Can Coby Bryant start right away? Assessing how Seahawks’ 2022 draft picks can make an impact

RENTON, Wash. — Coby Bryant brings much more than a recognizable title to the Seattle Seahawks’ secondary.

The fourth-round cornerback from Cincinnati additionally brings a adorned school resume and, in the event you ask him, the perfect ball expertise of any defender on this 12 months’s draft. In his fourth season as a starter, Bryant gained the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s prime defensive again. He completed his school profession with 10 interceptions and 45 passes defensed in a whopping 53 video games.

The man has performed — and realized — a ton of soccer.

“He simply looks like he is comfy,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll stated after the primary observe of rookie minicamp. “He understands it. He will get it.”

The educational was aided by common examine classes Bryant and his defensive teammates held through the offseason. In between exercises and lessons, they’d get collectively for what they referred to as Soccer 500, the place they’d dig into the Bearcats’ defensive scheme and determine how offenses may assault them.

Cincinnati’s protection completed tied for the fourth-fewest factors allowed in 2021 and the Bearcats misplaced within the CFP semifinals. Bryant, a workforce captain who generally led these conferences, thinks they have been an element.

“Simply taking the soccer IQ to the following degree,” he stated.

Being a scholar of the sport will serve Bryant properly as he tries to be taught a brand new protection in time to earn a beginning job as a rookie. Fourth-round picks do not usually begin instantly, if ever, however it’s life like for Bryant. The Seahawks’ prime two cornerback spots are open. And whereas former defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. developed a repute inside workforce headquarters for a reluctance to play inexperienced gamers, that roadblock should not exist for Bryant and different younger defenders underneath Clint Hurtt.

This is a take a look at how Bryant and the remainder of Seattle’s draft class may match into the workforce’s 2022 plans.

LT Charles Cross, first spherical (No. 9 total)

The Seahawks did not make Cross their highest draft choose since 2010 to have him spend time on the bench. He is a digital lock to take over Duane Brown’s beginning spot from Week 1. However Cross nonetheless faces a studying curve coming from Mike Leach’s Air-Raid offense, which ran the ball occasionally and did not ask its offensive linemen to play from a three-point stance. The Seahawks had Cross as their second-rated left deal with on this 12 months’s draft, forward of Evan Neal, in order that they clearly suppose that transition will probably be manageable.

OLB Boye Mafe, second spherical (No. 40)

One NFL supply says the Seahawks tried to commerce up into the late first spherical for one more exterior linebacker, Arnold Ebiketie. The Falcons then moved up within the second spherical to snag Ebiketie two spots earlier than Seattle was set to choose. However the uber-explosive Mafe seems to be like way more than a comfort prize. He generated first-round buzz after a seven-sack 2021 season and a robust exhibiting on the Senior Bowl. He is received some rawness to work by way of, based on scouts, however has expertise with a lot of what the Seahawks will ask him to do of their new-look protection. Anticipate Mafe to issue closely into Seattle’s edge-rushing rotation together with Darrell Taylor and Uchenna Nwosu.

Walker was Seattle’s most — and maybe solely — debatable choose this 12 months. However whereas some felt this was too excessive for a workforce that is probably a number of years away from rivalry to take a working again, the Seahawks plan to lean closely on the run and can in all probability want Walker to do a number of the working as a rookie. There is a huge query as as to if Chris Carson will probably be cleared following neck surgical procedure, and Rashaad Penny has an extended harm historical past of his personal.

Lucas faces an identical transition as Cross, having strictly performed from a two-point stance in two pass-heavy school offenses. “Shoot, you’ll by no means have even identified,” Carroll stated after the primary rookie observe. “I already had an opportunity to have a look at half of the movie of a few of the workforce work that we did. They have been working onerous at it. They appear very comfy, they usually’ll get higher.” Lucas figures to begin as a rookie, even when not instantly. He is received to beat out 2021 UDFA Jake Curhan, who performed properly whereas stepping in for Brandon Shell.

CB Coby Bryant, fourth spherical (No. 109)

Cornerback is likely to be the Seahawks’ most wide-open place group exterior of quarterback. They’ve Tre Brown coming off a promising however injury-shortened rookie season, introduced again Sidney Jones IV on a modest deal and added Artie Burns for even much less cash. None of them are locked into beginning roles.

CB Tariq Woolen, fifth spherical (No. 153)

Woolen did not do a lot throughout rookie camp whereas resting a hamstring harm. However the sight of his 6-foot-4, 210-pound body delivered to thoughts one other towering cornerback from Seattle’s current previous. Woolen bears a robust resemblance to Tre Flowers, although he is a bit of greater and sooner (4.26 seconds within the 40-yard sprint) with a 42-inch vertical. Woolen transformed from receiver in 2019, so he is comparatively new to the place. However Flowers performed security his whole school profession and gained a beginning job at nook as a rookie regardless of Norton’s predilection for veterans. So you possibly can’t rule out Woolen taking part in instantly.

OLB Tyreke Smith, fifth spherical (No. 158)

Smith is likely to be competing for a roster spot with Alton Robinson, who was not as productive final season as he was as a rookie in 2020.

WRs Bo Melton and Dareke Younger, seventh spherical (Nos. 229 and 233)

Seventh-round picks face an uphill battle simply to make the workforce, not to mention make an impression. Melton, Younger and others will vie for what may solely be one or two spots behind DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain and Dee Eskridge. As at all times, particular groups will go a great distance in figuring out the again finish of the receiver corps. Melton’s expertise there’ll give him a shot.