Seahawks 2024 Combine: Seattle Seeking Defensive Line Reinforcements?
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Moving onto the next phase of a busy offseason, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider and the team's personnel department have descended upon Indianapolis for the annual NFL Scouting Combine this week to continue evaluating top prospects for the upcoming 2024 draft.
With free agency right around the corner, the Seahawks hope to re-sign veteran defensive tackle Leonard Williams, who they acquired from the Giants in October for a second and fifth-round pick. The former USC star thrived in 10 games with the team, including producing four sacks and 11 quarterback hits, but he won't be cheap to retain and could command more than $18 million per year, putting his future with the franchise up for debate.
Regardless of whether Williams re-signs or not, Seattle could use extra reinforcements along the defensive line for a defense that ranked 31st defending the run in 2023. While Jarran Reed had a resurgent season, he will be entering the final year of his contract at 31 years of age. Alongside him, Dre'Mont Jones played at his best slid outside and had an underwhelming first year with the team totaling only 4.5 sacks after signing a mega deal in March, creating significant questions at the position.
With festivities already under way, here's a look at 11 defensive line prospects who the Seahawks should be keeping close tabs on as potential first round, second/third round, and day-three targets to either replace Williams or join him, Reed, Jones, and company in the trenches in 2024:
First Round
Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
Harassing quarterbacks from the moment he stepped on campus, Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton has a diverse skill set and red-hot motor that should entice teams in the first round.
A 6-2, 295-pound ball of raging fury coming off the line of scrimmage, Newton overwhelmed Big Ten guards and tackles as a versatile weapon who dominated both as a 3-tech defensive tackle and a 5-tech defensive end, demonstrating elite quickness thanks to previously playing running back in high school. Playing significant snaps as a true freshman, he emerged as one of the premier interior disruptors in all of college football, racking up 18 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss in four seasons while earning consensus All-American honors in 2023. Lack of length will be a concern for some teams and he won't be able to test due to offseason surgery for a broken foot, but he should be a top-20 target with a relentless motor and elite production.
Byron Murphy II, Texas
Yet another freak athlete who previously toted the rock as a running back in high school, Murphy ate his way out of the position and moved to the defensive line, where he transformed into one of the nation's most dynamic 3-tech defensive tackles. Capping of his collegiate career in dominant fashion, he finished in the top-five in the nation in quarterback pressures among defensive linemen (45) with five sacks, spearheading a Longhorns front line that served as the anchor for a stingy top-15 scoring defense last season. Statistically, Murphy doesn't quite stack up with Newton and will need more refinement to his game, but he has a shot at posting insane testing numbers that would cement his status as a first-round selection.
Second/Third Round
T'Vondre Sweat, Texas
Weighing in at 366 pounds at the NFL combine, Sweat has his own orbit at the line of scrimmage, but the Huntsville, Texas native isn't a prototypical space eater, exhibiting top-notch athletic traits for a hybrid nose tackle with surprising agility and penetrating ability. As a senior alongside Murphy, while he only produced two sacks, he tallied an astounding 32 quarterback pressures, excelling at collapsing the pocket on passers both with power and finesse. He also racked up eight tackles for loss, showcasing his disruptive capabilities. A Jordan Davis-type display in Indy could push him into first-round territory, but he's already a clear cut early day two selection.
Leonard Taylor, Miami
A rare bright spot for a Hurricanes defense that finished 65th in points allowed, Taylor burst onto the scene as a surging sophomore in the middle in 2022, posting three sacks, 10.5 tackles, and an interception while flashing plus-burst and quickness as a penetrator. Unfortunately, his numbers dipped in part due to missing the last two games of his junior year due to injury, as he only recorded 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss in 10 games in 2023. At 305 pounds, he has solid size for an NFL 3-tech and his play as a sophomore provided a glimpse of his potential, but a strong workout would help solidify his standing as an early day two prospect.
McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
A stalwart in the middle of the Aggies defensive front, the 6-1, 320-pound Jackson played the role of immovable object against the run, handling consistent double teams from the nose tackle spot without issues. Though a plus-athlete for a defender of his size with elite burst for the position, Jackson only had 14 pressures as a senior and struggled with missed tackles at times. But if he can develop as a technician using his hands more effectively to disengage from blocks, he has one of the highest ceilings in this class and as he could show in testing on Thursday, he could be a rare 0-tech nose who excels at rushing the passer at the next level.
Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Orhorhoro's family moved to Michigan when he was nine years old and after initially playing basketball, he transitioned to football as a junior in high school. Despite his lack of experience, he played in nine games as a true freshman for the Tigers, using his light feet from his background on the hardwood to split gaps and produce five tackles and a partial sack. Gradually improving in his time at Clemson, he earned Third-Team All-ACC honors last season with five sacks and eight tackles for loss. Now a far more polished player with a better understanding of the game, he may have one of the higher ceilings for a defensive tackle prospect in this year's class.
Kris Jenkins, Michigan
Named a team captain as a junior, Kris Jenkins consistently stuffed the middle, making it near-impossible at times to run against Michigan's top-ranked defense.
The son of former NFL great Kris Jenkins, Jenkins arrived in Ann Arbor as a top-flight recruit, but he didn't play meaningful snaps until his sophomore season. Once he broke into the starting lineup, he immediately became a force against the run, receiving run defense grades of 79.0 or better in each of his final three seasons. An athletic specimen at 305 pounds, he hasn't been as consistent rushing the passer, but there have been flashes with 40 pressures and 4.5 sacks over the past two years. Expected to test well in Indy, the former team captain at Michigan has a high ceiling and could be a second-round prospect with a third-round floor.
Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State
Jumping into the lineup for the Buckeyes as a sophomore in 2021, Hall turned in a standout season as an interior pass rusher, amassing 16 pressures and 4.5 sacks. However, the 295-pound defender had a somewhat forgettable final season in Columbus, at least from a statistical standpoint. Playing in 12 games, he nearly doubled his quarterback pressure total to 29, but only had 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss, failing to generate impact plays. Teams will have questions about that slippage in production, but he can get back into the mix as a day two selection impressing in interviews and workouts.
Branden Fiske, Florida State
Originally committing to Western Michigan, Fiske starred for four seasons against MAC competition, including tallying six sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 2022. Entering the portal as a graduate with one year of eligibility remaining, he stepped up his level of competition joining the Seminoles, promptly making an impact as a rusher and run defender in the middle of the defense. Offering developed counter moves and a nasty demeanor, he shined at the Senior Bowl to put himself on the radar as a day two pick and testing well would go a long ways towards ensuring he gets selected early.
Day Three Sleepers
Dewayne Carter, Duke
Overshadowed by bigger names in the ACC, Carter quietly had two outstanding seasons for the Blue Devils in 2021 and 2022, recording 10 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, and seven forced fumbles, including returning one of those fumbles for a touchdown. At 300 pounds, he holds up well against double teams and has shown disruptive tendencies, but he also left a lot of plays on the field with 30 missed tackles over the past three seasons and his number of pressures cut in half in 2023. He has second/third round tape earlier in his career, but he needs a solid combine to help boost his stock after a somewhat disappointing close to his college career.
Justin Eboigbe, Alabama
For most of his time with the Crimson Tide, Eboigbe did the majority of his damage as an early down run defender, setting a firm edge as a 5-tech defensive end and battling his tail off against single and double blocks in the interior. But after only totaling a half sack in his previous three seasons, he erupted with seven sacks as a senior in 2023, showcasing an improved pass rushing toolbox playing multiple spots on the line. More of a technician than an elite athlete on film, better than expected testing could vault him into the early day three discussion, especially after a breakout year.
Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa
Playing five seasons for the Panthers as a starter, Boyd dominated FCS competition, producing 10.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss while earning Third-Team All-FCS distinction as a senior in 2023. But like any player jumping from a lower level to the NFL, he had to prove himself against superior opponents and did just that with an impressive showing at the East/West Shrine Bowl, showcasing his athleticism and raw power at 1-tech and 3-tech alignments against Power Five linemen. At 320 pounds, a stellar showing in athletic testing could elevate him into the fourth or fifth round after being off the radar only a few months ago.
