Seahawks pre-draft position overview: Plenty of good options for defensive line

If the Seahawks don’t have a good defensive line in 2024, it won’t be for lack of trying.

Their defensive line includes a player that, in 2023, got the richest contract the team has ever handed out to an external free agent (Dre’Mont Jones, three years, just over $51 million) and the richest contract it has ever handed to a defensive player in terms of average salary per year (Leonard Williams, $64.5 million over three years).

Throw in the $6.3 million for Jarran Reed, and the Seahawks have almost $39 million invested in their defensive line this year, fourth-most of any team in the NFL, according to OvertheCap.com.

The Seahawks added 12-year veteran Johnathan Hankins to add experience and depth to the line, which gives them as proven of a front four as the team has had in some time — Jones and Williams at ends and Reed and Hankins at tackle in a base 4-3 front.

With a new defensive-minded coach in Mike Macdonald, addressing the defensive line with an early pick could definitely happen.

Let’s take a look at the Seahawks’ defensive line entering the NFL draft.

Projected depth chart

Defensive/nose tackle: Jarran Reed, Johnathan Hankins. The Seahawks list Reed as a nose tackle and Hankins as a defensive tackle. Hankins gives them needed bulk at a listed 325 pounds.

Backups: Cameron Young, Matt Gotel. Young showed some promise in rotational snaps last year as a rookie, and the Seahawks are hoping for a big step forward in year two.

Defensive end: Dre’Mont Jones, Leonard Williams. Both are listed as ends but could also play tackle, especially in passing situations. One theme of the offseason is the Seahawks noting the versatility of each player, and in the case of Jones, potentially utilizing his skill set in different ways.

Backups: Mike Morris, Myles Adams. Morris, who played just one game last season due to injury, could turn into a key rotational piece to spell both Williams and Jones when needed.

Draft need, 1-10: 5. 

Schneider/Carroll draft history

Defensive linemen drafted (listed by draft order): 

Defensive ends: 15. Bruce Irvin (15th overall pick, 2012); L.J. Collier (29, 2019); Darrell Taylor (48^, 2020); Frank Clark (63, 2015); Rasheem Green (79, 2018); Cassius Marsh (108, 2014); Jaye Howard (114, 2012); E.J. Wilson (127, 2010); Alton Robinson (148, 2020); Mike Morris (151, 2023); Jacob Martin (186, 2018); Pep Levingston (205, 2011); Obum Gwacham (209, 2015); Greg Scruggs (232, 2012); Dexter Davis (236, 2010). 

Defensive tackles: 9. Malik McDowell (35, 2017); Jarran Reed (49, 2016); Jordan Hill (87, 2013); Nazair Jones (102, 2017); Cameron Young (123, 2023); Jesse Williams (137, 2013); Quinton Jefferson (147, 2016); Jimmy Staten (172, 2014); Demarcus Christmas (209, 2019). 

Best pick: The Carroll-era Seahawks did their best work building the defensive line through free agency (Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, to name the two most obvious). They saw a perceived gamble on Frank Clark pay off well. His 13 sacks in 2018 remain the most of any Seahawk since 2007.

One regret: The Seahawks have drafted only three defensive linemen in their history who have made a Pro Bowl — Jacob Green, Cortez Kennedy and Michael Sinclair — and the Carroll-era teams didn’t break that streak. The roll-of-the-dice on McDowell ranks as among the team’s biggest swings-and-misses in recent years, though it’s worth remembering the team acquired four other picks in trading down en route to taking him.

Draft overview

Known visitors: The Seahawks have reportedly had five players listed as either defensive ends or tackles in for 30 visits — ends Jared Verse of Florida State and Grayson Murphy of UCLA and tackles Khristian Boyd of Northern Iowa, Jowon Briggs of Cincinnati and T’Vondre Sweat of Texas.

The two big names are Verse and Sweat.

Some think Verse could be the first defensive player in the draft, though a lot of other mocks have him potentially available for the Seahawks at 16. He had nine sacks each of the last two years at FSU after starting his career at FCS Albany.

Sweat is one of the more polarizing players in the draft, weighing in at 366 pounds at the combine. His speed is impressive for that size (he ran a 5.27 40 at the combine), but some have the obvious worries about controlling his weight long-term (he was also arrested earlier this month in Texas on a DWI charge).

The 6-2, 297-pound Briggs is 219^th on Pro Football Focus’ big board, while the 6-4, 317-pound Boyd is 320^th and the 6-3, 260-pound Murphy is 187^th.

Local ties: WSU’s Brennan Jackson, listed at 6-4, 264, is generally considered a mid- to late-round pick, rated 115th on PFF’s big board. Lindy’s cited Jackson for his intangibles, saying he “impresses teams with his on-field and off-field demeanor.”

UW’s Zion Tupuola-Fetui was unable to compete in drills at the combine because of injury and might have to go the undrafted free agent route.

Others to watch: As should be expected, there is no lack of Michigan players available. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins could go as high as the second round, though at 298 pounds, some question his size.

Michigan also has two ends who figure to get drafted — Jaylen Harrell and Braiden McGregor. Harrell, listed at 6-4, 242, is 196^th on PFF’s big board. McGregor (6-6, 267) is 169^th. Harrell’s weight concerns some. McGregor was only an All-Big Ten honorable-mention pick, but he impressed down the stretch, including making two sacks against Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

Many think the Seahawks could be tempted to use their first pick at 16^th overall on an interior defender.

Several who have been linked to the Seahawks include:

• Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton, Illinois. Newton, the 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, is listed at 6-1.5, 300 pounds and regarded as maybe the best pass rusher of all the interior defenders available. He has drawn comparisons in style to Aaron Donald. Who wouldn’t want that?

• Byron Murphy II, Texas. The 6-1, 308-pounder is cited for having an exceptionally fast first step, but there are some worries about his length and overall size.

• Darius Robinson, Missouri. Robinson is one of the more tangibly impressive players in the draft, measuring at just over 6-5, 285 with 34.5-inch arms at the combine And as such, he fits the profile of a player who could play just about anywhere on the defensive line.

The final analysis: This is regarded as a good year for defensive tackles and not-so-good for defensive ends. But at 16, the Seahawks will certainly have some tempting options (including some players also considered more as edge rushers, such as UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, who we covered in the linebacker overview). While adding to the defensive front might not seem to be the biggest immediate need, the age of Reed (31) and Hankins (32) could compel them to add to the interior defensive line in this draft.

Next: Offensive line.