It’s nearly been three months since NFL free agency started this offseason, and the Seattle Seahawks have made some notable moves.
Why NFL insider isn’t sold on Seattle Seahawks’ offseason
Of course there’s Sam Darnold, who was quickly signed by the Seahawks after they decided to trade quarterback Geno Smith to Pete Carroll’s Las Vegas Raiders. There’s DeMarcus Lawrence, a four-time Pro Bowler who adds a veteran presence to Seattle’s pass rush. And then at wide receiver, Seattle addressed the departures of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett by signing Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
But with the team’s offseason organized training activities (OTAs) in full swing and minicamp approaching next month, there’s a key spot on the roster that Seattle has yet to address. And that was on the mind of former NFL quarterback Brock Huard on Monday morning.
“That corner position is one that I’m surprised,” said Huard, a longtime Seattle Sports host and football broadcast analyst, on the Blue 88 segment of Brock and Salk.
The Seahawks have a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback in Devon Witherspoon, the No. 5 overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft. They have another Pro Bowler in Riq Woolen, though he’s struggled with consistency ever since a breakout rookie season in 2022. But after them, the Seahawks don’t have much experience on the depth chart, where next on the list sit Josh Jobe (nine career starts), Shemar Jean-Charles (two starts), JT Woods (two starts) and Nehemiah Pritchett (one start).
“We’re now in phase three of (free agency), and I’m surprised that that’s not yet been fully addressed,” Huard continued.
The Seahawks have been linked to a few cornerbacks in free agency, most notably Shaquill Griffin, a third-round pick by the Seahawks in 2017 who was a Pro Bowler in 2019 and had two interceptions in 17 games (three starts) with the Minnesota Vikings last season. Rasul Douglas, who started all 15 games he played for the Buffalo Bills last season, also reportedly had a visit with the Seahawks last month.
Neither to this point have been signed by Seattle or any other team.
Huard acknowledged that Jobe, who was originally undrafted and went from spending the first six weeks of the season on Seattle’s practice squad to a starting role in 2024, was a “neat story,” but he still had just a 51 Pro Football Focus grade last season that ranked 181st out of 222 cornerbacks. Knowing that, it’s easy to understand why Huard believes the Seahawks still need to find a veteran to help at cornerback, especially as PFF has the team’s roster ranked 22nd out of the 32 NFL teams.
“As we’re now in the last couple of weeks of the offseason of practice and legitimate install (of defensive systems),” Huard said, “I would like to see another veteran corner signed, traded for – something made at that position, because the clock is ticking with training camp right around the corner.”
Brock Huard answers three football questions at 7:45 a.m. on each edition of Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk during the Blue 88 segment. Catch Brock and Salk from 6-10 a.m. live weekdays.
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