Analysis: What to Watch at Seahawks Mandatory Minicamp
Wrapping up their second offseason program under coach Mike Macdonald, the Seattle Seahawks will host a pair of mandatory minicamp practices this week before bolting town for a summer break.
As the Seahawks conclude the final phase of their offseason program, here are five things I will be watching closely at the VMAC on Tuesday and Wednesday:
1. Progression from Sam Darnold, new receivers in Klint Kubiak’s offense.
During the three open OTA sessions, which provided the first opportunity to see Darnold in action running Kubiak’s system, Darnold had his moments where he flashed the tools that allowed him to enjoy a breakout year in Minnesota in 2024. Most notably, his rapidly growing rapport with fellow veteran newcomer Cooper Kupp couldn’t have been more evident, as he linked up with the former All-Pro for four touchdowns during scrimmage work and the two already seem to be developing an almost telepathic connection in the early stages of their time together. He also seemed to heat up throwing to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the final two practices last week as well.
At the same time, as to be expected learning a new offense while trying to adjust to an all-new cast of wideouts, Darnold also made his share of mistakes in uneven practices, struggling with holding onto the ball too long too often in Monday’s practice and uncorking a few bad interceptions with questionable decisions along the way. This is the time of year where it is okay for quarterbacks to make those mistakes, however, and the key will be gradual improvement learning from those mistakes as he continues to sharpen his knowledge of the scheme and build chemistry with the supporting cast around him.
Nobody expects Darnold to be mistake-free in these non-contact sessions, but in the final step of the offseason program, it would be a welcome development if he takes a positive step forward speeding up his processing in a timing-based system and plays more efficient football as both a passer and decision maker from the pocket in these final two practices before going into summer break.
2. Pecking order in “wide open” right guard competition continues to take shape.
It’s far too early to have a read on who will be starting for the Seahawks at right guard against the 49ers in Week 1, and without the ability to assess physicality and actual blocking in non-padded practices, it takes some ingenuity to evaluate offensive line play in general this time of year.
Still, these practices remain important for line coach John Benton and run game coordinator Rick Dennison as they try to assemble the best offensive line they can, and how reps are divvied out this week will be telling in regard to what the coaching staff thinks of the position thus far. Last week, second-year blocker Christian Haynes received the lion’s share of the first-team reps between center Olu Oluwatimi and right tackle Abraham Lucas, while incumbent starter Anthony Bradford rotated in more as the week progressed with the two players platooning.
With only two minicamp practices, even if Haynes and Bradford remain the only two players to see action at right guard this week, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Sataoa Laumea, who started six games at the position last year, or rookie Bryce Cabeldue couldn’t enter the conversation when camp opens in late July. But it would be telling if neither of those players gets a look in the final phase of the offseason program, suggesting the same two-horse race that took place last summer will be ran again with a different coaching staff hoping to unlock the full potential of both players and Haynes getting the first shot to try to secure the job this time around.
3. Veterans and rookies vying for bubble spots at offensive skill positions.
Unlike the offensive line where it can be incredibly difficult to make judgments in the trenches during spring practices, there’s plenty that can be gleaned watching receivers and tight ends battle this time of year, and the next couple of days could have a bearing on how competitions for back-end roster spots play out.
In the aftermath of trading DK Metcalf and cutting Tyler Lockett, the Seahawks likely have three receiver spots already spoken for with Smith-Njigba, Kupp, and Valdes-Scantling, leaving two or three spots at the most up for grabs going into the summer. Third-year wideout Jake Bobo has staked an early claim to one of those spots, once again wowing on the practice field with his soft hands, size, and route running ability, while fourth-year receiver Dareke Young has demonstrated marked improvement as a route runner and Cody White remains a dark horse to watch. Rookies Tory Horton and Ricky White III will factor into things and free agent signee Steven Sims Jr. also belongs in the mix due to his talent as a return specialist, creating quite an intriguing competition for only a couple of spots.
As for Seattle’s situation at tight end, Noah Fant, A.J. Barner, and rookie Elijah Arroyo all seem like locks to be on the opening day roster, but those three players will be vying for snaps with the team likely to use extensive 12 and 13 personnel groupings with multiple tight ends on the field in Kubiak’s offense. Behind them, as many as four or five players with tight end backgrounds could be on the final roster with rookie Robbie Ouzts and Brady Russell battling for the fullback job and veteran Eric Saubert being a renowned special teams cog, making it a competition that also bears watching.
4. Lingering depth questions along defensive line as well as inside linebacker.
While eyes tend to gravitate to star players such as Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed or promising youngsters such as Byron Murphy II on the practice field, there’s no drama regarding their spots on the roster come September. They will be playing major roles for Macdonald’s front line once again, giving the Seahawks one of the better defensive tackle trios in the NFL.
Where things remain unsettled, however, is behind the Big 3 in reserve roles. Seattle lost Roy Robertson-Harris in free agency and the only significant addition that was made to the group came in the form of fifth-round pick Rylie Mills, who may not be ready for the start of the season after suffering a torn ACL in January. Even after re-signing veteran Johnathan Hankins last month, the team doesn’t have many proven commodities filling out the depth chart, as former fifth-round pick Mike Morris has yet to emerge as a viable rotational defender and nose tackles Brandon Pili and Quinton Bohanna spent most of last year on the practice squad instead of the active roster. Figuring out who will fill those gaps remains a significant storyline to watch in minicamps.
The same can be said at off-ball linebacker, where the Seahawks have their starters already on the roster in Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight but have question marks behind them. Drake Thomas did some nice things as a nickel sub last year and likely will be the third linebacker on the depth chart, leaving one or two spots at most on the 53. Patrick O’Connell has been a great preseason performer and Josh Ross played for Macdonald at Michigan, but neither has played meaningful regular season snaps on defense, leaving the door open for undrafted rookie D’Eryk Jackson to surprise if he can continue to impress the coaching staff. Jockeying for those spots will very much continue to play out at minicamp.
5. Figuring out reps and roles at a hyper-competitive, deep safety position.
Seattle may have concerns depth-wise at defensive tackle and linebacker, but the team shouldn’t have to worry about that problem at safety, where a couple of good players inevitably will be on the outside looking in by the end of training camp. Already with two plus starters in Julian Love and Coby Bryant, Macdonald added Nick Emmanwori to the fold as a second-round pick and the uber-athletic defender has been playing all over the place so far, leaving all sorts of possibilities for how the coaching staff will deploy him as a weapon right out of the gate.
Away from Love, Bryant, and Emmanwori, Macdonald may also have the ability to sprinkle in free agent signing D’Anthony Bell as a sub-package player as well. The fourth-year defender showed promise when given the chance to play defensively with the Browns over the past two years and he had a great week of open OTAs, intercepting Darnold on a deep ball and deflecting another pass from the starting quarterback that landed in fellow safety Ty Okada’s hands for an interception. At 6-2, 209 pounds, he has the size to play in the box to go along with quality ball skills as a coverage safety.
With Bell likely to make Seattle’s roster, that puts former sixth-round pick Jerrick Reed, Okada, and A.J. Finley in a difficult spot. Since all three of those players have a history of being quality special teamers, it’s possible the Seahawks could keep five or even six on the 53-man roster. At the same time, needs at other position groups could squeeze all of them off the roster with one or two being prime practice squad candidates. How Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde sprinkle those players into the lineup this week will be an early indicator where things stand on the depth chart moving towards camp at a position where tough decisions inevitably await.
