Nickel Corner
Starter: DeShawn Shead
Backup: Brandon Browner
You’ll notice the position here doesn’t say “slot corner.” Most of the time when the Seahawks brings in a third CB, Jeremy Lane slides inside to cover the slot receiver. In Seattle, bringing in a 5th defensive back typically means bringing in someone who will play on the perimeter.
That guy will mostly be Deshawn Shead. He was the one who took over last season when the coaches finally pulled the plug on the terrible Cary Williams experiment. The instant upgrade he provided was both welcomed and absolutely needed.
The other option the Seahawks will have will be to bring in Brandon Browner. He’s no longer a cornerback, but instead a kind of hybrid safety. The Seahawks have a personnel package called the bandit that will feature Browner, but they’ve said they’ll only use it against certain matchups.
Next: Strong Safety