Inside Linebackers/Off-Ball

2023 current contracts:

The Seahawks are extremely thin at inside linebacker with only 2022 UDFA Vi Jones being the only certainty to be available to start the season. Jordan Brooks just had surgery for a torn ACL and it will be an incredible achievement for him to see the field before the mid-point of the 2023 season, even a minor setback could cause him to miss the entire year. Brooks is a pro-bowler with all-pro potential, the Seahawks need to decide by May whether to pick up his 5th year option or not. Overthecap.com has a projection of $11.5M for a 5th year. This is the apy for players such as Bobby Wagner, Devin White, Erik Kendricks, and Miles Jack. Jordan Brooks is worth the price of his 5th year option; the Seahawks are likely to exercise the option. Ben Burr-Kirven has shown some issues with play strength and sat out the entirety of 2022 after tearing his ACL in 2021. Carrol said in his exit interview that Burr-Kirven is having nerve issues and his recovery is still coming along. I personally had nerve issues from an ACL tear and surgery and it took several years to fully lift my heal to my rear-end because of it. I feel there is no guarantee that Burr-Kirven returns to NFL form. Vi Jones was activated from the practice squad a few times but didn’t record any stats playing almost all on special teams. The Seahawks need to bring in a load of players at this position for training camp, at least 4 players that have the potential to start. Great news 12’s! This year’s free agent and draft class are loaded with starting level inside linebackers, including a several potential pro-bowlers and a generational talent.

Pro Bowl Free Agents: Lavonte David (32), Tremaine Edmunds (25), Leighton Vander Esch (27), Denzel Perryman (30), Kwon Alexander (28), Anthony Barr (31). Notable Free Agents: TJ Edwards (26), Kaden Elliss (27), Kyzir White (27), Elandon Roberts (28), Bobby Okereke (27), Drue Tranquill (27), Alex Singleton (29), Germaine Pratt (27), Devin Bush (25), Alex Anzelone (28), David Long Jr (26), Rashaan Evans (27), Cody Barton (26), Quincy Williams (26), Azeez Al-Shaair (26), Duke Riley (28), Jarrad Davis (28).

This free agent class has several talented players that fit the 3-4 inside linebacker spot. These are players that are sound in zone coverage, stout in the run game, and shifty enough to pass rush between the B gaps. Tremaine Edmunds and Leighton Vander Esch are former pro-bowlers that would be excellent fits, while TJ Edwards, Bobby Okereke, and Germaine Pratt are others that could be potential pro-bowlers in the scheme. Vander Esch was the player that I thought looked the best in the class. This will probably be unpopular, but I thought Cody Barton looked better than everyone else except Pratt and Okereke. There are plenty of solid fits, the Seahawks will have no problem bringing in plenty of starting level competition for the position.

The current inside linebacker market has a few salary tiers. The elite players such as Shaq Leonard and Fred Warner are in the $20M-$25M apy range. The next tier sits at $10M-$15M apy which includes players like Bobby Wagner and Devin White. There is a 3rd tier of veteran starters in the $5M-$10M range that includes Dre Greenlaw and De’Vondre Campbell. For comparison, 1st round draft picks make in the $4M per year range and 2nd round picks in the $3M per year range. There are quite a few teams that are in need of quality inside linebackers, the Seahawks will have plenty of competition to sign players which will drive up the cost. My analysis says that Cody Barton will be in top half of the free agent market and get around $8M apy w/$10M+ guaranteed, similar to Okereke and Edwards. Pratt will likely get around $10M apy w/$15M+ guaranteed. Edmunds and Vander Esch types will likely top the market at $12M+ apy w/$25M+ guaranteed.

The draft class is thin with players ready to start at the NFL level on day 1, however it does have a generational talent in Trenton Simpson. There are a large number of potential starters that can be had all the way into day 3 of the draft, just with minor holes in their game the need development for the NFL. The draft round projections are the earliest pick that I would draft them if I was Pete Carroll or John Schneider (I maybe have as much football knowledge as a hair on their heads, so take it for what it is.). NOTE: It is very early. The projections may change after the bowls, combine, and pro days.

Draft: Trenton Simpson (10+), Jack Campbell (20+), Drew Sanders (25+), Mohamoud Diabate (30+), Noah Sewell (40+), Nick Herbig (45+), Henry To’oTo’o (45+), DeMarvion Overshown (65+), Dee Winters (75+), Isaiah Moore (100+), Jeremy Banks (100+), Daiyan Henley (100+), Nick Hampton (110+), Ivan Pace Jr (120+), Owen Pappoe (120+), Cam Jones (130+), SirVocea Dennis (150+), Mikel Jones (150+), Micah Baskerville (150+), Aubrey Miller Jr. (150+), Anfernee Orji (150+), Dorian Williams (180+), Mike Jones Jr (180+), Merlin Robertson (180+), Carlton Martial (200+), Jalen Graham (UDFA), Troy Brown (UDFA).

Trenton Simpson is an athletic freak at 6’3" 240lbs with a 4.4sec 40 yard dash, a 1.5sec 10 yard split, bench presses 375 lbs and broad jumps over 10 feet. He’s played all over the front 7 at edge, ILB, OLB, and overhang. He’s an excellent tackler and violent pass rusher, and I can go on and on, he’s a potential All-Pro. At the NFL level he’s a 3-4 ILB or a 4-3 OLB, he does not have a lot of experience inside and may take some time to fully realize his potential. Jack Campbell is my favorite linebacker in the class, he’s a 6-5 250lb mid-western corn-fed monster and looks every bit the part of an NFL Mike. He’s not exceptionally fast but he more than makes up for it with outstanding instincts, athleticism, and power. Drew Sanders can line up anywhere on the front 7 situationally. He’s an excellent pass rusher and fluid in his movements in coverage, but he’s new to the off-ball linebacker spot and is still developing his run fits and angle selection tackling in space. If Simpson goes in the Top 10, then Campbell and Sanders will both likely be selected in the 1st round. The next tier of linebackers each are capable of starting every down at the NFL level with minor improvements to their game. Diabate and To’oTo’o are a bit undersized for inside backer and will need to figure out how to hold their lanes against NFL offensive linemen. Sewell and Herbig have the size, strength, and athleticism, but lack in the instinct and production that you’d expect from their body type. Day 3 candidates that popped out to me were Isaiah Moore, Cam Jones, Mikel Jones, and Merlin Robertson (ok, it’s just because he’s a Sun Devil).

The Seahawks can’t bank on getting a starting caliber ILB in the draft without reaching, which Carroll and Schneider both admitted they have done in the past, and avoided doing in the 2022 draft. They will need to spend on this position group in free agency and bring in at least two capable starters. Due to familiarity alone Cody Barton should be a priority re-sign, when he’s clean he makes plays in the run game and he’s great in pass coverage. Germain Pratt would be a fantastic addition and a solid replacement for Brooks. With the number of quality linebackers in free agency, a potential extension for Jordan Brooks, and two of the highest paid safeties in the NFL, the Seahawks cannot afford to sign a top free agent linebacker. Two to three veterans will be signed at good value and another two draft picks will be brought in to compete and develop. Simpson may be an option if the Seahawks trade back from #5, Campbell or Sanders should be there at 20 but that may be a reach considering the quality of players at edge and defensive line that could be there. Diabate is likely the first option with proper value, he could be the pick at 37 if he’s there, he probably won’t make it to 54. Even more of a reason to sign two starters in free agency.