Which unheralded new Seahawk should be getting more attention?

Every year someone green comes out of the blue to make the Seattle Seahawks final roster. Either it’s an undrafted name we haven’t heard of, or a free agent acquired in the dead of May, or a player we thought destined for the short end of the camp competition, who suddenly seizes a starting job. (That was not a 2012 Russell Wilson joke, in case you were wondering.)

There are a few candidates for that role in 2018. Today we’ll look at merely the ones signed before the draft; later it’ll be about the guys acquired in the UDFA process post-draft.

CB Dontae Johnson

Years experience: 4

Age for Week 1: 26

College: North Carolina St.

Johnson, pictured above, actually has as many pick sixes as Earl Thomas (2). Fun stat: Both of his career interceptions have resulted in touchdowns. Johnson has appeared in 63 of a possible 64 games since being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2014. He’ll compete with Byron Maxwell, and others, for snaps at cornerback.

DT Shamar Stephen

Years experience: 4

College: Connecticut

Age for Week 1: 27

Stephen’s biggest impact season was in 2016 on the Minnesota Vikings, where he tallied one pass defensed, one fumble recovery, and a respectable AV of 8 while taking the fifth-most snaps among Minnesota D-linemen. He won’t provide pass rush (one career sack) but has already proven he can be valuable mid-rotational depth on a top defensive line.

S Maurice Alexander

Years experience: 4

College: Utah St.

Age for Week 1: 27

A portmanteau of the Seahawks’ rushing tandem in the banner year of 2005, Alexander is assured to score as many touchdowns as his name predecessors combined that year, so, 29. Granted, that is a ton of TDs for a defensive back. But you can’t argue with #science.

Alexander played only four games for the Los Angeles Rams (you’ve heard of them) last season after being placed on their non-football injury list. He’s spent time at both FS and SS.

CB Akeem King

Years experience: 3, sort of

College: San Jose St.

Age for Week 1: 25

King hasn’t exactly gotten preferential treatment from the Atlanta Falcons since they selected him in the seventh round of the 2015 draft...

Maybe he’ll have better luck with the Seahawks? He’s appeared in all of five games, but the 6-1, 215-pound corner has the body type for Seattle, to go along with a 4.41 40 time at the combine and a broad jump over 10 feet.

DT Tom Johnson

Years experience: 7

College: Southern Miss

Age for Week 1: 34

Johnson was a teammate of Stephen’s for all of 2014-2017. He has the distinction of recording two or more sacks in each of his last six pro seasons. He’s got seven playoff games to his credit. Is Johnson the new Tony McDaniel or Clint McDonald, both underrated members of the Super Bowl XLVIII champions? He’s not young. But there’s also not a ton of wear on his body, with only 102 total games played — which is five fewer than, say, Seahawks LB K.J. Wright.