Bumpus: The surprising Seahawks defensive player who is standing out

When it comes to the Seahawks’ secondary right now, the attention in training camp is on two things.

First, is Pro Bowl strong safety Jamal Adams going to agree to a long-term contract extension with Seattle.

Second, who is going to join D.J. Reed as the Seahawks’ other starting cornerback?

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There’s something else to keep an eye on with Seattle’s defensive backs, however, as former Seahawks wide receiver and current analyst Michael Bumpus pointed out Wednesday on 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny and Gallant.

“Who’s going to be that rotation guy?” Bumpus said, referring to a spot on the Seahawks’ roster for a player who can fill in at both cornerback and safety. “Is it going to be Marquise Blair, who I think is having a great camp so far? Is it going to be Damarious Randall? There’s a battle right now, and I love what Randall brings to the table.”

That last part is what Bumpus is focused on.

Randall, 28, was a 2015 first-round selection of the Green Bay Packers, but the Arizona State product lasted just three seasons in Green Bay. A safety in college, the Packers moved Randall to cornerback, but he switched back to safety for two seasons with Cleveland. He signed with the Raiders in April 2020 but was released prior to the season, then hooked on with the Seahawks, appearing in 10 games last season and re-signing with the team in April.

Not only does his experience at both corner and safety help his chances of making an impact for the Seahawks this season, but his showing at training camp is turning heads.

“He’s been making some plays, and that’s a guy that you’re going to need,” Bumpus said. “He can play safety, he can play corner. He had a good game against the Seahawks (in 2016) when he had a couple picks.”

By the way, Randall didn’t just pick off Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson twice five seasons ago. He also had a pick-six against him Monday in practice, as 710 ESPN Seattle’s Paul Gallant interjected.

“He’s a veteran, he’s confident, he has great feet, he attacks the football,” said Bumpus, “and there’s been a couple plays where he could have laid out receivers, man, but obviously it’s camp, he’s going to ease up and let these guys live. But I like what he’s bringing to the table. I look at this defense and the sleeper right now – I don’t think he’s a sleeper anymore because we’re talking about him, but it’s Damarious Randall.”

You can listen to Bumpus on Randall and more from Seahawks training camp in the Blue 42 segment of the podcast at this link or in the player below from Wednesday’s Danny and Gallant.

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