Tag: UDFA

Why West Virginia’s Josh Norwood could make Seahawks roster

Josh Norwood has experience playing corner and safety, although his size will be a detriment to his chances of making the Seahawks roster.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck finding diamonds in the rough in years past, including Dave Krieg, Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and most recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

They have a lot who could impress enough in training camp to make the active roster, including versatile safety Josh Norwood.

Norwood began his collegiate career at Ohio State, redshirting in 2015 and playing sparingly in 2016 before transferring to the junior college ranks for the 2017 season, and ending up at West Virginia for his final two seasons.

Norwood played corner in 2018, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention and leading the team with 11 pass breakups. He shifted over to safety in his senior season, playing in nine games and racking up 63 combined tackles, six passes defended and one interception – a fantastic play that helped seal a Mountaineers victory but ultimately cost Norwood the rest of the season as he suffered a shoulder injury on the play.

Norwood’s ability to play safety and corner is no doubt what drew Seattle to him in the first place, and he’s likely being evaluated as a potential special teams contributor as well.

At five-foot-ten and 179 pounds, Norwood’s size will no doubt be a detriment and will force him to outwork everyone if he wants to play in the green and blue in 2020.

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Why Louisville’s Seth Dawkins could make Seahawks roster

Seth Dawkins is a 6’3, 218 pound receiver with plus speed, the perfect recipe for a Seattle Seahawks diamond in the rough discovery.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, notably at the wide receiver position where two of the best to ever wear the green and blue, Jermaine Kearse and Doug Baldwin, were both undrafted.

The Seahawks hope to replicate that luck once again in 2020, having signed two receivers – Aaron Fuller from the University of Washington and Seth Dawkins from Louisville – to compete for spots on the active roster.

While Fuller is a small, slot receiver in the vein of Baldwin, Dawkins is a six-foot-three, 218 pound monster who clocked a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash, giving him that nice combination of size and speed the Seahawks crave.

Dawkins’ overall production at Louisville was rather pedestrian, as he had just 1,323 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in his four seasons with the Cardinals. However, his blend of size and speed, and his tendency to make big plays, could give him a shot at a roster spot with Seattle.

Presently, there are only two receivers guaranteed a spot on the roster for the Seahawks in 2020: Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.

Phillip Dorsett, David Moore and John Ursua all at leave have NFL experience, with Dorsett very likely going to settle in as the team’s No. 3 receiver. That leaves Moore, Ursua, 2020 draft pick Freddie Swain, Fuller and Dawkins all competing for those last few spots.

While Moore is a potential cap casualty, overtaking both Ursua and Swain is a tough ask for either of the UDFA receivers, and it seems more likely they will compete for a spot on the practice squad rather than a spot on the active roster, at least right away.

Still, Dawkins possesses a lot of the traits the Seahawks specifically target in their receivers, and once he is able to get on the field he could turn some heads.

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Why FIU RB Anthony Jones could make Seahawks roster

Anthony Jones fought through a nearly fatal drive by shooting in 2018, and now he’s looking to fight his way onto the Seahawks roster.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg, and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

Yesterday, we took a look at Patrick Carr’s chances of making the roster, noting he could get an opportunity if Penny is sidelined into the regular season, or if any other running backs end up on the shelf.

However, he’d have to beat out Seattle’s other undrafted free agent running back, Anthony Jones, who like Carr is a short, stockier power back.

Jones fits Seattle’s bill not just as a running back, but as a man who has undergone tremendous personal hardship to get where he is today. Jones was the victim of a drive-by shooting in September of 2018, forcing him to be hospitalized for weeks.

He ended up missing seven weeks but managed to fight his way back onto the field later that season, and returned for his senior year to rush for 867 yards and nine touchdowns.

Now, he’ll compete alongside Carr and the rest of Seattle’s running back room, including Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas, for a role on the Seahawks in 2020.

Realistically, barring multiple injuries, Carr and Jones are likely battling for one spot on the practice squad. Both players are of similar build and had success at the collegiate level, so how they look between the tackles in training camp will go a long way toward determining who gets to stick around once September rolls around.

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Why Houston RB Patrick Carr could make Seahawks roster

Patrick Carr is a short, stocky running back, a position where depth is crucial. The Seattle Seahawks could really use him in 2020.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg, and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

Undrafted free agent running backs have had a recent run of success in the NFL, including Phillip Lindsay of the Broncos and Matt Breida with the 49ers (now with the Dolphins).

The Seahawks also had a ton of success with Chris Carson, a seventh round pick back in 2017. Carson will be joined by Rashaad Penny (if/when he is healthy) veteran Carlos Hyde and a pair of young backs from the University of Miami, Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas, for Seattle in 2020.

That doesn’t appear to leave a lot of room for Patrick Carr, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Houston, although Seattle’s recent bad luck with injuries to their running back room could certainly open up a spot for Carr to contribute at some point during the 2020 campaign.

Carr began his collegiate career at the University of Colorado, where he rushed 66 times for 272 yards and a touchdown in 2015 before transferring to join the Houston Cougars.

He exploded his junior year, rushing 152 times for 868 yards (5.7 yards per carry) along with five touchdowns. He only made it into six games his senior year, thanks to injuries, which hampered his draft stock and may have left Seattle with a bargain pickup.

Carr is built like former running back Maurice Jones-Drew, coming in at five-foot-eight and weighing 207 pounds. His stocky frame and sneaky speed make him an intriguing running back prospect, and one who could flourish learning from Carson and Hyde in Seattle’s system.

It’s hard to imagine him breaking camp with the team, unless injuries pile up, but considering what happened last year this team would be wise to keep him stashed on the practice squad, in case he is needed.

Who knows, if he gets himself into game situations he might just stick around.

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Why Kemah Siverand could make Seahawks roster

The Seattle Seahawks love core special teamers and guys who have undergone position changes, making UDFA Kemah Siverand a potential fit.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg, and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

One way the Seahawks have found diamonds in the rough is by changing a player’s position, or signing guys who recently went through a change of position who may still have room to grow at their new spot.

That’s the case with former Oklahoma State defensive back Kemah Siverand. Siverand was a receiver at Texas A&M for one season before transitioning to defense and eventually transferring to join the Cowboys. He had just 11 tackles and one fumble recovery in 26 games, being used almost exclusively as a core special teamer.

In fact, Oklahoma State’s punt coverage was ranked fourth nationally, thanks in part to Siverand’s contributions.

The Seahawks love guys with versatility, they love taking chances on guys who are undergoing a position change, and of course coach Pete Carroll loves his core special teamers – all which makes Siverand an ideal pick for one of the team’s final roster spots.

Akeem King played that reserve corner and core special teams role last year, and without him in the picture anymore someone will need to step up – and Siverand could easily be that guy if he gets a chance to prove himself in camp.

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Why Troy’s Marcus Webb could make the Seahawks roster

The Seattle Seahawks have a lot of depth at five-tech, but former Troy star Marcus Webb could sneak onto the roster with a good camp.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg, and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

In fact, defensive tackles have been a recent source of success on the undrafted market, with Ford and Bryan Mone both making the team last year.

They have a handful of guys to choose from if they want an undrafted defensive lineman three years in a row, and one of them is former Troy University defensive end Marcus Webb.

Webb was a monster in his final season with the Trojans, leading the Sun Belt conference with seven sacks. His size (six-foot-three, 279 pounds) likely limits him to five-tech duty, as he is too small to line up on the interior and doesn’t have the requisite skills to be a LEO.

Five-tech is a position currently occupied by some combination of Benson Mayowa, Rasheem Green and L.J. Collier, with rookie Alton Robinson and Branden Jackson on hand as well.

While some of those guys will occasionally rotate inside on passing downs, it does appear to be pretty crowded at the moment.

However – the Seahawks will definitely have a close eye on Webb, and considering his performance in college, even in a not-so-great conference, there’s reason to believe he could work his way onto an expanded practice squad in 2020.

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Why Texas A&M’s Debione Renfro could make Seahawks roster

Debione Renfro has the size, speed, and tackling necessary to be a contributor on special teams, which could help him land a roster spot.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg, and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

A huge part of making this squad as an undrafted free agent, or any backup position really, is the ability to contribute on the special teams.

Coach Pete Carroll has long harped the importance of getting young players who are willing to do the dirty work on teams, and guys who are physical, speedy and good open field tacklers will almost always have a leg up on earning one of the final roster spots on the squad.

That’s where former Texas A&M defensive back Debione Renfro could have his advantage. He stands six-foot-two and just over 200 pounds, and was clocked with a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash.

His production at A&M was never elite, in part because injuries and discipline cost him multiple games, but he proved himself a capable open field tackler and a good blitzer, which could be a role the Seahawks explore using him in during training camp.

Ultimately, Renfro’s chances of making the team depend on the legal resolution of Quinton Dunbar’s recent arrest for armed robbery, which is still ongoing. If he is unable to suit up for the Seahawks at any point in 2020, the team will need another defensive back – opening up a spot for Renfro to compete for.

Akeem King held down a job all of last year primarily because of his ability to contribute on the special teams, and it is not hard to imagine Renfro stepping in and doing the same in 2020.

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Why Southeast Missouri’s Josh Avery could make Seahawks roster

Josh Avery has the size and maturity to make an impact for the Seattle Seahawks as a run-stuffing defensive tackle right away in 2020.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

In fact, the Seahawks had an interior defensive tackle make the roster as an undrafted free agent two years in a row, as Ford was followed by Michigan’s Bryan Mone in 2019, who appeared in four games for the Seahawks.

If they are going to keep the streak of undrafted defensive tackles alive, hope will rest with either Cedrick Lattimore out of Iowa or Josh Avery out of Southeast Missouri.

While Lattimore went to a more notable school and posted good numbers, his size (six-foot-three, 295 pounds) is more suited to a five-tech in Pete Carroll’s defense, rather than a big run-stuffer in the middle, which is what the Seahawks need.

Avery is listed at six-foot-three and 322 pounds, plenty big enough to plug holes up the middle in a reserve role. Plus, Avery is already 24 years old, and the Seahawks made it clear they are looking for more mature rookies this season, in light of the pandemic that limits their opportunities to see players on the field before the season begins.

With Ford and Jarran Reed expected to start on the interior defensive line, Avery will compete with Lattimore, Mone, and Demarcus Christmas for the backup DT role, assuming the team doesn’t sign a veteran – something they have done in each of the past few seasons.

While it won’t be an easy path, it never is for undrafted free agents, Avery has the size and maturity to make an impact for the Seahawks in year one, and if he does well in training camp he could be a surprise addition to the roster, or at least the practice squad, in 2020.

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Why Iowa’s Cedrick Lattimore could make Seahawks roster

The Seattle Seahawks are thin on interior defensive tackles, and former Iowa star Cedrick Lattimore is a candidate to steal a roster spot.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

In fact, the Seahawks had an interior defensive tackle make the roster as an undrafted free agent two years in a row, as Ford was followed by Michigan’s Bryan Mone in 2019, who appeared in four games for the Seahawks.

If they are going to keep the streak of undrafted defensive tackles alive, hope likely rests on Iowa’s Cedrick Lattimore.

Lattimore is a beastly six-foot-three and 295 pounds. He started all 13 games for the Hawkeyes last year, recording 44 combined tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four QB pressures and a fumble recovery.

He also won the Iowa Coaches Appreciation Award on defense, and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten as well.

Lattimore’s path to a roster spot is less crowded than many other UDFA, simply because Seattle has a lot less interior defensive linemen standing in the way.

Jarran Reed and Poona Ford will start on the inside, and right now the third DT spot is an open competition between Mone, Demarcus Christmas and the two undrafted guys, Lattimore and Josh Avery.

Seattle is expected to sign a run-stuffing veteran, potentially Mike Daniels or Damon Harrison, but if they opt to use that money elsewhere than Lattimore could contend for a spot on the opening day roster, extending Seattle’s streak of hitting on undrafted defensive tackles to three years in a row.

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A.J. Bouye aims to mentor Broncos’ undrafted defensive backs

“I always want to work with the undrafted guys extra because those guys are sponges,” A.J. Bouye said.

Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of UCF with the Texans in 2013. He has earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods since then and will serve as Denver’s No. 1 cornerback this season.

As an undrafted player himself, Bouye will appreciate working with rookie defensive backs Essang Bassey and Douglas Coleman III, who signed with the Broncos after going undrafted in April.

“Essang, he’s from Columbus [Ga.],” Bouye said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on May 14. “He’s actually in Georgia. I’m actually going to hit him up to see if he wants to come get some work in with me. I don’t really know much about him. Before the coaches gave me Douglas’ number, my dad actually called me and told me that he knows somebody who’s close to him and gave me his number to reach out to him and stay close to him.

“I’ve always had that mindset. That’s one thing I really like about OTAs and camp, usually the drafted guys, they’re still learning and trying to fit in with everything like that, but I always want to work with the undrafted guys extra because those guys are sponges. They always want to learn anything because they’re open to playing special teams, open to everything. I just feel like I can relate more to those guys because they’re always learning.”

When Bouye was a young defensive back, he learned under Kareem Jackson and Jonathan Joseph in Houston and he hasn’t forgotten their help. “I want to be able to do the same thing now,” Bouye said.

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