Seattle Seahawks Top Breakout Candidates

7: Ahtyba Rubin, DT

"“He’s a great football player.  I can’t believe Cleveland is letting him get out of there.”"

That’s what former Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren said about Rubin last week, and he should know.  He was the GM in Cleveland when he signed Rubin to a 4-year, $26.5 million contract with the Cleveland Browns four years ago. Rubin is a classic case of an under-the-radar signing.

Very few in Seattle had ever heard of him before the Seahawks inked him as a free agent last week, but he’s been in the league 8 years. Primarily a NT, and still only 28 years old,  the 6’2″, 325 lb defensive lineman is coming off an injury-plauged 2014, but prior to that he was considered a stout run-defender.

BEST-CASE SCENARIO:  Valuable member of the DL rotation.  Possible successor if Mebane isn’t healthy or effective coming off his hamstring surgery. 

Next: The Next Beast?