No. 3: Tackle Brandon Shell
The presumed replacement for Germain Ifedi at right tackle, Shell was signed to a two-year, $9 million dollar contract early in free agency.
Shell is by no means a Pro Bowl caliber right tackle, but he will be an improvement over Ifedi, with similar blocking traits and about half the penalties.
However, he won’t just be handed the job – no one ever is in Pete Carroll’s culture of competition. The recent signing of Mike Iupati could push Jamarco Jones back out to tackle, and he represents strong competition for Shell at that spot.
No. 2: Defensive End Bruce Irvin
Seattle’s biggest need heading into the offseason was off the edge, and while Jadeveon Clowney remains unsigned the team did find a replacement for Ezekiel Ansah at the LEO position in former Seahawk Bruce Irvin.
Irvin immediately becomes Seattle’s most prolific pass rusher, and paired with Clowney (or Everson Griffen, if they go another direction) he should once again challenge for eight or more sacks in the Emerald City.
The 32-year-old isn’t the long-term answer, and if Seattle expects him to work in place of a Clowney or Griffen type player they will be disappointed, but he’s a nice situational pass rusher and familiar face that should prove a productive signing for the Seahawks.
No. 1: Cornerback Quinton Dunbar
This is not debatable. Much like they did last October, the Seahawks flipped a fifth round pick for a star defensive back with the initials QD – adding Quinton Dunbar to a secondary that already boasts Shaquill Griffin, Bradley McDougald and of course Quandre Diggs.
Dunbar was the second-highest graded corner in the league last season, behind Richard Sherman, and adding him to start opposite Pro Bowler Shaquill Griffin is like rebuilding the Legion of Boom all over again.
The original LOB was built on two-fifth round picks – Sherman and Kam Chancellor – and this year’s unit is built on two players acquired for fifth rounders, proof yet again that John Schneider is a mastermind at utilizing the tools he has available.
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