Seahawks 2023 Combine Confidential: EDGE/Outside Linebackers
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Kicking the offseason schedule into overdrive, coaches, scouts, and executives will descend upon Indianapolis for the annual NFL combine this week to continue evaluating and assessing top prospects for the upcoming 2023 draft.
Holding two first round selections, including the No. 5 overall pick courtesy of the Russell Wilson trade with the Denver Broncos last March, the Seattle Seahawks face one of their most critical drafts with a prime chance to further fortify their roster after a surprising playoff berth last season.
Among many question marks for the franchise, Seattle once again slogged through a season marred by inconsistency from its pass rush. Though Uchenna Nwosu and Darrell Taylor each reached 9.5 sacks in 2022, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson was the only other player with more than three sacks for the season, leaving plenty of room for improvement from the edge rush group.
Heading into this week's festivities at the combine, here's a look at 14 edge/outside linebacker prospects who the Seahawks should be keeping close tabs on as potential first round, second/third round, and day three targets to fortify that group.
First Round
Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
A menace for all quarterbacks in the prestigious SEC, Anderson wasted little time emerging as one of the most disruptive players in all of college football. After racking up seven sacks as a true freshman for the Crimson Tide, he erupted with 17.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss as a sophomore, earning consensus First-Team All-American honors. Though his numbers didn't quite match up last year, he still reached double-digit sacks and received All-American distinction again.
At 243 pounds, Anderson lacks the size to play a prototypical 4-3 defensive end role and can be over-matched at the point of attack in the run game. Playing off the edge, however, his elite burst, footwork, and closing speed are unmatched in this year's draft class and in a 3-4 scheme, he should resume terrorizing signal-callers from the outset in the league.
Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
Originally a three-star recruit who signed with Texas A&M, Wilson transferred to Texas Tech during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and eventually became an unblockable force for the Red Raiders. Over his final two seasons in Lubbock, he amassed 99 tackles, 14.0 sacks, and 27.5 tackles for loss, earning First-Team All-Big 12 honors as a senior.
Possessing elite size at 6-6, 275 pounds and a relentless motor, Wilson can bully opponents as a bull rusher while exhibiting surprising bend and quickness around the edge for a player of his stature. He will need refinement with hand technique and development of a more advanced pass-rushing plan, but his natural tools and effort should make him a problem for opposing tackles to block on day one.
Myles Murphy, Clemson
Formerly a coveted five-star recruit out of Georgia, Murphy left the state to join the Tigers and immediately found his way into the lineup, contributing four sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss as a true freshman. Over the past two seasons, he has steadily improved both as a rusher and run defender, recording 14.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss. He earned First-Team All-ACC recognition as a junior.
While dominant at times, the 6-5, 275-pound Murphy hasn't always flashed the best burst, explosiveness, or bend off the edge, often winning with pure power against opposing tackles. Whoever drafts him will have a tool chest of physical traits to work with and mold him into a more refined rusher with as high of a ceiling as any outside linebacker in this class, but it may take time.
Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
A rapid riser as an early entrant for the draft, Van Ness became an instant star for the Hawkeyes defense after red-shirting a COVID-shortened 2020 season. Possessing excellent size at 6-5, 265 pounds, he has a surprising burst and uncanny ability to bend the corner on opposing tackles for a player who began his college career primarily playing inside as a defensive tackle.
Van Ness' calling card remains turning speed into power as a bull rusher, however, and most of his 13 sacks at Iowa came via bullying opposing blockers. He has a lot of work to do developing counter moves and playing with more consistent run fits, but a strong combine could vault him into top-15 or even top-10 consideration due to his carbon copy edge build and intriguing array of talents.
Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
One of the nation's most productive all-around edge defenders, Foskey stuffed the stat sheet in his final two seasons with the Fighting Irish. A consensus First-Team All-American in 2022, he generated 44 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 13.5 tackles for loss. Interestingly, his junior season was better in most aspects, as he forced a whopping six fumbles while reaching double digit sacks.
Built with an ideal 6-5, 262-pound frame, Foskey often won at the college level with power, including a devastating long arm move. To find success in the NFL, development of another quality counter move or two will be essential, as he isn't the most flexible speed rusher and lacks the bend to dip and turn the corner with regularity. Testing numbers could be the difference between going in the top 15 picks and potentially sliding out of the first round.
Second/Third Round
Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
One of the more seasoned rushers coming into this year's draft, McDonald amassed 34 sacks over the course of five seasons in Ames, including a pair of double-digit sack seasons in 2020 and 2021. His numbers took a bit of a nose dive last season as the Cyclones struggled through a 4-8 campaign, but he still led the team with 25 pressures and five sacks.
A lean 241 pounds, McDonald plays bigger than his build suggests, using strong hands and excellent length to disengage from blockers. With that said, setting the edge can be problematic for him and he will be best suited in a 3-4 where he can line up out wide and let his athleticism work to his advantage. One of the bendiest rushers in this class, he has a chance to wow during testing in Indy and possibly shoot into the first round discussion.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
Arriving in Manhattan as an undersized 220-pound three-star recruit, Anuidke-Uzomah hit the weight room hard and added more than 30 pounds of muscle to his frame, transforming into one of the Big 12's premier pass rushers. Ascending as the Wildcats resurfaced as a top-25 program over the past two seasons, he amassed 19.5 sacks while forcing eight fumbles, consistently creating turnovers when he found his way to the quarterback.
There's much work to be done with Anudike-Uzomah as a run defender, starting with continued development of hand usage to dispel blocks. He also struggled with missed tackles, posting an ugly 18 percent miss rate last season. But while he may not be an every down defender right off the bat, his electric first step off the line as a rusher should make him an immediate threat on passing downs in the league.
B.J. Ojulari, LSU
The younger brother of Giants pass rusher Azeez Ojulari, who starred at Georgia, B.J. Ojulari made a name for himself in the SEC as well. Playing significant snaps right away for the Tigers, he racked up 128 tackles and 16.5 sacks in three seasons with the program, earning himself First-Team All-SEC distinction as a junior in 2022.
Possessing an explosive first step and quality size at 250 pounds, Ojulari looks the part of a 3-4 outside linebacker, but his performance has been hit and miss in college. He can tantalize with his speed and explosiveness off the edge to rocket around tackles to collapse the pocket, only to disappear for stretches afterward. While a capable run defender, there have been clear lapses in effort at times in that regard. He has a great chance to showcase his elite athletic tools in Indy, but teams will also be interested to learn more about him in the interview process.
Nolan Smith, Georgia
The top recruit in the nation in 2019, Smith took his talents to Athens and eventually became a starter for the 2021 National Championship team, producing 3.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss in 14 games. A torn pectoral injury ended his final season with the Bulldogs after eight games and he wrapped up his collegiate career with an underwhelming 12.5 sacks in four seasons.
Despite being a smaller 235-pound edge defender, Smith proved to be a stout run defender at Georgia, playing with excellent technique and physicality off the edge. His pass rushing has been inconsistent, as his burst and quickness is evident but his lack of counter moves and struggles working off blocks have led to fewer pressures than expected of a player of his athleticism and talent. Likely to put up strong testing numbers, he's a day two prospect by projection more than actual production and could be a far better pro than college player.
Andre Carter, Army
Earlier this year, it looked like Carter might not get a chance to compete in the NFL due to legislative changes preventing players from the armed service academies from postponing mandatory military service. However, a provision was passed that paved the way for him to participate in the Senior Bowl in Mobile and continue pursuing his NFL dream.
One of the best players ever to suit up at a service academy, the twitchy 6-7, 260-pound edge defender was one of college football's most prolific pass rushers in 2021, racking up 14.5 sacks and earning Third-Team All-American honors. He wasn't as productive as a senior and endured some bumps at the Senior Bowl, but performing well in athletic testing in Indy should secure his place as a day two selection with a chance to contribute rushing off the edge immediately in the league.
Day 3 Sleepers
Isaiah McGuire, Missouri
A Senior Bowl invitee, McGuire evolved from a reserve in his first two seasons at Missouri into a viable all-conference caliber player in his final two seasons on campus. Showing steady improvement, his sack totals jumped from three as a sophomore to six as a junior and 8.5 as a senior, helping him receive First-Team All-SEC honors from media and Second-Team honors from coaches.
Weighing in at 271 pounds in Mobile, McGuire has the size to play base defensive end in a 4-3 scheme and primarily was used in that capacity with the Tigers. Often winning with speed turned into power as a bull rusher and a stellar rip move, he has a refined counter game coming into the pros, but he hasn't exhibited the burst of some of his draft peers. Athletic questions will be answered in Indy, potentially positioning him to hear his name called earlier than the fourth round if he does better than expected.
Mike Morris, Michigan
Coming on strong at the tail end of his college career, Morris broke out for the Wolverines' playoff-bound squad with career-bests in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (11) in 2022. Prior to that point, he had only a half a sack in limited action in his first two seasons, and that limited experience could hurt his draft stock for some teams.
With that said, Morris may have the most intriguing blend of size and athleticism of any edge rusher in his class. Listed at 292 pounds, he plays with powerful hands at the point of attack and in spurts, he exhibited off-the-charts athleticism rushing upfield for a player of his size. He's squarely a day three prospect who is rough around the edges as a player at this stage, but if he lights up the combine at 290-plus pounds, he could rocket up draft boards due to his immense upside.
Thomas Incoom, Central Michigan
Highly productive in the MAC, Incoom registered 15.5 sacks in two seasons with the Chippewas and played well against superior competition, including recording a sack in a loss to Oklahoma State last season. After reaching double digit sacks and returning a fumble for a touchdown in 2022, he earned an invite and participated in the Senior Bowl, showing well against the best of the best.
A short, compact 6-2, 265 pounds, Incoom lacks great speed or the typical desired length of a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he compensates for that deficiency with a powerful upper body that allows him to disengage from blockers to make tackles. After impressing in Mobile, he can further bolster his stock by testing better than anticipated and possibly be in the running to go as early as the fourth round.
Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
One of the top HBCU prospects in this year's class, Land showed out in his redshirt senior season for the Rattlers, finishing with seven sacks to lead the team. As a reward for his efforts, he received an invite to the Senior Bowl and made the most of his opportunity against top-notch competition, including recording a sack in the all-star showcase.
Weighing only 225 pounds soaking wet, Land doesn't look like a prototypical NFL edge rusher and lacks the meat in his lower body to hold up as a run defender in the trenches. However, he surprised with his physicality in Mobile and in today's pass happy game, his explosiveness and top-tier get off should give him a chance to get drafted and carve out a role as a situational rusher, especially if he turns heads athletically at the combine.
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