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NFL draft, The roster

Building around QB spot: Roster report after the draft

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The Seahawks may not yet know who their quarterback will be – Geno Smith, Drew Lock or someone else — but they certainly are building around that position.

For once, the Seahawks played the draft by the book – and the result looks like their best set of rookies in a decade.

They filled all of their most pressing needs except center — adding tackles Charles Cross and Abe Lucas, running back Kenneth Walker, pass rushers Boye Mafe and Tyreke Smith and corners Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen. They tossed in a pair of receivers/possible return guys in the seventh round.

The Seahawks got proper value for every pick. Cross, Lucas, Walker, Mafe and Bryant look like five foundational players – four who should be starters now or quite soon. Woolen is an intriguing project as well.

Continue reading Building around QB spot: Roster report after the draft →
NFL draft

Hawks can have a big Day 2; will it include a quarterback?

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The Seahawks did what they needed to on Day 1, finding their new permanent left tackle in Charles Cross.

Now they prepare for a big Day 2, where they have the eighth and ninth picks to start the session, plus No. 72 overall (third round).

They figure to be looking for a possible QB, plus a corner, center, running back, linebacker and edge rusher.

Continue reading Hawks can have a big Day 2; will it include a quarterback? →
NFL draft

Draft Day 2022: Hawks get a new left tackle

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The Seahawks eschewed drafting outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson, instead filling their void with left tackle Charles Cross.

It’s a redux of 2010, when they drafted Russell Okung to anchor the left side.

Some analysts who know the Seahawks’ penchant for a balanced offense don’t think Cross has the necessary run-blocking skills. But he graded second in the SEC in run blocking last season, per PFF.

No one doubts his pass blocking, as he faced the premier pass rushers in the NCAA and held his own.

Continue reading Draft Day 2022: Hawks get a new left tackle →
NFL draft

Will other teams be as ‘pliable’ as Hawks?

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It’s no surprise that the Seahawks want to trade down from No. 9 – or that they might be entertaining moving back into the bottom of the first round to get a quarterback.

Those are moves we’ve been projecting in our own mocks leading up to this week’s draft. But the latter might be easier than the former.

John Schneider stated the obvious last week when he said, “People know that we’re very open to moving around. We’re pliable.”

But will any teams have incentive to trade up to No. 9? Which players would be targets?

Continue reading Will other teams be as ‘pliable’ as Hawks? →
NFL draft

Can Hawks finally recharge power core?

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When the Seahawks were considered annual contenders, from 2012 to 2017, they had a core of 9-10 stars. Seven of them were on defense.

As they embark on a rebuild, the big question is: How far away from that kind of nucleus are they right now? And how much closer can they get through the upcoming draft?

Continue reading Can Hawks finally recharge power core? →
NFL draft, Trades

This draft’s template was created in 2010

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In some ways, it is 2010 all over again for Pete Carroll and John Schneider.

They have a top-10 pick for the first time since that inaugural year – and they need similar positions: a new QB, a left tackle and some defenders to fit a new scheme.

One thing they don’t have that they had in 2010: a second first-round pick to help hasten their franchise rebuild. But that may be coming, too.

We’ll get to the DK Metcalf trade options in a minute. First, let’s revisit a little history to see how Carroll and Schneider might approach this draft as they build the roster again.

Continue reading This draft’s template was created in 2010 →
The roster, Trades

Metcalf trade always seemed possible; now it looks likely

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We’ve been talking about a possible DK Metcalf trade since December, and now everyone else is catching on to the idea that this could indeed happen — especially as the explosive wide receiver market has surprised John Schneider and the Seahawks.

In the first week of free agency, three receivers got deals worth at least $20 million. Then Davante Adams, who annually is among the three best receivers in the league, topped the market at $22 million per year after he was traded from Green Bay to the Raiders.

Then Tyreek Hill trumped that, getting $25 million a year from Miami as part of a trade from Kansas City.

Metcalf has not earned that much, especially after a disappointing 2021, but he certainly can argue that he should be paid more than the Bucs’ Chris Godwin ($20 million), the Chargers’ Mike Williams ($20 million) or Christian Kirk, whose deal with Jacksonville could be worth $21 million a year.

So, yeah, Metcalf may seek $25 million. And the Seahawks probably don’t want to pay it.

Continue reading Metcalf trade always seemed possible; now it looks likely →
Free agency, The roster

Jefferson & Coleman return to entirely different roster

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The NFL is a transient industry. Nothing has illustrated that more than the past two weeks of blockbuster trade after blockbuster trade amid the standard free agency movement.

But even Justin Coleman and Quinton Jefferson have to be surprised by the total lack of familiarity with Seattle’s defensive personnel as they come back to Seattle after three years playing for other teams.

They are reunited with exactly one defender: Poona Ford, who was an undrafted rookie when Jefferson and Coleman were key players for Seattle in 2018.

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Free agency, NFL draft, On the air

Carroll admits it’s a two-year process; no pressure to draft QB

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The Seahawks definitely see this rebuild/reset as a two-year thing, and they seem unlikely to take a quarterback with their first pick this year.

Those were our two main takeaways from Pete Carroll’s radio appearances Tuesday.

He also said they want to extend DK Metcalf, they want more pass rushers, they know they are in a quandary at the tackle spots and Chris Carson is no sure thing to play again.

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Free agency, The roster, X's & O's

Hurtt’s talk of 3-4 foreshadowed recent moves in front seven

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Clint Hurtt was not kidding when he said the Seahawks’ defense would be different in 2022.

After he was promoted to coordinator, he said, “The 3-4 system is something that I’ve really embraced and obviously Vic Fangio is a big influence. … There’s going to be some element of that. I will say we’re going to be multiple. …

“You have to adjust along the way,” he said, “and sometimes that means you have to adjust your scheme. That’s where we’re going into a transition right now.”

That transition has been very clear in the personnel moves the Seahawks have made in the first week of free agency. Gone are Carlos Dunlap, Kerry Hyder and Benson Mayowa – replaced by Uchenna Nwosu and former Seahawk Quinton Jefferson.

Continue reading Hurtt’s talk of 3-4 foreshadowed recent moves in front seven →