Part I: Offensive Line
Part II: Defensive Line
Part III: Secondary
Part IV: Linebackers
Part V: Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
Part VI: Running Backs & Fullbacks
Part VII: Quarterbacks
Part VIII: Summary & Recommendations
State Of The Position
Count your chickens. Don’t wait for the fat lady to sing. Your Seahawks secondary is set to be the bedrock of this defense for years to come. Count on it. Earl Thomas became a Pro Bowl starter in his second season. Kam Chancellor deserved to be a Pro Bowl starter, but still made it as back-up. Brandon Browner led the NFL in passes defensed and was second in the league in interceptions as he made the Pro Bowl as well. The only starter in the secondary left out of the Pro Bowl was Richard Sherman, who garnered All-Pro consideration from Peter King. Browner is the crusty old man of the group who will turn 28 next year. He should have at least 3-4 more years of this level of play. He reminds me of Charles Tillman, who just made the Pro Bowl again as a 30-year-old. Thomas is just now 22-years-old, while Chancellor and Sherman are 23. Only Thomas makes over the rookie minimum, making it entirely possible that this will be both the NFL’s best secondary and it’s cheapest.
The talent goes beyond the top four. Roy Lewis, Walter Thurmond, and Byron Maxwell all have upside. Thurmond was playing at least as well as Sherman before his injury in Cleveland. A full recovery for him would give the team an embarrassment of riches. Maxwell barely saw the field outside of special teams, but has the potential to be a great slot corner who plays with the same ferocity as Browner and Sherman do on the outside. With that, comes the potential for even more penalties. Lewis will be better next season than he was this year after coming back from an injury. Marcus Trufant will be one to watch. His chronic injuries are not likely to get better, but he may have value as a veteran back-up who is capable of starter-quality play. One has to wonder, though, if the drastic improvement in pass defense after he was sidelined with injury was purely a coincidence.
Depth at safety is a question mark. Neither Thomas nor Chancellor can be replaced. They are each unique in ways that are hard to find in a generation of players. The downside to that is that any injury can send the defense reeling. Thomas, especially, plays a role that allows the whole scheme to work. Seattle had hoped Mark LeGree would be the rangy back-up to Thomas out of 2011 draft. He did not make the team. Jeron Johnson earned a spot, but his ability to contribute outside of special teams remains to be seen. Atari Bigby was a late veteran addition who played his part well. Bringing him back is an option, but it will not happen before looking for another solution in the draft. Keep an eye on Chris Maragos, who became a late special teams ace. He flashes elite speed that could translate to great range.
2012 Seahawks Free Agent Defensive Backs:
- S Atari Bigby
- DB Roy Lewis (Restricted)
- CB Kennard Cox (Exclusive Rights)
- FS Earl Thomas
- SS Kam Chancellor
- CB Richard Sherman
- CB Brandon Browner
- CB Marcus Trufant
- CB Byron Maxwell
- S Jeron Johnson
- DB Chris Maragos
- DB Phillip Adams