Grading Seattle Seahawks 2022 Draft Class Midway Through Training Camp, Preseason

With two preseason video games and 12 coaching camp practices formally within the books, the Seahawks have gotten their first prolonged have a look at their incoming nine-player draft class.

Whereas a couple of rookies have handled minor accidents alongside the way in which, most of Seattle’s newest class has participated within the majority of camp practices in addition to each exhibition contests towards Pittsburgh and Chicago. This has given coach Pete Carroll and his workers ample time to judge the brand new crop of gamers and a number of other of them have already got vaulted into competition for beginning spots, together with left deal with Charles Cross and cornerback Tariq Woolen.

How have the 9 gamers carried out to this point? Here is a fast progress report with the common season opener now lower than three weeks away:

Charles Cross – Spherical 1, Choose 9

Grade: B

Penalties have been a significant drawback for Cross in his first coaching camp and two preseason video games, because the ex-Mississippi State standout acquired 5 flags in Thursday’s loss to the Bears, together with 4 false begin infractions. However when he hasn’t been drawing yellow from officers, the rookie has appeared the a part of a viable starter at left deal with, excelling in cross safety and performing higher than anticipated within the run recreation to start his NFL profession. Towards the Bears, his most spectacular play got here on the opening drive when he washed star cross rusher Robert Quinn down the road after he tried looping again inside on a stunt, offering a clear pocket for Geno Smith to ship an ideal strike to receiver Freddie Swain, who sadly dropped the cross.

Boye Mafe – Spherical 2, Choose 40

Grade: C+

Seeing in depth snaps on protection and particular groups in his first two preseason video games, when Mafe has flashed, he has tantalized together with his immense bodily instruments and prime flight athleticism. Within the exhibition opener, he adopted up a wonderful effort bringing down a punt returner on particular groups with a strip sack on the very subsequent play, showcasing his upside. Later within the recreation, he chased down Kenny Pickett for a second sack. However the issue has been, as anticipated based mostly on prior feedback by Carroll, that Mafe has been bullied ceaselessly defending the run and setting the sting. He has additionally left a couple of tackles on the sphere as properly, additional illustrating he will not be prepared for greater than a situational cross speeding function at this level.

Ken Walker III – Spherical 2, Choose 41

Grade: B+

After present process a current process for a hernia, Walker’s standing for the common season opener towards Denver stays in query. What is not questionable, nonetheless, is the reigning Doak Walker Award winner’s pace, burst, and suddenness, which he has placed on show all through his first coaching camp. The previous Michigan State star has been certainly one of Seattle’s greatest offensive performers since day one, ripping off a number of lengthy runs whereas flashing underrated catching capacity with 4 receiving touchdowns throughout group drills. Assuming he makes a swift restoration, he and Rashaad Penny ought to function 1A and 1B out of the backfield and each obtain in depth carries within the run recreation.

Abraham Lucas – Spherical 3, Choose 72

Grade: A-

Like Cross, Lucas got here into the league with relentless questions on his run blocking and professional readiness after starring in Air Raid and Run N’ Shoot offenses at Washington State. However the Everett native has silenced critics in his first two preseason video games, busting out the butter and syrup whereas cooking up 4 pancakes driving defenders into the turf. Most notably, on simply his second snap on Thursday, he bullied a helpless defensive finish seven yards of the ball earlier than ending him to the bottom. He is additionally been regular in cross safety, positioning himself to beat out Jake Curhan and win a direct beginning job at proper deal with.

Coby Bryant – Spherical 4, Choose 109

Grade: B

Whereas Bryant has acquired a grasp class at observe attempting to cowl star receiver Tyler Lockett and surrendered a landing in protection towards the Steelers, he is in any other case loved a terrific first coaching camp with the Seahawks. Constantly getting his palms on the soccer, he is registered quite a few cross breakups within the pink zone, together with denying a landing within the second half of Thursday’s exhibition contest. He is additionally proven off loads of versatility, taking part in completely within the slot in that recreation after lining up at left cornerback in Pittsburgh. At this level, he seems to be primed to play important snaps within the nickel function and could be the starter over Justin Coleman proper off the bat whereas having the upside to start out on the surface down the street.

Tariq Woolen – Spherical 5, Choose 153

Grade: A-

Coming into the league considered as a high-ceiling, but uncooked developmental prospect, Woolen has vastly exceeded expectations. Boasting a uncommon mix of measurement (6-foot-4, 33 1/2-inch arms) and pace (4.26 40-yard sprint), he seems to be like he was engineered in a lab and his one-on-one battles towards DK Metcalf have been should see TV throughout coaching camp, with the rookie profitable a number of of these matchups towards the All-Professional. Responding properly to his first adversity after a blown protection and a number of other missed tackles in his debut, he did not permit a single reception on three targets towards the Bears and did not miss any tackles on Thursday. With every passing day, he seems to be an increasing number of more likely to begin for the Seahawks in Week 1, which few might have foreseen taking place when he was drafted out of UTSA.

Tyreke Smith – Spherical 5, Choose 158

Grade: D+

When Smith has been on the observe discipline, he has made some good issues occur, producing a trio of pressures in two padded periods. Sadly, he is been out for the remainder of camp with hip accidents and has but to go well with up for a preseason recreation. By merely not being out there, he is put himself on the roster bubble at a place with high quality expertise and depth. Getting again on the sphere for the exhibition finale in Dallas could also be crucial for his probabilities of sticking on the 53-man roster.

Bo Melton – Spherical 7, Choose 229

Grade: C-

Boasting sub-4.35 pace, Melton hasn’t had any points creating separation or getting open towards NFL cornerbacks. Nonetheless, because the first day of camp, drops have been a persistent drawback which have plagued him. The previous Rutgers star has improved his probabilities of making the group up to now two weeks, particularly after a robust debut in Pittsburgh, however he might want to do extra together with his alternatives to safe a spot at one of many deepest place teams on the roster.

Dareke Younger – Spherical 7, Choose 233

Grade: B

A little bit of a thriller leaping to the NFL from a Division II college, Younger has been one of many greatest surprises for Seattle’s incoming draft class. Proper off the bat, he developed a robust rapport with Drew Lock, catching 4 passes from him in his second camp observe. The 2 connected in Pittsburgh for a landing and although he did not report a catch towards Chicago, he is been a constant playmaker on the surface and given his attractive athletic traits, he is put himself into a great spot to keep away from the waiver wire and make Seattle’s roster out of the gate.