Good afternoon, 12s. Here's a look at what's happening today – Monday, June 14 – for your Seattle Seahawks.
Seahawks Linebackers Among Best In NFL, Per PFF
Dating back to Lofa Tatupu in the mid-2000s, the Seahawks' linebacker group has often been atop the league during the 21st century. Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Super Bowl XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith anchored a championship squad in 2013 and the unit has stayed strong ever since.
This year is expected to be no different in Seattle. Wagner, entering his 10th season, has made seven consecutive Pro Bowls and five consecutive First-Team All-Pros. He's without a doubt one of the best linebackers in the league.
Beyond Wagner, the Seahawks employ a talented group of young linebackers who will be able to lean on their star veteran teammate. Second-year linebacker Jordyn Brooks is expected to take a step forward after a solid rookie season where he totaled 53 tackles in 14 games. Cody Barton, a third-year player from Utah, could also see an uptick in playing time if the Seahawks don't re-sign Wright.
Rookies Aaron Donkor and Jon Rhattigan are also an intriguing pair of players. Donkor, a German who joined the Seahawks from the NFL International Pathway Program, has NFL size (6-foot-1, 240) and impressed at rookie minicamp. Rhattigan is another undrafted rookie, hailing from Army after a strong senior season.
Last week, Pro Football Focus' Sam Monson ranked the NFL’s 32 linebacker units for the 2021 season. The Seahawks came in at No. 2 on Monson's list, just behind the division-rival 49ers. Here's what Monson wrote about Seattle's group:
"If the Seahawks still had K.J. Wright, they would comfortably field the NFL's best linebacker unit, but with Wright still a free agent, this unit is carried by Bobby Wagner. With the team deteriorating around him, Wagner has been put in ever-tougher positions, but he still has a top-five overall PFF grade over the past two seasons. He recorded 20 total pressures, 53 defensive stops and seven pass breakups in 2020. Jordyn Brooks is a work in progress, but we saw flashes of what he's capable of as a rookie last year."
Russell Wilson Hosts NFL FLAG League In Seattle
Summer is almost here and that means more opportunities to play outside have arrived for kids.
This past weekend, Russell Wilson held his FLAG Football League in the Seattle area. In partnership with NFL FLAG and the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson's league has offered opportunities to children ages 4 to 14 throughout this spring.
With Wilson back in Seattle for Seahawks OTAs and minicamp, he took the opportunity to help coach this weekend. Jeff Richards, the Seahawks' VP of Marketing and Community Engagement, is also a coach in the league.
"Russell has been an incredible ambassador for NFL FLAG and has already done so much to support league development and growth," said NFL FLAG Executive Director and Reigning Champs Experiences (RCX) GM Izell Reese when the league was announced in January. "We're excited to have him and the Seahawks bring NFL FLAG to the Seattle community and motivate and mentor young athletes who have a passion for flag."
Social Post Of The Day
Seahawks cornerback Pierre Desir returned to the St. Louis area this weekend to host a free football camp for children:
More From Around The Web
Seahawks.com reporter John Boyle with a look at D.J. Reed’s offseason as he prepared for his second season in Seattle.
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times has five storylines to watch at the Seahawks’ three-day mandatory minicamp, which begins this Tuesday.
Jake Heaps of 710 ESPN Seattle gives his biggest takeaways from Seahawks OTAs last week.
Lindsey Wisniewski of NBC Sports Northwest on Russell Wilson’s belief in new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
