Legion of Boom simply doesn’t need Marcus Peters
The Legion of Boom passed on the chance to add Marcus Peters. This was not a missed opportunity. They simply don’t need him.
It isn’t often that your team passes on the chance to add a top player and you can feel good about it. This isn’t one of those times. It isn’t great that the Rams got Peters. But if you’re upset he won’t be part of the Legion of Boom, don’t be. The LOB just doesn’t need him.
How can Seattle not need the league’s interception leader over the last three years? There are a few reasons. Let’s start with a closer look at Peters.
Marcus Peters has 19 interceptions since 2015. That’s obviously great. But there’s more to the game than interceptions. Pro Football Focus graded him at 85.7, tied for 17th in the league. Now you may not agree with that ranking, but I guarantee you won’t find anyone outside of the Peters family that thinks he’s as good as Casey Hayward or Jalen Ramsey.
By the way, did you know that Byron Maxwell was graded at 84.0? Richard Sherman graded out at 82.7. Justin Coleman, the Seahawks slot coverage specialist, graded at 81.8. The Legion of Boom’s promising rookie Shaquill Griffin came in at 77.2. Let’s not forget the Seahawks free agent DeShawn Shead, who was graded 76.2 in 2016.
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Peters is great. So is the Legion of Boom.
So the Legion of Boom could have five cornerbacks on the roster in 2018 that all have a reasonable chance to be nearly as good or possibly even better than Peters. My point isn’t to knock Peters. He’s easily one of the best cornerbacks in the league. The thing is, the Seahawks have three corners that are right there with him. Heck, maybe five. The Legion of Boom doesn’t need another cornerback.
Now if Peters was a safety, this would be a very different conversation. And the Seahawks probably would still pass on him. Why? Two words: draft picks.
Exactly what the package the Rams have sent to Kansas City still hasn’t been disclosed. We know this much, though. The Rams have their own picks in every round except the second and seventh. They also have two additional sixth round picks and a seventh. That’s eight picks overall. As the deal hs been described as a package, that’s at least two picks that are headed to Kansas City.
Related Story: Compensatory picks may drive Seahawks free agent choices
The Seahawks have nine picks in all, but eight of those are on day three. Seattle has far more pressing needs to fill than cornerback. They can’t afford to burn draft picks to pick up a player at a position of strength.