Tag: reach

Touchdown Wire ranks Seahawks roster 10th-deepest in NFL

USA TODAY’s Touchdown Wire has ranked the Seattle Seahawks’ roster the 10th-deepest in the NFL heading into the 2020 season.

Mark Schofield of USA TODAY’s Touchdown Wire took a look at all 32 teams around the league to determine who had the deepest rosters heading into the 2020 season. The Seattle Seahawks landed at No. 10 on his list.

Here’s his analysis of the decision and a look at Seattle’s roster as it currently stands.

“This selection might stir some emotions,” Schofield starts. “The Seattle Seahawks seem to have reached with their first two picks in the draft. They still have questions about the offensive line. Are they going to bring Jadeveon Clowney back or not? What about their secondary?

But despite those questions, this is still a talented and deep roster on paper. Defensively, if Clowney does not return they added Bruce Irvin via free agency, and Darrell Taylor, one of their two “reaches” in the draft, shows promise as an EDGE rusher.”

“At the linebacker spot, the Seahawks still have Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright,” Schofield continues. “No team relied on three linebackers more than Seattle in 2019, meaning that that third player is going to likely play a critical role. Returning players such as Shaquem Griffin, Cody Barton and BenBurr-Kirven are options, but Jordyn Brooks, the player Seattle drafted in the first round, might have the inside track. This is a position of strength for the Seahawks.

In the secondary, Seattle traded for cornerback Quinton Dunbar, who faces four counts of armed robbery stemming from an incident this offseason.

On the offensive side of the football, D.K. Metcalf was one of the steals of the 2019 draft, and he and Tyler Lockett give Russell Wilson some enticing options in the passing game. Tight end is another deep position group, as the team added veteran Greg Olsen to a group that includes Will Dissly, Luke Willson and Jacob Hollister. For good measure, the team added Colby Parkinson and the intriguing Stephen Sullivan in the draft. Seattle has multiple options at running back as well, between Chris Carson, Carlos Hyde, Rashaad Penny and fourth-round pick DeeJay Dallas.

The most intriguing position battle to watch for this writer? The backup spot behind Wilson. Geno Smith and Anthony Gordon are set to fight for that spot, and of course there is a big name free agent lurking, in Colin Kaepernick. Head coach Pete Carroll has said the team is happy with their current options, but Kaepernick would be a fit in Seattle’s offense.”

[lawrence-related id=64397]

Draft Wire grades Seahawks’ selection of Jordyn Brooks as a C-minus

Luke Easterling of USA TODAY’s Draft Wire believes the Seattle Seahawks reached in their selection of linebacker Jordyn Brooks at No. 27.

For the first time since 2011, the Seattle Seahawks stuck with their original pick in the first round of the draft instead of trading back. With the No. 27 overall selection, the Seahawks selected linebacker Jordyn Brooks out of Texas Tech.

Luke Easterling of USA TODAY’s Draft Wire was not impressed with the decision. He gives Seattle a C-minus grade.

“The Seahawks always know how to keep us all guessing, but usually, it’s by trading out of the first round entirely,” Easterling notes. “Recent surprise picks like Rashaad Penny and L.J. Collier should have tipped us off that a selection like this could be coming.”

Easterling believes Seattle had a shot to take Brooks in the second round and should have filled a more glaring hole on the roster.

“Brooks is a solid player, but this is about a full round sooner than I would have taken him,” Easterling continues. “The Seahawks have bigger needs elsewhere on both sides of the ball, and there were plenty of worthy prospects at any number of those positions. If they wanted a linebacker, LSU’s Patrick Queen would have been the better value. Brooks has promise, for sure, but this was too early.”

[lawrence-related id=59726]