Seahawks might have gotten favor in Taylor Rapp’s bad time

The Seahawks need a safety. Taylor Rapp had a bad 40 time at his pro day. This could be good for Seattle’s professional football team.

Earl Thomas is no longer a member of the Seahawks. I am sorry if you have been in a cave in Canada and are just hearing this news. It must be jarring. It isn’t. Thomas wasn’t good for the locker room anymore and was able to walk in free agency without much of a fight from Seattle general manager John Schneider.

Soon-to-be former University of Washington safety Taylor Rapp has been rumored to be a fit for Seattle in this year’s NFL draft. I even wrote about how well he might go with the Seahawks. But then Rapp ran a grandfatherly 4.76 and nearly every NFL team that thought of taking Rapp with a high choice changed their minds.

Slow times do that in the NFL. If safeties run a 4.5 40 or more, there is a good chance they get picked high. Slower than that and it’s bad news. Rapp is facing some bad news and his draft ranking is plummeting.

Here is the thing, though: Tape doesn’t lie. Rapp isn’t the fastest player on the field. We already know that. But he plays fast. Jerry Rice probably wouldn’t have run the fastest 40 ever either, but once on the field he ran past defensive backs all the time.

The Husky safety also has attributes which Seattle loves. He plays with tenacity and hits hard. When he tackles opposing players, they feel it. Rapp can also play nickel, a position in which the Seahawks now need help. Justin Coleman left in free agency and someone needs to take his place and be consistent. Plus, Pete Carroll teaches footwork better than any other human ever and could help Rapp overcome some speed issues.

Mostly, though, 12s know that Seattle will trade down for more picks somehow. If Rapp falls to the second round or even the third, Seattle might take him then. He could be a steal for the Seahawks but if he doesn’t work out at least they didn’t waste a first round pick on Rapp.