Seahawks Pre-OTAs Roster Reset: Defensive Line
Though the 2023 season remains months away, the NFL never sleeps. And after landing a new 10-player draft class, the Seattle Seahawks have transitioned into phase two of their offseason program with OTAs and minicamps just around the corner.
Identifying the position group as a clear area to improve this offseason after finishing 30th against the run in 2022, the Seahawks completely retooled their defensive line, starting with signing Dre'Mont Jones to a three-year deal worth more than $50 million dollars and bringing back veteran Jarran Reed. The front office continued to attack the position group in the draft, using three picks on Auburn edge rusher Derick Hall, Mississippi State defensive tackle Cameron Young, and versatile defensive lineman Mike Morris from Michigan.
Transitioning from the frenzy of free agency and the draft to on-field offseason work, where do things stand for Seattle along the defensive line? Here's a look at projected starters, backups, a wild card to watch, and what could come next at the position:
Don't miss our roster resets for other positions:
- Safeties
Projected Starters: Uchenna Nwosu, Dre'Mont Jones, Cameron Young, Jarran Reed, Darrell Taylor
Thriving in his first season in the Pacific Northwest, Nwosu started off with a bang recording a sack and a key forced fumble at the goal line in his team debut and never looked back. Excelling as a pass rusher and run defender, he was named a Pro Bowl alternate after tying for Seattle's team lead with 9.5 sacks and producing 12 tackles for loss, four swatted passes, and three forced fumbles. A high motor defender with enough speed to wreak havoc as an upfield rusher and the tenacity and toughness necessary to set the edge, he will be looking to step his game up again with free agency and a potential big pay day looming next March.
Across from Nwosu, Taylor should receive another crack at a starting role after losing his job early last season due to persistent struggles against the run. Coach Pete Carroll told reporters earlier this spring that the fourth-year edge has added muscle this offseason, which will help him hold up better at the point of attack. After a strong second half where he amassed 6.5 sacks in the final six games, he looks primed to hit double digits hunting down quarterbacks. But his run defense will have to be markedly improved to keep his spot with Mafe and Hall gunning for snaps behind him.
In the interior, as part of a full-scale overhaul, the Seahawks uncharacteristically spent big bucks to sign Jones away from the Broncos, adding a dynamic interior pass rusher who they believe has yet to come close to reaching his ceiling. After playing multiple seasons for Vic Fangio in Denver, he should be well-equipped to hit the ground running in Seattle's scheme as a 3-tech defensive tackle while taking on a starring role in the trenches. At the other defensive tackle spot, Reed will be the favorite to start in his return to the team after a two-year hiatus with Kansas City and Green Bay.
Following the departure of Al Woods, who was released in March and eventually signed with the New York Jets, the Seahawks likely will lean on the 319-pound Young as a rookie starter at the nose tackle spot while Bryan Mone recovers from a torn ACL. Stout at the point of attack at Mississippi State, they will be counting on him being a load to move at the line of scrimmage and eating up double teams to open up opportunities for linebackers to make plays. Reed could also see some snaps covering the center as he did occasionally during his first stint with the team.
Backups: Mario Edwards, Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, Bryan Mone, Myles Adams, Mike Morris, Alton Robinson, Tyreke Smith, Robert Cooper, Jonah Tavai, M.J. Anderson, Forrest Merrill, Austin Faoliu
Drafted with second-round picks each of the past two years, Mafe and Hall present similar size and athletic traits while having somewhat different skill sets. Ironically, after being tabbed as a situational pass rusher to start his career, Mafe only had a trio of sacks as a rookie but emerged as arguably the team's best edge setter defending the run. More refined as a technician than advertised, he's more likely to win as a rusher with finesse, while the 255-pound Hall ambushes opposing tackles with speed turned to power as a bull rusher and deploying long arm moves. Both players will be vying for significant rotational roles and be in the mix to start across from Nwosu.
At the 3-tech positions, Carroll made it clear during rookie minicamp that Edwards, who signed earlier this month as a free agent, would have a chance to compete for a spot in the starting lineup. Though he's never been much of a sack producer, he set a career-high with 34 quarterback pressures for the Titans last season and he has always been strong against the run with the ability to line up in multiple alignments along the defensive line. Considering the team's struggles slowing down ball carriers last year, if he can immediately bolster the front line in that regard, he has a shot to pass Reed before the season starts.
Aside from Edwards, the Seahawks understandably are excited about Morris, a fifth-round pick out of Michigan who will be transitioning from playing edge in college to exclusively inside. Bulked up to almost 300 pounds and still moving well at that size, he could see more snaps early than anticipated as a rotational interior rusher, especially after posting a pressure rate north of 20 percent for the Wolverines last year. The next few months could also be key for Adams, who has performed well in limited opportunities the past two years and will be seeking to earn a rotational role in his third season with the organization.
With so much turnover across the board, Robinson and Smith, who each missed last season due to injuries, will have their work cut out for them earning playing time with Nwosu, Taylor, Hall, and Mafe all in front of them on the depth chart. The two may be competing for only one roster spot in the fall starting with OTAs. In the interior, undrafted rookies Cooper and Tavai could be names to watch with the team lacking depth at nose tackle, especially with Tavai offering more pass rushing upside.
Wild Card: Hall
The Seahawks have always been drawn to players who have overcome adversity and Hall's remarkable story stands alone in that regard. Born premature without a heart beat, doctors advised his mother to take her son off of life support one week after he was born, but she refused to do so. Now, he's a viable starter-caliber player entering the NFL who brings intensity, athleticism, a well-rounded game, and an unrivaled work ethic with him to Seattle. After producing 24 tackles for loss his final two seasons at Auburn in the SEC, his disruptive ability as a run defender, untapped potential as a pass rusher, and non-stop motor could push him into the starting lineup quickly.
What's Next?
No group will be under more of a microscope over the next couple of months than Seattle's rebuilt defensive line with plenty of questions left to answer up front. Will Jones prove himself worthy of a $51 million investment? Does Reed have enough juice left in the tank to still be a quality starter? Can Young handle starting at the nose on day one?
Boasting a talented secondary now including cornerback Devon Witherspoon and an improved linebacker corps, the Seahawks believe they are poised to take a big leap forward on defense. But at the end of the day, if they want to push the 49ers in the NFC West and make more noise in the postseason, the front five holds the key. Establishing a viable rotation with a blend of veterans and incoming rookies in coming months to help fortify a unit that functioned like a sieve against the run last year will be crucial to the franchise's chances of taking that next step.
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