Seahawks news: Seattle rookies get their jersey numbers

In a bit of mid-May Seahawks news, Seattle has assigned jersey numbers to their 2020 draftees. Who’s wearing what and who wore the number best previously?

And in Seahawks news, the Seattle rookies have their numbers! At least, the Seattle rookies who got drafted. There will probably be some undrafted free agents who make the 2020 roster and get assigned numbers too. But which numbers will Seattle’s rookies be wearing and who wore the number best before them? Here you are.

Number 18 given to receiver Freddie Swain

Freddie Swain is a potentially excellent lot receiver for the Seahawks. What is good for Swain is that the players in Seattle football lore who have worn number 18 haven’t exactly been trend-setters. Some of these players are Daryl Hobbs and Stan Gelbaugh.

Who has worn number 18 best: Sidney Rice

Rice was an injury-prone receiver who spent three years with Seattle in which he caught 97 passes, including 12 touchdown receptions.

Number 31 goes to running back DeeJay Dallas

DeeJay Dallas will almost certainly not be the greatest player to wear number 31 for the Seahawks. He might be a good running back but he would have to be great to be the best number 31 ever.

Who has worn number 31 best: Kam Chancellor

Chancellor, of course, is one of the two best strong safeties (along with Kenny Easley) in Seahawks history. He was a member of the Legion of Boom, supplying the boom part. He played 8 seasons with Seattle and went to four Pro Bowls.

Number 56 goes to linebacker Jordyn Brooks

Hopefully by the time first-round pick Jordyn Brooks ends his time in Seattle he will be the best number 56 in Seahawks history. But he has a steep hill to climb for that title. LeRoy Hill was a pretty good linebacker for Seattle from 2005 to 2012, for instance.

Who wore number 56 best: Cliff Avril

Cliff Avril played five seasons in Seattle, won a Super Bowl, went to another and had three seasons with 8 sacks or more. This includes his 11.5 sacks in 2016 when he went to the Pro Bowl.

Number 58 goes to edge rusher Darrell Taylor

Darrell Taylor needs to be a very good player for Seattle. Taken in the second round to help the Seahawks pass rush, he will absolutely be counted on in 2020 to get sacks. Taylor doesn’t have a ton of competition to be the best number 58 for the Seahawks, but let’s still hope he accomplishes that with ease.

Who wore number 58 best: Bruce Scholtz

Scholtz played for Seattle from 1982 to 1989 and was a decent linebacker, not great. From 1983 to 1986, he never missed a game.

Number 68 goes to guard Damien Lewis

Some expect Lewis to be a week one starter for the Seahawks. He is big and aggressive and seems to fit the mold perfectly of what Pete Carroll wants his offense to look like. For Lewis to be the best number 68 in Seattle lore, he doesn’t have to do a whole lot. Remember guys like John Eisenhooth or Mike Morris or Dennis Norman? No, you don’t.

Who wore number 68 best: Justin Britt

Britt was recently waived by the Seahawks due to his bloated contract and an injury he suffered in 2019. He was a solid center, making the Pro Bowl as an alternate once. That was in 2017 and he seemed to recede the last two seasons before being hurt.

Number 84 goes to tight end/receiver Colby Parkinson

Colby Parkinson is a large man. Not just for a receiver but for any human. He is 9 feet tall. Seriously, look it up. OK. Don’t. He is 6’7″ which is still taller than you. And me. His number was actually worn by some decent receivers in Seahawks history.

Who wore number 84 best: Bobby Engram

Engram was Doug Baldwin before Doug Baldwin was a Seahawk. In fact, when Engram joined the Seahawks in 2002, Baldwin was 14 years old. In 8 seasons with Seattle, Engram caught 399 passes for 4,859 yards, this is fifth all-time for Seattle.

Number 87 goes to receiver Stephen Sullivan

Sullivan was the guy Seattle traded back into the draft to grab. They were hoping to get him as an undrafted free agent but heard rumors someone was going to pick him. Sullivan has his work cut out to make the roster, though. Number 87 has not been a greatly productive number in Seattle history, though.

Who wore number 87 best: Incomplete

Let’s hope this becomes Sullivan because guys like Taco Wallace and Kellen Davis have worn this number.

Number 98 goes to edge rusher Alton Robinson

Alton Robinson, with a few years of good play, will be the best number 98 in Seahawks history. He has only one player worthy of being mentioned. More on him in just a second. But if Robinson can play five seasons in Seattle and gather 30 sacks, he will be number one.

Who wore number 98 best: Sam Adams

Adams played 6 years for Seattle from 1994 to 1999. In 1997 he had 7 sacks. That is good for someone who weighed 350 pounds. He made the Pro Bowl three times in his 14 year career, but none with Seattle.