After months of anticipation, the Seattle Seahawks will open their first training camp under the direction of new coach Mike Macdonald on July 24 with plenty of buzz surrounding the franchise entering a new era.
Looking towards the 2024 season, which Seahawk faces the most pressure to stick on the roster with a new coaching staff at the helm? Our writing staff dished out their picks examining which player they believe could be on the hottest seat heading into training camp:
With 21.5 sacks over the past three seasons, Taylor has flashed brilliance at times as a pass-rushing threat. Despite his excellent athletic traits and ability to rocket past blockers as a speed rusher, he has lost his starting job during the season two consecutive years due to poor play as a run defender and wildly inconsistent performance in terms of pressures and winning pass rush reps. With veteran Dre’Mont Jones expected to play more off the edge and Uchenna Nwosu back fully healthy - if he can’t show improvement as an all-around player - his spot could be in jeopardy with the new coaching staff having no allegiance to him. -Corbin Smith
Seattle’s biggest weakness heading into training camp is their interior offensive line, where three new starters will be sent out in Week 1 at guard and center. Bradford held his own at times as a fourth-round rookie last year but his metrics made him look like half of a quality guard. He mauls in the run game but is a liability in pass protection, giving up 28 pressures last year. If guys like McClendon Curtis and Christian Haynes surpass him as more balanced guards, Bradford could be the odd man out. If there's good news, he won't miss any time in camp after passing his physical and avoiding being out on the NFI list. -Nick Lee
Bryant's best bet to become a contributor with the Seahawks is to make a successful transition to safety. There is simply little to no room in Seattle's cornerback corps, especially after it drafted Auburn rookies DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett. Even at the safety position, Bryant will have to standout from fifth-year free agent signing K'Von Wallace, second-year defensive back Jerrick Reed II and other young players to earn a spot on the roster. Bryant was productive as a rookie, posting 70 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, four passes defensed and four forced fumbles. However, he struggled in coverage, allowing 50 catches for 515 yards and two touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus. In 2023, he played in just nine games after missing a month of the season due to a toe injury, and he struggled to work back into the defensive lineup with rookie Devon Witherspoon controlling slot corner duties. Bryant has a lot of work to do in training camp to find his place with the Seahawks. -Connor Benintendi
Coming out of Western Michigan, I was so high on Eskridge that some colleagues made fun of me for giving him and Ja'Marr Chase similar grades. Needless to say, I have been far from correct on his development and he is firmly on the bubble this year after catching zero passes in 2023. Competition for a roster spot will be intense with the likes of Jake Bobo, Dareke Young, and Laviska Shenault Jr. all in the mix. What makes Eskridge remain intriguing going into his fourth season, however, is the addition of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. His concepts help maximize space and allow players to run in open space, something that Eskridge excelled in during his college career. Is it too late to capture what made him great for Western Michigan? It might be, but Eskridge has five weeks to prove it's not. -Tyler Forness
