JAKE AND STACY

Seahawks’ biggest need in 3rd wave of free agency is run-stuffing DT

May 6, 2020, 4:58 PM | Updated: 5:29 pm

Seahawks DT Poona Ford...

The Seahawks don't have much depth at DT behind Poona Ford and Jarran Reed. (Getty)

(Getty)

As the Seahawks approach the 2020 offseason’s third wave of free agency, they’ve addressed a lot of areas on their team.

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In the recent NFL Draft, they picked up two defensive ends for their pass rush, a “tackling machine” linebacker, an offensive lineman they expect to play right away, and depth pieces for three positions on offense. In free agency, they’ve added two veteran pass rushers familiar with their system, a whole host of O-linemen, and a few passing targets for Russell Wilson. And their biggest move is likely the trade with Washington for highly-rated cornerback Quinton Dunbar.

So with all of those additions accounted for, what is Seattle’s biggest remaining need?

When asked that question Tuesday on 710 ESPN Seattle’s Tom, Jake and Stacy, former Seahawks quarterback Jake Heaps said the answer was easy.

“Defensive tackle. To me, it’s not even a question,” Heaps replied to co-host Tom Wassell during the daily Four-Down Territory segment.

Many expected the Seahawks to take a defensive tackle in the draft, but eight picks came and went without an addition there for Seattle. Currently the roster features only two veterans listed at the position: Jarran Reed and Poona Ford. And while a couple of Seattle’s younger defensive ends have the versatility to play at DT, there’s a clear type of DT that the Hawks need to add.

“One thing that they did discuss is in pass-rushing situations, they feel that L.J. Collier and Rasheem Green bring enough versatility to where they can slide down to that defensive tackle position in obvious passing-down situations,” Heaps said. “They need a run stuffer, they need somebody next to Poona Ford, Jarran Reed, to really give them that presence in the middle of what has been now two years in a row a defense that has struggled to stop the run.”

There are two available players that Heaps pointed to as fitting that bill.

“If you look at free agency, to me, Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison is one guy that could fill that need. Mike Daniels, former Green Bay Packer, is another guy who can fill that role pretty well,” he said. “It’s hard at this stage of the game to find guys who are actually going to bring something to the table. … They’re hoping Rasheem Green and L.J. Collier can (play DT in passing situations) for them, so they have that guy presumably on their team.

“They need a player who is straight up a run-stuffing defensive tackle, and those are two pretty good names that I just rattled off for you that are not over the hill in terms of age – they’re not in the upper-30s, they’re both 31 years old and two players that I think can still be very productive in the league.”

You can listen to Heaps and fellow co-host Stacy Rost answer Wassell’s football questions in the full Four-Down Territory segment in this podcast.

Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Tom Wassell, Jake Heaps and Stacy Rost on Twitter.

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Seahawks’ biggest need in 3rd wave of free agency is run-stuffing DT