5 Seahawks that need to step up their game heading into a contract year
By Lee Vowell
Seahawks defensive lineman L.J. Collier
L.J. Collier is a mystery. He started all 16 games in 2020 and wasn’t terrible but he also wasn’t so good he looked like a first-round choice. Collier was a first-round pick for Seattle in 2019. The team chose not to pick up his fifth-year option, however. This means Collier is a free agent after 2022.
Collier wasn’t very good in his rookie season, though. He was in on only 3 tackles. In 2020, Collier improved and had 3 sacks and 7 quarterback hits. He still didn’t look like a high draft pick so even with his play in 2020 there was no way Seattle should have picked up his fifth-year option. But then 2021 happened and Collier might not even be in the league in 2023 if he isn’t good in 2022.
Collier started zero games last year and was a healthy scratch in most games at the beginning of the season. We still don’t know exactly what happened in the offseason before the 2021 season but it is safe to surmise that whatever Collier did or didn’t do upset Seattle management.
In OTAs and minicamp this offseason, though, Collier has received more glowing reviews from Seahawks coaches. He appears to be a better fit in Seattle’s new 3-4 base than 4-3. Collier could have a breakout year this coming season. If he does, he will get paid nicely next offseason. If not, he might not be working in football in 2023.