Clayton: Seahawks shaping up to have a top-10 team for defensive talent

The momentum for the Seahawks catching up to the San Francisco 49ers for talent is taking shape.

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On Friday, Broward County prosecutors dropped the four charges of armed robbery on cornerback Quenton Dunbar. They did press four charges of armed robbery on New York Giants cornerback Deandre Baker.

Dunbar said after being arrested that he didn’t do anything wrong. The after he was arrested, he told the team that he didn’t do anything wrong. The Seahawks front office believed him. General manager John Schneider said the team would welcome him after the court allowed him to leave Florida and come to Seattle for training camp.

Last week, the NFLPA filed an appeal against the NFL asking the league to drop the commissioner exempt list status. The NFLPA’s platform for dropping him from the exempt list was that he needed to be formally charge. Because the court system is behind in Broward County because of the virus – there hasn’t been a trial since March – the NFLPA felt it was unfair to have Dunbar exempt from playing without the prosecutor pressing the charges.

Broward County ruled that there wasn’t enough evidence to continue having the four charges of armed robbery holed up. The NFL has to review the Dunbar situation and decide if it wants to keep Dunbar on the exempt list.

It’s hard to often read the NFL and how it handles these judgement. The Seahawks were stunned that defensive tackle Jarran Reed was suspended for six games on a two-year-old case in which charges were dropped for insufficient evidence.

This could be a defining week or two for the Seahawks. If Dunbar is off the exempt list, the Seahawks arguably would be in the top three for talent in the secondary. Dunbar ranked second for pass coverage last year by Pro Football Focus. Shaquill Griffin went to the Pro Bowl last year. Safety Quandre Diggs has been a Pro Bowl alternate the past two years. Jamal Adams is a three-time Pro Bowler and considered the best safety in football.

It also appears that the Seahawks are ready to add more to the defensive line. According to Mike Silver of the NFL Network, the Seahawks are pretty well done trying to get the return of Jadeveon Clowney. In recent talks with Clowney, he’s not only help to a high-number he is seeking but he’s added to it.

Silver indicated that the next move is either Matthews or Griffin. In many ways, they could get both for much less than Clowney is seeking.

Adding one or the other could put the Seahawks in a position to be a top-10 team for defensive talent. The secondary is loaded. The linebacking corps is loaded. The defensive line is shaping up.

Matthews would be a pass rush player as a Leo. Griffin could play the right side or do some Leo, but he is more of a five-technique. Having one or the other gives the Seahawks plenty of options rushing the quarterback and stopping the run.

Don’t forget the five-technique end could play defensive tackle in passing down situations.

The other addition could be wide receiver Josh Gordon. The Seahawks have reportedly cooled on the idea of signing Antonio Brown, who has an eight-game suspension that could be extended depending on how the NFL views a lawsuit filed against Brown by his former woman trainer.

Interesting time for the Seahawks.

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