The Seattle Seahawks added 11 new players through the NFL draft over the weekend, giving them 77 players expected to be in camp – assuming all 11 drafted players eventually sign.
That leaves 13 spots still open, many which will go to undrafted free agents.
The Seahawks have had a ton of success hitting on undrafted free agents in years past, including Doug Baldwin, DeShawn Shead, Jermaine Kearse, Thomas Rawls, George Fant and Poona Ford. They’ll hope to recoup some of that magic again this year, although adding 11 draft picks makes it harder for undrafted free agents to crack the roster.
Still, Seattle has reportedly brought in a handful of players who could end up in training camp – although the team has not made any of the UDFA signings official yet.
Here are three who have a decent chance of making Seattle’s 53-man roster come September.
Taryn Christion, QB, South Dakota State
No one is going to start over the $140 million dollar Russell Wilson, and considering he’s never missed an NFL game, one could argue that the backup quarterback position is not a big area of need for the Seahawks.
This season they went out and signed veteran Paxton Lynch, who coach Pete Carroll has been quick to praise this offseason. That should be the end of it right?
However, Carroll has always fostered competition in training camp for the backup quarterback position, including drafting a player, Alex McGough, last year.
So while Lynch seems like the top candidate, the team reportedly agreed to bring former South Dakota State quarterback Taryn Christion into camp, and he has the tools to win the job.
Christion has a really strong arm and excellent mobility outside of the pocket. He can read the field in full and is very comfortable fitting the ball into tight spaces – even while on the run.
Sound like anyone we know?
While Christion is probably not the next Wilson, he does seem to be a good fit on paper for Seattle’s offense. His throwing accuracy is a concern, and he rarely played anything resembling NFL competition while in college, so there’s no given his skills will translate against bigger, faster competition in the pros.
However, if he displays strong mobility and a cannon arm during training camp, it’s not impossible to think he will overtake Lynch for the backup job in 2019.
Demetrius Knox, OL, Ohio State
In a rare twist for Seahawks fans, the depth at offensive line is actually very strong for this Seattle team. The current projected starting five consists of Duane Brown, Mike Iupati, Justin Britt, D.J. Fluker and Germain Ifedi. Seattle has very solid backups in George Fant, Jordan Simmons, Jamarco Jones and Joey Hunt, not to mention draft pick Phil Haynes as well as Ethan Pocic and Jordan Roos.
It won’t be easy for any undrafted offensive lineman to crack Seattle’s roster next season, but Demetrius Knox from Ohio State seems to have the best chance.
Knox, like Haynes, is a 300+ pound guard prospect. However, he excels as a pass-protector, which separates him from Seattle’s other guards who are primarily known for their run-blocking.
For a Seahawks team that just went out and used three draft picks on receivers, and one on a running back known for his pass-protection, it does make sense for them to target a lineman who is known for his pass-blocking.
It will be an uphill battle for Knox to crack the guard rotation that appears fairly set with Iupati, Fluker, Simmons and Haynes – not to mention Pocic and Roos. Plus, injury concerns are definitely present with Knox, which won’t help his case.
However, Knox does have the requisite size and skill set to excel as a pass-blocking guard in the NFL, and could someday line up alongside his good friend Jamarco Jones on Seattle’s offensive line.
Davante Davis, CB, Texas
Perhaps Seattle’s weakest position at the moment is cornerback, one of the few spots the Seahawks did not address during the NFL draft. While some think Marquise Blair or Ugo Amadi could eventually play corner – a la Tre Flowers last year – Carroll has made it clear that both are going to start out at the safety spots.
That makes a more clear path to a roster spot for any of the undrafted corners that Seattle brings in, which could include Texas corner Davante Davis.
Davis was selected by Draft Network as Seattle’s UDFA most likely to make the active roster, and for good reason.
Davis has the requisite size to be a Carroll defensive back, standing at six-foot-two and 202 pounds with long arms and big hands.
He has nice speed and physicality as well, although many of his traits appear better suited to the safety position in the NFL, as his backpedaling and hip rotation are lacking.
Still, Seattle could use more depth in the secondary, and Davis’ physicality and speed could make him an asset on the special teams while he finds the right fit positionally in the defensive backfield.
