Tag: seahawks rookies

7 Seahawks rookies who could start multiple games in 2023

They may not all be at the top of the depth chart going into Week 1, but these rookies all have a chance at cracking the starting lineup at some point this season.

The Seattle Seahawks have not yet been able to reclaim their dominance from the Legion of Boom era. Still, the 2023 season looks to be their most-promising since the glory days ended with the 2015 campaign. Oddsmakers see this group as a fringe playoff team, the same as last year’s squad that surprised the league by going 9-8. However, there are some – like ESPN’s Louis Riddick – who see them as a resurgent contender and a strong sleeper candidate in the NFC.

One of the reasons Riddick was so hyped up about this team heading into last season was a superb draft class. Normally any team should be happy to get two long-term starters out of any draft. Seattle appears to have found at least four in 2022 in left tackle Charles Cross, right tackle Abe Lucas, cornerback Tariq Woolen and running back Ken Walker.

It’ll be extremely-tough to match that number this year. However, there’s alot of promising talent coming in with the 2023 class. They may not all be at the top of the depth chart going into Week 1, but these rookies all have a chance at cracking the starting lineup at some point this season.

100 photos from the Seattle Seahawks 2023 offseason

Here are 100 photos from the Seahawks offseason program.

The Seattle Seahawks are on their summer break and our editor will be following their lead – at least for the next nine days. Readers will be in good hands with super-contributor Kole Musgrove, who will mind the store.

They say that a picture is worth 1,000 words. So, let’s send you into the summer break with a hundred grand prize. Here are 100 photos from the team’s offseason program.

Seahawks first-rounders Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon face off

Watch JSN get separation and beat Witherspoon over the top for a touchdown.

The Seahawks got two first-round picks in this year’s draft. At yesterday’s minicamp practice, we got a brief look at wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba going one-on-one against cornerback Devon Witherspoon in 7-on-7 drills.

Watch JSN get separation and beat Witherspoon over the top for a touchdown.

The team initially shared this clip but then deleted it, perhaps to save face for their No. 5 overall pick.

If you’re wondering why, it’s likely because some fans may take this one play and blow it entirely out of proportion, drawing broad conclusions about one or the other first-rounder – even though it’s literally the second week of June and none of what we’re seeing really means anything.

The truth is even during the regular season no one rep is gospel – especially for players in their first year in the league. So, for the record: Witherspoon was a sensation in man coverage at Illinois and there’s no reason to believe he won’t be at the next level, as well. Also, Smith-Njigba is going to make a whole lot of good cornerbacks look bad – especially when he’s working from the slot against off-coverage like that.

Speaking of the slot – Witherspoon played all over the field in college, so we may see him in that role from time to time. However, we expect him to eventually be starting at the left boundary spot, currently occupied by veteran Mike Jackson. Jackson isn’t just letting go, though. He nabbed an interception at yesterday’s practice and has gotten glowing reviews for his work this offseason.

More Seahawks Wire stories

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Seahawks minicamp: Sights and sounds from Day 1

Seahawks minicamp: Sights and sounds from Day 2

Most notable available free agent from all 32 teams

Seahawks second-round draft pick OLB Derick Hall signs rookie deal

The Seahawks are almost done signing their 2023 draft class.

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The Seahawks are almost done signing their 2023 draft class. Yesterday another box was checked as one of the team’s two second-round draft picks signed his rookie contract.

According to Tom Pelissero at NFL Network, former Auburn outside linebacker Derick Hall is getting 85% of his signing bonus before training camp and has $100,000 guaranteed in the fourth year of his deal.

During his time in college, Hall (6-foot-3, 254 pounds) totaled 19.5 sacks, 29.5 tackles for a loss and five forced fumbles. He’ll be competing for playing time with Boye Mafe and several other young edge rushers that have yet to prove themselves at this level.

Now the only Seattle rookies that still remain unsigned are Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon and UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet.

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Sights and sounds from Day 1 of Seahawks minicamp

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Power Rankings: Where all 32 teams stand going into June

Projecting the Seahawks starting lineup after the 2023 NFL draft

Here is how we project Seattle’s starting lineups on offense, defense and special teams after the draft.

The Seattle Seahawks have added 10 new players via the 2023 NFL draft and have reportedly signed nearly 30 more undrafted free agents. They have also invited a number of other players to participate in their rookie minicamp next weekend. Now seems like an ideal time to evaluate this roster and see where everybody stands with all the new pieces thrown in.

Here is how we project Seattle’s starting lineups on offense, defense and special teams after the draft.

ESPN names Seahawks 2022 draft class the NFL’s most productive

Most draft classes take a few years to really start delivering their value, but this one was a hit right from the start.

The Seahawks threw a curveball in last year’s NFL draft, eschewing their usual strategy of reaching for guards and off-ball linebackers and instead taking rare athletes at premium positions with almost every pick. Most draft classes take a few years to really start delivering their value, but this one was a hit right from the start – and the early returns indicate it may be the best draft class of all time.

To recap, Seattle got two long-term starters at left and right tackle, an elite cornerback, a promising slot defender, an edge with a lot of potential and the most explosive running back in the sport. In the end, they played more snaps than any other rookie class in the league.

To nobody’s surprise, ESPN has named Seattle’s 2022 class the most productive in the NFL:

“The Seahawks came out of the 2022 draft with four starters and some useful depth on top of that. Their best rookie was fifth-round pick Tariq Woolen, who tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions. He finished with 16 passes defended and allowed a completion rate of just 47% in coverage. Left tackle Charles Cross and right tackle Abraham Lucas started 17 and 16 games, respectively. Cross was eighth at his position in SIS Total Points, while Lucas ranked 13th at his position…”

The Seahawks went a decade between quality draft classes – with their last good one prior to this coming in 2012. So, it’s anybody’s guess how things will go this year. However, they do have the resources to put together another very strong class. Seattle has five of the top 84 overall picks and ranks second in total draft capital.

If they can put together another quality draft class, address a few of their most pressing needs and retain Geno Smith the Seahawks should be a legitimate contender in 2023.

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Ken Walker, Tariq Woolen both among finalists for Rookie of the Year

Ken Walker and Tariq Woolen are among the finalists to win the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, respectively.

It doesn’t take a Draft Twitter expert to see that the Seahawks got a special haul in the 2022 NFL draft. While most teams are lucky to get two quality starters in any one class, Seattle got several and then some.

Left tackle Charles Cross and right tackle Abe Lucas look like they will be bookending the offensive line for the forseeable future – and that alone would have made this a stellar draft class. Seattle also got a couple of budding superstars at running back and cornerback in the bargain, though. Now that the season is over, both Ken Walker and Tariq Woolen are among the finalists to win the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, respectively.

Walker has been the odds-on favorite to win OROY for several weeks now. Meanwhile, Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner is considered the frontrunner for DROY – despite Woolen objectively having posted better numbers.

Those four are the infinity stones for this class – but the value doesn’t stop there, either. Boye Mafe and Coby Bryant flashed genuine potential and seventh-rounder Dareke Young is already a serious contributor on special teams.

Not that there was any doubt about it, but ESPN has named the Seahawks’ rookie class the best in the NFL.

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4 things for Seahawks fans to be grateful for this Thanksgiving

Here are four things for Seattle fans to feel grateful for this year on Thanksgiving.

It might be a little cringe going around the table and naming what you’re thankful for, but there’s nothing wrong with showing a little gratitude – no matter what the circumstances. That’s certainly the case for the Seattle Seahawks and their fans as they head into the holiday with a 6-4 record and a grip on the NFC’s last playoff seed. Heading into this season most projections put them no higher than six wins for the whole year, so happiness about the team’s situation should come naturally.

Here are four things for Seattle fans to feel grateful for this year on Thanksgiving.

Watch: GMFB praises Seahawks’ 2022 rookie class

Watch the crew at Good Morning Football talk about Seattle’s stellar rookie class.

The Seahawks might have gotten as many as six long-term starters in the 2022 NFL draft. That’s an unheard of haul, as most teams are happy to get two in any one rookie class. Not only is the volume of talent  for this group remarkable, but a few of them have legitimate All-Pro potential.

Watch the crew at Good Morning Football talk about Seattle’s stellar rookie class.

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