The Seattle Seahawks might feel iffy about their cornerback group entering 2025. The team still has two-time Pro Bowler Devon Witherspoon and one-time Pro Bowler Riq Woolen, but if Seattle goes to a three-cornerback set at times, Josh Jobe will probably be the other outside corner.
Perhaps replacing Jobe could be free agent signee Shaquill Griffin, but the Seahawks seemingly met with Griffin three times this offseason before signing him, so the team's excitement of adding him would appear tempered. There is one other cornerback Seattle should have possibly held on to.
Tre Brown was one of Seattle's three draftees in 2021, none of whom (wide receiver D'Wayne Eskridge and offensive tackle Stone Forsythe were the other two) are still on Seattle's roster. Brown was solid in his rookie year, but got injured jumping for a 50-50 ball against a taller receiver.
The Seattle Seahawks might regret letting Tre Brown leave in free agency
That was the rub on Brown. He was good in coverage, but struggled early in his career against receivers who could outjump him. The injury, though, set his career back nearly a full calendar year. He came back in year two, but only enough to play 21 snaps.
In his third season, he was given a chance to start, but he was iffy at best, and Mike Jackson eventually took the third cornerback spot from him. Brown's raw numbers weren't bad, though. He allowed three touchdown passes, but had two interceptions and five passes broken up. His quarterback rating allowed was a decent 94.1.
Last season, Brown played worse, and Jobe got his snaps as the season went on. But Brown was still a relatively safe depth piece based on how he had done in his first three seasons.
This offseason, Seattle brought back restricted free agent Jobe, but left unrestricted free agent Brown walk. He did so straight to the Seahawks' NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers, on a one-year $1.7 million deal. That would have been completely affordable for Seattle.
Brown stood out in OTAs and minicamp for the 49ers, taking a bunch of reps with the first team. He could turn out to be a great fit in the 49ers' defense, and the issue would be that the Seahawks have to face him twice next year. If he does well enough, the 49ers might re-sign him, and he could be a thorn in Seattle's side for seasons to come.