Gallant: The big Seahawks questions yet to be answered after the draft
May 6, 2020, 12:06 AM
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It’s been over a week since the Seahawks made eight picks in the NFL Draft, and you probably still have a ton of questions about the Hawks’ haul.
Have the Seahawks added enough talent to the roster this offseason?
Like…
Where is Jordyn Brooks going to play?
Brooks is a middle linebacker, but we know he’s not supplanting Bobby Wagner. So where will he end up?
Based on the very inexact science of me watching last season, I think K.J. Wright will do just fine sliding into Mychal Kendricks’ role as ‘Sam’ linebacker. He was extremely physical over the last couple of games of the season in run support, wrecking a few ball carriers along the way.
Brooks and Cody Barton – who also had a solid close to his rookie season with expanded snaps – will likely compete for time at weak side linebacker. Because of the limitations of this coming offseason, I think Barton is the current favorite.
Who will be the Seahawks’ most impactful rookie?
The Seahawks told us that they view Darrell Taylor as the most likely candidate. With what?
First, their actions: Trading picks 59 and 101 (a second and third) to select him at pick 48.
Second, their words – at least those of general manager John Schneider:
• “We view him as one of the very, very top pass rushers in this draft.”
• “We were on it trying to move the whole way. We were trying to go up pretty high to get him.”
• “We considered taking him (Thursday) night (during the first round).”
Right now, Taylor will need to be that guy. Can he be that straight out of college?
Is the Seahawks’ pass rush… better?
It’s hard to imagine it being worse. Seattle’s 28 sacks were tied for 29th in the NFL last season. By default, it has to improve – right?
Keeping defensive tackle Jarran Reed could help if he’s able to tap back into his 2018 form. That could make him demand double teams and open things up for the rest of the line.
Speaking of time traveling, bringing back old Hawks defensive ends Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa (and their 15.5 combined sacks from 2019) could be a shot in the arm.
Rasheem Green, the Seahawks 2019 sacks leader, turns just 23 this month and could still be developing.
L.J. Collier’s disappointing rookie season could have entirely been the result of his ankle injury in training camp.
If Taylor and fifth-round pick Alton Robinson make the most of what will be a challenging offseason, they could be immediate contributors.
And if Quinton Dunbar is the cornerback that Pro Football Focus suggests he is, the Seahawks’ pass rush could get a few extra seconds to get to the quarterback.
That’s a lot of coulds. So to answer the question? No.
There’s still hope, though. It depends on the answer to the next question.
Hey, uh, is Clowney coming back?
I only have one prediction regarding the Seahawks’ most disruptive defender in 2020: American sports will return before Clowney has a home again.
I believed Clowney when he said this after the Seahawks’ playoff loss to the Packers: “I’m trying to get to the Super Bowl by any means. That’s what I’m looking for. Who’s going to get me there? I ain’t looking to get on no sorry team for no money. That ain’t going to fly. I ain’t gonna put my body through all of that just to lose no 16 games, go home with my check. I’d hate that, so that ain’t what I’m doing. So if I can’t win no Super Bowl, I ain’t going to no team that can’t win.”
Based off that quote and what’s been reported, Tennessee is Seattle’s only true competition to land Clowney. And given that Titans head coach Mike Vrabel used to coach Clowney in Houston – a place that didn’t think highly of No. 90’s work ethic – I doubt they’d spontaneously decide to outbid the Hawks for his services.
Those are only about half of the questions remaining about the Seahawks. Look out for Part 2 this weekend on 710Sports.com.
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