Seahawks 2023 Rookie Minicamp: 5 Things to Watch For

Seeing their latest draft class donning navy helmets and practice jerseys for the first time, the Seattle Seahawks will begin evaluating Devon Witherspoon, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and company with their annual rookie minicamp while also taking a close first look at several undrafted players.

Kicking their offseason program into overdrive with OTAs coming in the near future, coach Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks will have their first chance to check out a new 10-player draft class as well as several undrafted signees and tryout players at their annual rookie minicamp this weekend.

As is the case with any on-field offseason activity, evaluation will be severely limited by the NFL's rules prohibiting contact. With that said, these next two days remain critical getting rookies and returning practice squad players up to speed, as they will receive a ton of reps without established veterans taking invaluable snaps away from them.

Heading into Friday and Saturday's minicamp, here's what I will be keeping close tabs on at the VMAC as rookies gear up for their first audition:

1. First Look For First-Rounders

While it will be a few months before they can truly duel against one another due to the NFL's strict offseason rules barring contact and defenders making plays on the football, all eyes will be on cornerback Devon Witherspoon and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba this weekend. The first pair of first-round picks selected by the Seahawks since Russell Okung and Earl Thomas back in 2010, they will have their first crack at impressing coaches by quickly grasping a new playbook and flashing as much as possible with their first team reps on the field going against other rookies.

2. A Glass of Charbonnet and a Touch of McIntosh

Both known for their physical running styles despite somewhat different body types, Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh won't be able to show what they can do running behind their pads in an abbreviated minicamp. Where they fit in that regard won't be known until the dog days of August. But the duo of rookie ball carriers will have a chance to showcase their athletic talents and burst during drill work and other notable football skills in team drills, including soft hands out of the backfield as receivers or even from the slot moving around the formation.

3. Measuring Up in the Trenches

When it comes to evaluating offensive and defensive lineman, rookie minicamp and OTAs can feel like a drag due to the lack of contact. But this weekend will provide the first opportunity to see how incoming rookies Anthony Bradford, Cameron Young, Mike Morris, and Olu Oluwatimi stack up size-wise against their peers. And, for those who pay attention closely to drill work, as was the case last year with Abraham Lucas and Charles Cross, there's still an opportunity to watch footwork and lateral quickness, which carries over well when the pads come on in a few months.

4. The East Carolina Connection

Most of the attention will rightfully be given to Seattle's incoming 10 draft picks, but Friday and Saturday are arguably more important for the undrafted rookies either looking to make a strong first impression after signing a contract or earn a contract via tryout. After the team opted not to select a quarterback last month, former East Carolina standout Holton Ahlers should receive the majority of the reps at rookie minicamp and can maintain a roster spot this summer behind Geno Smith and Drew Lock by getting off to a good start. Helping his cause, his top receiver with the Pirates - CJ Johnson - also signed with Seattle as an undrafted free agent, opening the door for those two to launch some fireworks this weekend.

5. Intriguing Defensive UDFA Prospects

Undrafted rookies have historically fared well in Seattle, including along the defensive line where Poona Ford and Bryan Mone recently carved out substantial roles after not hearing their names called in the draft. After losing Ford, Al Woods, Quinton Jefferson, and Shelby Harris this spring, reps will be there for the taking along the defensive line and two players in particular should be primed to take advantage.

With Mone recovering from a torn ACL and Woods now in New York, former Florida State starter Robert Cooper, who weighs in north of 335 pounds, will be battling with Young for snaps at the nose tackle spot in coming months. Meanwhile, San Diego State's Jonah Tavai, who nearly hit 20 sacks in his final two college seasons and had outstanding college production as a rusher and run defender, will look to make his mark as a 3-tech defensive end seeing snaps rotating with Morris, Dre'Mont Jones, Jarran Reed, and Myles Adams.

---

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Seahawks? Click Here to subscribe to AllSeahawks.com's Newsletter.

Follow All Seahawks.com on Twitter and Facebook.

Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @lockedonseahawks today! Click here To Listen.

Want even more Seattle Seahawks news? Check out the SI.com team page here.