Seattle, WA

Grading Seahawks Rookies After First Trimester of 2024 Season

Published

3 months ago

October 16, 2024

Grading Seahawks Rookies After First Trimester of 2024 Season

Wrapping up a mini bye as they begin preparations this week for a tough road game against the Atlanta Falcons, the 3-3 Seattle Seahawks are now a third of the way through a roller coaster first season under new head coach Mike Macdonald.

Through six games, the Seahawks haven’t received major contributions from their 2024 draft class as hoped, though injuries have certainly been a factor with Byron Murphy II sidelined for three games. On offense, only AJ Barner has played more than 25 percent of the team’s snaps, while Tyrice Knight is the only defender to surpass that threshold with Murphy out.

Dishing out the first progress report of the season, here’s how Knight and the rest of Seattle’s rookie class grade out after the opening trimester of the 2024 campaign.

Read the offensive report card here and the defensive report card here.

Before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 3, though his run defense was inconsistent, Murphy flashed his tremendous upside as an interior pass rusher for the Seahawks, producing seven pressures and a sack while posting a 15.4 percent pass rush win rate, which still ranks sixth among defensive tackles with at least 45 pass rushing reps. His 28.6 percent pass rush win rate on true pass sets currently ranks second among that group as well.

Unfortunately, any momentum built up in the first few weeks was immediately stalled by Murphy’s injury, preventing him from making the impact the team hoped he would thus far.

Grade: B

Unable to beat out Anthony Bradford for the starting right guard job out of training camp and the preseason, Haynes has gradually received increased playing time, rotating into the lineup for a handful of series over the past several weeks. However, he hasn’t taken full advantage of those opportunities, allowing a sack and three pressures on 51 pass blocking reps and has had difficulties dealing with the power of NFL defensive tackles as a run blocker.

With neither player creating separation on the field, an in-season competition remains ongoing, but Haynes has yet to seize his chances to take the job despite Bradford’s struggles.

Grade: D+

Thrust into a starting role for a pair of games in place of an injured Jerome Baker, Knight acclimated himself well in the middle of Mike Macdonald’s defense, particularly as a run defender. He tallied 14 tackles in three games where he saw defensive snaps and only missed one tackle, showcasing the efficiency he demonstrated as a downhill thumper starring at UTEP.

Knight has had a few slipups in coverage, including getting tricked on a long tight end screen against the Patriots, but overall, he’s done well with his limited chances and could see more action later in the season as a result.

Grade: B

Sep 30, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) dives into the end zone to score a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images / Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

In terms of overall impact, Barner has arguably been Seattle’s best all-around rookie. Despite not being known for his receiving prowess at Michigan, he has been a reliable target for Geno Smith, catching all seven of his targets for 66 yards and a touchdown, turning those chances into six first downs while averaging 6.1 yards after the catch per reception.

Barner has also been solid in the blocking department, outperforming veteran Pharaoh Brown as an inline tight end in that regard. Aside from a couple of penalties, he’s played quite well and may have more opportunities in the passing game coming his way as he develops trust from Smith.

Grade: B+

Thrown into the fire late in a Week 5 loss to the Giants, Pritchett produced a key third down pass breakup to force a punt in the closing moments, giving Smith and company one last shot to either tie or win the game. That stands out as his highlight and statistically, he has allowed just three catches on eight targets, but he lucked out on the previous drive when quarterback Daniel Jones airmailed a wide open Darius Slayton in the end zone after he had beaten the rookie defender on a corner route.

Pritchett also has three missed tackles on just five attempts, posting an ugly 60 percent miss rate in limited action, so there’s plenty of room for improvement.

Grade: C+

Though he made Seattle’s initial 53-man roster, Laumea has been experiencing an unofficial “redshirt” year and has yet to suit up for a regular season game with the team activating undrafted rookie center Jalen Sundell instead. He may have a chance to play later in the season, but for now, he’s being stashed on the roster as a developmental prospect.

Grade: N/A

Like Laumea, Jerrell sat out the first five games as a healthy scratch, which shouldn’t come as a surprise considering he has been making the jump from Division II to the NFL and likely isn’t ready to play meaningful snaps as a tackle. He did get his first chance to dress against the 49ers in Week 6, playing four special teams snaps, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will play at all on offense this year.

Grade: N/A

One of two undrafted rookies to make Seattle’s 53-man roster, Williams has struggled mightily fielding kicks and punts cleanly, including muffing a punt in the season opener against the Broncos. That number could have been doubled if officials correctly ruled that he touched a punt that was recovered by the 49ers last week, and that would have compounded the fact he didn’t field a kickoff cleanly and got tackled at the 10-yard line.

On the plus side, Williams has returned a punt 23 yards and also had a 39-yard kickoff return, so he has made positive contributions when he has been able to field the ball cleanly.

Grade: C-

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Seattle, WA

Who the Seattle Seahawks will be playing in the 2025 regular season

Published

4 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Who the Seattle Seahawks will be playing in the 2025 regular season

The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football to wrap up the NFC North and the No. 1 overall seed. It also means that the Vikings will not only be on the road as a 14-3 team playing in the Wild Card against the Los Angeles Rams next Monday night, but they’ll be returning to Lumen Field to play the Seattle Seahawks in the 2025 regular season.

Game 272 was the final piece of the puzzle for the Seahawks’ 2025 opponents list. Whichever of the Vikings or Lions finished second in the NFC North would be headed to Seattle next season. While it would’ve been cool to see the Lions finally play at Lumen Field again after three straight Seahawks-Lions meetings in Detroit, it’s not happening.

The schedule is formulaic, which means the NFC West will play the whole of the AFC and NFC South, as well as the same-placed opposition from the NFC North (home), NFC East (away), and AFC North (away). Next season will be the AFC’s turn to get an extra home game, so the Seahawks will have nine away trips.

Home

Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

Arizona Cardinals (8-9)

San Francisco 49ers (6-11)

New Orleans Saints (5-12)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)

Indianapolis Colts (8-9)

Houston Texans (10-7)

Minnesota Vikings (14-3)

Away

Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

Arizona Cardinals (8-9)

San Francisco 49ers (6-11)

Tennessee Titans (3-14)

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)

Washington Commanders (12-5)

Atlanta Falcons (8-9)

Carolina Panthers (5-12)

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

The early returns on Michael Penix Jr and the late surge by Bryce Young could make the NFC South portion of the schedule much tougher than it looks right now. Never assume the league is so static that the teams that were good/bad now will remain the same the following season.

The NFL regular season schedule will be released at some point in May.

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Byron Murphy II Active as Seahawks Wrap Up Season at Rams

Published

12 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Byron Murphy II Active as Seahawks Wrap Up Season at Rams

Despite missing practice time this week with a new back injury, after receiving a questionable designation on Friday, Seattle Seahawks rookie Byron Murphy II will be active for the team’s season finale against the Los Angeles Rams.

Selected out of Texas with the 16th overall pick in April’s NFL draft, Murphy will look to finish his first season with the Seahawks on a strong note. Going into Sunday’s finale, he has produced 34 combined tackles, half a sack, and 21 quarterback pressures, playing a key role in helping the team’s run defense improve over the course of the season and providing more of an impact than his general numbers may suggest.

After placing tackle Abraham Lucas and cornerback Josh Jobe on injured reserve on Saturday, Seattle had to deactivate several healthy players for Sunday’s final road contest due to the 46-man limit on game day. Among them, quarterback-turned-receiver John Rhys Plumlee won’t suit up for his NFL debut and receiver Cody White will also be held out as a scratch with Jake Bobo and Dareke Young being active as reserves behind starters DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

In addition, the Seahawks listed Jaren Hall as their emergency quarterback for the third straight game, and he would be eligible to play if Geno Smith and Sam Howell both suffered injuries and could not continue playing on Sunday. Tight end Tyler Mabry also won’t play after being signed back onto the 53-man roster this week.

On defense, with Murphy good to go after testing out the injury in pre-game warmups, Seattle deactivated defensive tackles Quinton Bohanna and Brandon Pili after elevating the former from the practice squad and signing the latter to the 53-man roster earlier in the week. Linebacker Patrick O’Connell also won’t suit up for the finale with special teams ace Josh Ross getting the nod instead behind starters Ernest Jones and Tyrice Knight.

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Seattle, WA

How to watch the Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams – NFL: Week 18 | Channel, stream, preview, predition

Published

19 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

How to watch the Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams – NFL: Week 18 | Channel, stream, preview, predition

INGLEWOOD, CA — On the final day of the 2024 NFL regular season, the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams look to keep their standing in the NFC when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Watch the NFL on FuboTV (7-day free trial)

Seattle Seahawks (9-7) vs. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)

When: Sunday, January 5
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Where: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
Channel: FOX
Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), DirecTV Stream, Sling

The Rams come into this game having already clinched the NFC West championship, their first division title since they won the Super Bowl three years ago. Matthew Stafford company got hot at the right time of the season, winning five straight games to outlast the rest in a jam-packed division race, clinching the title by beating the Arizona Cardinals last Saturday. With wins over the likes of the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, the team has confidence in its third playoff appearance in four years.

L.A. does have something to play for on Sunday. If they were to lose on Sunday, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were to beat the New Orleans Saints, the Rams would have to play the loser of the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings matchup on Sunday.

The Seahawks were expected, once again, to challenge for the division. However, inconsistency on offense and a defense that let the team down in key moments led them narrowly missing the playoffs for a second straight season. Back-to-back losses to the Green Bay Packers and Vikings ended up costing them their season.

The Rams won the first meeting against the Seahawks this season back in November and have beaten Seattle three straight times.

MY PICK: Rams win, 27-20