Three Seahawks to keep an eye on as training camp approaches

The Seattle Seahawks will take the field at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for organized football for the first time this season later in July. It's a new-look team, headlined by a new head coach and an entirely new coaching staff. The Mike Macdonald era finally commences in less than two weeks.

As we look forward to the summer training camp sessions, which will be open to the public and media, there are several storylines to follow. What will the offense look like under rookie offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb? How will the defense change under Mike Macdonald and new defensive coordinator Aden Durde's leadership?

But the most interesting part of training camp, in my opinion, is the individual players. There are the established stars, but the fringe bubble players are always fun to watch. Fighting for a starting position, or even a roster spot, often brings out the best in players. Here are three Seahawks you should keep an eye on as training camp quickly approaches.

Sam Howell - Seahawks QB

After starting for the entirety of 2023 for the Washington Commanders, quarterback Sam Howell was traded to Seattle in March. Howell wasn't great last season, but he was decent. He showed a lot of good, including his arm strength, athleticism, and intangibles such as leadership and intensity. Howell is only 23, yet has played two full seasons in the NFL.

Howell enters this season as the presumptive backup to Geno Smith. However, crazier things have happened. Remember the Russell Wilson and Matt Flynn situation? If Geno shows signs of regression and Howell lights up training camp, we could see serious competition heading into the season.

However, even if Howell does not win the starting job, he could still be the Seahawks' quarterback of the future. Geno is on the north side of 30 and is only under contract through 2025. I don't believe Seattle would trade a third-round pick for a quarterback they see as a permanent backup. Howell is very young and is likely being groomed to take over as the eventual starter in what will hopefully be a long and successful career in Seattle.

Laviska Shenault - Seahawks WR/Returner

The Seahawks have a three-headed monster in the receivers room with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But in the event of an injury or even a four wide receiver set in Grubb's new offense, it's worth asking who WR4 may be. It may seem like an irrelevant issue, but once the wear and tear of the season kicks in, the depth of the receiving corps will become very important.

As the 2023 season wound down, the competition for the fourth receiver position heading into the offseason consisted of Dareke Young, Dee Eskridge, and Jake Bobo. However, Seattle signed a pretty under-the-radar player in wide receiver Laviska Shenault, a former second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Shenault has a strong chance to steal that WR4 spot.

A burner from the University of Colorado, Shenault has been a Swiss army knife in his short NFL career. He's a fairly decent wide receiver but shines as a runner in end-arounds and designed screen plays. Shenault is speedy, crafty, and dangerous in the open field. He is an effective kick returner as well. Jake Bobo is likely the favorite to win the WR4 spot, but what Shenault lacks in size to Bobo, he makes up in extreme athleticism -- and that could win him the spot in Grubb's system.

Tre Brown - Seahawks CB

One of the most underrated cover cornerbacks in the league over the past two seasons, Tre Brown is primed for a huge 2024 season. Brown was Pro Football Focus's (subscription required) best press cornerback in the league last season, with an 88.5 press coverage grade. His only issue was staying healthy enough to stay on the field.

Seattle drafted two cornerbacks, both from Auburn, in April's draft. Having some young competition pushing Brown for his spot could force Brown to shift his game into a higher gear. We all know how good Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon are, but the name nobody seems to be talking about is Tre Brown.

If Brown can finally put it all together in 2024, starting in training camp, Seattle could have the best cornerback group in the entire league. In the nickel look, as Witherspoon shifts inside to the slot, Brown would play outside cornerback opposite Woolen. In press coverage last season, Brown forced five incompletions and registered two interceptions, including a pick-six in Detroit. With the blue-chip talent in front of him, and the young duo creeping up behind him, look out for Brown in training camp.

More Seahawks news and analysis: