JOHN CLAYTON

Clayton: 10 players the Seahawks should watch at the combine

Mar 2, 2017, 10:51 AM | Updated: Apr 6, 2017, 2:21 pm

At 6 feet 1 and 196 pounds, Alabama's Marlon Humphrey has the size the Seahawks like at cornerback....

At 6 feet 1 and 196 pounds, Alabama's Marlon Humphrey has the size the Seahawks like at cornerback. (AP)

(AP)

Seahawks general manager John Schneider is open to everything as he roams through the scouting combine in Indianapolis.

He’s open to adding free agents to the roster. He’s focused on filling out his checklist of information on draft prospects who are attending the combine.

Though he’s considering looking at veterans – he’s signed kicker Blair Walsh and cornerback Perrish Cox – Schneider isn’t expected to go big into the free-agent market. The NFL’s salary cap came out at $167 million, about $1 million lower than expected. While the Seahawks still have $26.6 million available, the team is going to lose a significant chunk of over $5 million when it puts restricted tenders on a handful of players whose contracts have run out.

This is considered a defensive heavy draft, which fits the Seahawks’ needs at cornerback, safety, outside linebacker and maybe defensive tackle. It’s not out of the question for Seattle to go for a pass-rusher, either.

Starting with the secondary, here are 10 players the Seahawks might want to check out here in Indianapolis:

Sidney Jones, CB, Washington. There is a great chance Jones will be drafted before the Seahawks select in the first round at No. 26, but they should be interested nonetheless. The University of Washington seems to like and develop the type of long, angular cornerbacks who can be good in man-to-man situations. Jones, listed at 6 feet 1, fits the Seahawks’ style.

Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida. He’s 6-1, 213 pounds and has the speed and ability to stay with receivers in man coverage. He matches up well against big receivers.

Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama. He also checks the size box at 6-1, 196. It doesn’t hurt that he comes from Alabama, where Nick Saban develops intelligent cornerbacks.

Teez Tabor, CB, Florida. He has the look of a potentially great press, man-to-man cornerback. He loves to jump routes and has great speed.

Budda Baker, FS, Washington. He’s not tall but he’s just a great athlete and a great player. He’s a play-maker.

Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan. He’s an interesting player to study. He might not be a fit in Seattle because he has more of a look of a zone player in a Cover Two scheme. The question is whether he’s better as a cornerback or a safety.

D’Onta Foreman, RB, Texas. Even though the Seahawks drafted three running backs last year, Foreman is a 249-pound physical runner whom they might be interested in. Pass-catching isn’t part of his game, but he can strike fear into defensive players because he’s so hard to tackle.

Joe Mixon, HB, Oklahoma. Mixon wasn’t invited to the combine because he hit a woman when he was 18 years old. He’s a first-round talent who is 6-1, 226 pounds. He might drop a couple rounds because of the incident.

Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin. Ramczyk might be the best tackle in this draft. He’s 6-5, 314 pounds and he comes from a pro-set offense that makes him quickly convertible to the NFL.

Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama. Seahawks fans have looked at mock drafts and have hoped Robinson is the team’s selection because of Seattle’s need for offensive linemen. He’s huge at 326 pounds. Mike Mayock of the NFL Network thinks he might be better suited to be a guard, which wouldn’t fit the Seahawks’ needs.

Want more John Clayton? Listen on-demand to his weekday and Saturday shows as well as his “Cold Hard Facts” and “Clayton’s Morning Drive” segments on 710 ESPN Seattle. Also, check out his all-new “Schooled” podcast and look for his columns twice a week on 710Sports.com.

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