Travis Homer, Seattle Seahawks.
The NFL Draft signifies a time of change. Aside from the normal change, the Seattle Seahawks are in a period of huge turnover. Players who have been staples of the franchise for the last decade have gone on to other teams. With this new draft class, even more veterans could lose their jobs.
On notice is a bit drastic for Darrell Taylor. He’s not in jeopardy of losing his roster spot. Then again, by drafting two edge rushers, the Seattle Seahawks aren’t exactly shouting “we believe in you,” either.
A pair of underachievers, to be honest. Despite rare flashes, neither Deejay Dallas or Travis Homer has impressed for any period of time. Homer has had a hard time getting on the field. In three years and 39 games, he has 686 yards from scrimmage. That includes a 75-yard TD scamper on a fake punt last year.
Meanwhile, Dallas is the perennial backup’s backup. He’s got 490 yards in 29 games over two seasons. Also touted as a dangerous return man, Dallas has been good but not great. Melton could fill that role and will challenge the incumbent.
Filling in for the oft-injured Brandon Shell at right tackle Jake Curhan was acceptable and a step above Jamarco Jones. He also got more playing time than Forsythe even though Curhan was a UDFA and Stone Forsythe a seventh round pick.
A roster spot isn’t guaranteed for either of them. Two of the Seahawks’ first four draft picks were offensive tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. Additionally, there are several veterans with more experience available in free agency (including Duane Brown and Shell).
Tre Brown and Sidney Jones are penciled as the starting corners. Where Ugo Amadi stands in relation to the other backups cornerbacks Artie Burns and Justin Coleman, will be decided in camp. Then there are the two newcomers, Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen.
This is going to sound cold, but despite being a key member of the defensive back rotation over the last few seasons, Amadi could be the odd man out. He’s also the second-highest-paid corner on the roster. By cutting him, the Seattle Seahawks save $2.54M against the cap while only incurring $161K in dead money.
Chris Carson is in a completely different position than Dallas and Homer. He could show up to camp at or near 100 percent and be the guy who had 2,810 yards from scrimmage in 2018 and 2019. Or the neck injury he sustained last season means it’s the end of the road.
When they drafted Walker, the Seattle Seahawks were hoping for scenario one but planning for scenario two. Even if Carson makes it back, he’s a free agent at the end of the season and, with his injury history, won’t be resigned.
If Seattle cuts him, they save $4.6M, That’s money they can use to shore up other positions of need.
Fans who watched Ben Burr-Kirven his rookie season of 2020 or those who saw him at the University of Washington know that he’s a guy that gives 100 percent every time he steps on the field. At the NFL level, even with his best efforts, it was difficult for him to earn time at linebacker. So he sucked it up and became a dependable special teams player.
That was before he tore an ACL in the exhibition season, leaving him on injured reserve all year. The Seahawks found a BBK 2.0 with Jon Rhattigan, who played as well, if not better. By drafting two more “tweener” linebacker/defensive ends, Boye Mafe and Tyreke Smith, Burr-Kirven is on the outside looking in.
This year’s draft was looking pretty good for Penny Hart. Right up to the end. That’s when the Seahawks drafted not one, but two wide receivers in the seventh round.
Hart was already the fifth receiver behind D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Dee Eskridge, and Freddie Swain. Now add 2022 draft choices Bo Melton and Dareke Young. That means Hart is the seventh receiver in a league where half the league’s teams keep five active from game to game.
At least Taylor has some cushion. Alton Robinson is working without a net. His roster spot looked solidified after the Seattle Seahawks parted ways with Carlos Dunlap and Benson Mayowa. With Seattle signing Uchenna Nwosu and then drafting Mafe and Smith, Robinson is at the back of the pack again.
Robinson has never played more than a third of the defensive snaps since arriving in Seattle as a fifth round pick in 2020. And despite playing 30 games in two years, he has 44 tackles and 5 sacks for his career.
Which of these Seattle Seahawks veterans do you think will be looking for a new team? Let us know in the comments section below.