PFF picks linebacker Easton Gibbs as UDFA to watch for the Seahawks

Gibbs is the team’s UDFA to watch this year, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Seahawks roster turned over pretty heavily this offseason at a few positions. One of them is the inside linebacker group, where Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks and Devin Bush are all gone, having signed with other teams in free agency. Tyrel Dodson, Jerome Baker and rookie Tyrice Knight are slated to replace them as the top off-ball linebackers on the depth chart. While they all have their finer qualities, most likely Seattle will be taking a step back at this spot in the absence of Wagner, as we witnessed during the 2022 campaign when Bobby was with the Rams.

However, they do have some high-upside depth options at this spot. The most intriguing of them is Easton Gibbs out of Wyoming, who’s one of 15 undrafted free agents currently on the roster. Gibbs is the team’s UDFA to watch this year, according to Pro Football Focus. Here’s what they had to say about his game, per Thomas Valentine at PFF:

“Gibbs is an all-action linebacker who has been a tornado on the Wyoming defense for the last three seasons, registering 319 tackles and 20 tackles for loss as a starter. He might not be an elite athlete but his tackling ability and instincts could see him force his way onto the Seahawks roster. “

Gibbs (6-foot-2, 227 pounds) posted 361 total tackles in college, including 22.5 for a loss. He also posted seven sacks, 11 pass breakups and three forced fumbles. At this point it’s unclear whether he will be backing up Dodson as a middle linebacker or Baker on the weak side. Either way, Gibbs will see more time on special teams.

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Dre’Mont Jones transitioning from interior lineman to outside linebacker

The team seems to recognize they need more bodies on the edge because they’re changing the positions of two front-seven defenders this offseason.

The Seattle Seahawks decided to pass on edge rushers in the 2024 NFL draft, one of several decisions we questioned coming out of it.

The team seems to recognize they need more bodies on the edge because they’re changing the positions of two front-seven defenders this offseason. During rookie minicamp we learned that fourth-round pick Tyrice Knight will be moving from inside linebacker to outside linebacker once the vets arrive for the next portion of the offseason program. Apparently interior defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones is also making the transition to OLB, according to a post by his personal trainer on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6cMl8wRkP3/

Jones did play some edge last season after the Leonard Williams trade and was more disruptive than he had been inside. However, overall the results were pretty underwhelming. He finished the 2023 season with just 4.5 sacks and 20 total pressures.

Jones will have to step those numbers up if he wants to avoid becoming a salary cap casualty next year. According to Over the Cap, the team can save a little over $16.5 million for the 2025 season by cutting him.

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Robert Turbin: Seahawks have best wide receiver trio in the NFL

Watch Turbo pound the table for the Seahawks’ trio of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon-Smith Njigba as being the best in all of football.

The Seattle Seahawks have one of, if not the best wide receiver room in the league right now. However, if you were following our recent top-64 NFL wide receiver rankings closely, you noticed that there are several other teams who also have excellent 1-2-3 combos at this position. While the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers all have three strong options, our money is on Seattle. It seems former running back Robert Turbin agrees.

Watch Turbo pound the table for the Seahawks’ trio of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon-Smith Njigba as being the best in all of football.

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Seahawks had 19 first-round grades for 2024 NFL draft class

Seahawks had 19 first-round grades for 2024 NFL draft class

For years, the Seattle Seahawks gained a reputation of trading back in the first round, or out of it entirely. This would irk plenty of fans who tuned in for the hours-long television spectacle that is the first round of the NFL draft. It’s understandable, the first round is easily the most high profile, and filled with the most recognizable names in college football.

But the reality of the matter is just because there are 32 slots in the first round, it does not necessarily mean there are 32 players deserving of a first round selection. It depends on the team, and how the general manager/coach/scouting staff feel about the players.

In the case of the Seattle Seahawks, Schneider and his people had first round grades on only 19 players, per John Boyle at the team website. However, when considering where the Seahawks ultimately picked, the math was in their favor.

“There are 19 players with first-round grades on Seattle’s board, meaning if they stay at 16, they’re assured of getting a player they really like. Of course, there will be temptation to move back.”

Another thing to consider when thinking about all the times the Seahawks have traded back… it speaks volumes as to the quality of the organization that they were constantly drafting low in the first round. As in, they were often far too good to be in the upper half of the NFL draft! Seeing as though they were usually in the early-to-mid-20’s, or higher, if the team only had first round grades on players who were usually long gone by the time they were on the clock, it makes sense why they kept moving back to acquire draft picks.

In the end, the Seahawks stayed put and drafted Byron Murphy II from Texas… a player they clearly had a first round grade on if they decided to pick him instead of moving back. It’s a good thing they did, as their division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, were coveting Murphy for themselves. It is always a good decision to draft the player one of your primary rivals wants for themselves.

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Seahawks rookie Tyrice Knight to train at OLB when vets arrive

Seahawks rookie Tyrice Knight to train at OLB when vets arrive

One of the biggest needs for the Seattle Seahawks in 2024 materialized shortly after the start of free agency. The linebacker position was left suddenly bare with the departure of Bobby Wagner to the Washington Commanders and Jordyn Brooks to the Miami Dolphins.

Seattle started to address these concerns by signing a pair of former AFC East linebackers to fill the holes: Tyrell Dodson from the Buffalo Bills, and Jerome Baker from (interestingly enough) the Miami Dolphins.

However, the team was not done there, as they drafted UTEP’s Tyrice Knight in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. This move was largely viewed as a depth pick, as there is a significant veteran presense at the linebacker position. Head coach Mike Macdonald seemed to reinforce that, and even moving positions slightly for Knight. However, he hinted at what the future might hold.

 

Both Dodson and Baker are on one-year deals. Certainly, this does not ensure their time in Seattle will be limited. Perhaps the Seahawks will fall in love with one or both and re-sign them.

Or perhaps they are transitional journeymen, filling a role destined for Knight to eventually develop into.

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Seahawks TE AJ Barner sets a high bar for himself going into the NFL

Seahawks TE AJ Barner sets a high bar for himself going into NFL

Without a doubt my personal greatest frustration with the Seattle Seahawks offense for several years now has been how they utilized their tight ends… or, rather, how they didn’t. Despite a talented trio in Noah Fant, Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron seemed unwilling or unable to find a way to get them involved in a meaningful way.

Now, Parkinson and Dissly are gone, but Fant remains, and he is now paired with rookie AJ Barner from Michigan. Initially, Barner was pegged as a blocking tight end. It may not be flashy, but it is substantive.

However, the Seahawks may have uncovered a diamond in the rough. There are those who feel as if his receiving skills have untapped potential, seeing as though he played in the run-heavy Wolverines offense. It appears Barner himself might agree with these opinions, as he recently revealed what he told offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb after he was picked, per the team website.

“You guys just got a steal. I waited a long time, but I’m ready to go. I’m going to do everything I can to bring this team a championship. I want to be one of the best tight ends in the league, and I’m not going to settle until I do that.”

Although Barner clearly has his sights set high, for now, he is willing to fill whatever role the Seahawks have for him. Sometimes doing whatever it takes means doing dirty work in the trenches. But perhaps that won’t be the case forever. The onus now falls on Grubb to see how creative he can get with Barner, and the rest of an offense loaded with talent at every skill position.

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Steve Hutchinson helped convince Seahawks to pick Christian Haynes

Steve Hutchinson helped convince Seahawks to pick Christian Haynes

Here is story that is a pleasant little blast from the past, of sorts.

The Seattle Seahawks focused their draft almost exclusively on building up both their offensive and defensive fronts. Their first pick was defensive tackle Byron Murphy, and essentially their second round pick was Leonard Williams. When it came time for their third round pick, they decided to beef up their interior offensive line.

Seattle managed to get one of the best guards available in Christian Haynes, but it was a bit of a process. Having such a long wait between picks can be an eternity in the NFL. It takes patience and a little bit of luck, but it also takes some consulting.

When it came to Haynes, general manager John Schneider got some key advice from an old friend in the form of Steve Hutchinson, per John Boyle at Seahawks.com:

“The Cowboys take Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe with the 73rd pick, one of the two interior linemen still high on Seattle’s board, meaning it’s going to be a long, nervous wait to see if the Seahawks are going to get Christian Haynes. In the back of the room, Hall of Fame guard Steve Hutchinson, who works for the team as a football consultant, a role that consists largely of helping evaluate offensive linemen, quietly chats with Schneider. In particular, Schneider wants Hutch’s opinion on Haynes. I think he’s going to be a really good (expletive) player,” Hutchinson tells Schneider…”

Hutchinson was originally a first round draft choice by the Seahawks all the way back in 2001, and was a stalwart along their offensive line for years. Paired with Walter Jones, Hutchinson helped create the best offensive line Seattle has ever seen, and it paved the way for Shaun Alexander’s 2005 MVP campaign.

Hutchinson would go on to play with the Minnesota Vikings and the Tennessee Titans, before retiring in 2013 and eventually being elevated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Now, he is back in the fold with the Seahawks.

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Mike Jerrell had the best reaction to getting drafted by the Seahawks

Mike Jerrell had the best reaction to getting drafted by the Seahawks

For me, the best part of draft content is the reaction videos/stories from the teams where the actual act of drafting takes place. The call from general manager John Schneider to whichever lucky young man is fortunate enough to begin their NFL career. They are usually filled with joy, blessings, and gratitude.

Other times, they are just flat out awesome. Such is the case for offensive tackle Michael Jerrell from Findlay, who was Seattle’s last pick in the 2024 NFL draft. When Jerrell was picked, he had quite the amusing reaction, per the Seahawks team website.

“‘Hey Michael, John Schneider with the Seattle Seahawks, how you doing?'” Schneider says. ‘You had a great visit. We’re getting ready to select you here at 207, OK?’ ‘

Oh shit, for real?’ Jerrell replies…

Oh yeah, for real!’ Schneider answers.”

Jerrell is largely considered a project, and an intense one at that. His official scouting profile even declared he is nowhere near ready to take NFL snaps. But he possesses unique athleticism for an offensive lineman. Unique enough to where the Seahawks felt it was worth spending a draft pick on to see if they can develop him.

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Rams wanted to trade up with Seahawks for Byron Murphy II

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Rams wanted to trade up with Seahawks for Byron Murphy II

Rams wanted to trade up with Seahawks for Byron Murphy II

The Seattle Seahawks enjoyed a rather successful NFL draft, headlined by defensive tackle Byron Murphy II from the University of Texas. The Longhorn standout was considered arguably the best defensive tackle prospect in the draft, and thanks to a string of 14-consecutive offensive players taken in the first round, Murphy was able to fall to Seattle.

The Seahawks are notorious for trading back, or even out, of the first round, and it almost happened again. John Schneider admits he had several offers to trade back, which is why I tentatively graded the Murphy pick an A- out of sheer curiosity about what the road not taken might’ve looked like.

Well, I am retroactively moving this grade to an A+ for NOT trading back, because now we know where that particular road would have gone. According to Tony Pauline,

the Los Angeles Rams were actively targeting Murphy. It makes sense, they (mercifully) lost defensive stalwart Aaron Donald to retirement, and Murphy models his game after him.

A collective sigh of relief can be heard throughout the Pacific Northwest upon learning the Rams were unable to find Donald’s heir-apparent in Murphy. Perhaps now the Seahawks can return the favor, and terrorize Los Angeles and the rest of the NFC West the way they were by Donald for so many years.

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