A potential surprise standout on Seahawks’ defense

Coby Bryant generally isn’t the first name that comes to mind when thinking of the Seattle Seahawks’ defense.

And typically not the second, third or fourth either.

Those distinctions belong to bona fide stars like Leonard Williams, Devon Witherspoon and DeMarcus Lawrence. Or to key veterans like Julian Love, Ernest Jones IV and Jarran Reed.

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But according to Seattle Sports’ Stacy Rost, Bryant deserves more attention. When asked for a potential surprise standout on the Seahawks’ defense during Monday’s Four Down Territory segment on Bump and Stacy, Rost went with the versatile fourth-year safety.

“I don’t know that the national media is paying a lot of attention to a guy like Coby Bryant,” Rost said. “I think that he can be a massive contributor to a team. And while he’s not gonna come in the way that Zack Baun did as a linebacker for the Eagles and be your star linebacker and then get this massive contract, sometimes when you’re talking about the pieces of a really, really good defense, there are pieces that, as a national (football fan), you’re learning about for the first time.

“And I hope that there are a lot of national (fans) that learn about Coby Bryant for the first time this year with the Seahawks.”

Drafted as a cornerback, Bryant worked his way into the nickel corner role as a rookie in 2022 before falling down the depth chart during an injury-plagued 2023. But after switching to safety in 2024, the former fourth-round pick seized an opportunity and ran with it.

Bryant began last season as the fourth safety, but moved up the depth chart and took over a starting role in Week 7 when Rayshawn Jenkins went down with an injury. Bryant played so well that he held onto the role for the rest of the season, even after Jenkins returned in Week 12.

Along the way, Bryant showcased his playmaking ability with three interceptions, six pass breakups and a forced fumble – including a game-swinging 69-yard pick-six in a win over the Cardinals. He also ranked 22nd out of 98 safeties in Pro Football Focus grading and had the 14th-best opponents’ passer rating among safeties with at least 500 snaps.

Bryant now enters this fall as a presumptive full-time starter for the first time in his career. He’s expected to start alongside Love as the two primary safeties in head coach Mike Macdonald’s defense, which often uses three-safety sets.

And given his experience playing multiple positions, Bryant fits right in with a talented secondary group that includes several ultra-versatile pieces in Witherspoon, Love and rookie second-round pick Nick Emmanwori.

“I think that this secondary has a lot of potential, and part of that potential is coming to come down to how great their depth is and how versatile they can be with some of these guys,” Rost said. “Coby is incredibly versatile, just like Nick Emmanwori can be incredibly versatile. So I’m curious to see how Mike Macdonald uses some of his weapons in the defensive backfield.”