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The Seattle Seahawks lost several keynote contributors to NFL free agency. One of the biggest departures was safety Coby Bryant. Bryant inked a lucrative three-year, $40 million contract with the Chicago Bears.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald routinely utilizes three-safety sets in his defense. The Seahawks still have Julian Love and Nick Emmanwori on the roster. But losing Bryant makes it far more difficult for Macdonald to use three safeties with confidence. Ty Okada, Rodney Thomas II, AJ Finley, and D'Anthony Bell aren't exactly starting-caliber players.
Drafting another safety probably isn't a top priority for John Schneider. Running back, cornerback, and EDGE are considered more pressing needs. But drafting one at 96th overall, or via a trade-back in that round to accumulate another mid-round pick, should be considered a possibility.
We've identified two mid-round safeties who fit the Seahawks.
VJ Payne is a high football-IQ safety who is an excellent communicator and leader. Schneider has always appreciated mature players on the defensive backend. Payne was also very athletic at the NFL Combine, running a 4.40 and leaping a 35-inch vertical and 10-foot-7 broad jump. He's a rangy 42-game starter with versatility to play everywhere across a defensive formation.
TCU safety Bud Clark was a Senior Bowl standout. The former Horned Frogs defender was captaining his defense by being a vocal leader, even helping new teammates get lined up correctly. Clark ran a 4.41 at the NFL Combine and leaped a 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-7 broad. The flexible defensive back was a ball-hawk at TCU, notching 15 career interceptions.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Two Day 3 safeties the Seahawks should consider drafting
Continue reading...
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald routinely utilizes three-safety sets in his defense. The Seahawks still have Julian Love and Nick Emmanwori on the roster. But losing Bryant makes it far more difficult for Macdonald to use three safeties with confidence. Ty Okada, Rodney Thomas II, AJ Finley, and D'Anthony Bell aren't exactly starting-caliber players.
Drafting another safety probably isn't a top priority for John Schneider. Running back, cornerback, and EDGE are considered more pressing needs. But drafting one at 96th overall, or via a trade-back in that round to accumulate another mid-round pick, should be considered a possibility.
We've identified two mid-round safeties who fit the Seahawks.
VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
VJ Payne is a high football-IQ safety who is an excellent communicator and leader. Schneider has always appreciated mature players on the defensive backend. Payne was also very athletic at the NFL Combine, running a 4.40 and leaping a 35-inch vertical and 10-foot-7 broad jump. He's a rangy 42-game starter with versatility to play everywhere across a defensive formation.
Bud Clark, S, TCU
TCU safety Bud Clark was a Senior Bowl standout. The former Horned Frogs defender was captaining his defense by being a vocal leader, even helping new teammates get lined up correctly. Clark ran a 4.41 at the NFL Combine and leaped a 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-7 broad. The flexible defensive back was a ball-hawk at TCU, notching 15 career interceptions.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Two Day 3 safeties the Seahawks should consider drafting
Continue reading...
