There are fewer days till the draft than Phillip Rivers has youngsters, and It’s setup to be one other thriller.
Whereas maybe not as thrilling as final 12 months when it comes to high-end capital, it’s nonetheless the primary draft beneath Mike Macdonald and an uncommon first-round projection leaves the Seattle Seahawks with a captivating place at No. 16.
That being stated, that first choose can have ripple results all through the roster – however the remainder of the draft would possibly impression gamers much more.
With a brand new regime and so many one-year contracts, which present gamers stand to lose (or acquire) essentially the most from the draft?
Geno Smith & Sam Howell
This would be the most clear. Both one thing huge occurs and the long run face of the franchise falls of their lap; or he doesn’t. Smith will begin 2024 no matter what occurs right here. Most likely each recreation. However who they take – or don’t – impacts Smith’s probabilities at one other contract extension, and will decide Howell’s future altogether.
I believe if we’re all flawed concerning the prime 5 quarterbacks they usually discover a method to get one, the group gained’t trouble with conserving three QBs on the roster. If it’s Spencer Rattler or Joe Milton, anyone in Spherical 4 or later, that’s extra difficult. And extra redundant, anyway.
The third alternative is not any quarterbacks taken. That leaves the door open for Geno Smith, or the takeover of Howell. Hmm.
Dre’Mont Jones & Cam Younger
An excellent variety of mock drafts have the Schneider shifting again eight or so spots and taking somebody like Byron Murphy II, presumably Jer’Zhan Newton.
I do surprise about the way forward for both of those inside line guys that Macdonald had no say in. Younger noticed so little playtime final 12 months on a nasty line behind older vets, and Jones is way overpriced – for the way he performed final season. This being stated, I’m personally a believer that the disasterclass of defensive assignments final 12 months didn’t assist Dre Jones and he is among the larger candidates for a bounce-back season beneath Macdonald.
But when the highest choose finally ends up being on the defensive position, and never an edge rusher, I’ve a tough time seeing Younger ever discovering the sphere a lot. Or, it might point out I’m flawed about Jones they usually’re trying ahead to shedding one other huge contract subsequent offseason.
Both linebacker
It’s bizarre to have two mainstay linebackers, then zero, after which two starters from totally different groups on one-year offers.
Finest-case situation is each Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson are monsters and get extensions subsequent 12 months. Way more possible situation is that one in all them earns that, and someplace in between these is the probability that they each flame out.
Regardless, that is one in all two positions the place the group merely can’t go away the draft with out an addition at LB.
Who that’s, the place they play, how shortly they catch up, all impacts the steadiness of the room. Particularly for Dodson, who notably didn’t play on third down in his earlier position.
All of the cornerbacks
Most likely the piece of Macdonald’s reign I’m most excited to see unfold is positional creativity, particularly within the secondary.
Devon Witherspoon is good for this. Woolen not as a lot, however hopefully he can determine the best way to once more be a lockdown nook on the surface.
That leaves vital room for a security or nook (or two) to assist fill out the flexibleness that Macdonald has applied each at Michigan and Baltimore.
Seattle at the moment has Mike Jackson, Tre Brown, Artie Burns, and Coby Bryant within the secondary. Solely a kind of guys has a contract past this season – Bryant. I’m certain there’s some anticipation to see whether or not Macdonald will get a flexible participant he can work with for a couple of years.
Anthony Bradford, Olu Oluwatimi, Tremayne Anchrum Jr, Nick Harris, others
The unlucky actuality right here is the group will probably be improved if anyone right here loses a job. My desire continues to be for an offensive lineman early. I’ve no inclination by any means as to what John Schneider will truly do.
Right here we go!
