Tag: Tyrice Knight

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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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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Watch: Tyrice Knight gets a surprise call from the Seahawks on draft day

Watch Seahawks GM John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald trying to reach Knight before they picked him.

If your initial reaction to the Seahawks picking the University of Texas El Paso linebacker Tyrice Knight in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft was something along the lines of “huh? who?” you’re probably not the only one.

It sounds like Knight himself wasn’t expecting to get drafted until much later on. Watch Seahawks general manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald trying to reach Knight before they picked him.

 

To be fair, Knight says he was in an area where he didn’t have any cell phone reception.

As a rookie Knight will project as a backup, but he should be ready to take over for either Tyrel Dodson or Jerome Baker in the middle of head coach Mike Madonald’s defense next year.

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2024 NFL draft: College highlights for new Seahawks Tyrice Knight, AJ Barner

The Seahawks have addressed their needs at linebacker and tight end.

The Seahawks have addressed their needs at linebacker and tight end almost back to back in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. At No. 118 overall, they chose linebacker Tyrice Knight out of UTEP, then three picks later they went with Michigan tight end AJ Barner.

Here are the 2023 highlights for Knight.

And the highlights for Barner.

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Seahawks pick UTEP LB Tyrice Knight at No. 118 overall

Knight was one of the team’s pre-draft visits.

With the No. 118 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, the Seahawks have selected UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight.

Knight was one of the team’s pre-draft visits.

Knight (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) posted two interceptions, 8.5 sacks, 32 tackles for a loss, 16 pass breakups and four forced fumbles in 45 career college games.

Knight should project as a backup for his rookie season, filling in behind projected starters Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker. He should be ready to start as soon as 2025, though.

The Seahawks will be on the clock again in a minute at No. 121…

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List of linebackers and edges at 2024 Senior Bowl

List of linebackers and edges at 2024 Senior Bowl

With the NFL as pass-happy as it is, pass-rushers are extremely valuable. Having a good week in Mobile can also help such players. Just ask the Jets. They have selected an edge that was at the Senior Bowl in the first round in each of the last two drafts — Jermaine Johnson, 2022; Will McDonald, 2023.

Could the Jets add another this year? Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will get a close eye on some of these players as the American team head coach. Not just Ulbrich, but linebackers coach Nathaniel Willingham as well, as he will be on the coaching staff. Joining Willingham is Imarjaye Albury of the Vikings, Rob Leonard of the Raiders and Cato June of the Colts. [anyclip-media thumbnail=”undefined” playlistId=”undefined” content=”dW5kZWZpbmVk”][/anyclip-media]Here’s who’s in Mobile this week at the edge and linebacker positions.

3 UTEP Miners that could cause problems for the Oklahoma Sooners

UTEP has some playmakers on both sides of the ball that could give Oklahoma fits if they aren’t careful.

Oklahoma finally straps up their pads on Saturday to take on a UTEP Miners team coming in off a 31-13 week zero loss to North Texas.

UTEP struggled to compete in the second half, allowing UNT to score 17 unanswered points and unable to do anything offensively in the second half.

That won’t work if they plan to remain competitive against Brent Venables’ Sooners. A team who comes in with the added juice of playing for a first-year coach. Add that to the fact that the Palace on the Prairie will be rocking, and things could snowball fast for UTEP.

Oklahoma can’t take UTEP for granted, or they will find themselves in a second-half dog fight like OU did this time last year with Tulane. The talent level may not be up to Big 12 standards, but UTEP has some pieces that could make life difficult for the Sooners.

Up Next: An Explosive Wide Receiver

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