Just my thoughts on some of the stuff I read through this thread:
Walker at 29 gtd and not being a consistent 3 down bell cow, Bryant at 26 gtd when Love is better and only got 13 gtd, and giving Mafe essentially what Leonard Williams got on paper when he is 3x the player is just bad business.
Would have gave Woolen same contract as Jobe with performance escalators based on passes defensed, tds given up, ints, tackles, playing time and accolades just to keep his head in the game. But McDonald was obviously done with him in his defense and his market was non-existent telling you that teams felt the same way about him that Macdonald and Schneider did, if you pay this guy is his heart going to be fully in it, if his heads already not?
Shaheed dont really love his contract but if you separate the WR from the STer like I did to something like 3 for 36 as a WR and 3 for 15 as an ACE returner. Then it doesn’t look quite as bad.
If he produces at least a 500, 5 TD or 600, 4 or 700, 3 type clips while continuing to perform at an All-Pro level Returner, his contract should break even considering teams are paying WRs these days about $1.25m to 1.50m per 100 yards and per TD. For instance, JSN season last year ranges from $35m to $42. So the math tracks. JSN is getting at least 40 per.
But I think with familiarity and continuity and chemistry Shaheed could become 700-5 type WR. The silver-lining is what I said when we got him if you frankenstein him to Tory Horton you have the recipe for quality #2. Shaheed is an elite deep threat and explosive gadget runner but because hes not a great route runner and doesnt have the best hands hes not dependable in the RZ or 3rd downs. However, Horton is a great route runner and has great hands and has potential to be elite in the facets Shaheed struggles in as WR which makes Horton and Shaheed very complementary. Definitely think they can be 1000, 10 TD type platoon and potentially 1200, 12 TD while both providing great to elite return ability, if they both stay healthy enough which they are helping each other do in a platoon and if Darnold and the Oline continues to trend up.
Speaking of Oline, everyone is worrying about the RB and lack their of but no one is mentioning Seahawks return the same 5 starters (if they dont upgrade Bradford) and the same OC coach for the first time in how long? Run blocking should continue to build off last year and as it did in the final 2 months.
RB room is not just an injured Charb, Holani, and MacIntosh as Jacardia Wright, Cam Akers, and Velus Jones all re-signed on futures and they’ll add to that pile. None of them are K9 but RBs are random enough that you could hit on a couple of those dudes, draft another, and help keep you at a competitive floor for Charbs to get healthy and ready. And again if the Oline improves and they are consistently opening holes, JAGs can be successful.
Now on to Crosby, medically I dont think they care, they are in a location and free agent destination that you have to buy high and kind of roll the dice because you arent going to entice many big fish that are healthy and in their prime, out of NBA, NFL, and MLB, I can think of one and thats Robinson Cano.
Seattle has always and probably will continue to have to force top players to come here by working the trade market.
If the Seahawks can get Crosby with #32 and a conditional ‘27 2nd/3rd round pick. I think they should roll the dice and pull the trigger. Best case scenario you get an elite pass rusher who should eat well behind our Defensive Front for two seasons that transforms your defense exponentially as I’m in the frame of mind having an edge that can basically teleport to the QB tremendously help a secondary that lost some depth and might not be as good as last year unless some players stay healthier and continue trending up and they hit on a throw-away free agent or draft a gem.
Mid-tier scenario you get a guy who is trending down and have to manage day to day but is still probably better then any edge at #32, probably much better than Mafe and Hall were last year combined and still gives good enough type of substance.
Worst case scenario you are out a 1st and 3rd and maybe hes cooked or oft-injured but he’s coaching guys up and giving insight like Kupp that still raises the floor. And the Seahawks do have a young Edge that compares very well to Crosby in size and athleticism in Connor O’toole. My adopt a rookie who imo just needs to understand the technical game, develop instincts on how to and when to, and just be more natural playing at his weight because he was basically recruited as a 205 pound WR/TE before transitioning to DE.
