RENTON, WA — The Seattle Seahawks secondary has been the lone strength of their underperforming defense in 2022, sending Quandre Diggs to his first consecutive Pro Bowl and rookie Tarik Wollen.
It was also the group of spots Seattle improved the most during the offseason, first by signing Julian Love to a two-year, $12 million free agent deal and then spending the fifth overall pick on Devon Witherspoon.
When Jamaal Adams returns to the field, the former All-Pro could be considered something extra himself, given he played less than half a game before suffering a season-ending injury in last year’s opener.
On paper, it’s the best set of defensive tackles the Seahawks have put together since running back Legion of Boom in 2017.
And after…
“Michael Jackson was the best camp ever,” coach Pete Carroll said at the end of junior camp in June, noting that last year’s start at left cornerback delivered an “almost dominant performance” while running back with the No. 1 defense on the field. Right side after Wolin’s knee injury.
Jackson’s strong spring highlights the depth the Seahawks have in the secondary, as well as the star power of a prospective starter. But the group has some question marks, too.
After taking stock of the front seven in May, here’s a look at the defensive back and everything the Seahawks will have to resolve ahead of their September 10 opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
Cornbucks
Departure: Justin Coleman (not re-signed), Xavier Crawford (not re-signed)
Extras: Witherspoon (First Round), Lance Boykin (UDFA), Montray Braswell (UDFA), Arkon Busch (UDFA), James Campbell (UDFA), Benji Franklin (UFA)
Returnees: Wool, Mike Jackson, Trey Brown, Kobe Bryant, Isaiah Dunn, Artie Burns
Wolin had arthroscopic knee surgery in May, and is expected to be ready to start training camp on July 26. And Carroll/John Schneider-era top draftee Witherspoon seems like a safe bet to start on the other side.
But can he play Nickelback, too? With Kobe Bryant tied up during the spring with a sprained finger, the Seahawks have a look at Witherspoon (6-foot-1, 180) in the slot. He was also working with the No. 1 defense at left corner after recovering from a hamstring injury that he picked up early on.
“I talked to him about it a long time ago and he was really excited about it all,” Carroll said. He said, ‘I can learn everything, I can have it,’ and he’s really positive about that. So when we gave him the chance, he jumped right on it. He’s a really good football learner. He gets it, man, and it makes sense to him, and he does. Things really naturally, and that speeds up the process… [W]I’ve seen him look pretty much in charge of the position, so we’ll see how that goes.”
Bryant had a solid rookie season that included four forced fumbles, but it wasn’t enough to guarantee him the nickelback job in 2023. His toe injury was not expected to require surgery, according to Carroll.
Witherspoon didn’t play Nickelback at Illinois but he moved around and ended up on the inside sometimes. One possible scenario is Witherspoon and Wollen playing outside in base packs, then Jackson coming in to play left side in nickel positions, kicking Witherspoon inside.
“We saw him play in the slots, and it didn’t matter who was playing, he covered everybody,” Carroll said. So he’s a special cover guy. His speed, his instincts and it all really lends [the thought that] He could be an effective player there.”
Safety
Departure: Ryan Neal (RFA off-bid), Josh Jones (not re-signed), Jonathan Abram (not re-signed), Tees Tabor (not re-signed)
Extras: Love (UFA), Jerrick Reed II (6th round), Jonathan Sutherland (UDFA), Morrell Osling III (UDFA), Ty Okada (UDFA), Christian Young (UDFA)
Returnees: Adams, Diggs, Joey Blount
The big questions here are: When will Adams be ready? How long will it take him to get back in shape?
Adams has not yet trained while recovering from surgery to repair his quadriceps tendon. Feedback from Carol made it clear he might not be ready by the first week. Signing Love—an expensive signing by Seattle standards—gave the impression that the team thought Adams might have to start the season on a film physically unable to perform. list, which would require him to miss at least the first four games.
“We’ll see,” Carroll said of Adams’ preparation for the opening. “Let’s go to camp first and see what happens. It might be asking too much. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Diggs returned to the opener last year with a broken ankle, but recently said he wasn’t feeling like himself until halfway through the season. The comment was a salutary reminder that Adams may not regain his form for 2020 immediately, if at all.
Hence the love signature. The Seahawks see him as an upgrade over Neal, who has been an unsung hero in recent seasons while filling in for Adams. The team canceled the RFA tender for Neal in a cost-saving move after Love was signed. It gives the Seahawks insurance against Adams’ health and a versatile defensive back who can play alongside him in subsets.
Love played all over the New York Giants minor league and was the team captain last season. He has nickel experience but was only serving as the starting safety opposite Diggs.
“It was amazing,” Carroll said of Love. “I think he’s 26 or something. He’s still a little kid, still young. But it’s like he’s been around forever. He’s got great sense, great awareness, presence. He totally gets the football, which makes sense.” For him, he’s an excellent communicator, a really smooth talented athlete with real speed and real speed, and that comes from really great instincts. He sounded great. I know it was clear to Quandre that he’s got a guy who can really drive what happens. And so they share duties and work together. And they grow.”
Jonathan Sutherland is the undrafted rookie to watch in training camp. The Penn State product worked with the No. 1 defense as the sixth defensive back in the dime packs during the spring, though that was with several other defensemen sidelined with injuries.