Tag: K.J. Wright

John Schneider considered Jordyn Brooks to be best fit among linebackers

Seahawks general manager John Schneider considered Jordyn Brooks to be the best fit for the team among linebackers in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Seattle Seahawks selected Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks with the No. 27 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, and that move came as a bit of a surprise to some. General manager John Schneider joined 710 ESPN Seattle and explained the process of drafting Brooks.

“We had a pretty strong feeling that the three linebackers might be of the group (of) the position that may fall and the receivers all started flying off, which we all thought may happen as it was a very strong receiver class at the top,” Schneider said.

The linebackers Schneider mentioned were Kenneth Murray, Patrick Queen, and Brooks. He said he perceived the latter to be the best fit for the Seahawks defense, and his colleagues seemed to agree.

“It was a decision of if one of those linebackers is still there, we’re not going to back out and with Jordyn, everybody had so much conviction,” Schneider said. “There were three linebackers there and all three are incredible players. Jordyn was the guy that fit us best and we had the most buy-in from everybody, so we were extremely excited to get him.”

Schneider was also impressed by Brooks’ speed and resilience, as evidenced by his 40-yard dash time and his preparation for the draft in spite of a lingering injury.

“He ran 4.46 at the combine after working out for like a week (due to a shoulder injury) to get ready for it, so we were really excited about him,” Schneider said.

Time will tell if Brooks will pan out, but it looks like the Seahawks have a very promising prospect on their hands, especially considering the news starting linebacker K.J. Wright is currently battling from offseason shoulder surgery.

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Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright underwent shoulder surgery

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider confirmed starting linebacker K.J. Wright has undergone shoulder surgery this offseason.

The Seattle Seahawks’ selection of Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks is starting to make more and more sense. On Monday, Seahawks general manager John Schneider confirmed veteran linebacker K. J. Wright had undergone shoulder surgery during the offseason and his return for the start of the year is uncertain.

“He’s rehabbing from his surgery,” Schneider told 950 KJR’s Softy and Dick show. “I’m not sure of the timeline of when he’s going to be back. Hopefully he makes it back on time and we’ll see how it goes. It’s a weird offseason for everybody but especially for guys that have had offseason surgery.

“Hopefully his name’s up there on the wall someday, right? He’s an amazing person, an amazing player. That’s why we did our deal with him last year.”

Schneider didn’t provide details about Wright’s procedure or when and if he’d be available should the season start on time this year.

Hopefully, an update on Wright’s status will emerge in the near future.

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Seattle Seahawks post-draft 53-man roster projection

The Seattle Seahawks are a long ways away from the 2020 regular season, but here’s our first take at what the 53-man roster could look like.

The Seattle Seahawks added eight new players via the 2020 NFL draft, and are hard at work signing undrafted free agents to add even more competition to the roster heading into what will be a unique and unprecedented NFL offseason.

With moves still to be made, including some cuts and potentially some additions, it’s too early to make any concrete assumptions about the 2020 Seahawks roster.

That’s not going to stop us from taking a stab at it, however, with our first official post-draft 53-man roster prediction coming to you now.

The Seahawks have added so many versatile players to the roster that making predictions for some of these guys was a challenge, and this team will have to cut some pretty talented players from the roster in order to get things down to 53.

Here’s take one of what will be multiple attempts to predict what the roster will be on September 1, 2020.

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3 biggest losers for Seahawks after 2020 NFL draft

The Seattle Seahawks added eight new players via the NFL draft, and they will challenge veterans for playing time at multiple positions.

The 2020 NFL draft is in the books, and the Seattle Seahawks came away with eight new players to compete for jobs on the 53-man roster during training camp.

A pair of edge defenders and a pair of tight ends highlight the class, but the team also added a run-stuffing linebacker, a slot receiver, a third down running back and a mauling right guard – an eclectic group of talented players, many who have battled adversity in their young careers and are ready to come in with a chip on their shoulder and immediately make an impact on this club.

Adding eight new players creates some competitive positional battles in camp, and while that will certainly create some tough roster decisions for Pete Carroll and John Schneider – that’s exactly how they prefer it.

It’s not the best news for three of Seattle’s veterans, however, as the Seahawks sent them a strong message that their job security is dwindling, and they may have to fight pretty hard to keep their jobs in 2020.

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New Seahawk Jordyn Brooks confident in pass rush abilities

Although he was not drafted specifically to rush the passer, new Seattle Seahawks LB Jordyn Brooks is confident in his ability to do so.

The Seattle Seahawks raised some eyebrows when they used their first round draft pick to select Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks.

While Brooks possesses the speed, tenacity and nose for the football that coach Pete Carroll and the rest of the Seahawks staff craves, he doesn’t fill an immediate position of need.

The Seahawks biggest need is rushing the passer, an area they struggled mightily in 2019, and are now without Jadeveon Clowney and Quinton Jefferson – two big pieces of the unit from last season.

However – the Seahawks pride themselves on their creativity with players, and it looks like they may attempt to utilize Brooks in a pass rushing role, something he feels confident doing if called upon.

“It was something that I got a chance to do a lot in last year’s system,” Brooks said about rushing the passer, during his first press conference with the Seattle media. “I didn’t get as many sacks as a I wanted to, but I definitely got back there a lot and was causing a lot of disruption in the backfield. So I feel really comfortable getting off offensive linemen, tackles, guards, whatever they want me to do.”

While Brooks may not be a huge factor in that area, it’s entirely possible he gets opportunities to rush the quarterback on third downs – something the Seahawks tasked SAM linebacker Mychal Kendricks to do at times in 2019.

“I think where you play him and all that, just in general, when you look at our division and the team speed, we’ll figure it out,” Seahawks general manager John Schneider said on Thursday. “That’s not for today. The guy can fly and he’s a run and hit guy. He’s actually a really good rusher from the A gap, the inside stuff. He’s a very disruptive football player.”

Brooks did more rushing in his final collegiate season, thanks in part to a change in the defensive scheme brought on by new coach Matt Wells, who came over from Utah State – where he previously coached Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner.

Brooks recorded 20 tackles for loss in his final season at Texas Tech, including three sacks.

“This past year, they changed schemes and he was really in a position where he was a lot of the time responsible for the quarterback and would chase the quarterback and spy him,” Carroll said. “He was up in the line of scrimmage and pressuring so we’ve seen him do a variety of things that give him the scope of ability to play inside or outside for us.”

While he’s not the replacement for Clowney many Seahawks fans were hoping for, there’s plenty of reason for optimism surrounding Brooks – and he could end up being a plus pass rusher for this team as well.

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Could the Seahawks swing a draft-day trade for Yannick Ngakoue?

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Yannick Ngakoue are at a crossroads, and it could be time for the Seattle Seahawks to swoop in and make a deal.

It’s no secret that Jaguars pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue wants out of Jacksonville. A heated twitter exchange with co-owner Tony Khan only further drove home the strife between the two sides – but after the first day of the NFL draft, Ngakoue remains with the team.

The Jaguars are adamantly demanding a first round pick for Ngakoue, and even after not receiving a single offer on Day 1, they appear content to bring Ngakoue back into the mix on the non-exclusive franchise tag, which will pay him $17.8 million in 2020.

However, Jacksonville used their second first round pick on LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson, who looks on paper like a great replacement for Ngakoue. Does that mean the team could be willing to move Ngakoue for a second round pick, and perhaps a pick in 2021? And if so, should Seattle get involved?

If the Seahawks are able to flip pick No. 59 overall to Jacksonville in exchange for Ngakoue, they would have to pay him $17.8 million in 2020, or else find a way to negotiate a long term contract with him.

The Seahawks could clear the necessary cap space by cutting Justin Britt, who is owed $11.4 million, or they could even cut veteran linebacker K.J. Wright, who is coming off a renaissance season but who just saw the team draft his potential replacement in Jordyn Brooks.

The Jaguars seem content to hold onto Ngakoue for the 2020 season if they don’t get the compensation they feel they deserve, and the No. 59 overall pick probably isn’t enough to get it done.

If Seattle is compelled to throw in picks from the 2021 draft, perhaps a deal could be made, but at some point the cost outweighs the benefit – especially for a team that views draft picks as a very precious commodity.

Ngakoue would be a huge get for a team desperate for some help rushing the passer, but it’s hard to see the compensation lining up between the two sides, unless Jacksonville is willing to come down quite a bit from their initial ask.

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New Seahawks LB Jordyn Brooks draws comparisons to Bobby Wagner

The Seattle Seahawks used their first round pick to select Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who has drawn comparisons to Bobby Wagner.

The Seattle Seahawks used their original first round pick for the first time since 2011, selecting Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks at No. 27 overall.

Brooks is an inside linebacker who is excellent at stuffing the run, displaying above average speed and a nose for the football.

However – he has deficiencies in pass coverage, which could be a limiting factor in Seattle’s 4-3 base defensive sets.

If the Seahawks drafting a relatively unheralded inside linebacker with speed and elite tackling – and the pick getting met by lots of criticism – sounds familiar, it’s probably reminding you of 2012 when the Seahawks took a little known linebacker from Utah State – Bobby Wagner.

In fact, prior to Brooks’ selection, many analysts had already compared him to Wagner.

Brooks is likely ticketed as a replacement for K.J. Wright at weakside linebacker, at least for now, but it is entirely possible he develops for a few years under Wagner and takes over in the middle when the time comes.

I’m sure Seattle fans wouldn’t mind that outcome.

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Analysis on Seattle’s selection of Jordyn Brooks in 1st round of draft

The Seattle Seahawks kept their original first round pick for the first time since 2011, selecting Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks.

[jwplayer WVjORAVL-ThvAeFxT]

The Seattle Seahawks shocked the world in the 2020 NFL draft, electing not to trade down and keeping their original first-round pick for the first time since 2011.

Seattle used the pick to take Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks.

Brooks is an elite tackler, leading the Red Raiders in tackles in three of his four collegiate seasons, finishing seventh in school history in total tackles.

His numbers were absolutely jaw-dropping in 2019, as the weakside linebacker recorded 108 total tackles, including a BIG-12 leading 20 tackles for loss. In fact, Brooks’ skill set has drawn comparisons to a linebacker Seahawks fans will be familiar with – Bobby Wagner.

However, Brooks doesn’t immediately fill a need on this roster. K.J. Wright is still under contract and coming off a renaissance season in 2019, and with Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven on hand as reserves, it’s hard to imagine where Brooks will fit in at least right away.

Additionally, while Brooks excels in run coverage, he’s a liability in pass protection – an issue that plagued Seattle’s linebacker group last season as they stubbornly stayed with their base 4-3 defense, which forces the linebackers to play more in pass coverage.

With LSU star linebacker Patrick Queen still on the board, and with most projecting Brooks to go later in the second round, it’s hard to fathom why Seattle did not trade back to take Brooks with a later pick.

Of course, that option may not have presented itself, and the Seahawks may have a different idea of what they plan to do with Brooks in the short and/or long term.

Seattle will have plenty more picks to make on Friday and Saturday, with things kicking off Friday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m. PT.

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3 Seahawks among top-32 draft picks of the last 20 years

Robert Mays of The Ringer ranked the most valuable draft picks of the last 20 years, and three Seattle Seahawks made the top 14.

The 2020 NFL draft is coming up, and amidst all the mock drafts, the speculation about trades, and the discussion about the virtual nature of this year’s event comes some historical perspective.

Robert Mays of The Ringer decided to rank the 32 most valuable draft picks in the past 20 years – and the Seattle Seahawks had three of their selections crack the list, all within the top-14.

Coming in at No. 14 is Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was taken 47th overall in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Wagner has been an All-Pro first or second teamer in each of the past six seasons, and has cemented himself among the best linebackers of his generation. At age 29 and under contract through 2022, Wagner could easily complete a Hall of Fame career all in the Emerald City – and anytime you can get a player like that outside the first round you will take it.

No. 7 on the list is cornerback Richard Sherman, who Seattle selected in the fifth round, No. 154 overall, in the 2011 draft.

“Ten (!) defensive players from that draft have been voted first-team All Pro at least once,” Mays wrote. “The average draft position of the other nine was around 19th overall. That means that the gap in value between Sherman and the average All-Pro defender from the 2011 class equals out to about the 27th pick in the draft. So you could pick one of those guys at random—or you could have Richard Sherman and another first-round pick.”

Finally, the second most valuable draft selection of the last 20 years goes to Russell Wilson, who was taken 76th overall in 2012.

“Since Joe Montana, no quarterback drafted in the third round or later has made the Hall of Fame,” Mays wrote. “If Wilson continues on his current trajectory, he and [Tom] Brady will be the first ones to do it.”

Amazingly, one could argue the Seahawks could have had even more players on this list, including Kam Chancellor (133rd overall in 2010) or K.J. Wright (99th overall in 2010) who also returned amazing value for their draft slot.

John Schneider will look to work his magic again this week, with the 2020 virtual NFL draft set to begin on Thursday, April 23.

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Seattle Seahawks announce 2010s All-Decade Team

The Seattle Seahawks have announced their 2010s All-Decade Team with the most impactful players at each of the key positions.

Right on the heels of the NFL’s All-Decade Team, the Seattle Seahawks have announced a squad of their own. Seahawks.com reporter John Bowl put together a list of the most impactful players over the last 10 years by position. So without further ado, here is a look at the Seahawks’ 2010s All-Decade Team.

Quarterback: Russell Wilson

Running back/Fullback: Marshawn Lynch, Chris Carson and Michael Robinson

Wide receiver: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Golden Tate and Jermaine Kearse

Tight End: Zach Miller and Jimmy Graham

Offensive Line: Tackle Duane Brown, tackle Russell Okung, center Max Unger, guard J.R. Sweezy and guard D.J. Fluker

Defensive Line: Defensive end Michael Bennett, defensive end Cliff Avril, defensive end Frank Clark, defensive end Red Bryant, defensive end Chris Clemons, defensive tackle Jarran Reed, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel

Linebacker: Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Bruce Irvin

Cornerback: Richard Sherman, Shaquill Griffin and Brandon Browner

Safety: Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor

Specialists: Punter Jon Ryan, kicker Stephen Hauschka, long snapper Clint Gresham kick returner/punt returner Leon Washington

Special Teams: Linebacker Heath Farwell, wide receiver Ricardo Lockette, defensive back DeShawn Shead, cornerback Neiko Thorpe, linebacker Mike Morgan and safety Chris Maragos.

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