Seahawks EDGEs Training Camp Preview: Bold Predictions, Projected Depth Chart
RENTON, Wash. - Over the past five years and counting, dating back to Frank Clark's exit via trade, the Seattle Seahawks have invested immense draft capital and financial resources in a relentless effort to boost their pass rush.
First, Seattle tried to replace Clark by drafting L.J. Collier in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The following summer, shortly before the season opener, general manager John Schneider dealt a third-round pick and Jacob Martin to Houston for former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. Since that point, the organization has used three second-round picks on Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe, and most recently Derick Hall while also spending big bucks on free agent Uchenna Nwosu before the 2022 season.
Unfortunately, while signing Nwosu has paid dividends for the Seahawks so far, most of these moves have not panned out as planned. Collier disappointingly accumulated more healthy scratches than sacks in four seasons with the franchise and left to join the Cardinals this spring, Clowney departed after what amounted to a one-year rental for his services, and Taylor and Mafe have been inconsistent performers to this point.
Given the sheer volume of valuable assets Seattle has poured into the search for viable NFL edge rushers with mixed returns at best to this point, no position group may be under more pressure to perform heading into the 2023 season. And, most importantly, no position on the roster may hold more sway in regard to the team's chances of making a deep playoff run in January.
From a pure sacks perspective, led by Nwosu and Taylor with 9.5 sacks apiece, the Seahawks finished tied for seventh in the NFL with 45 sacks as a team. But according to Pro Football Reference, the team finished 19th in pressure rate and 28th in hurry rate, ranking in the bottom half of the league in both categories and providing a textbook definition of a feast or famine pass rush.
Other media outlets also negatively graded Seattle's pass rush as a whole, with ESPN ranking the team 28th overall in pass rush win rate (34 percent) and Pro Football Focus ranking them 27th in pass rush grade (66.5). Individually, per PFF charting, only Nwosu ranked in the top 50 in the league in quarterback pressures and defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson was the only other player in the top 100.
Understanding the need to turn up the heat on quarterbacks more consistently, while he felt the team had some of the right pieces already in place to be successful, Carroll proclaimed his desire to further enhance Seattle's pass rush as a top offseason priority in his end-of-season press conference following a wild card defeat in San Francisco.
“We have to rush the passer better, we have to be more of a factor when they are doubling us, we have to split double teams, and all of those things," Carroll said. "Our guys busted their tails to do it, but we need to make sure that we are more of a factor. It’s not factoring in enough for us to be really effective like we want to be, so we have to find ways to do that... Our guys can do it, but we need to make it more competitive as well. We need to continue to upgrade.”
Immediately bolstering the interior, Seattle spent big bucks to sign defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones, one of only four players at his position to eclipse 5.5 sacks in each of the past three seasons. But the team also made a notable move on the outside by once again investing in the draft, using one of their two second-round selections on Hall, who the scouting department had a first-round grade on.
Starring at Auburn, Hall garnered All-SEC honors each of his final two seasons with the program, racking up 16 sacks and 24 tackles for loss, showcasing his ability to rush the passer and set the edge as a run defender. As a senior, per PFF, he finished in the top 30 in the nation in sacks and quarterback pressures while finishing a respectable 36th with a 17.7 percent pass rush win rate.
Impressed by Hall during a visit at the Senior Bowl, the Seahawks became enamored by him as a prospect and even with Taylor and Mafe both returning alongside Nwosu, they couldn't pass up on the chance to draft the athletic, high motor edge defender, who they expect to battle for a starting role right away.
“He’s stout, he’s a penetrator, he really gets off, and he’s really fast," Carroll said of Hall after the draft. "Again, we add another fast guy to play on the edge that will show up. In particular, if you have seen the highlight of his pass rush and how he digs into guys, speed and power are really his strength, and he pursues the ball really well, he chases it. He’s really a constant. He plays with great energy, and he played a ton of plays."
But while the Seahawks have high hopes for Hall and expect Nwosu to continue his upward trajectory after a career year in 2022, for the edge group to reach its potential, Taylor needs to finally take the big jump that the organization believes he can as a breakout star.
Since missing his entire rookie season recovering from a broken leg, Taylor has flashed as a pass rusher, amassing 16 sacks and 63 pressures over the past two seasons. Looking like former star Cliff Avril off the edge, he also has exhibited a knack for the strip sack, forcing four fumbles last season to tie with cornerback Coby Bryant for the team lead.
However, Taylor's pass rushing production has largely been hit-and-miss with a high percentage of his pressures resulting in sacks. While he tied with Nwosu for the team lead in sacks, most of those came in the final eight games, and he finished 112th in the league among qualified defenders with an 8.9 percent pass rush win rate and tied for 113th in pressures.
On top of his inconsistencies as a rusher, Taylor has yet to find his groove as a run defender, struggling to set the edge, maintain gap integrity, and wrap up ball carriers. With teams game planning to run right at him early in the year to great success, Seattle was forced to bench him in favor of journeyman Darryl Johnston in Week 4 and he ended up playing more than 50 fewer snaps compared to 2021 in a situational role as a result.
After seeing Taylor dominate in spurts, Carroll loved what he saw from the fourth-year rusher throughout the offseason program and with another year of adding strength to his frame, he believes that breakout season may finally be on tap.
"He’s the most focused he’s been in this offseason," Carroll commented back in April. "He’s always been a really good worker. He looks like he’s the most pumped that he’s been and he’s been in great spirits going through the program so far. I know he’s really got his sights set on having a big year.”
Seeing growth from Mafe would also go a long way towards Seattle's edge group fulfilling high expectations. The 2022 second-round pick out of Minnesota surprised with stout run defense as a rookie, but he didn't shine as a pass rusher as anticipated, generating only 10 pressures and a low 5.9 percent pressure rate on 187 pass rushing opportunities.
Built with a similar 260-pound frame and athletic profile to Hall, Mafe possesses the physical tools to develop into a starter with a more refined technical game. If he can demonstrate a more well-rounded pass rushing toolbox to go with his physicality setting the edge, he will be squarely in the mix to start, adding even more intrigue to a group with plenty of question marks rolling into a new season.
Additionally, the Seahawks should have a healthy Tyreke Smith back in the fold after the former fifth-round pick missed all of his rookie season with a hip injury. At some point, fourth-year veteran Alton Robinson could be ready to return too, though he continues to work his way back from a knee injury that cost him the entire 2022 season and may not be activated until some point in the regular season.
Looking at Seattle's talent and depth as a whole, with Nwosu and Taylor as the ring leaders, Carroll foresees Seattle's edge rushing corps making a significant leap forward. After reinforcing their secondary by drafting Devon Witherspoon and signing Julian Love, bringing back Bobby Wagner in the middle, and signing Jones as a marquee free agent prize, if the unit can play to its potential, the defense could be a dramatically better unit capable of fueling a deep postseason run.
"We’re expecting big things from this group. It’s a good group. They were very productive last year. But I think we’re just scratching the surface. I think Darrell can have a huge year. And Uchenna is really excited about adding to what he did. He had his best season ever and we don’t see any reason why that should fall off. And having the chance to put Derick in that rotation, because we want to rotate these guys. We want these guys to play fresh and fast. It looks like it’s taking really good shape.”
Projected Depth Chart
Competition to Watch
Taylor vs. Mafe vs. Hall: While Nwosu will enter the final year of his two-year contract as an undisputed starter, an exciting three-way battle should commence later this month between a trio of former second-round picks vying for the other starting role. With two years of experience under his belt and no shortage of untapped upside, Taylor should start camp as the favorite to win back the starting job, but he will have to show obvious improvements defending the run during the preseason to fend off worthy competitors.
After impressing in limited action as a rotational reserve during his rookie season, Mafe may be the dark horse to watch if he figures out how to get after the quarterback with greater frequency than he did a year ago. His superb run defense stood out last season as a rare bright spot for Seattle's dreadful 30th ranked rushing defense, so that strength may present an important advantage for him vying for the starting role, and his athleticism may open the door for a huge sophomore jump with improved fundamentals.
As for Hall, last season provided more than enough proof that Carroll and his staff will throw a rookie to the wolves if he earns the opportunity, as cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant as well as Mafe all played extensive snaps right out of the gate. The key will be displaying a more well-rounded pass rush attack after primarily beating college opponents with bull rushes and power moves. If he finds the quarterback several times in camp and the preseason, he absolutely has a shot to start early.
Wild Card
Tyreke Smith: Much like Taylor two years ago, the Seahawks don't truly know what they have in Smith, who participated in a two camp practices last August before landing on season-ending injured reserve with a nagging hip issue. Yet to see him in game action, his size and underrated athletic offer plenty of intrigue and he looked good on the practice field. Hall's arrival pushes him further down the pecking order starting camp, but if he can make a strong first impression and stand out amongst his peers, he has a chance to carve out a meaningful rotational role.
Bold Predictions
1. Not one, but two Seahawks edge rushers will hit double-digit sacks for the first time since Avril and Clark back in 2016.
Maybe this shouldn't be viewed as bold considering Nwosu and Taylor were each a half sack away from achieving the feat a year ago, but sacks can be difficult to rack up year-to-year and the team has rarely had two edge players reach that mark in the same season. Considering Carroll wants to frequently rotate players in and out of the lineup to keep them fresh, snaps may be limited enough to cap every player's statistics.
Heading into a contract year, however, Nwosu will be further motivated to take his game up another notch and getting to 10 sacks should definitely be doable. As for Taylor, he nearly hit that total on fewer than 500 defensive snaps last year, and if he's able to earn a bit more playing time with more competent run defense, expanded pass rushing opportunities will open the door for him to feast on quarterbacks for a career-high in sacks.
2. Four of Seattle's edge defenders will eclipse 25 quarterback pressures, displaying a far deeper rotation than the team has had in years.
Away from Nwosu and Taylor being Seattle's top sack artists, Mafe and Hall both will get plenty of action and Smith or Robinson could find their way into the rotation as well. With plenty of snaps to go around, an improved secondary could make life tougher for opposing quarterbacks, causing them to hold onto the ball a bit longer, creating more chances for the pass rush to get home. With an offense that should give the team leads early, look for Mafe and Hall to hit the 25 pressure mark in major reserve roles, if not utilized as occasional spot starters.
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