The Seattle Seahawks might not have made flashy offseason moves like other teams. That said, they're still the defending Super Bowl champions, and as such, the team to beat until proven otherwise.
That also means that making the roster and — more importantly — getting on the field will be a true privilege. It'll be tougher than on the average team, especially with most of the core players staying after the championship run.
However, the Seahawks' latest moves hint at some discontent in the secondary. They've explored depth at defensive back, and while the starting lineup is clearly set, adding more bodies to the mix will only boost competition and get the guys ready when it counts.
The Seattle Seahawks keep adding bodies to the cornerback room
The Seahawks are projected to start Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe at outside cornerback, with Nick Emmanwori in the slot, and Ty Okada and Julian Love at safety. That said, Mike Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde like to shake things up in every drive, so there should be more than enough snaps for everyone.
With Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant gone, the Seahawks will also likely rely on rookies Julian Neal and Bud Clark right out of the gate.
They also drafted Michael Dansby and Andre Fuller late in the draft, and while they might have a tough time making the 53-man roster, they should be practice-squad guys at the very least. They also signed Brandon Johnson after a series of pre-training camp workouts.
Granted, having more players doesn't necessarily mean they have better players, but it gives them plenty of options. They bring different bodies of work and skill sets to the table, and that gives the defense alternatives to throw different looks at the opposition in almost every situation.
The Seahawks rallied behind one of the greatest defenses in franchise history last season, which is a lot to say from an organization that also had the Legion of Boom. Of course, there's no point in comparing personnel from different eras, but with some continuity, this unit also has an opportunity to be special for years to come.
This team is sending a clear message with all of these additions. Rather than saying they don't trust the guys currently in the building, they just want to make sure everyone stays on their toes and brings their A-Game to every practice, every drill, every second.
Josh Jobe is an example of how hard work and determination can reap big rewards. He went from being an afterthought and a practice squad player to signing a three-year, $29.2 million deal and becoming a starter on the defending Super Bowl champions. If that doesn't motivate every guy on the roster bubble every day, then nothing will.
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