Ranking Seattle Seahawks Defensive Roster Needs Prior to 2024 NFL Draft

Though the defensive line has been kept largely intact built around Leonard Williams and Uchenna Nwosu, the Seattle Seahawks could be primed to add reinforcements at all three levels of the defense in the NFL Draft.

Sep 8, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal (4) runs the ball / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Only one week away from the 2024 NFL Draft kicking off in Detroit, the Seattle Seahawks will soon bring in a new draft class to help replenish their roster as they begin a new era under first-time head coach Mike Macdonald.

Following a busy free agency period that included re-signing defensive tackle Leonard Williams and signing a quartet of linebackers and safeties, which defensive positional groups stand out as Seattle's greatest areas of need heading towards the draft? Here's a ranking of all five groups with new additions, losses, and an urgency index on a scale of 1 to 5:

Inside Linebacker

New Additions: Jerome Baker, Tyrel Dodson

Departures: Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks, Devin Bush

Urgency Level: 3.5/5

Sporting No. 0 in Seattle, Tyrel Dodson hopes to carve out a role in the team's long-term plans on defense. / Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

No position may have undergone a more drastic overhaul for the Seahawks than linebacker this offseason with the legendary Wagner, Brooks, and Bush all leaving in free agency. Rather than making long-term investments to replace that trio, the team signed Baker and Dodson, who each formerly resided in the AFC East with the Dolphins and Bills, to one-year prove it contracts. Baker offers six seasons of starting experience and his athleticism as a blitzer and cover 'backer should cater well to Macdonald's scheme at the weakside spot, while Dodson flashed in his first extended starting opportunity last year and brings an attitude to the MIKE spot.

With those two players on one-year contracts, however, Seattle still has to be looking towards the future without Wagner or Brooks. While it's possible Baker and/or Dodson could play their way into a long-term deal, the team doesn't have another linebacker on the roster with NFL starting experience, making it imperative to draft at least one this year. There isn't a true blue chip prospect at the position worthy of investing a first round pick in, but if Schneider trades down to recoup a day two selection, reuniting Macdonald with former Michigan defender Junior Colson or snagging Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper or North Carolina's Cedric Gray in the second or third round could be a strong possibility.

Safety

New Additions: Rayshawn Jenkins, K'Von Wallace

Departures: Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams

Urgency Level: 3.5/5

Though the Seahawks welcome back Pro Bowler Julian Love entering the final year of his current contract, the safety group around him will be near-unrecognizable. With both players carrying massive cap hits, the team released Diggs and Adams as pre-June 1 cuts and followed up by replacing them with Jenkins and Wallace on two and one-year deals respectively. In a similar situation to linebacker, it's possible Jenkins and Wallace could both hit the market next year, Love already is scheduled to be a free agent, and second-year defender Jerrick Reed II may miss the start of the season recovering from a torn ACL, so this group is far from settled long-term.

Considering the possibility Seattle could be once again starting from scratch at safety next season, Schneider and Macdonald may be on board with the idea of selecting Iowa's Cooper DeJean in the first round if still available at pick No. 16 or after a trade down. If they opt to wait until day two, there's plenty of talent that could still be on the board, including Utah's Cole Bishop, Georgia's Javon Bullard, and Texas Tech's Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who all have enough versatility to play multiple positions in a hybrid 3-4 scheme. This class has enough depth that, depending on how many picks Schneider ends up making, he could feasibly invest multiple picks in the position on players with different strengths.

EDGE/Outside Linebacker

New Additions: None

Departures: None

Urgency Level: 3/5

On the opposite end of the spectrum from linebacker and safety, the Seahawks haven't made any changes with their edge group. Close to being fully recovered from a torn pectoral muscle that ended his 2023 season after just six games, Uchenna Nwosu's return will be a huge boost for a defense that unraveled against the run without him, while Boye Mafe looks poised for stardom after breaking out with 9.5 sacks last season. Away from those two projected starters, Darrell Taylor will have one last chance to right the ship after agreeing to a restructured one-year deal and Derick Hall will be back aiming to make a similar sophomore jump to Mafe.

A dominant pass rusher who also can stop the run, Jared Verse could be a top-10 pick, but if he falls to No. 16, Seattle may pounce. / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Depth chart-wise, with a healthy Nwosu and Mafe leading the charge, the Seahawks have enough talent in this group to get by with what they have in 2024. But at the same time, Taylor's chronic struggles against the run have been well-documented and Hall has yet to show much in game action, so investing another high pick on a more well-rounded defender could be on the table. In fact, Seattle met with top prospects Jared Verse and Chop Robinson on top-30 visits, suggesting the team has thought about picking an edge as early as the first round. Even on day two, prospects such as Washington's Bralen Trice and Western Michigan's Marshawn Kneeland could be great fits for Macdonald's scheme and bolster depth up front.

Defensive Tackle

New Additions: Johnathan Hankins

Departures: Bryan Mone, Mario Edwards

Urgency Level: 2/5

Once viewed as a potential Achilles heel for Seattle, the defensive line has turned into a formidable unit pairing proven veterans with intriguing young players. Re-signing on a three-year, $64.5 million deal, Williams will be the anchor in the trenches moving forward, but he should have plenty of help with resurgent veteran Jarran Reed and Dre'Mont Jones alongside him. The team also has a pair of second-year defenders in Mike Morris and Cameron Young who could take on bigger roles moving forward, especially considering Morris' previous ties to Macdonald at Michigan. Adding Hankins to the mix will provide much-needed size and physicality in the middle as a true nose tackle, something they did not have a year ago with Mone sidelined.

Thinking big picture, aside from Williams, the Seahawks could have some tough decisions to make beyond 2024. Reed will be an unrestricted free agent next March, while Jones has a $23.1 million cap hit in 2025 and could be a cap casualty candidate if his play doesn't improve from a disappointing first year with the franchise. It remains to be seen how much of an impact Morris or Young will make either, creating questions for the future. With the draft focusing on more than just the upcoming season, snagging a blue chip prospect such as Illinois star Jer'zhan Newton or Texas standout Byron Murphy II in the first round will undoubtedly be in consideration. Adding depth on day two and day three will also be in play for a draft class with solid depth at defensive tackle.

Cornerback

New Additions: None

Departures: None

Urgency Level: 2/5

In terms of talent, the Seahawks may not have a better group on the roster than cornerback, which helps explain why Schneider and Macdonald haven't made any changes this offseason. For starters, former top-five pick Devon Witherspoon finished fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and should be even better playing in Macdonald's scheme, which will accentuate his strengths as an aggressive player with elite blitzing and coverage skills. Across from him, Riq Woolen took a step back in his sophomore season, but he still posted excellent coverage numbers and remains a potential superstar with continued development. Bringing back Mike Jackson and Tre Brown only enhances depth with two starter-caliber players waiting in the wings.

But looking towards 2025, Witherspoon and Woolen are the only two cornerbacks on the roster right now who have more than one year left on their current contract. Jackson's cost may exceed the team's ability to pay next offseason as an unrestricted free agent and Brown has dealt with some injuries, casting questions about whether either will be back. If Coby Bryant sticks at corner, he could still be part of the team's plans for the next few years, but drafting a developmental player at the position on day three would make a ton of sense from a roster building standpoint. Among those who could be in consideration, Notre Dame's Cam Hart and Oregon's Khyree Jackson may be available in the fourth round or later and offer great size and ball skills.