted rookie Nelson Ceasar (badass name, by the way), but it was interesting to hear Coach Macdonald say after practice that the pass rush isn’t where they would like it to be at this point.
I wasn’t as alarmed by this as much as I was excited. Macdonald is going to run this side of the ball with very high standards, and I am more than here for seeing the defensive line continually coached up.
They will be coached harder than they likely ever were before in their lives. In that process, they will uncork their chemistry. I have no doubt about that. There is a lot of potential within the defensive tackles and edge rushers to be really, really good this year.
To the naked eye, I expect second year edge rusher Derrick Hall, in particular, to take a big step forward. His bend around the corner seems noticeably evolved from last year, and it stood out at practice.
I thought rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight looked surprising good in coverages, at times. I recall when he was drafted in the fourth round, a few folks labeled that a painful reach. He looks like he belongs in this defense, however, and perhaps this is the biggest reason why we haven’t seen the team make a move to add an addition veteran middle linebacker. Fingers crossed he continues to trend well through training camp and preseason games.
I thought cornerback Lance Boykin looked like he belonged, as well. Boykin was a bottom of the roster player last year who might make things interesting as camp progresses. He is a longer player who found himself well in position at times to make things harder on the quarterback. Make a mental note on him as you watch preseason games.
I really liked how cornerback Tre Brown looked in practice. Seattle feels like it has enough quality depth at corner where I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a trade happen in a few weeks time.
In terms of negatives, I can’t think of a lot. Training camp felt very crisp for the most part.
It was very interesting that they brought talented free agent center Connor Williams in for a workout earlier this week, and are reportedly discussing a contract with him. Given the way the offensive line gave up a few inside pressures, it scans more now. They might see a genuine opportunity to further fortify themselves on the interior of the offensive line.
I would love to see this deal get done. If they cannot rely on Abe Lucas to play a full season, and George Fant is likely going to see a lot of time at right tackle, and McClendon Curtis (massive f’ing dude) is going to be looked at more as a backup tackle than guard, the trickle down effect from this is going to impact the interior depth of the offensive line. That’s not great for an attack that probably wants to beat defenses from the pocket more now than at any point since the Mike Holmgren era.
Getting Williams to lock down center would allow Olu Oluwatimi to serve as a valuable swing interior player who can play center, and potentially kick over to guard. He has enough size to do both.
If they can add a healthy Connor Williams to this offensive line, I am going to go from cautiously optimistic about this team towards being all in on the expectations that they should be a pretty kick-ass this year. This is why I need this deal to get done.
So, just get this motherf***ing deal done, and let’s f’ing go.
Good lord, I need football back. These dog days of Summer are wearing thin, and if God wanted baseball to be the greatest sport in America, he would have infielders tackling base runners.
So, I need training camp to happen now, and I don’t know about you, but I am kinda more intrigued about the Seattle Seahawks than I have been in many years. Call it Mike Macdonald and his new coaching staff, and the chance for the team to field an exciting new defense. Call it the fact that I think the Seahawks are more talented than some national projections are indicating, and I am ready for them to be a surprise team.
Call it the fact that I think their quarterback situation is one of the more underrated ones in the league, and one that critics are grossly overlooking. Here are my thoughts on that.
There exists perhaps no other position in sports that creates greater division amongst fans than that of the NFL quarterback. Unless your team is blessed with having Patrick Mahomes, or peak Tom Brady, your fanbase is probably somewhat split about the quarterback, even if it’s a slight one.
No other example is better than this than when the Seattle Seahawks had Russell Wilson in his prime. Wilson had fans who were so devoted to him that they wanted to see Pete Carroll canned in favor of a more innovative offensive minded dude. At the same time, Russ also had loud detractors who felt it was a major mistake for the organization to invest so much in him in the first place, and that his sandlot style would only get this team so far. Both fronts were extremely dug in, much like people just are these days (unfortunately).
When it comes to this most important position, this sorta division amongst fans exists all over the league. If team aren’t winning Super Bowls, either expensive quarterbacks get judged with a high degree of scrutiny, or struggling quarterbacks on rookie deals get discarded way too soon.
Dallas fans are probably very split over Dak Prescott, even though he is perfectly in his prime, and was a leading MVP candidate last year. Critics say he doesn’t win enough in the post season, but to that I would say neither did Matthew Stafford when he was in Detroit. Something to keep in mind, if Dak does hit free agency in 2025.
Dolphin fans are probably very torn over Tua even though he is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league. Charger fans (if there are any), might start losing patience in Justin Herbert if Jim Harbaugh doesn’t get that team off to a fast start.
If the Eagles don’t have a big bounce back season, Jalen Hurts will surely be further scrutinized after he signed his mega contract. So will Lamar Jackson, if the Ravens don’t make a deep playoff run.
If the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals disappoint again, the narratives around Josh Allen and Joe Burrow will start to shift, just you wait. Two years ago, these two guys were thought of as the second and third best passers in the league. Now there are slight murmurings of either regression (Allen) or injury proneness (Burrow).
Also, pressure is going to be on Doug Pederson in Jacksonville to get that team back in the playoffs with Trevor Lawrence. It won’t be enough to make the playoffs, either, as fans are going to need to see Lawrence finally playing at a high level after they just penned him to his monster deal.
And mark my words on this; with perhaps the most talented team in the entire NFL, if the San Francisco 49ers don’t win the Super Bowl this year, you will see division amongst 49er fans as to whether the team should make Brock Purdy one of the richest quarterbacks in the league at the expense of breaking up that roster. It will happen. The pressure on that team to win it all this year (or next) will be like no other pressure in the league.
Then you have this somewhat curious, and under the radar situation wedged up here in the Pacific Northwest with the Seattle Seahawks, and Geno Smith, and Sam Howell.
If you are a big time talking head for EPSN, or Fox Sports, I imagine it is easy to forget about who Seattle even has as a starter even though Geno Smith was the NFL Comeback Player of the Year two years ago, and has been a Pro Bowl player in most recent back to back years. Geno isn’t a superstar veteran, nor is he a young gun with youthful upside generating interesting talking points. He was a fun novelty story two years ago when he beat out Drew Lock for the starter gig and played much better than everyone expected, but novelties wear off quickly.
Way up here amongst the Twelves, however, Geno has both his highly devoted fans, and sharp critics, as any second tier starter would. He has football film junky fans who believe he is solidly a top ten quarterback, and he has some extreme critics who think he is so bad that he is holding this team back (what is it about our society that few people can ever find a solid middle ground anymore?).
In terms of Sam Howell, while perhaps most fans probably see him as nothing more than a backup, there are some NFL insiders who believe in his potential to develop into a quality starter given his youth, strong arm, playmaking potential, and toughness. Count me in with the few who see sunnier horizons with him down the road.
Both of these quarterbacks I find interesting, to be honest.
With Geno, I’ve always liked him as far back as his college days in West Virginia. He threw then, and still throws to this day, one of the prettiest downfield passes that you will see. Give him time, and a proper scheme, and Geno can deliver positive results.
I would say that if Seattle had at least a competent defensive coordinator last year, with Geno’s late season play, they would have probably won that shoot out match in Dallas, and taken that game at home a few weeks later against the Steelers, ended up 11-6, and in the playoffs. Perhaps they would have met another quick exit, but we would still be talking about Pete Carroll coaching this team today.
This is what I believe Geno Smith is good for as the QB1 for this team with this talent, and now perhaps better competency on this coaching staff. 11-6, and a playoff run, and likely another Pro Bowl nod. Geno Smith feels destined to be the new Kansas City Chief version of Alex Smith. I will take that.
He’s a stable veteran presence who understands NFL defenses, and how to attack them. He has a strong, accurate arm, and enough athleticism to extend plays under pressure, which is kinda what you’re hoping for in this modern league of football. Most importantly, he still has a feisty chip on his shoulder to continue proving detractors wrong.
When I look at all of these variables, and the fact that new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is installing an offense tailor made for his exact skillsets, I honestly laugh at Geno’s critics, and how they are overlooking him Seattle. Former Washington State local kid Colin Cowherd can dismiss Geno Smith as much as he feels like he needs to do it, but I would be perfectly willing to bet that Geno finds more success this year in this offense than he has had the last two years with Shane Waldron calling plays, barring injury.
In fact, I think Seattle is poised to catch the league off guard, and I am here for it.
Nobody knows what this team will be in terms of schemes. Grubb has already said that he’s going to change it up a bit from what he did for the Washington Huskies. With Mike McDonald building his defense, he has continued to say that he is going to morph the scheme towards the strengths of the players on this roster, so it stands to reason that simply looking at Baltimore tape over the past two years may not be enough for Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan.
While it might be really easy to write off Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks from an outsider’s perspective, the truth of the matter is that Seattle has the distinct advantage of the unknown in this league. This is the same unknown that rookie head coach Sean McVay had in LA back in 2016 when he inherited a young talented roster that was a hot mess because of the previous coaching staff.
General Manager John Schneider is banking on the innovative and analytic mind of McDonald coming in to take the league by storm. It’s not unreasonable to imagine seeing positive results in year one of his regime, either.
Some NFL insiders see Seattle’s defensive roster as having perhaps better overall talent on it than what McDonald had in Baltimore when he took over their defense two years ago. On offense, while the offensive line feels suspect, they are littered with skill players. Grubb’s DNA is coaching up good offensive lines, so all he needs to do is to improve that unit towards the middle of the pack, and Seattle can probably let it loose on teams.
I feel confidence in this scenario because of Geno Smith. I think Seattle can win games this year because of him, not inspite of him. You are free to scoff at this suggestion. I am free to hold receipts of doubters.
Onto Sam Howell.
I’m intrigued!
Heading into the 2021 college football season, Sam Howell was projected to potentially be the first overall pick of the NFL draft that following Spring. Scouts loved his arm strength, his ability to extend plays with his legs, and throw on the run. Some felt he had a Brett Farve vibe about him with the toughness that he played with. Toughness was the first thing John Schneider mentioned about Sam after they made the trade for him.
The 2021 season didn’t bode well for Sam after a very promising 2020 sophomore campaign that saw him as a Manning Award finalist. Having lost talent around him, his numbers dipped in competition percentage, touchdowns, yardage, and his interceptions trended up.
Then at the NFL combine, he ran a much slower than expected forty yard dash. Being a bit shorter at 6-1, a slower forty can be detrimental to a passer’s draft stock, especially if that dude didn’t live up to the hype during his last season of college football (Brock Purdy is the same height and didn’t put up impressive testing numbers at the combine, either, and was the last player drafted).
Because of all these factors, sure enough, Sam Howell fell to round five where Washington took a flyer on him, and Purdy to the bottom of round seven. I think it is reasonable to assert that Purdy fell to the perfect team who’s situation was unsettled enough at quarterback for him to step forward. I think it’s also reasonable to assert that Howell fell into a situation in DC that was an absolute clown circus from the top down.
Personally, at the time, I thought Howell was a good pickup for the Commanders. I was honestly expecting Seattle to grab in round three, much like they did with Russell Wilson. In fact, he was the one QB in that draft who had the most Wilson-esque vibes to me; a pure passer, with a big arm, who could buy time, and make plays with his legs.
In fact, when the Commanders came into Seattle last November, Sam Howell scared the crap out of me during that game. He wasn’t intimidated playing in front of a large loud crowd. He showed toughness and resourcefulness, and he made necessary plays that almost pulled out an upset.
So, I wasn’t surprised at all that Seattle made this move for him. In fact, I had suggested this very idea on this blog a few weeks before it went down. I loved the move then, and I like it even more now.
The cost of getting Sam Howell was peanuts for this team, and he has two years left on his rookie contract to see what they can develop with him behind Geno Smith. I think he’s potentially a great fit for what Ryan Grubb likes to do with his quarterbacks, too.
What Sam needs to do is demonstrate full command of the playbook, make smart, decisive decisions with the ball, and get the hero ball mentality out of his game. That’s the hurtle he needs to clear to become a quality starter. By what he has said in interviews, he seems very determined to prove that he can do exactly that, and he has the benefit of having some time to grow within this offensive scheme to do so.
So, while it is easy to look at his up and down stats with Washington in 2023, and believe he’s not the quarterback in the future here, I think it’s well worth considering that it was his first season starting in the league, and his results were not dissimilar to numerous first time starters of yesteryear; a list that would include Peyton Manning, Brett Farve, Drew Brees, and Josh Allen. There are other circumstances surrounding his year starting in DC that I think are well worth considering, as well.
Sam Howell was purposefully thrown into the fire as a starter. He wasn’t protected by any sort of balanced attack with a run game. In fact, he threw at a higher volume than any other QB in the league, and most of those throws came off of straight drop backs without the threat of handing the ball off with play action. He started out the season in a promising way, but it all came crashing down in a dismal way by December.
It was like Washington’s agenda was to make it as difficult as it could possibly be for him to see if he could rise above the flaming pits of Hell itself before deciding to go into the following draft targeting a quarterback. He wasn’t protected by any quarterback friendly system like Purdy enjoys in San Francisco. He wasn’t even protected the way Russell Wilson was his rookie year in Seattle with a scheme that leaned heavy on the run, either. Nope, instead, Washington decided to throw him into a pit of hungry wolves with a stick of driftwood to see if he could fight his way out.
Because of this bullshit handling of Howell in DC, I have a strong rooting interest in him now in Seattle, even more so than just than a hopeful shot at nothing to see if we have found our next long term starter. There are a lot of variables that I love to see in a quarterback, but perhaps my favorite is the natural sense of toughness and resolve to battle through adversity. If Sam Howell makes something for himself down the road in Seattle, it will be because of those very traits.
When you look at Seattle’s long history at quarterback, Howell finding success here feels perfectly on brand for this team from Jim Zorn, to Dave Krieg, Jon Kitna, Matt Hasslebeck, Russell Wilson, and Geno Smith. This team finds its quarterbacks under rocks while other teams blow first round picks on them (see New York Jets).
Ultimately, I want Sam Howell to push Geno Smith. I think it’s best for the team if he does this, and I think there’s a very reasonable to expect that it makes Geno better because of it.
After all, Geno didn’t struggle for years trying to convince a coaching staff to believe in him after his flame out with the Jets, only to finally get a QB1 gig again, make the Pro Bowl in back to back years, and then be automatically replaced in the second year of his extension here. He is going to be more determined than ever to prove himself all over again to Macdonald and Ryan Grubb. Bank on that.
This is why I believe it is fool’s gold to think Howell could usurp him this year with this staff. I just think it is more likely that Geno is going to be too good through camp to beat out. He won’t be outworked in this camp.
Why am I so confident in projecting al of this?
Because Sam Howell isn’t going to just idle back, either, and just accept the backup role out of the gates. He had last year to taste the QB1 role in DC, and he didn’t likely endure being thrown into a den of hungry wolves just to wilt into a backup role somewhere else. For the first time in ages, we might actually see iron sharpening iron at the most important position for this team. I can not wait for this.
I am very good with riding with Geno this season (and next year if he balls out big time). I will be honest, however, and say that I am ultimately more intrigued with Sam Howell, given his youth and upside as a potential long term starter.
Right now, the best thing for Sam is to show these coaches and players he’s well worth developing. He does that by showing solid through training camp and preseason games, and continuing to push Geno through the course of the season. He does this by being serious minded, digging deep into the playbook, and studying his ass off looking at tape against opponents. It’s his job to make this quarterback room in Seattle an outstanding one by becoming the best backup in the league.
However this QB situation ultimately shakes out long term, for now, I am just excited to see what this team can be in 2024. I’m feeling a lot of rosy optimism creeping in.
I think they are well positioned to surprise people. I see all the disrespect floating out there, projecting them to either be in third or fourth place within the division. I cannot help but laugh at it all. Hubris is naturally a very funny thing.
It was just the other month when Colin Cowherd called them a talented team without a quarterback. He then went on local airwaves and plainly stated his disbelief in Geno Smith, saying that he is essentially the same guy who flamed out years ago with the Jets, even though Geno has been a Pro Bowler in consecutive seasons, and quarterbacked this team to nine wins in back to back years with good efficiency numbers, all the while having to endure horrible schemes on both sides of the ball.
I can never tell what motivates Cowherd as a talking head, whether because he is from the State of Washington, he feels like he purposefully has to detach himself from the Seahawks with any sort of rooting interest, or if he just simply doesn’t care about sports in the region he grew up on because that doesn’t feed his brand, or if he just simply doesn’t track the teams up here because he’s a big shot down in LA rubbing elbows with the stars. Who knows, but I do know one thing; anyone watching Geno Smith on Sundays over the past two years calling him the same exact player he was with the Jets is a certifiable lunatic, and their opinions should not be trusted. It’s that plain and simple.
Could I be wrong on this stuff with Geno and could Colin Cowherd be correct?
Sure, anything is possible. Maybe Geno, with all of his experiences and life lessons, reverts back to when he was 24 years old and was a loose cannon trying to play hero ball.
I don’t think I’m going to be wrong, though. I think Cowherd is going to be eating crow once again regarding his “home team.”
The Seattle Seahawks have enough interesting talent on both sides of the ball for a seasoned, mature quarterback with a good arm and accuracy step in and find success this year, even if this division is a tough one. This team is built for a guy like Geno to guide it now. This is what I believe.
After sitting through three full days of NFL draft, I had to take a breather to let it settle in. Seattle made early picks that made me jump through the metaphorical rooftop with excitement, and then they went decidedly less flashy on day three of the event. In order to avoid writing a knee jerk reaction to them taking a linebacker in round four that some experts were anticipating would go later, I needed to see Mike Macdonald talk about him in his post draft press conference. Frankly, I needed time to sit with all of their moves.
I am not one to overly question an NFL coach or general manager’s decision on a player taken in the draft, so pardon me if I am not going to be nearly as critical as some of the other super fans and bloggers might chose to be. If Sean Payton believes Bo Nix is his guy to lead Denver to a Super Bowl, more power to him.
So, in terms of Seattle, at the end of the day, I am more willing to defer to a bright young head coach who just coached the best defense in the league last year, and a dude who has been a general manager of a Super Bowl winning program than I am some other dude on Twitter X who “knows some ball” and has an exorbitant to amount to spare time to watch game tape on 250 draft eligible players. That is just me, however. You do you however you see fit.
That said, as the dust of this draft has settled upon the Seattle Seahawks, I see a clear vision for professional football in the Pacific Northwest moving forward. As I have sat back watching the first two days of this draft, anxiously anticipating what Seattle might do in year one of the Mike Macdonald regime, I kept being struck by thought after each of their two selections. It pretty much reads as follows.
“Holy shit, the Seattle Seahawks are finally drafting badass players in the trenches.”
I do not mean to use this piece as a means to trash the Pete Carroll era, but I cannot shake the undeniable feeling that the Seattle Seahawks are finally doing something fans have long been pining for. They are drafting for impact on the interior of the offensive and defensive lines. This is my biggest take away out of this draft class for Seattle.
In two days, Seattle drafted the best defensive tackle in the draft, a guy who somewhat compares to Aaron Donald, Geno Atkins, and Grady Jarrett, and then they took an All-American guard who Pro Football Focus rated as a top fifty player at Pick 81, and who many described as the best pure guard in the draft. Byron Murphy and Christian Haynes, alone, have made this draft a huge success, in my humblest opinion. These are talented, explosive big men with aggressive mindsets. When you factor in that Leonard Williams is essentially their second round pick, it becomes undeniably easy to see a sharp contrast to a Pete Carroll style draft.
This is just my take on the Pete Carroll era now looking at it in further hindsight in comparison with this new regime. It feels like perhaps the biggest difference between what the Macdonald Seahawks will prioritize to what Carroll preferred, is building a team from the inside out on the line of scrimmage.
It feels like Carroll always preferred to emphasis talent on the perimeters. If they were to go with a lineman early, Carroll preferred taking an offensive tackle, or a defensive end. Guards and defensive tackles were most often found in later rounds or bargain shopping through free agency. Carroll also seemed to place a high importance on collecting wide receivers with high picks, safeties, linebackers, and running backs while other organizations would value these players later on.
This is just year one for Macdonald, but it is clear he values top end talent at interior positions. Here is the stark contrast between Carroll’s first draft in 2010 and Macdonald’s in 2024. The first two picks for Carroll where offensive tackle Russell Okung and then free safety Earl Thomas. Macdonald’s are DT Byron Murphy, and guard Christian Haynes. Macdonald didn’t even bother with taking a safety even though it was considered by many fans as a position of need.
For many long suffering Seattle fans, this potential shift in philosophy will be seen as a gigantic blessing. After years of watching the Rams come up to Seattle and harass the Seahawks with Aaron Donald, Seattle now as a defensive tackle who loosely comps to him, and they added a guard who will take to defensive tackles instead of sitting back passively waiting for them to come to him.
Mike Macdonald doesn’t appear to be a coach willing to live with hubris up front, believing that his coaches can coach up marginal talent inside. He is looking for top end talent there. He wants punch you in the mouth football. We should all be elated.
This is the Baltimore Ravens way. This is the Harbaugh Brothers mentality. This, I believe, is going to be the biggest distinction between what a Mike Macdonald team will be to what a Pete Carroll one was. Fans, like myself, who loved Carroll’s quirky personality and Ted Lasso like demeanor might find themselves in a bit of a culture shock looking at Macdonald’s straight forward no-nonsense way, but I think most fans are going to love the results of what they will eventually see on the field on Sundays, if Macdonald’s vision is carried out. I think it will be.
The Seattle Seahawks are determined to become a bully team again. This is what Macdonald said in response to what they were looking for when taking Murphy and Haynes.
“A style of play that no one wants to play (against), that’s what we are aiming for. That’s our standard of how we play football, and if you want to play here, you’re going to have to play a certain way. Those are a type of guys we’re bringing in.”
That sure does sound a lot like those old 49er teams coached by Jim Harbaugh, and that Michigan team that just beat the crap out of the Huskies in the National Championship game. That sounds a lot like classic Baltimore Raven style football, too.
God bless all of this. In the blustery wet weather that November and December can bring into Lumen Field on Sundays, this is the style of football that I most want to see moving forward.
Collecting big men didn’t stop on Friday either. On Saturday, day three of the draft, the Seahawks took two other big offensive linemen. In the sixth round, they took massive Utah guard/tackle Sataoa Laumea (a guy I thought they might take in round four), and then they grabbed small school offensive tackle Michael Jerrell who has an athletic upside that is described as exciting by many.
Sign me up for both of these players. Give me a big mauling guard who played for the one PAC 12 program that was determined to play SEC style football for years. With their last pick, take a flyer on a guy who played at Findlay who has high athletic upside and dominated against small school programs.
I trust O line coach Scott Huff (formerly of the Washington Husky program and who coached the best offensive line in America last year) in having a good read on Laumea, who he saw play against UW on numerous occasions. Huff probably has a pretty good idea how to work with him. I also trust him in seeing some good clay to mold with Jerrell (a la George Fant), as well.
In a draft that was widely regarded as uniquely deep with offensive linemen, Seattle grabbed three of them. I had written a few times about my desire to see Seattle do something like this, and they did. In hindsight, I couldn’t be more happier. Seattle needs to build its depth here, and they appear focused on doing that.
I am not going to bother with grading this draft for them. I think draft grades are ridiculous, and in a few years, we will see how good this class actually is, but I would be willing to give them an A for effort going after the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. That effort alone means something to me. It shows me where their priorities lay.
Going after a high impact defensive tackle to pair with Leonard Williams is huge for this team. Getting a guard who is viewed as a day one starter in the third round is also an enormous success. Beyond that, you are free to nitpick it however you choose, if you had a favorite player in rounds four and five sitting there who they didn’t take.
In my view, rounds four through seven, teams are largely looking at depth players who could develop into starters. This is where they took Anthony Bradford and Olu Oluwatimi last year, and they just grabbed Laumea and Jerrell. If Seattle can unearth two quality starters out of these four offensive linemen, that’s going to be a big win for this program. They might, especially with Scott Huff now here to take over coaching up the offensive line.
This league is filled with quality guards and centers who were drafted in the later rounds. Of this group, I really like Oluwatimi’s chances a lot, and I am still really intrigued with the high upside of Bradford. I like Laumea as a player to perhaps push Bradford.
Schneider mentioned this the other day, and I think it holds true. Often times, the better offensive lines we see in the league are not loaded with high drafted players. They might have a couple high round picks, but they often filled with a bunch of guys who have been coached up well, and just have a really good want to in terms of smacking a dude in the mouth, and have a really strong chemistry with each other. This was the Seahawk offensive line in 2005 when they made their first Super Bowl. Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson were studs, and the other three were quality working class joes.
In their Saturday afternoon press conference, it is fitting that Mike Macdonald and John Schneider wore mechanic shirts with this draft haul. By wearing these shirts, I think they sent a unifying message. They aren’t into flashy. They’re into nasty.
Even in the fourth round, when they took two non offensive or defensive linemen, they grabbed a linebacker who was a tackling demon in FBS football last year, and they grabbed a Michigan tight end who is being compared to Will Dissly. Both of these dudes are tough guys looking to lay hits either as a run stopper or a run blocker.
Tyrice Knight was a player I mocked to Seattle in the later rounds, so I was not too terribly shocked to see them take him earlier. If you want to call that a reach, that is fine. I would just say that Macdonald’s forte is developing linebackers, and Knight was obviously the guy he wanted at Pick 118 over many other linebacker prospects rated higher by the draft media.
I think we should afford Macdonald the benefit of the doubt in seeing specific qualities in Knight that leads him to believe he will become a good player for him in time. He will sit behind two quality veterans in Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dobson learning how to play ‘backer in Macdonald’s scheme like Junior Colson did for Macdonald in Michigan when he was kinda raw. In a scheme that simplifies things for linebackers, I can get behind this pick.
Drafting AJ Barner after Knight shouldn’t be seen that much as a shocker, either. I felt all along Seattle might be looking to add a third tight end. Instead of grabbing more of a pass catching one as I thought maybe they would target, they chose to grab a inline blocking one from Michigan who Macdonald is familiar with, and so is special teams coach Jay Harbaugh over other flashier tight ends with better pass catching reputations.
Barner, however, is also described as an athletic enough guy to have a good feel on route trees and is a capable receiver when called upon. Like Knight, if you want to bemoan this as another reach pick, that is fine. Will Dissly was also taken in round four and was described as a reach. What this pick tells me more than anything else is that under Macdonald, Seattle’s full intention is to run the piss out of the ball. Get ready to order your Seahawk mechanic shirts.
One thing that caught me off guard, however, was seeing Seattle take two cornerbacks on day three. I did four mock draft articles leading up to this three day event, and in none of them did I envision them going cornerback. In fact, I figured they’d go safety.
There were rumors circulating days up to Thursday that Seattle was doing their homework on corners, and might be preparing to take one during round one, but I interpreted it all as smokescreen material. Seattle seemed loaded up at corner, and I did not feel any sort of strong need at the position.
So, I was fairly stunned when Seattle chose to draft Nehemiah Pritchett at the top of the fifth round, and then take his Auburn teammate DJ James in the sixth. I get it that James carried a day two grade with a few analysts, and Pritchett was sorta regarded as a potential third round pick, as well. I can definitely see the value at taking both of these guys where they fell. Pritchett is a long bodied speed demon with decent potential as a cover guy, and James feels like a player who could be a really good nickel player, but Seattle now feels over loaded at nickel. Devon Witherspoon seems to enjoy sliding inside at nickel, and Coby Bryant has also shown to be decent there.
As the dust has settled, I think I understand these selections more. I think Bryant is probably destined to convert fully to the safety position now, and with Michael Jackson Sr and Tre Brown set to become free agents after this coming season, Seattle may have seen opportunities to get out in front of these situations now.
The coaches might also be unsure how well Riq Woolen will convert to this new scheme after a sophomore slump in 2023. That’s also possible, if not altogether worrisome.
So, in our eyes, we might have viewed this as a deep area of the team, but from a coaching standpoint (and a front office one), they might have seen it as an area they specifically wanted to attack in this draft, especially when they saw two talented corners fall further down the pike, and just provided great value. From this perspective, I can get behind these selections.
If I were to critique this draft for Seattle more, I would say it’s a bummer that they didn’t take advantage at the depth of receiver this year with Tyler Lockett getting older. There were numerous talented receivers to be had out of this class, and Seattle didn’t invest.
Maybe this is the Pete Carroll era that I am still attached to, and I am conditioned into feeling the need to draft at this position, but I also like to say go where the strengths of the draft is. Receiver was really strong this year. I would have liked Seattle to have out of this with one.
One area that I am not going to fault this team on, however, is bypassing quarterback for yet another year. I super duper wanted them to draft Michael Penix Junior. I would have been completely comfortable for them trading up for him. I even had a slight interest in them drafting Bo Nix, as well. Spencer Rattler and Michael Pratt never really moved the needle for me, however, and neither did JJ McCarthy, if I am being perfectly honest.
The team already has Sam Howell, and with that trade, he can be included in this draft haul. I am good with seeing what Ryan Grubb might be able to get out of him with two years left on his rookie contract. I believe he has some interesting upside, and now we get to see if that’s the case.
Also, with all six of the projecting first round quarterbacks going in the top twelve, I think the Sam Howell trade, overall, looks really smart for Seattle now. Go get ’em, Sam.
Lastly, in terms of the undrafted rookie free agents that were signed after the conclusion of the draft, I really love that they brought in Washington tight end Jack Westover. I thought maybe he would have been a player they drafted. I think he’s got not only a strong chance at making this team, I think he can have an impact in his rookie year. Grubb knows him, he was productive for Grubb, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they carve out a playmaking H back role for him in this offense moving forward. Last year’s fan favorite of the undrafted rookies was Jake Bobo. This year, it feels destined to become Westover. I love this move.
On the whole, I do love this draft for Seattle. Out of eight picks, they took four linemen, and three of them are interior fellas. That’s outstanding, in my view. The trenches needed to be the main focus, and they were. Bravo.
Seattle has built up their skill position players enough. They have loaded up on talent at receiver, running back, and they have a good tight end. They have a pro bowl quarterback, and a talented enough young gun behind him. They have good offensive tackles and edge rushers. They have good corners.
It was time overdue to focus more inside, and they did that. In the end, I really cannot ask for more than that.
Michael Penix Junior was destined to go top ten in this draft. This is something I have felt very strongly about for a number of months. All of this baloney talk of him being a second or third round pick was complete nonsense being peddled for months by high profile “draft experts” who probably didn’t sit down and watch very many Washington Husky games over the past two years.
Instead, they viewed his injury history at Indiana, and his average-ish frame, and his less than stellar championship game against Michigan, and they penciled in a bunch of lazy narratives. If Penix had been quarterbacking for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan last season, hitting beautiful deep shots off of play action in a ground and pound offense, supported by the best defense in America, guiding them to the championship win, he would have been a top three pick in this draft. Instead, he was taken eighth overall to Atlanta in a move that surprised many, and that did not surprise me in the slightest.
I wanted Seattle to draft him. I wanted it badly, and a couple weeks ago, I wrote an article where Seattle traded up to take him. I felt that the only way for him to be a Seahawk would be a trade up. I was spot on correct with that, too. There are now reports floating around out that Seattle was, indeed, making an effort to move up for him, after all. Apparently, so was Vegas and New Orleans.
I’m not going to go into rehashing all my reasons for why I believed Penix to Seattle made perfect sense in my mind. I have written about it to an exhausting point, and have argued my position to folks on the internet, and friends, and family, and anyone else pushing against it. It turns out that the league pretty much agreed with my views on him. So, I have that feather in my cap. Go Falcons.
I also suggested in my last mock draft article that Bo Nix might be a candidate for Seattle after a trade back while at the same time suggesting that he could easily go to Denver at twelve overall, and he did just that. Bo Nix has his critics, but I am not one of them. In Denver, I think Sean Payton is going to do a lot of good things with him, and while many are calling that pick a reach, I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a better career than a few of the younger quarterbacks taken in front of him. Time will tell.
Enough of the quarterbacks, though, and onto the real exciting news. Because of the absurd amount of quarterbacks (six of them), offensive tackles, and receivers taken in the first fourteen picks of the draft, the Seattle Seahawks landed a guy who many believe was the best overall defensive player in the draft in one Byron Murphy, Defensive Tackle, out of Texas.
Make no mistake about this. That was a MAJOR steal for the Seahawks. In any other draft, this is a player who would most likely have gone top ten (I thought Atlanta or Chicago would be the spots for him). According to general manager John Schneider, Seattle had four really good trade offers on the table that they turned down to pick Murphy. I can believe that.
At 21 years of age, Byron Murphy has already earned his degree at Texas, so we can imagine that he is a hard working dude. At 6-1 and 300 pounds with an impressive athletic profile, he is also twitched up dude who was a tackle for loss demon in college last year. You can line him up at three technique, 4i, and nose tackle, and he possesses the strength, athleticism, and skills to bugger up an offensive line.
He is as well built as they come for defensive tackle, too. He’s not the doughy pile of fun loving goo that Poona Ford and Brandon Mebane were, but more of the Greek god chiseled-ness of Aaron Donald. That is as far as I will go to compare him to Donald (a once in a generation DT), but his physical profile is impressive like that.
For years, Seattle fans have been pining for this team to acquire a talent such as this to add to their defensive line, and he just fell into their lap. Every Seahawk fan should be excited about this addition, and what a superb way to usher in the Mike Macdonald era.
It’s fine to want to see the Seahawks draft a promising young quarterback who will play for a number of years on a cheap rookie contract, and we can all see that Seattle needs to add more to their offensive line at guard. I would argue, however, that the opportunity to draft a rare game wrecking style defensive tackle trumps taking a great guard prospect, and with no viable QB that you would take after the crazy run of them, this move became an instant no brainer.
It is really, really hard to find defensive tackles who can do what Murphy projects to do at this level. He plays was such great leverage, and explosive power, and translatable skill. He will grow as a pass rusher, but he should have an impact year one making Seattle’s defensive line a problem for opponents. I loved Troy Fautanu as much as the next person as an option for Seattle, but I’m sorry, I’m going Murphy a hundred out of a hundred times with both players on my board. I am so elated that Seattle did not over think this pick.
Mike Macdonald was brought into Seattle to replace Pete Carroll mainly for one reason and one reason only. To build a defense that would wreck Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay offenses. That is why he got this gig. John Schneider just gave him a major tool to do just that.
One could easily argue that the offense for Seattle is really not that far along from being one of the better ones in the league. They need to add more to the offensive line, but they are loaded with weapons, and they have a capable veteran quarterback, and a young guy with some upside behind him, already. When we step back and look at the fuller picture, we can easily see what this team desperately needs most is to get its defense’s ass kicked into high gear.
Byron Murphy is a compact high gear defensive lineman. That is the best way to describe him. Paired with Leonard Big Cat Williams, mixing in with Jarran Reed and Dre’Mont Jones, he going to bring this defensive front a lot of juice. Even if he doesn’t initially collect gobs of sacks, he will make other jobs easier. Boye Mafe’s job is going to be easier, and it wouldn’t shock me if he gets near to 15 sacks this year with Murphy shooting through gabs inside on long third downs.
It is going to be fascinating to see how this defense will morph under Macdonald now with this acquisition. I did not expect him to be available. As I write these thoughts out now, I’m still frankly stunned.
And Seattle still has six picks left in this draft to add a decent young guard prospect. I feel like in round three and early round four, there’s likely still going to be some decent options available. Players like TCU’s Brandon Coleman, Pitt’s Matt Goncalves, Michigan’s Zak Zinter, and South Dakota State’s Mason McCormick could be options available when Seattle picks again, and I’m excited to find out. As a fun thought, maybe UW right tackle Roger Rosengarten falls into their lap at pick 81, and they move Abe Lucas inside to better protect his knee.
But at this rate, however, I would say the draft is working out perfectly for Seattle right now. They got the game wrecker, and a guy who many did not expect to be there at 16. Round one of this draft came to them perfectly.
I also appreciate the rumors that they were preparing to move up for Penix, they need to find a long term solution at quarterback, and who knows, maybe they target Spencer Rattler today, but good teams let the draft process come to them. If Rattler is there at pick 81 and they want to take him, great on them, but if not, I hope they keep an open mind on whoever else might be available there when they pick next today. No need to reach for a need if there is a great prospect sitting that who plays a different position.
So far so good with Bryon Murphy, though. As my father used to say, you cannot have enough quality defensive lineman. He would have loved this pick.
I have no idea what the Seahawks are going to do this draft, but gosh darn it all, if I am ever excited to find out. New coach, possibly a new mindset on the type of players he’s going to want, and the first draft to usher in this new area. I’m stoked for all of this, but I’m just not going to put myself through the agony of predicting anything.
My gut tells me that it is more likely that they trade back then stay put at pick 16 (or trade up). This is a deep draft at offensive line, quarterback, and receiver. There’s some good looking defensive tackles and edge rushers set to go round one, as well, and some interesting corners. These are all players at premium positions, and one of them could be a Seattle Seahawk this Thursday. Whether Seattle stays put, or trades back, or shocks everyone by trading up, they are poised to get a very good football player.
In this final mock draft article, I am going with my gut, and am projecting a trade back. I think there is going to be a run of quarterbacks and receivers early that are going to push some really good players down the boards, and there is going to be a championship contending team who is going to be will to make a deal with John Schneider that he is going to like.
For Schlitz and giggles I am going to say that our trade partner is the Green Bay Packers who Schneider has a healthy relationship with. A prized cornerback becomes available where Seattle is picking, and while Seattle is in no great need for this corner, the Packers do. They send picks 25 and 58 to Seattle, and Schneider gets his wish to trade back, collecting a valuable second round pick.
Beyond this trade, I am projecting the Seahawks to be purposeful in selecting guys who they believe are going to fit the scheme, and culture of their new coaching staff. Mike Macdonald feels like a straight shooting no nonsense fella. I think he’s going to want players who will embody that vibe, who he will count on to play hard for him, and will take to harder coaching.
Here is my final mock draft demonstrating the spirit of this.
With the 25th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Bo Nix, Quarterback, Oregon
Seattle sees a talented quarterback who they believe has the skills, personality, and maturity to mesh beautifully with their new head coach Mike Macdonald. Seattle sees five quarterbacks go in front of them inside the top fifteen, and keep fingers crossed that Nix might be available after the trade back. He is, and they take him.
With the 58th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select T’Vondre Sweat, Defensive Tackle, Texas
This pick comes with controversy similar the Frank Clark selection in 2015, as Sweat has recently been busted for a DUI. Where Bo Nix’s persona is all about high character, Sweat is regarded as a partier who doesn’t keep his weight in check. However, at 6-4 and 366 pounds, few humans can do what he does in a football uniform. He’s a true space eater who can soak up blockers, and he can collapse the middle of an offensive line. He will have Jarran Reed, Leonard Williams, and Johnathan Hankins to show him the ropes of being a professional. Further thoughts about him later in this piece.
With the 81st pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Brandon Coleman, Guard, TCU
Coleman was a three year starter at left tackle in college and was a team captain. He projects as a guard in the NFL, and has the traits to be a good pass blocking one. Seattle can put him behind Laken Tomlinson and allow him to develop and they have an offensive line coach in Scott Huff known for converting tackles to guard while coaching in college. Coleman is an explosive athlete with underrated upside, and can play tackle if needed.
With the 102nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Jeremiah Trotter Junior, Linebacker, Clemson
Though undersized and maybe not a top athlete, Trotter has NFL genes, he’s smart, instinctive, plays with discipline, and has proven effective both as a blitzer and in coverage. This is important to Macdonald.
With the 118th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Javon Solomon, Edge Rusher, Troy
Like Trotter, Solomon comes in undersized, but plays fast, instinctive, and was very productive. He plays with good leverage that makes him hard to block against the run, and he’s bendy around the corners with good use of hands as a rusher. He can also effectively drop in space. I like this guy for Macdonald’s defense.
With the 179th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Kamren Kinchens, Safety, Miami
At one point last season, Kitchens was projected to be a top safety prospect, but unspectacular testing results at the combine are likely going to hurt his draft stock. Some team is going to get a really good safety later on in the draft with him, though. Here, Seattle does.
With the 192nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Beaux Limmer, Center/Guard, Arkansas
Limmer is experienced at guard and center in college, and he displays good technique. He’s also a decent athlete. For some reason, he’s projected to be a later round pick, and if this proves true, he’d be a great pickup here as a quality depth player. Seattle swoops in.
With the 235th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Luke McCaffery, Wide Receiver, Rice
This is a fun pick with McCaffery’s big brother Christian playing for the San Francisco 49ers, but it also makes sense, if he’s still around late in the draft. He has natural hands, and can run a decent route. He is new to the position, though, as a former quarterback converted to receiver, but if he is sitting there late, definitely worth taking a flyer on.
Thoughts about this final mock draft for the Seahawks
I don’t know if any of these guys end up Seattle Seahawks, but each of them feels like Seahawks in terms of what I sense this team wants moving forward. I think they are searching for high character guys. I think they want leaders, and guys who will fight hard, and will bring an extra gear of juice to games. This is how their last two drafts have gone, and I think they lean further into it in this coming one.
Why do I have Seattle selecting Bo Nix in the first round, you ask?
Well, if you were to set aside your Husky bias for a moment, I think I can explain it. Here are my own thoughts on him.
NFL draft pundits are all over the map with him. Some say he won’t make it past Denver’s pick at 12, while others say he’s a guy who teams will try to target in the second round. For what it is worth, the same thing has been said about Michael Penix Junior, so Nix isn’t alone in bipolar projections (although Penix is gaining a lot of last minute buzz about being a top 15 pick).
When I look a Bo Nix, I just think there is a strong chance he is both a John Schneider guy and a Mike Macdonald fella. He’s well built at 6-2 and 214 pounds, and he’s a capable scrambler who throws very well on the run. On top of being football smart, and accurate with the football, he’s also regarded as an exceptionally strong leader. The people down in Eugene rave about the positive impact he brought to their culture and locker room. He’s extremely experienced in college, and as a coach’s son, he’s all football.
Like Penix, he possesses big hands, and for John Schneider, I think that is a big deal. While he doesn’t have the arm canon of Penix, he grips the ball well, pump fakes well in cold wet weather, and get the ball out quickly and accurately while setting up defenders. In boxing terms, he boxes smart (at least this is what it has looked like in all the games I have watched from him).
He can also throw a pretty deep ball, and I don’t believe that gets talked about enough in the media because of all the short easier completions he was asked to do at Oregon. He’s also proven to be very durable in college, and that is going to be a positive checkmark for a lot of coaches.
I stand firm in my belief of Bo Nix. I have watched just as many Oregon Duck games as I have watched Husky games. I have good vibes on him and Penix. I think their floors are really good, and while Penix might have the much hirer ceiling with his superior arm talent, I don’t think Nix is exactly a popgun armed quarterback who is going to be a check down Charlie at the next level. I think he can be a good starter in this league for a long time, if he gets into the right situation. I think Seattle would be that right situation for him.
I also think Nix could really be an ideal Mike Macdonald kind of guy. I can see potentially a great personality fit, and in many ways, I think it makes sense for Seattle to take the plunge now at drafting a quarterback to partner with the new head coach moving forward, if the right guy is there, even though they might have greater immediate needs on the team.
Enough on the quarterback, though, and onto perhaps the more controversial projection in this mock draft. Bo Nix taken in round one will surely raise a few Husky eyebrows, but the next guy I have projected in this mock to Seattle might induce some actual rage with fans and media members.
T’Vondre Sweat, with his recent DUI, and his chill attitude about his playing weight, would instantly draw criticism from some of the talking heads in the Seattle sports media scene. I have seen this movie a few times over.
Seattle has shown a track record taking risks on potentially impactful defensive linemen with character red flags. Bruce Irvin, Frank Clark, and Malik MacDowell all had issues either with the law (Irvin and Clark) or motivation (MacDowell). Irvin and Clark had successful stays in Seattle, but MacDowell did an extremely knuckleheaded thing on an ATV that all but destroyed his football year before it got going. Each of those selections drew sharp criticism in the local media, and I would expect no different if Seattle drafted Sweat.
Why then do I think Seattle could still do this, even with the history of the MacDowell situation?
Here are a few remarks that NFL analyst Lance Zierlien has noted about him on his profile on NFL.com’s webpage.
Tall, wide, and extremely powerful
Devours blocks, allowing linebackers to operate in space
Has the ability to crater the pocket if the center doesn’t help to block him
At 6-4 and 366 pounds, Sweat is unusually gifted as a nose tackle who cannot be single blocked, and has enough athleticism for his gigantic size to factor as an inside pass rusher. If Mike Macdonald really does love his linebackers as much as he has professed to adore them, getting a huge dude like Sweat in front of them to soak up blockers and gum up the middle of an offensive line would literally be a ginormous gift.
Personality wise, I don’t believe Sweat is at all like MacDowell, who may not have been the best teammate in college and didn’t seem to take to coaching very well. At Texas, while known as a fun loving guy, I think he was actually a pretty good teammate, and Brock Huard noted on his morning radio show the other day that he has a personality that you naturally gravitate towards.
Also, Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy (a dude very connected to Seattle) noted that Sweat demonstrated an ability during Senior Bowl practices to take to harder coaching. This last part makes me believe he is a fit for Mike Macdonald in Seattle. Not only is he physically the exact type of player they need at nose tackle, he is also the type of player who the coaches could be able to maximize with a harder no-nonsense brand of coaching that we are now likely to see.
At the end of the day, Macdonald is going to want talented players who are coachable, and Sweat checks off both boxes. If John Schneider takes him, he will feel the heat from some local media members for sure, but they can incentivize his rookie contract with performance and off field behavioral clauses (I believe they did this with Clark). In my opinion, I think it’s a very worthy roll of the dice for greatness.
Brandon Coleman is a guy that I have mocked in the third round to Seattle a couple times now. He was a good pass blocking left tackle in college who wis an explosive athletic tester, and he projects to slide into left guard at the next level.
Seattle is heavily connected to UW’s Troy Fautanu as a player people are projecting to Seattle at pick 16 as a tackle who could be converted to guard at the next level. It would be outstanding if Seattle were to draft him, but I kinda think Fauntanu is going to be well off the board by then.
Coleman could be a decent backup plan later on. He’s not the tenacious run blocker Fautanu is, but he could be potentially a very good pass blocking guard, and offensive line coach Scott Huff does have a history transitioning tackles to guards in college. Coleman was a team captain at TCU, and there is no reason to think that he can’t be coached up to become a more aggressive and effective run blocker. With veteran Laken Tomlinson brought in as a stop gap, this buys time for a talented guy like Coleman to ease into the transition. I really like him for Seattle.
Jeremiah Trotter Junior is another guy I have mocked to the Seahawks twice, and believe is the right character fit filling a need. He was a team leader at Clemson, started a ton of games, called the plays, showed well in coverage, and was a timely blitzer. His dad was a long time NFL linebacker, so you can feel confident he probably knows ball at a pretty high level. He’s not the biggest guy, and he doesn’t have blazing speed, but he’s probably fast enough. In the fourth round, I can see Seattle willing to take a shot on him.
Javon Solomon is a guy I am late on, but I think provides intriguing value in early day three of the draft. At 6-1 246 pounds, he is a compact edge rusher with long arms and some decent enough athletic testing numbers to make you think there is stuff to work with at the next level. Like Trotter, he was a highly productive college player who played with great instincts and he comes into the league already demonstrating a number of pass rush moves. He also plays the run really well. If Seattle wants to come out of this draft with another quality edge defender, he could be a player to keep in mind in the mid rounds.
Kamren Kinchens is just a really good football player at safety, and could see a big slide through the draft because he wasn’t a great athletic tester in gym shorts, and the safety position, as a whole, is becoming more devalued through the draft process. Like Trotter, and Solomon, he’s an instinctual player who plays with a good understanding of the game, and he was a team leader. I think he’s exactly the type of young safety Mike Macdonald might be looking for.
It would be stunning to me of Beaux Limmer lasted late into the sixth round of the draft, but every year that I watch this thing, I see good players still available well into the last stretches. He’s long and strong, and has plenty of experience at guard and center. I think he’s exactly what you are looking for in a backup player capable of filling in at both spots, and Seattle is going to need to step out of this draft with at least two offensive linemen. If they land Coleman and Limmer, I think we can call that a pretty successful haul for what they need on the interior of their offensive line.
Luke McCaffery is just a fun idea at wide receiver, and I would like to see Seattle take a shot at one in this draft class which is rich at the position. I wouldn’t mind it if they took a shot at him earlier than what I am projecting here. On top of showing traits that translate to the league, I think it’s a fun idea to draft Christian’s little brother to further stoke the flames of the Seattle San Francisco rivalry. How’s dad Ed McCaffery going to handle these two games out of the years on Sundays? 49er jersey and Seahawks cap? Fun stuff.
Final final thoughts on this coming draft
I know that I have come across as wanting Seattle to draft a quarterback this year, but I am fine with kicking that can down the line another year if the right player isn’t available. I can see the merit of going other positions and seeing what you might have with Sam Howell as a guy to further develop potentially as a long term starter.
That said, if by chance Michael Penix Junior is sitting at pick 16, and Seattle passes him over for another position, I will blow a gasket. I can take it if he is drafted in front of Seattle, and they punt on Bo Nix, if he is sitting there. For the many reasons I already described, I like Nix a lot, but I need Penix in Seattle, if that is possible.
In my opinion, Penix to Seattle feels like the most logical move to come out of this draft. A couple weeks ago, I did a mock article where Seattle traded up to the 10 spot to take him. They have his offensive coordinator here, and he would come in with A+ arm talent knowing this system perhaps better than Geno Smith and Sam Howell. If Seattle really does want him, I think they should do whatever to make sure he is a Seahawk, and that includes trading up. Just go get him.
On the contrary to this, if they pass an opportunity to draft Penix with him being available at 16, I will damn near lose my mind. If they pass on him, and he ends up being taken by the LA Rams, I will absolutely lose my marbles, you can bank of that.
If you are a fan of my more toxic side filtering out as a writer, the side that I demonstrated when the mediocre Pittsburgh Steelers came into Seattle late last season, and made Bobby Wagner their chew toy, you should root for the scenario of John Schneider passing on Penix and then seeing him drafted by the Rams at pick 19. I am praying that this does not happen. I don’t think it will. I suspect that he does not get past Denver, who is picking at 12, and there is buzz already that the Raiders are looking at him at 13, but none the less, Seattle passing on Penix is the one scenario that I don’t have the fortitude to handle. I cannot have that.
That said, I think it is about 60/40 whether they even take a quarterback at all this year. I think they are aiming for one. I suspect that they dig Penix for all the very obvious reasons. I also have a hunch that they are keen on Nix, and are possibly really into Spencer Rattler, as well. If they don’t land any of the top seven or eight guys, however, I kinda don’t think they will draft one this year, though. This is the reason they traded for Sam Howell. They can say he is a part of this class, and I believe that they really do like him.
I think that they are most definitely going to look to add to the trenches on both sides of the ball. I am not completely convinced that they go offensive line with their first pick, however, if it is not a quarterback. I think there is a strong chance they could take either the best defensive tackle, or edge rusher prospect on their board, and then look towards the offensive line further down the line.
Part of the reason why I think Seattle is eyeing pass rush in the first round is that Jim Nagy mentioned on Twitter X a while back that he didn’t believe Seattle would go offensive line with their first pick. I think it stands to reason that maybe he’s privy to things about Seattle that others are not. This is also partly why I think they might actually go quarterback round one like I am projecting in this final mock draft.
The other reason why I think Seattle might go pass rusher in round one is that it could ultimately make the most sense for their new head coach who was hired to finally build back an elite defense in Seattle (something Pete Carroll ultimately failed to do after the collapse of the LOB defense). Seattle might feel like their offense is close enough to completion that going defense is the bigger need, and they want to ensure a quick turnaround on that side of the ball in year one of Macdonald’s regime. This is why I had them stay put in last week’s mock draft article, selecting Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse.
Ultimately, staying put at 16 and taking a guy like Verse could be the most likely thing for Seattle in a few days. It could also be for Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, who is regarded as the best interior pass rusher in this class. If either one of these guys ends up a Seattle Seahawk this Thursday, you can get plenty excited about that.
I just can’t have them pass on Michael Penix Junior. The disappoint level of that would be equivalent to learning that my wife is a Russian spy. I can’t have that. Hopefully, I won’t.
You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well, you just might find that you get what you need.
These sage words of Mick Jagger apply to all walks of life, from sleeping with backup singers twice your size to being inside an NFL war room on draft day. They could very well apply to our beloved Seattle Seahawks right around the corner.
Next week, I believe that John Schneider’s desired plan is to engineer a trade back (or two) from pick 16 that will net Seattle more day two picks. That said, what if he can’t find any takers who will give him fair compensation? If teams know he’s an eager seller, what would stop them from lowballing?
This is what Schneider must be prepared for. Trading back into the lower portion of round one just to get a late third round pick won’t be very appealing, especially if there is a highly compelling prospect to be had at pick 16.
It is also possible that an unexpected player lands to your pick, and he is just way too good to pass up. I suspect there is a small handful of players in this draft that John Schneider has rated so highly that he would not trade back if they found themselves available at 16. I feel like he’s probably got a few of these quarterbacks rated this highly, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, an offensive lineman or two, and probably a couple pass rushers.
This mock draft article is about staying put, and just taking the best player off your board, regardless of position. Last year, I think the team did this at pick five overall when they took cornerback Devon Witherspoon. There was no outward need for taking a corner that high, but he was just the highest rated player left on their board, and that was that.
As much as we want to anticipate that they will trade back and recoup a second round pick (or more), it may not happen. Here’s a fun hypothetical of what could happen if the right player lands to pick 16.
With the 16th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Jared Verse, Edge Rusher, Florida State
Seattle doesn’t have an overwhelming need at edge rusher, and they have poured high resources into the position for several years now, but sometimes a player is so good that he forces your hand. Verse is regarded by some as the top edge defender in the draft, and it would be stunning if he makes it here, but if he is, Seattle can snap him up and send pass rushers in waves next Fall. A superb selection to start the Mike Macdonald era.
With the 81st pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Matt Goncalves, Offensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
By not trading back at 16 and gather a second round pick, Seattle sweats out a long portion of the draft keeping their fingers crossed that a good offensive lineman will be available when they pick in the middle of the second round. They take Goncalves, who is well sized, athletic, and has experience at playing both tackle positions. It’s very possible he can be looked to convert to guard.
With the 102nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Mekhi Wingo, Defensive Tackle, LSU
At the top of round four, Seattle goes best player available again with an active defensive tackle. Wingo is an explosive 3 technique who will push Dre’Mont Jones, and will give Seattle instant interior pass rush depth. Great motor, great character, and a guy you want in your rotation.
With the 118th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Malik Mustapha, Safety, Wake Forest
Seattle stays patient with the safety position and takes potentially a good one here. I mocked him to Seattle before at pick 102, but this time I have them taking him a pick further back. They need to come out of this draft with a good safety prospect, and Mustapha feels like a guy who gets drafted in the middle rounds and ends up a quality NFL starter in a couple years.
With the 179th pick of the 2024 Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Nathaniel Watson, Linebacker, Mississippi State
I mocked Watson to Seattle last week in the sixth round and I am repeating it here. They brought him in for a visit the other week, he’s a productive three down player who called plays for the Bulldogs, and Seattle needs to take a linebacker. At this stage, he’s the best linebacker left on their board.
With the 192nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Michael Barrett, Linebacker, Michigan
Seattle double dips at linebacker by taking a player familiar with Mike Macdonald’s system and was productive. Barrett may not amount to much more than a depth player in the league, but he played for the national champs on the defense that Macdonald built. If there is one spot for him to land and maybe be molded into an eventual starter, it would be Seattle.
With the 235th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Brevyn Spann-Ford, Tight End, Minnesota
With their final pick of the draft, the Seahawks select a tight end who is well sized with decent hands and size to be a good blocker. He’s a developmental player who offers some upside, and maybe that is what they are looking for out of third tight end spot.
Thoughts about this mock draft
I don’t think it’s likely Jared Verse makes it to pick 16, but sometimes funny things happen. If five quarterbacks are taken in front of Seattle along with several offensive linemen, some receivers, and a supremely talented tight end from Georgia, all it might take is for a team or two take one of the other top edge rushers over Verse for him to land to where Seattle picks. My goodness, what a blessing this would be for Seattle, if this proved true.
This mock draft isn’t a terrible scenario for Seattle, in my opinion. They land a guy who has the talent to become one of the top edge rushers in the league in a few years, and will make they pass rush rotation potentially very strong in year one of Mike Macdonald’s regime. While I don’t believe they need to take an edge rusher in round one, Verse could be so special that it’s really kind of a no brainer.
Mike Macdonald has recently described his football philosophy as playing a brand of ball that makes the opposition feel like they are playing more than eleven players. San Fransisco felt that when they played the Ravens last year, and Brock Purdy played one of his worst games of his young career. The Washington Huskies felt that in the championship game when they played a Michigan defense that Macdonald was the former architect of, and Michael Penix Junior continues to get criticized for his underwhelming performance against it.
By adding Jared Verse to a group that includes Nwosu, the up and coming talents of Boye Mafe and Derick Hall, and the pass rush abilities of Darrell Taylor, Macdonald could bring waves of edge rushers in year one of his regime. It’s hard to imagine that he would not want that.
When you mix in a guy like Mehki Wingo, an active inside pass rusher, John Schneider would give his first year head coach the ability to also stock his inside pass rush. Suddenly, he’s got an interior pass rush that include Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, Dre’Mont Jones, Wingo, and potentially Mike Morris who was drafted last year and played for Macdonald in Michigan. Wingo mixed with Verse, coming out of this draft, could be enough to give this side of the ball an impressive turnaround this Fall. That’s an exciting thought.
In the third round, I had them opting for a gigantic 6-6 327 pound dude who played left and right tackle in college and could develop into a guard, giving Seattle an enormous offensive line in the future. Goncalves missed a bunch of games with a toe injury in 2023, but has tape showing an active guy who held up in pass protection well enough, but had an ability to explode into the second level opening up run lanes. He was also a team captain. In the NFL he might be a serviceable starting tackle, but if he learns to play with better leverage, he has the potential to be a much better guard.
With Seattle bringing in Laken Tomlinson, drafting a talented gigantic tackle like Goncalves and transitioning him to guard makes sense, in my opinion, and should they sustain injuries at tackle, he already has that in his background. Tomlinson buys time for Goncalves to grow into the position, and Seattle has Scott Huff who was an excellent offensive line coach at UW, and known for successfully converting tackles to guards for the Huskies. Also, Goncalves has a Baltimore Raven style offensive lineman vibe about him, and I dig that.
Beyond these guys, I have Seattle taking shots on guys to plug in at need spots. Beyond offensive line help, they need a talented young safety to eventually become a starter. I think they need a third option at tight end to develop as a key contributor in the future. I think they need to come out of this draft with a linebacker (or two) who can grow in Mike Macdonald’s system behind Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dobson.
What this mock draft also shows, however, is the disappoint that could be felt from not trading back from 16, collecting further picks. This draft is especially deep at offensive line and receiver. In this mock, I have Seattle only taking one offensive lineman, and it would be a shame if they did not grab two from this class, and it would also kinda be a bummer if they didn’t take advantage of the richness of the receiver situation, as well. In this scenario, they miss out on both opportunities by choosing to take Jared Verse at 16. That is the price of staying put and taking a non offensive lineman even if he could be a great player at another position.
Also, I believe that John Schneider would love to draft a quarterback this year, if he can. If they miss out on one (as presented in this scenario), I think it would be an irritant for him. In his first draft apart from Pete Carroll, one where he can finally get back to his Green Bay DNA of drafting and developing quarterbacks, I can see it ego bruising for him if he did not finally take a swing on one, even if it is a later round pick.
In this mock, however, I wanted to show a scenario where Schneider misses out again at quarterback. As much as I believe he wants to take one, I don’t think he will burn a pick on one just for the sake of it. He likely has them rated in ranges where he would be comfortable taking them, but it might not fall the way he wants it to for them, and in this case, it doesn’t.
In the end, this would still be a draft class that Seattle can feel good enough about. They didn’t address offensive line they way I wanted them to do it, and that stings, but adding Jared Verse to this defense would have the potential of being franchise altering in an exciting way. In the long run, that might prove more fruitful towards building into a true contender.
When the Rams stayed put and took Aaron Donald, it changed their coarse from being bottom barrel to Super Bowl contender in a few short years after a coaching change. When the 49ers sucked in Kyle Shanahan’s early years, they snatched Nick Bosa at the top of the draft even though they already had a stacked defensive line, that move immediately made them a contender, and they have mostly been a top NFL team ever sense. I’m not going to suggest the Verse will be as dominant as either of those guys, but he could have enough talent to fall within the group who is just a notch below. In this league, every team would gladly take that.
If Seattle was fortunate enough to land a dude like Verse, it could be the golden ticket to truly turn this defense around in a huge way in year one of Macdonald’s regime. This is why I would just stay put and do it. I think Verse can be that good in this league, especially if he gets with a dude like Macdonald.
That is certainly something to get excited about if it happens.
When the Seattle Seahawks made the trade for Sam Howell a few weeks back, the assumption was that it took them out of the running of drafting a quarterback in round one. This very might well prove the case, but Seattle just had former Oregon Duck quarterback Bo Nix in for a visit over the weekend, and that presents an interesting question.
Seattle picks 16 overall in the NFL draft, and then they don’t pick again until 81. The golf between these two picks is gigantic. Therefore, if Nix slides to pick 16, and they don’t take him, he most certainly will not be available when Seattle picks at 81, assuming they don’t trade back for a second round pick (they might).
Nix is expected by many to be a first round pick, but is the league expecting a fall in the draft a la Will Levis from last year, and could Seattle be looking to land him later? Could he be a target at the bottom of round one, or in the second round after a series of trade backs?
It’s a curious visit. Many folks in amongst the 206 area code don’t appear super high on Nix after watching Michael Penix Junior and the Huskies defeat the Ducks three times in the last two years, but I dig him. I think he’s got great character, I am drawn to his ability to throw on the run, and be an athletic point guard distributor in football cleats. He doesn’t have a huge arm, but it appears big enough, and he’s accurate. I can see him being successful in a Kyle Shanahan styled offensive, and I can also see how a defensive minded head coach would appreciate his willingness to be judicious with the ball in his hands. With all the skill players Seattle has on offense, I think he could step in and find early success.
Therefore, in inspiration of all this Nix visiting the Seahawks news, I want to entertain the idea that they are still quite interested in going QB early, even though they traded for Howell. How realistic this is, I have no idea, but I think it’s interesting.
Right now, there are six quarterbacks who are thought to be likely first round picks in a couple weeks; Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy should all go pretty high, and then there’s Penix, and Nix. Some think the Spencer Rattler might develop into a decent NFL starter, but he isn’t projected to go first round. After Rattler, there isn’t much in this class in terms of developmental prospects. Therefore, if you want a starter type on a rookie contract, you’re likely going to have to spend a high pick.
From a Seattle perspective, the chances of one these top quarterbacks reaching pick 16 for them remains dicey, in my opinion. The Vikings, Raiders, Broncos all feel like they are gearing to take a quarterback early. The Falcons and Jets, with older quarterbacks, could also have interest. We know that the Bears, Commanders, Patriots, and perhaps even the Giants almost certainly are looking to select one of these dudes high.
That is nine teams in front of Seattle who could be enticed to take one of these six dudes. This is why Seattle made the Sam Howell trade. They wanted to get someone who has upside to be molded into an eventual starter, and Howell presented the easiest pathway with their lack of draft capital. For them, they liked Howell two years ago, he was on the market because Washington was picking second overall, and they were perfectly willing to outbid Denver and the LA Rams for his services.
In this mock draft article, however, I am going to proposal a hypothetical as to how Seattle might still get their guy, if they are very high on a particular fella. As I skim through the tea leaves, I can see a scenario that could happen.
Now I am now going to present a situation where Minnesota makes a trade with the Patriots to move all the way up to number three overall, and they take JJ McCarthy who they will have convinced themselves he’s got the intangibles to lead them to the promised land. This trade happens after the Bears took Caleb Williams, and the Commanders took Jayden Daniels.
The Patriots, hoping for Daniels, traded back once the Commies took him in front of them. This trade inspires the Raiders to trade with the Cardinals at pick 4, and they snag Drake Maye who they will have convinced themselves he’s the next Justin Herbert. Then from picks five through nine we see an expected run on offensive tackles and receivers. After that run, this following thing happens.
With the 10th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the New York Jets Trade With the Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks deal pick 16 and their 2025 first round pick to move up six spots in order to get in front of the Patriots at pick 11 who are likely eyeing the same quarterback. The Jets, who have been a trade partner with Seattle in the past, accept the offer in order to prevent the talented passer to go to their division rival, and stock up first round picks in 2025 to perhaps go after their own QB of the future.
With the 10th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Michael Penix Junior, Quarterback, Washington
Seattle gets the passer they wanted all along, a big armed, brilliant deep ball passer who they envision pairing with DK Metcalf for years to come. They hired his offensive coach, his offensive line coach, and they know exactly how to use him. They have a plan to protect him by leaning into a powerful run game more which will allow him to play in a more balanced attack than what he did in his Washington days. They knew they didn’t have shot at the top three, but they were hoping they would come within striking distance of Penix, and they got him.
With the 81st pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Brandon Coleman, Guard, TCU
Coleman was an athletic left tackle at TCU who projects as a guard in the NFL. Call him a poor man’s version of UW’s Troy Fautanu (who should go in the top 15 of this draft). Coleman has good pass blocking traits, comes with good football fundamentals, and has an explosiveness to develop into a quality run blocker. He should step into the left guard vacancy and compete to be a day one starter.
With the 102nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Jeremiah Trotter Junior, Linebacker, Clemson
Trotter has NFL DNA surging through his body, and is a smart, all out effort, middle linebacker. He’s not a big player but plays big. He’s considered not a great athlete, but is a very instinctive player against the run and in coverage. Middle linebacker is one position where instincts can often trump size and speed, and Lofa Tatupu had the same knocks against him coming out of USC in 2005 when Seattle took him in round two and it was considered a massive reach. I can see him being a Mike Macdonald guy.
With the 118th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Layden Robinson, Guard, Texas A&M
I had Seattle draft Robinson in the exact same spot in last week’s mock draft article after taking offensive line in round one, and I am going to continue projecting him at this spot this week. I think Seattle will most likely draft a couple offensive linemen even if they go a different position in round one. Robinson has the size, strength, and athletic traits to compete with Anthony Bradford at right guard.
With the 179th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Devin Culp, Tight End, Washington
Seattle stays patient and takes Penix’s athletic pass catching tight end here, and Culp comes in with an immediate understanding of Ryan Grubb’s scheme, and has instant chemistry with Penix. Smart pickup here.
With the 192nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Nathaniel Watson, Linebacker, Mississippi State
Seattle grabs another middle linebacker type with good athleticism and three years of experience starting. He showed good instincts in coverage in college, and traits to be a quality blitzer (which will be important to Macdonald). He has traits to be a starter in the league, but needs to learn proper discipline in order to achieve that status.
With the 235th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Kitan Oladapo, Safety, Oregon State
Oladapo is well sized to play strong safety in the league, and has shown a decent ability to play against tight ends. Seattle should do a lot of split safety stuff here, but he has enough traits to be able to develop that way. He’s a good athlete who should bring immediate special teams value and depth.
Thoughts about this mock draft
By mocking former Huskies to Seattle in back to back weeks in the first round, I understand it if readers feel I am the homeresty homer that ever homed the homestead, but I calls ’em as I sees them. I think Michael Penix Junior is special, and I see only two other QB prospects in this draft who I would describe as perhaps being more special (Williams and Daniels).
It is fine to be nervous about Michael Penix’s injury history, and question whether he can hold up long term in the NFL, but there is not a prettier deep ball passer in this draft, and John Schneider has a love for big armed quarterbacks, and Seattle has an offensive coordinator who knows him better than anyone else in the league. It is the easiest thing to project him to Seattle, even with the Sam Howell trade (who I believe Seattle is genuinely high on, as well).
What continues to baffle me about Penix is the view from some NFL and draft analysts who still believe he is a second round talent, even after his pro day where he ran a blistering 4.5 forty in front of scouts and jumped a ridiculously high vertical for a quarterback. The concern amongst most of his detractors is his substantial injury history even though his medicals have checked out positively, and some analytic data showing that he didn’t perform very well off script last year, but my goodness, do they not see how effortlessly he can rip difficult throws downfield on-script?
I say fooey to all of this. He was the best on-script passer in college football over the past two years, and with huge hands, he can spin the ball downfield like few quarterbacks can. Put him in an offense that allows him to perform on-script on Sundays, with a great offensive line, ground game, and defense, and go win a freaking championship with him.
Tom Brady, who many consider the GOAT quarterback, was not great off script, either. Neither was Payton Manning, Troy Aikman, and Dan Marino. They all succeeded by having unique abilities to kill defenses on schedule from the pocket.
Football is not as innovative as some fans like to think of it. All this chatter about how today’s game is more about needing to have quarterbacks who can throw off platform, and off-script outside of the pocket is baloney.
Nobody is going to call Brock Purdy a brilliant off schedule improvising quarterback. He’s very much tied to Kyle Shanahan’s detailed play calling, and he executes it brilliantly on schedule. If he makes a play outside of the realm of how it was designed, Kyle is famously willing to rip him a new one on the sidelines.
In Denver, Sean Payton also runs a very detail oriented on schedule scripted offense, and even though Russell Wilson was having a decent bounce back statistical season last year, he was absolutely driving the coach nuts with is unscripted style. It wouldn’t shock me if Penix is actually QB1 for Payton in this draft.
Penix has all the traits of a great on schedule quarterback. I think he’s a young Warren Moon and Troy Aikman. I feel it. I got nothing against Geno Smith, or Sam Howell, but I believe to my core that Penix will likely be a much better passer in this league. I feel it in my bones.
I could be wrong, sure. He could get drafted to a bad organization with bad coaching. He could have coordinators switched on him early, and never have enough time to master a system. He could get injured and never materialize to his potential. He could be Sam Darnold in four years.
He could also become a brilliant young Warren Moon-esque passer torching up the league with all kinds of pretty stats and pro bowl nods, and deep playoff runs. It is this vision of his future that makes me believe Seattle should just go out and get him.
Do I think it is likely that Seattle will trade up for him a few spots and take him within the top ten in front of other quarterback hungry teams? No, I think it is significantly more likely that they trade back for more picks and take an offensive lineman just as I had them do in last week’s mock draft article. Again, I will say it that I believe they like Sam Howell’s potential more than some realize, but in that, I cannot rule out the possibility of Seattle doing something they have never done before with John Schneider at the GM helm, if they dig on a guy in this draft even more, and move up to get him. It would not stun me.
If they believe that a guy like Penix is the dude who will quarterback them to titles, and he is within striking distance of a trade to move up for him, they could do it, absolutely, and they should. The question becomes whether they feel that way about him, and whether he is within reasonable striking distance to do this sort of trade.
Personally, I believe Penix is destined to be drafted much higher than where Seattle is slated to pick at 16. If I am proved to be wrong on this, I will be happy to own it, but I don’t think I will be. His arm talent is too special, as are his leadership traits. Those two factors alone will likely outweigh concerns about further injuries, in my opinion, and the Falcons who pick at eight overall just sent a massive delegation (including their head coach) to Seattle to work him out and interview him. Even though they just signed Kirk Cousins, it makes sense for them to draft Penix and have him waiting in the wings for a year or two.
If he should get past Atlanta, however, and make it to pick ten of the Jets, I think it would be worth it for Seattle to put in an offer to move up at that point. Sure, the Jets, themselves, could be inclined to take him there, but do they really want to piss off a moody Aaron Rodgers who they just traded for and made their bed with? Trading back with Seattle, and taking the best receiver or offensive linemen feels more prudent from their position, and they can explore quarterback options in 2025 with two first round picks at their disposal once again.
From a fan perspective, I think this sort of bold move for Penix would have the Twelves very split. Many people would dance in the streets, but others would throw their remotes at their television sets, especially those who believe Geno Smith is a perfectly fine quarterback for the now and in the future. I get that, but I reckon that there was a continent of Chief fans who believed Alex Smith was a perfectly fine quarterback, and they lamented the trade up for a raw Patrick Mahomes who had tons of question marks coming out of Texas Tech.
What would trading up for Penix mean for Geno? That’s where it gets murkier.
Penix would come into Seattle knowing Ryan Grubb exceptionally well. Seattle could look to trade or release Geno post June 1st to save some off of the cap, and allow him to select a quarterback needy-ish team of his choosing. However, if they wanted to stock up on further 2025 draft picks, Sam Howell, with his upside and two year left on a cheap rookie contract, might offer more trade value. If the Broncos miss out on a quarterback in the draft, for example, Howell to Denver doesn’t sound that crazy, and maybe Seattle sees value in keeping Geno for a final year to mentor in Penix like Kurt Warner did to Eli Manning with the Giants. I could see it going either way.
If Seattle should shock the world and trade up for Penix, but trading away next year’s first round pick, they could still target valuable offensive line prospects in the third and fourth rounds, and feel like they can get a couple starters. If Brandon Coleman ends up at pick 81, it makes all the sense in the world to snatch him up. He’s big and athletic with left tackle experience and a body made for an NFL guard. He could grow into one of the better interior pass blockers in the league and would come into Seattle with Scott Huff coaching him up.
Beyond pick 81, I just like Seattle drafting Steady Eddie types filling in needs. Under John Schneider, Seattle has historically done very well finding mid to late round starters who are just good football players if not great workout warriors. KJ Wright and Will Dissly didn’t blow anyone away at the NFL combine. Their tape was just really good and Seattle recognized that. Go get guys who played well in college to fill in depth needs.
Jeremiah Trotter Junior is perhaps a bit of a limited athlete but he’s a smart player who plays instinctively well. Layden Robinson should be a guy you take in the middle rounds with the expectation he can develop into a decent NFL guard. Devin Culp offers skills for move tight ends that play like big slot receivers who you see a lot of on Sunday. Nathaniel Watson might likely get drafted a lot higher than the sixth round, but if he’s there, he’s the sort you happily pickup. Go draft another safety, at some point to throw in the mix, like Olapado.
In conclusion, while I don’t think this mock draft scenario is very likely for Seattle, it is the scenario that I most want them to do in a few weeks. If they love one of these quarterbacks, and they believe they could have a shot at him, just go get him, if you can.
This feels like a draft that is a rare top heavy one at quarterback. The drop off beyond the top six or seven is steep. In fact, next year’s draft class might be better for day two QB prospects who could be viewed as future starters.
Finally, I will say this. if Seattle traded up for Penix, I will absolutely lose my freaking mind with excitement. My neighbor might feel inclined to call 911 because of the lunatic next door.
He is the dude I have most wanted to see in a Seahawk uniform for many months now. If this happens in two weeks, I will absolutely lose my shit, and I am not really that much of a quarterback obsessed fan. I have always been a trenches guy, and have been lamenting for years how much Seattle has not emphasized, nearly enough, offensive and defensive linemen. This is how much of a believer I am in Penix.
12th Life 