Seahawks may look to add young backups to linebackers unit

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has said for years he wants younger backups for Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright.

Will this be the draft Seattle selects the rookie proteges for their All-Pro middle linebacker and Pro Bowl outside linebacker?

A more popular question around Seattle when it comes to linebackers is: Will the Seahawks draft Shaquem Griffin, the twin brother of one of their starting cornerbacks, Shaquill?

With all that’s happened this offseason — cutting ties with Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett, overhauling the coaching staff, including replacing the top four assistants — the Seahawks could build some goodwill in the Pacific Northwest by drafting Shaquem Griffin.

They met with the University of Central Florida wonder and combine sensation who is trying to be the first one-handed player drafted into the NFL, and general manager John Schneider came away impressed.

“He’s a special dude,” Schneider said.

The NFL originally did not invite Shaquem to the combine. Apparently, an all-league linebacker and MVP of the Peach Bowl when UCF beat blue-blood program Auburn of the mighty Southeastern Conference on Jan. 1 — all while playing with one hand — wasn’t worthy enough.

In late January, Shaquem impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl. He was the all-star game’s practice player of the week, which led to his belated invite to the combine.

Last year was the first time in their lives Shaquem and Shaquill were separated. Could they be reunited on the Seahawks’ defense this year?

Wright’s contract as the Seahawks’ weak-side linebacker ends after this year. And play-making linebackers will be available for the Seahawks to draft and develop, especially in the later rounds of the three-day draft. Seven of the eight selections Seattle is scheduled to have in this draft are in rounds four, five and seven on Saturday.

Here are the top linebackers in this year’s draft class, and those likely to be available for the Seahawks later:

The top three

1. Roquan Smith, Georgia: Size. Speed. Tackling. Excellence inside. Excellence outside. The most complete linebacker, unanimous All-American and Butkus Award winner as college football’s best linebacker will go soon after the first few picks.

2. Tremaine Edwards, Virginia Tech: The dynamo was all over college fields off edges. He is crazy aggressive, at times. He is one of a record 107 juniors declaring for this draft, and he may go in the top 10.

3. Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State: A self-made stud. The former scrawny, overlooked walk-on came out of nowhere for Boise State last year. Some teams have injury concerns about him, which may or may not keep him out of the first round.

Possible later-round options

1. Shaquem Griffin: You’re not supposed to root for picks, but it’s hard not to pull for this one. However, Griffin may already be gone before Seattle’s scheduled selection in round four.

2. Jason Cabinda, Penn State: One of the true, stout, prototypical inside linebackers and thudding tacklers in the draft. But is he too specialized in a league that needs coverage men at linebacker, even inside? He’s not that.

3. Darius Leonard, South Carolina State: No big-time college offers. Now a runner who plays with heart and hustle. Some project him as an NFL weak-side linebacker. So athletic he may not last to day three of the draft.