Seahawks who need to Step Up in 2023

Seahawks decline option on Jordyn Brooks and more who need to step up: Seaside Joe 1522

The Seattle Seahawks declined the fifth-year option on linebacker Jordyn Brooks, meaning that he will be a free agent in 2024, rather than getting a guaranteed contract of $12.7 million. Even when he was healthy, that’s not the level Brooks was playing at prior to his torn ACL, but the injury set in stone that the Seahawks couldn’t take that risk on him going into the season.

Instead, Seattle will spend the first part or first half, at least, with Bobby Wagner and Devin Bush at inside linebacker, backed up by Jon Rhattigan and Vi Jones. The Seahawks also signed four linebackers after the draft: Michael Ayers, Patrick O’Connell, Cam Bright, and Lamont Bishop. It will be an accomplishment in itself if any of them make the roster.

Though the linebacker position is certainly one where teams can find value on day two and day three, few of the NFL’s best were just flat out overlooked in the draft. Perhaps Seattle will find depth, but Pete Carroll is going to be leaning on Wagner and Bush until Brooks returns, and then we don’t know what he will be when that happens.

Devin Bush had a super promising rookie campaign for the Steelers in 2019 but hasn’t been the same since tearing his ACL six weeks into his second year, leading to him getting benched by Mike Tomlin by the end of last season.

And even if Brooks is back to form when he does return, it’s still Time To: Step Up!

Pete had heaped a ton of praise on Brooks prior to his injury but that could be parlty relative to how bad the rest of the Seahawks front-seven and run defense has been of late. It’s sort of how like Seaside Joe could be called “a 3 in Los Angeles, but a 6 in Seattle!”

Paying Brooks a $12.7 million salary in 2024 is saying that he’s one of the 10 best linebackers in the NFL. There’s no question he’s one of the leading tacklers in the NFL, but through three seasons he has zero interceptions, two sacks, and one forced fumble. His pass coverage value ranges somewhere to below average-to-bad.

There’s nothing unusual about a team declining the fifth-year option on a player picked between 20-32 in the first round, it happens well more than half of the time. We have to remember that not all first round picks are created equal and for many teams, Brooks likely had a second or third round grade. He has served like a day two linebacker because under many circumstances, that’s essentially what he was, just not officially.

The Ravens declined the fifth-year option on Patrick Queen and the Chargers declined the fifth-year option on Kenneth Murray. All three were linebackers rated roughly equal in the 2020 draft. Isaiah Simmons, by far the highest-rated linebacker in 2020, also had his fifth-year option declined.

It happens. Often. Brooks will have his opportunity to Step Up, and certainly this season is the Time To do that.

What other Seahawks are hitting that point in their careers?

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TE Noah Fant

A 2024 free agent who actually is playing on his fifth-year option in 2023, Fant is a good tight end but one who always seems to leave a little something on the field when he gets his opportunity. One of the highest-drafted tight ends in NFL history, Fant should be better than what he’s been and he knows that. If he can Step Up in 2023, he will be an even wealthier man in 2024.

This could also apply to Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson.

EDGE Darrell Taylor

Seemingly out of nowhere he gets 6.5 sacks in the last six games, but was nowhere to be found in the playoff loss to San Francisco. Finishing off sack opportunities is nice for the stat sheet, but Taylor needs to be a complete player worthy of 60-80% of the snaps or he will not be retained by Seattle next year.

There is also a chance next season for Boye Mafe to get closer to a complete player by having continuity with the same defense for once, as he had many different coaches and schemes at Minnesota. Will we see Alton Robinson and/or Tyreke Smith this year?

S Jamal Adams

C’mon, man!

WR DK Metcalf

This is a very soft Time To: Step Up because we know that Metcalf is one of the best receiver draft picks in Seahawks history. But it’s easy to see the final season numbers (90 catches, 1048 yards, six touchdowns in 17 games) and the unique size/speed and forget that Metcalf on a game-to-game basis can be very frustrating. In large part because we know that he has the potential to be one of the top-five receivers in the NFL.

As a player who will see his salary go up to $24.5 million in 2024, yes, it is Time To: Step Up. Because 11 yards per catch and six touchdowns and kind of getting neutralized every other game and the drops, he’s better than that. In the playoff game though, Metcalf had 10 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns. That’s stepping up.

OBVIOUSLY, Dee Eskridge knows his name is here. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba already moving ahead of him on the depth chart, Eskridge is facing his final chance this training camp to make the roster.

G Phil Hayes, G Damien Lewis

Both are 2024 free agents and at this point, I don’t really know for sure who has the lead to be re-signed. Lewis has been a full-time player, unlike Haynes, and he’s flashed high-quality play. But I’m not sure he’s a high priority to bring back unless he has a consistent 2023 season.

QB Geno Smith

You did good. Now you must do better. This supporting cast is too good to not do better. And Drew Lock is incentivized on his new contract, too. I’m not sure we will see zero snaps from Lock again, as we did last season.

Readers, now is your Time To: Step Up!

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