Seahawks sign three defensive linemen and one awesome long snapper
Undrafted isn’t untalented. The Seahawks will give three defensive linemen and one long snapper the chance to prove that this season.
We’re back with more of our closer looks at the Seahawks undrafted free agent signings. We’ve already taken a look at skill players and offensive linemen (as if they don’t have skills). So now it’s on to the defensive linemen and the long snapper Seattle snagged after the draft.
First up is long snapper Tanner Carew of Oregon. We’re starting with the long snapper precisely because these guys are typically so underappreciated and nearly anonymous. 336 players were invited to the NFL combine, and Carew was the only long snapper to get an invitation. Consider that he was the Ducks long snapper for all four of his years at Oregon, and it isn’t that surprising he got the call.
He made 39 straight starts at Oregon, and missed just one game in his career. ACL tears can do that to you, make you miss *one* game. Read the NFL prospects writeup on him, and you’ll read accolades like “excellent velocity” and “clean lace placement”. You can see why the Seahawks snapped him up. Sorry, I just couldn’t resist.
I will add that Carew is the consensus best player at his position, and has been for the past four years. Long snapper may not be glamorous, but it is a critical position. Having the best long snapper in the game in your camp is a nice feeling. Kind of like having the best punter. It may not make headlines, but it sure can win games.
Defensive linemen to fit every need, from run stopper to edge rusher
Just 5’11” and 305 pounds, Poona Ford generated all the leverage in the world at defensive tackle while at Texas. He was ranked the 12th best interior lineman by cbssports.com, and 21st by Pro Football Focus. Ford doesn’t grade out particularly well as pass rusher, 79th according to Pro Football Focus. But as a run-stopper, he’s a beast. The good folks at cbssports.com like what he brings to the party. Ford posted 34 tackles, eight of those for a loss. Against the run, he was a machine.
Ford was named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the year as a senior. This despite just getting 22 pressures and 1.5 sacks. Seems that his ability to shut down the run counted more than the sacks he didn’t make. Right now it looks like he’s got an uphill fight to be more than be a short yardage specialist. Still, his opposing coaches said he was the best in the conference. I’d guess this Longhorn has true grit.
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There’s a lot to like in the game of defensive end Marcell Frazier. The Missouri standout had eight sacks and 42 combined pressures last year. That’s certainly a great start, but I’m even more intrigued that almost a third of his tackles over the last two seasons went for a loss. The NFL’s prospect article certainly gives you a lot to like about him, too. At 6’5″ and 255 pounds, he fits the prototype of the lean edge rusher, yet has the frame to add the muscle he’ll need to be compete against the behemoths of the NFL.
Frazier’s senior year was quite a showcase. He had 40 tackles, 15.5 of them for a loss. While his sacks dropped from 8.5 as a junior to 7.0 as a senior, he broke up five passes. That’s not too shabby for a lineman. He’s fluid, keeps his feet moving, and has a repertoire of moves to get to the man with the ball. I like his chances.
Inside, outside, and one who can play both spots
We move back to the inside for our final lineman, Eddy Wilson of Purdue. 6’4″ and 301 pounds, Wilson often shifted to the edge for the Boilermakers. Just a junior, he has time to grow. That’s a good thing, as he was declared academically ineligible for Purdue’s bowl game. Among the negative terms you find listed on the NFL’s prospect report are “undisciplined” and “inconsistent”. I’m not too concerned, but those aren’t the first characteristics you want to read in a profile.
Let me stress that there are a lot of positives for Wilson, though. Words like “toughness” and “energy” pop out, along with phrases like “disruptive qualities” and “keeps engine revved”. Yes, those are exactly the characteristics you want.
One thing that does concern me is his production in 2017. As a sophomore, Wilson had 36 tackles, six for a loss, and added 2.5 sacks. Then as a junior last year his tackles dropped to 27 with 2.5 of those for a loss. He had just one sack last season, too. This is despite playing in two more games in 2017. He has time to grow, and seems he’ll need to do just that.