Tag: 529366

RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks report to 2022 training camp on Tuesday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines:

Biggest question: Can the Seahawks be competitive without quarterback Russell Wilson? Despite how it might have looked to casual observers when the Seahawks parted with Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, this is a team in transition as opposed to a full-on rebuild. Shelling out big money to keep 29-year-old safety Quandre Diggs and other veteran players like running back Rashaad Penny and tight end Will Dissly says as much. Those re-signings, plus other marquee returning players (receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, safety Jamal Adams) plus two sure-fire starters they got back in the Wilson trade (tight end Noah Fant and defensive end Shelby Harris) plus a big free-agent addition (edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu) and a promising draft class that featured their first top-10 pick since 2010 (offensive tackle Charles Cross) leave the Seahawks with a solid roster … outside of quarterback.

Their defense and backfield look strong enough to keep them in games if quarterbacks Drew Lock and/or Geno Smith can be capable game managers. But can they avoid enough mistakes to play that way? And can they deliver in crunch time like Wilson so often did? If Lock doesn’t show that he’s worthy of a longer look, Seattle has the extra 2023 first-rounder from the Wilson trade to target his long-term replacement in next year’s draft.

The most compelling position battle: Will Lock’s upside or Smith’s familiarity win out? Lock and Smith are duking it out in the Seahawks’ first quarterback competition since 2012. That was the year that Wilson (an electric rookie) beat out free-agent pickup Matt Flynn (the presumed starter for much of the offseason) and incumbent Tarvaris Jackson (whom the locker room loved). The intrigue in this competition won’t come from name value but from how close it might be.

Some in the organization have anticipated that Lock’s talent (which hasn’t been his issue in three up-and-down seasons) will win out. But there’s a thought that he may have to win convincingly or else Seattle’s coaching staff will opt for the more known commodity in Smith and award anything close to a tie to the 10th-year veteran who’s backed up Wilson the last three seasons. Pete Carroll made it clear that Smith was still ahead when the offseason program ended.

The player with the most to prove: Can Adams return to his 2020 form? In his debut season in Seattle, Adams recorded a defensive-back record 9.5 sacks en route to his third straight Pro Bowl. He looked worthy of the big price the Seahawks paid to get him (a package that included two first-round picks) and to keep him (an extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid safety). Then 2021 happened.

Adams was held without a sack and had as many forgettable plays in coverage as productive ones. He also played through injuries for the second straight year until his season ended after 12 games because of a re-torn left shoulder labrum that required another surgery. Adams’ dropoff in pass-rushing production last season was largely the result of all the attention opponents started paying to him after his record sack binge, which led Seattle to blitz him less often. He may benefit more than anyone from the scheme changes they’re implementing because he should be harder for offenses to pinpoint pre-snap. But he has to stay on the field for any of that to matter.

Fiercest fantasy relevant position battle: Can Penny last as RB1? Chris Carson‘s chances of returning from neck surgery continue to look iffy, with word still yet to emerge on whether he’s been medically cleared. There’s no question as to who would be the No. 1 option in his absence. Penny is the guy after his stellar finish to last season, when he led the NFL in rushing by a wide margin over the final five games. But you know the deal with Penny: his long injury history makes it unlikely that he’ll be there for all 17 games.

Even when he is healthy, the Seahawks will almost certainly try to manage his workload with an eye towards keeping him fresh. Second-round pick Ken Walker III figures to factor heavily into the backfield rotation one way or another. He’s a must-have handcuff for any fantasy player with Penny on their roster.

As NFL training camps swing into action, NFL Nation looks at the top storylines and offers a prediction for each team.
• Storylines, predictions »
• 53-man projections »
• Full 2022 schedule | Depth charts »
• Transactions | Injuries | More NFL »

What’s the deal with Metcalf’s contract situation? The Seahawks typically don’t finalize big-money extensions until the start of training camp, so they aren’t necessarily behind schedule with Metcalf. And they’ve sounded optimistic that they’ll get a deal done, but it doesn’t seem like a slam dunk given everything that’s happened since March. The receiver market exploded, leading general manager John Schneider to express sticker shock at some of the megadeals. Then Metcalf skipped mandatory minicamp with an unexcused absence, which was surprising given that he had taken part in some voluntary work.

The steep fines are a huge disincentive for training-camp holdouts, but the recent trend with Seahawks and other players in Metcalf’s position has been to “hold in,” meaning they show up to camp but don’t participate in any on-field work, thereby avoiding fines and the risk of injury. Will Metcalf do the same?

Camp prediction: Coby Bryant will be a Week 1 starter at cornerback. Seattle’s rookie corner has more than a famous name. He also has a ton of college experience (53 career games) and some serious ball skills (the best of any defender in this year’s draft, if you ask him). Those traits could make him more NFL-ready than most rookie corners drafted in the fourth round.

It also helps that the position is wide open. Sidney Jones IV looks like a favorite to start at one of the spots, but no one is entrenched. Tre Flowers won a starting job at corner as a rookie in 2018 — even as a converted safety. So Carroll isn’t afraid to trust young players at that position. For that matter, fifth-round rookie Tariq Woolen could factor into the competition along with Tre Brown and Artie Burns.

RENTON, Wash. — Coby Bryant brings a lot more than a recognizable name to the Seattle Seahawks‘ secondary.

The fourth-round cornerback from Cincinnati also brings a decorated college resume and, if you ask him, the best ball skills of any defender in this year’s draft. In his fourth season as a starter, Bryant won the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. He finished his college career with 10 interceptions and 45 passes defensed in a whopping 53 games.

The guy has played — and learned — a ton of football.

“He just seems like he’s comfortable,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after the first practice of rookie minicamp. “He understands it. He gets it.”

The learning was aided by regular study sessions Bryant and his defensive teammates held during the offseason. In between workouts and classes, they’d get together for what they called Football 500, where they’d dig into the Bearcats’ defensive scheme and figure out how offenses could attack them.

Cincinnati’s defense finished tied for the fourth-fewest points allowed in 2021 and the Bearcats lost in the CFP semifinals. Bryant, a team captain who sometimes led those meetings, thinks they were a factor.

• Dallas’ Tyler Smith fought Blount’s disease
• Patriots counting on 2021 pick McGrone
• Linderbaum will help Lamar Jackson
• Can Jackson help Bosa on 49ers D-line
• Can Cards adapt offense without Hopkins?

“Just taking the football IQ to the next level,” he said.

Being a student of the game will serve Bryant well as he tries to learn a new defense in time to earn a starting job as a rookie. Fourth-round picks don’t often start right away, if ever, but it’s realistic for Bryant. The Seahawks’ top two cornerback spots are open. And whereas former defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. developed a reputation inside team headquarters for a reluctance to play inexperienced players, that roadblock shouldn’t exist for Bryant and other young defenders under Clint Hurtt.

Here’s a look at how Bryant and the rest of Seattle’s draft class might fit into the team’s 2022 plans.

LT Charles Cross, first round (No. 9 overall)

The Seahawks didn’t make Cross their highest draft pick since 2010 to have him spend time on the bench. He’s a virtual lock to take over Duane Brown‘s starting spot from Week 1. But Cross still faces a learning curve coming from Mike Leach’s Air-Raid offense, which ran the ball infrequently and didn’t ask its offensive linemen to play from a three-point stance. The Seahawks had Cross as their second-rated left tackle in this year’s draft, ahead of Evan Neal, so they clearly think that transition will be manageable.

OLB Boye Mafe, second round (No. 40)

One NFL source says the Seahawks tried to trade up into the late first round for another outside linebacker, Arnold Ebiketie. The Falcons then moved up in the second round to snag Ebiketie two spots before Seattle was set to pick. But the uber-explosive Mafe looks like much more than a consolation prize. He generated first-round buzz after a seven-sack 2021 season and a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. He’s got some rawness to work through, according to scouts, but has experience with much of what the Seahawks will ask him to do in their new-look defense. Expect Mafe to factor heavily into Seattle’s edge-rushing rotation along with Darrell Taylor and Uchenna Nwosu.

Walker was Seattle’s most — and perhaps only — debatable pick this year. But while some felt this was too high for a team that’s likely a few years away from contention to take a running back, the Seahawks plan to lean heavily on the run and will probably need Walker to do a lot of the running as a rookie. There’s a big question as to whether Chris Carson will be cleared following neck surgery, and Rashaad Penny has a long injury history of his own.

Lucas faces a similar transition as Cross, having strictly played from a two-point stance in two pass-heavy college offenses. “Shoot, you would never have even known,” Carroll said after the first rookie practice. “I already had a chance to look at half of the film of some of the team work that we did. They’ve been working hard at it. They look very comfortable, and they’ll get better.” Lucas figures to start as a rookie, even if not right away. He’s got to beat out 2021 UDFA Jake Curhan, who played well while stepping in for Brandon Shell.

CB Coby Bryant, fourth round (No. 109)

Cornerback might be the Seahawks’ most wide-open position group outside of quarterback. They have Tre Brown coming off a promising but injury-shortened rookie season, brought back Sidney Jones IV on a modest deal and added Artie Burns for even less money. None of them are locked into starting roles.

CB Tariq Woolen, fifth round (No. 153)

Woolen didn’t do much during rookie camp while resting a hamstring injury. But the sight of his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame brought to mind another towering cornerback from Seattle’s recent past. Woolen bears a strong resemblance to Tre Flowers, though he’s a little bigger and faster (4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash) with a 42-inch vertical. Woolen converted from receiver in 2019, so he’s relatively new to the position. But Flowers played safety his entire college career and won a starting job at corner as a rookie despite Norton’s predilection for veterans. So you can’t rule out Woolen playing right away.

OLB Tyreke Smith, fifth round (No. 158)

Smith might be competing for a roster spot with Alton Robinson, who was not as productive last season as he was as a rookie in 2020.

WRs Bo Melton and Dareke Young, seventh round (Nos. 229 and 233)

Seventh-round picks face an uphill battle just to make the team, let alone make an impact. Melton, Young and others will vie for what might only be one or two spots behind DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain and Dee Eskridge. As always, special teams will go a long way in determining the back end of the receiver corps. Melton’s experience there will give him a shot.

RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks‘ first quarterback competition since 2012 began in earnest Monday, when they were allowed to begin holding on-field drills as part of their voluntary offseason workout program. Things will start to get more real when OTAs begin on May 23.

In a battle that doesn’t have nearly the intrigue as when then-rookie Russell Wilson beat out Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson a decade ago, it’s Drew Lock vs. Geno Smith vying to take over Wilson’s starting spot. And while the Seahawks could still acquire someone else to make that a three-man race — Baker Mayfield the most obvious candidate — developmental prospects Jacob Eason and undrafted free agent Levi Lewis are the only other quarterbacks on their depth chart for now.

So much for the widely held belief that they needed to take a QB1 in this year’s draft.

Malik Willis was a popular mock pick for Seattle at No. 9 overall. The Seahawks passed on Willis four times before he was taken 86th overall — feeling he was nowhere near NFL-ready, according to one source — and didn’t think enough of the other quarterbacks to take one with any of their nine selections.

“It’s hard for rookies,” general manager John Schneider said after the draft, explaining the decision to not take a quarterback and hinting at how lousy this year’s QB class was. “It’s very hard on rookies to come in here and [compete right away]. You have to have unique, unique qualities … Continuously throughout the draft, it just didn’t fall the right way for one reason or another.”

In many ways, the Seahawks declining to take a quarterback this year was a repeat of 2011.

• Kiper’s draft grades for every team »
• McShay’s 32 favorite picks »
• Rankings | Analysis of every pick
• Winners, losers: Day 1 » | Day 2 »
• Answering big Round 1 questions »
• More coverage » | Full draft order »

Back then, they let long-time starter Matt Hasselbeck walk in free agency before signing Jackson to a modest short-term deal that made it clear they viewed him as a bridge option. They had long-term uncertainty at quarterback and not many attractive options in what was considered — and proved to be — a weak draft at the position.

The Seahawks had interest in Andy Dalton but passed on him late in the first round, with not everyone in their football operations in agreement that he was the answer. It turned out to be the right decision not because of who they took — tackle James Carpenter — but because not forcing the Dalton pick paved the way for Seattle to draft Wilson a year later.

While the Seahawks didn’t consider taking Willis or any other quarterback at No. 9 like they considered Dalton at No. 25 in 2011, there was a coincidental parallel in taking a tackle instead.

And the Seahawks were fortunate that Charles Cross fell to them.

With the top two pass-rushers (Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson), the top two corners (Derek Stingley Jr. and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner) and two of the top three tackles (Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal) taken among the first eight picks, Cross was the only player left the Seahawks wanted to draft at No. 9, according to a source. They needed pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux (whom they didn’t like) and receiver Drake London (whom they didn’t need) to come off the board in order for Cross — their second-rated tackle behind Ekwonu — to still be there.

While the Seahawks were on the clock, the Jets wanted to flip picks and move up one spot, worried that another team wanted to move up in Seattle’s spot for the receiver New York wanted, Garrett Wilson. The Seahawks then would have taken Cross at 10, but with no deal, they stayed put and took him at 9.

“We’re just really excited that we have a pillar at left tackle,” Schneider said.

But they still have a long-term quarterback question.

The Seahawks believe some of Luck’s struggles over his first three seasons with the Denver Broncos were the result of tough-luck circumstances, including a coordinator change and a COVID-truncated offseason after he finished his rookie year strong. They think he’s got enough untapped potential to warrant a one-year look, provided he can beat out Smith.

They like Smith’s command of their system and believe they uncovered the offensive formula that best suits him when he led the Seahawks to a blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in his third and final fill-in start for Wilson last season.

But both Smith (13-21) and Lock (8-13) have career records well below .500, so there’s more hope than certainty that either of them can stick.

“Geno Smith is the guy that did the most playing for us and has the most background, so Drew is in the catch-up mode right now,” coach Pete Carroll told NFL Network during the draft. “We’ll get on the field for the first time Monday and get a chance to see what he looks like, and we can really get a feel. I love the potential. We loved the guy coming out. I’m liking him in our culture and the way we’re going to approach things. We’re going to support this kid and give him every opportunity to find the best he has to offer. I think he’s really going to take to it and we’ll see how far it goes. He’s got some real weapons around him.

” … So whoever wins this thing in the competition is going to have a good surrounding supporting cast, and Drew will try to take advantage of that.”

As for the Mayfield possibility, the former Cleveland Browns starter and 2018 No. 1 overall pick guessed on the “Ya Never Know” podcast last month that Seattle would “probably” be his most likely landing spot. But there has been no firm indication that the Seahawks have anything more than tepid interest in Mayfield. It would likely take the Browns eating much — if not most — of his guaranteed $19 million salary for 2022.

Lock is making less than $1.5 million on the final year of his rookie contract. Smith’s one-year deal has a base value of $3.5 million and incentives worth another $3.5 million, but there’s only $500,000 guaranteed. That gives the Seahawks flexibility to add someone else at the right price and/or move on from Smith if he doesn’t emerge as their starter.

With the Browns in a holding pattern, the Seahawks might have time to evaluate their current options then revisit the Mayfield possibility after the offseason program if needed.

“We’re really happy with the guys we’ve got, to see them battle, and we’ll see what happens,” Carroll told NFL Network. “You never know what’s going on down the road. We’re always looking.”