Bump: Seahawks need ‘nastiness’ on D, and Ndamukong Suh would fit

NFL free agency has slowed down, but there are still players available that could help the Seahawks. Michael Bumpus of Seattle Sports has one particular player in mind.

Bumpus: What makes Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett so underrated

“I look at Ndamukong Suh,” Bumpus said on Monday’s edition of Bump and Stacy about the veteran defensive tackle, “last year during the run for the playoffs (for) Tampa Bay, he was probably their best defender.”

The 35-year-old Suh has been tied to the Seahawks as a potential fit many times in the past, but while he’s played for four teams in his 12-year career, the Oregon native has never landed with Seattle. Why would now be the time? According to Bumpus, a former NFL wide receiver, Suh has a quality the Seahawks are missing on defense.

“I look at Suh and I just want that attitude. I want that nastiness on this defense,” he said.

The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro was still productive in 2021, making six sacks, seven tackles for loss and 27 combined tackles while playing all 17 games for the Buccaneers, plus a half-sack and four tackles in two playoff games. He also has a history of being rough – sometimes too rough – on the field. Bumpus believes the experience that Suh has accrued to this point has put some of that in check while maintaining his nastiness.

“There are some on-field behavioral issues with Suh, but at this point of his career I think he’s in a good place. I think that he wants to contribute right now, and that attitude on this defense teamed up with (linebacker) Jordyn Brooks and all those other names on the back end, these guys on our defensive line – the Al Woods, the Poona Fords, the young guys like Boye Mafe – I think he can bring a type of attitude to this defense that I want to see. I just want to see a nasty defense that gets after people. I’ll take a couple personal fouls a year from Ndamukong Suh.”

That brought up a question by Bumpus’ co-host, Stacy Rost: Who’s bringing the attitude on the defense now for Seattle?

“That’s hard to say,” Bumpus responded. “I would say you have to go with a guy like Al Woods in the trenches. I mean, Jordyn Brooks, the way that he plays brings some type of attitude. … (Strong safety) Jamal Adams is vocal, but I don’t think there’s a nasty player on this defense right now.”

Rost would see the value of Suh joining the defensive line because of that.

“I think it almost has to be someone on the defensive line, too,” she said. “You can have attitude and brashness, a personality from the defensive backs, and you want that because you also have to be incredibly confident because everyone pays the most attention when you mess up. … You almost need the nasty to be from someone up front.”

Responded Bumpus: “You need a guy who is OK with fighting because that’s all it is in the trenches – it’s just hands fighting. So yeah, there’s a different attitude that comes with that and typically those are the biggest dudes on the field, so you want your big boys to be nasty.”

You can listen to the full conversation in the Four-Down Territory segment of Bump and Stacy in the podcast at this link or in the player below.

Don’t You Forget About Me: The most slept on Mariners and Seahawks

Follow @BrentStecker