Seahawks Roster Reset: Defensive Depth Chart Post-Free Agency - Analysis
With the hustle and bustle of the opening weeks of free agency now slowed to a snail crawl, the Seattle Seahawks have turned their attention back towards the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft looking to continue infusing the roster with young talent.
In the aftermath of free agency, scheduled to make four picks in the first 52 selections and 10 picks total next month, where do Seattle's defensive position groups stand heading towards the draft and offseason program?
Here's a look at each group with players currently under contract for next season, 2023 salary camp investments, and what general manager John Schneider and the Seahawks front office may do next at the position:
Outside Linebacker/EDGE
Under Contract: Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe, Alton Robinson, Tyreke Smith, Josh Onujiogu
2023 Salary Cap Investment: $19.75 million
What's Next?: Statistically, at least from a pass rushing perspective, the Seahawks will be returning a solid core with Nwosu and Taylor each posting 9.5 sacks last year and Mafe showing improvements as his rookie season progressed. With all three of those players under 26 years of age and both Robinson and Smith returning from seasons lost due to injury, it's reasonable to expect further growth in 2023, potentially making this position a sneaky area of strength. With a young, high upside group already in place, they won't have to force the issue adding there.
At the same time, however, away from Nwosu and Mafe, Seattle struggled to set the edge against the run and you can never have too many good pass rushers either. With this year's draft class featuring a Mount Everest crevasse-deep EDGE group, it would be surprising if they don't add at least one player to the stable in the early rounds. In particular, if Alabama standout Will Anderson Jr. falls into their laps at No. 5 overall, the front office would be committing malpractice skipping him for another player when he could instantly become a star hunting down opposing quarterbacks and stopping the run in the NFC West.
Defensive Tackle
Under Contract: Dre'Mont Jones, Jarran Reed, Bryan Mone, Myles Adams, Jarrod Hewitt
2023 Salary Cap Investment: $18 million
What's Next?: Undergoing a full-scale makeover, the Seahawks currently have only two defensive tackles on the roster who played a snap for the team last season, including Mone, who may not be back until the second half of next season after tearing his ACL in December. On the bright side, they instantly upgraded their interior pass rush by opening up the checkbook to sign Jones, rewarding him with a three-year deal worth north of $50 million. Reed's return to the Pacific Northwest should also be helpful in that regard, even if he isn't the same player he was three years ago.
But after releasing Shelby Harris and Al Woods last month, coupled with Mone's injury uncertainty, Seattle does not have a healthy nose tackle currently under contract. Depth at the 3/4i-tech spots isn't great either, as Adams is the only other player signed who has played regular season snaps and he still has just 223 defensive snaps to his name in three NFL seasons. Along with the possibility of eventually bringing back Woods, Harris, or even Poona Ford, it should be a given that the Seahawks will draft at least two defensive tackles to fill a critical need short and long-term for the team.
Inside/Off-Ball Linebacker
Under Contract: Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks, Devin Bush, Jon Rhattigan, Vi Jones, Chris Garrett
2023 Salary Cap Investment: $15.5 million
What's Next?: With Brooks' status up in the air for the start of the 2023 season coming off a torn ACL and Cody Barton departing for Washington in free agency, the Seahawks aggressively pursued veteran replacements to fill the void. Most notably, after being released by the team one year earlier, Wagner returned to his old stomping grounds to immediately upgrade the middle of the defense. Meanwhile, the franchise took a flier on Bush, a former top-10 pick who flashed as a rookie in Pittsburgh before injuries set him back the last three years.
Assuming Wagner continues to play at a high level after earning Second-Team All-Pro honors with the Rams last year and Bush rediscovers his rookie form with a change of scenery until Brooks comes back, Seattle actually should be in decent hands in 2023. That trio of players should give the coaching staff some flexibility in different packages and Rhattigan also provides another interesting depth option. Still, with Wagner, Brooks, and Bush all potentially becoming free agents next March, it would behoove the team to select at least one linebacker in the draft as well, so more reinforcements could be coming in short order.
Cornerback
Under Contract: Tariq Woolen, Mike Jackson, Coby Bryant, Tre Brown, Isaiah Dunn, Chris Steele
2023 Salary Cap Investment: $5.75 million
What's Next?: Unlike the front seven, the Seahawks shouldn't need to make any substantial moves in the secondary, starting with a talented young cornerback group headlined by Woolen, Jackson, and Bryant. Making this unit even more intriguing, Brown will be more than a year removed from a severe knee injury and if he can play up to the level he showed in a promising rookie season two years ago, he will be in a position to push Jackson to get his starting job back across from Woolen. Even Bryant could be in that mix with Julian Love signing in free agency.
As far as areas of improvement are concerned, Seattle could use another depth piece or two to compete against Dunn and Steele. Thankfully, this year's draft class at the position offers impressive depth, opening the door for the team to find excellent value on day three to further supplement that cornerback group. It's also worth noting that while it isn't a position of need, if the right player falls into their laps in the first two days of the draft, the Seahawks could pull the trigger seeking an upgrade to work in tandem with Woolen. It's safe to say it's an ideal situation.
Safety
Under Contract: Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams, Julian Love, Joey Blount
2023 Salary Cap Investment: $40.9 million
What's Next?: If healthy, which obviously is a big if given Adams struggles staying on the field the last three seasons, the Seahawks still have one of the most talent safety groups in football. Diggs will be returning for his fifth season with the team after earning a third straight Pro Bowl selection, while Love's arrival adds more versatility and playmaking ability to the group. Based on recent comments from Pete Carroll, those three players should see extensive snaps together.
But unlike the cornerback spot, however, Seattle may need to think big picture at safety when the draft rolls around later this month. Adams has to prove he can stay healthy and return to All-Pro form, and if he can't do both, it's a strong possibility the team could move on from him next spring. Diggs and Love will also be entering the final years of their deal, creating some significant question marks for the future. After letting Ryan Neal test the market, it's now far more plausible that the team could take a safety earlier than expected as another insurance policy at a high-priced position.
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