NFL Training Camp: 10 most intriguing battles in 2023

#4, Seattle Seahawks – RUSH linebacker

Candidates: Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe, Derick Hall & Alton Robinson

NFL Training Camp: 10 most intriguing battles in 2023

This one is kind of funny, because the Seahawks drafted the first three guys all within picks 37 and 48 over three of the last four years, along with Robinson being a fifth-rounder I liked quite a bit back in 2020.

Other than Uchenna Nwosu, who led the edge group by far with 78% of snaps as their starter at SAM in every game, Taylor was next in line in terms of usage, but that was only at 42% of snaps. After missing his entire rookie season with a setback from a leg injury he suffered in college, he’s played 16 games each of the last two years and leads the team in sacks with 16 over that stretch.

Looking at the pressure numbers, he’s slightly above that 10% mark I reference quite a bit in terms of pressures-per-pass-rush snap, as a dip-and-rip specialist to win around the corner. Unfortunately, he’s been one of the worst run-defenders at his position, finishing below 140 among edge defenders who played 100+ snaps each of the last two years in terms of PFF grade versus the run, not setting a firm edge and more so trying to get around blockers.

Looking at the ’22 draft class, the Seahawks got what appear to be two quality starters at either tackle spot and in the secondary, along with a potential star running back, but the guy they actually picked second in Boye Mafe saw about the same playing time 35-year old Bruce Irvin did in his second stint in Seattle.

He did record three sacks but just 12 total pressures across 200 pass-rushing opportunities, as somebody with great acceleration up the arc and suddenness to cross-face blockers, but who really struggled once tackles were able to get their hands into his frame.

He did however finish top-30 for his position in what I referenced earlier in terms PFF run defense grade, as somebody with the force to press off tight ends near the point of attack and not afraid to crash into pullers. As his hand usage continues to advance, he to me has the highest potential for that group. And he can cover plenty of ground to be peeled off the edge into coverage a few times per game.

So I was a bit surprised that they spent another top-40 pick on Derick Hall out of Auburn this year. What differentiates him from Mafe for example, is that while they’re about the same stature, his 34-and-½-inch arms are two inches longer than the guy the Hawks brought in a year prior.

By far his most effective way of getting to the passer is converting speed-to-power, which allows him to take a pretty direct path towards the point he needs to get to, but there’s some stiffness in his hips and a lack of lateral agility or willingness to try countering inside.

He’s definitely improved as a run-defender, playing with leverage and maximizing his length to lock out blockers, while having the short-area burst to track down plays from the backside or redirect and corral QBs pulling the ball on zone-read and others.

The fourth name here seems like the least likely one, as Seattle invested the lowest draft capital in fifth-rounder Alton Robinson, who missed the entire ‘22 season with a knee injury he suffered in the preseason finale.

He doesn’t quite have the same type of burst off the ball as those other two guys I just talked about, but very physical run-defender who will cave in tight-ends assigned with shielding him or create stalemates with pulling guards. He just slips off a few tackles. And I liked his power-rushing profile coming out of Syracuse, while being able to shorten the corner for himself with the rip-through.

He only had four sacks, but 18 pressures in each of his first years on 380 combined pass-rush snaps. So I didn’t want to disregard him, even though he faces a tough climb among that depth chart.

I’d think Taylor coming into a career year is the favorite to start Week 1, but considering he may be the worst run-defender among the bunch, somebody else could ultimately log more starts. That’s where you have to weigh how important that is to your success defensively, as Uchenna Nwosu will be at the strong side for the most part, while the other guys will have chances to track down plays away from the action.

With basically one legit nose tackle on the roster who is coming off an injury himself, I’d think condensing the space opponents have between the tackles will be a priority, after they finished last season 26th in rush EPA as a unit, particularly struggling against outside zone.

I’m most excited about what Mafe and the growth he may show as he progresses technically and understands how to really attack the edges of tackles in passing situations. However, Hall has the clearest path to winning as a pass-rusher looking at what he was able to do in the SEC, even though he’ll need to vary his approach.

Ultimately I believe Mafe leads them in snaps, Taylor is the most productive rusher, but we see plenty of Hall sprinkled in. Robinson could still play like 20-25% of snaps, but expectations aren’t as high for him since he’s probably playing for a contract somewhere else as a role-player in 2024.