BUMP AND STACY

Bumpus has 2 early NFL Draft crushes for Seahawks’ defense

Jan 19, 2024, 3:28 PM

Seattle Seahawkw NFL Draft Jeremiah Trotter Jr...

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. of the Clemson Tigers makes a tackle on Sept. 17, 2022. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

(Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The Seattle Seahawks are still searching for their next head coach, but scouts are also knee-deep into evaluations for the NFL Draft, which is roughly three months away.

ESPN insider details what Seattle Seahawks have asked head coaching candidates

Former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus has also started to look at draft prospects who he thinks the Seahawks should monitor, and he found two ACC standouts who he’d like to see on Seattle’s defense starting next year.

“I just got into it way too early because we’re talking about these head coaches and what they’re going to do with Geno (Smith), is the offensive rosters set, what’s going to happen on defense?” Bumpus said during Friday’s Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports. “So I automatically went to defense and just identified a couple of players where I’m like, ‘Man, these duded can ball.’ I watched the film on them and I like them.”

The first player is a linebacker whose dad played in the NFL and who Bumpus thinks has similar traits to an NFC West star.

Jeremiah Trotter, he is a linebacker out of Clemson (who’s) 6-feet tall, 230 pounds. He plays violently, he can close down in space at a high rate,” Bumpus said. “I looked at him, I’m watching the play and I go, ‘Man, he’s got a little bit of (San Francisco 49ers linebacker) Fred Warner in him.’ I’m not saying that he is a Fred Warner, but he has some Fred Warner hin him. He’s also good in space. What’s been hurting this football team is playing their linebackers in space. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., pay attention to that guy.”

The other prospect? A physically-imposing safety from Miami: James Williams. He reminds Bumpus of a Seahawks legend.

“He’s 6-5, 215 pounds. He had one interception last year, two forced fumbles,” he said.”I roll the tape on his young man and I’m thinking Kam (Chancellor) all day. I’m like, man, he reminds me of Kam … This guy is moving. He has good ball skills, he’s a violent tackler. Sometimes he gets a little bit out of control, but he just wants to make the big hit.”

Listen to the full second hour of Friday’s Bump and Stacy at this link or in the player near the top of this story.

ESPN’s Barnwell: What Seattle Seahawks could do at coach and QB

Bump & Stacy Show

Bump and Stacy

Seattle Kraken coach search Dan Bylsma...

Brent Stecker

What’s the latest on the Seattle Kraken coach search?

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet provided three names that could be the next Seattle Kraken coach as the search nears its third week.

1 day ago

Seattle Seahawks Wagner Bobby...

Brent Stecker

What are Bobby Wagner’s comments about Hawks getting at?

For the second time since 2022, Bobby Wagner is a former Seattle Seahawks player seemingly at odds with the team. Stacy Rost shares her read on the situation.

2 days ago

Seattle Mariners Luke Raley...

Stacy Rost

Rost on Mariners: What we’ve learned a quarter through the season

Just over a quarter of the way into 2024, the Seattle Mariners are 24-20. What have we learned? Stacy Rost breaks down a few things.

2 days ago

Seattle Seahawks Tyler Lockett 49ers 2023...

Cameron Van Til

Bump and Stacy: 6 takeaways from Seahawks’ schedule

Michael Bumpus and Stacy Rost dive into their biggest takeaways from the Seattle Seahawks' schedule, which was released Wednesday.

3 days ago

Seattle Seahawks...

Zac Hereth

Will new OC Ryan Grubb unlock these Seahawks players?

Former NFL WR Michael Bumpus analyzes Mina Kimes' comments about how Ryann Grubb can improve a prominent Seattle Seahawks player.

4 days ago

Seattle Mariners J.P. Crawford Dylan Moore 2023...

Cameron Van Til

How should Mariners’ lineup look when J.P. Crawford returns?

Seattle Mariners broadcaster Aaron Goldsmith weighs in on where two specific players could slot in when J.P. Crawford returns from the IL.

5 days ago

Bumpus has 2 early NFL Draft crushes for Seahawks’ defense