Mike Davis is back, to work out in that running back group. Marcus Smith is back, to work out in that defensive end group. And now we have defensive tackle, Tom Johnson, out of Minnesota. A 7-year vet, making less than $3 million, rotating in the interior, who will hopefully provide marginal pressure up the middle.
I like Mike Davis. Of all the options out there on the free agent market – all the veterans and retreads and everyone else – I like Mike Davis over everyone else. I think he’s just as good as anyone on the scrap heap, plus he likely comes in at around or below $1 million. No one expects Mike Davis to be The Man, but as a backup, I think he’s fine. He’s reliable. He’s smart. He’ll find the hole and he’ll get you a few yards. I don’t think there’s anyone on the free agent market who is remarkably better than Mike Davis, so why not bring back Mike Davis?
My hunch is, either Chris Carson will be this team’s lead back, or whoever they take in the draft will be this team’s lead back. I think it’s Carson’s job to lose, but if he doesn’t come back from injury as expected, or if the new guy is just a monster, then we’ll see a switch. But, it’s nice having Davis there as insurance, because I wouldn’t mind seeing him start a game here and there.
Beyond that, I think there’s a straight-up position battle between C.J. Prosise and J.D. McKissic, and if there’s even a whiff of an injury on Prosise, I think now is the time to cut ties and stop rostering him just to get nothing out of him. Obviously, that’ll play out in Training Camp and the Pre-Season, so you don’t have to make that decision right now, but I’m absolutely looking for any reason to waive Prosise, because I don’t think he can be trusted.
As for the D-Line moves, I like Marcus Smith as a rotation guy. He’s making less than $3 million, and I can’t imagine a whole lot of that is guaranteed, so if he gets beat out or gets injured, it’s not a huge loss. And, I don’t know much about Tom Johnson, but he strikes me as a Tony McDaniel type, MAYBE a Clinton McDonald type. Of course, those types of players – if they’re going to generate any sort of pass rush – need quality ends around them to give them one-on-one matchups, and I just don’t know if the Seahawks have that right now.
It’s looking less and less likely that the Seahawks are going to make a huge free agent splash, and I think I’m okay with that. I like all of these 1-year type deals. You take one more half-assed shot at competing for a playoff spot, you start working more young guys/rookies into the regular playing rotation to see what you have, you don’t cripple your long-term cap, and you stop trading away all your future draft picks. Then, if the Seahawks do bottom out in 2018 (which, call me a bad fan all you want, I think the Seahawks will be – at best – 3rd in the NFC West this year, so bite my ass you optimistic homers), they’ll be in a much better position to clean house and re-stock this roster with a bunch of studs heading into the 2019 season.
The question remains: am I secretly rooting for the Seahawks to tank in 2018? Well, I don’t think we have a shot in hell of winning the Super Bowl, so you tell me!