Athletic profiles of Seahawks offensive UDFA class

At the conclusion of the 2018 NFL Draft the Seattle Seahawks added UDFAs from multiple positions to compete for roster spots during training camp. I’ve already looked at how the draft picks comp out to past Seahawks, and earlier this morning looked at how the defensive UDFAs compare to some of the prior Seahawks defensive players.

In this piece we’ll look at how some of the offensive UDFAs compare to other players at their positions. While there were significant changes on the defensive coaching staff, since it is Pete Carroll’s defense at the end of the day, many of the physical attributes the team looks for on defense appear to remain the same as they have been in the past. In contrast, on the offensive side of the ball with the coaching staff changing, the team definitely seems to be going after a different category of players at certain positions, particularly at wide receiver.

Under Darrell Bevell, the team slowly went away from the tall, big bodied receivers like Mike Williams, Sidney Rice and Chris Matthews, with the core of the receiving corps in 2017 made up of players with a less physically imposing stature. In particular, every single receiver the team has added during the offseason has measured in at over six foot tall and only Taj Williams (199 pounds) has weighed in at under 200 pounds. On such a small sample, it could be the result of randomness, but it is certainly noteworthy to me that with the team wanting to get back to running the ball, it is bringing in bigger receivers who would seem to be better suited to run block. In any case, here’s a table of all the receivers added this offseason, with their height and weight, with the 2017 receivers included for comparison.

With the physical profile of the offensive positions appearing to have changed ever so slightly, I’ve expanded some of the profiles to look not just at current and past Seahawks, but players from other teams around the league as well. However, let’s jump right into these profile comparisons.

To start with, I’ll look at the fullbacks. Now, Khalid Hill did 21 reps on the bench, but due to a hamstring injury that was the only event in which he participated. As such, there is no comparison for Hill, and we can skip right to the second UDFA fullback the team signed, Marcus Martin and how he compares to both Marcel Reece and Michael Robinson.

Moving from the ever glorious fullback position to the offensive line, I’ll start by taking a look at center Brad Lundblade and comparing him to Rees Odhiambo.

Staying with the offensive line, we’ll take a look at the Skyler Phillips and see how he compares to some of everyone’s favorite guards, specifically Mark Glowinski, Ryan Seymour and Steve Hutchinson.

Now we move on to the receiver position, where the team has been active this offseason adding tall wide receivers. Let’s take a look at how Ka’Raun White compares to his brother Kevin White, Super Bowl near-hero Chris Matthews and former Green Bay Packers receiver James Jones. Jones is of note simply because Seahawks general manager John Schneider was in Green Bay when the Packers drafted Jones in the third round of the 2007 draft.

I haven’t identified perfect athletic comps for the UDFA wide receivers the team added, so I’ve included an entire medley of players who compare well in at least a few of the different categories for each newly added player.

Moving on to Taj Williams, here’s how he compares to Golden Tate, Jermaine Kearse and Nate Burleson.

And lastly, here’s a look at how Caleb Scott compares to Paul Richardson, Greg Jennings (in Green Bay when Schneider was there), Kenny Britt (played under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for the then St. Louis, but now Los Angeles Rams in 2014) and Brian Hartline.

That takes us through all of the offensive UDFAs the Seahawks added, leaving only long snapper Tanner Carew to be looked at, so here are his measurables compared to those of incumbent Tyler Ott and 2016 whipping boy Nolan Frese. I do not have the data for Super Bowl Champion long snapper Clint Gresham, so I have not included that, but if anybody has it, feel free to drop it in the comments and I can add it.

And that wraps up the look at the athletic profile comparisons of the team’s UDFAs.