The 2024 NFL draft is still a long way off, but it’s never too early to start researching next year’s prospects. In the case of the Seahawks, there’s already a little bit of interesting chatter surrounding one defensive prospect in particular. Two months ago, Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire mocked Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zahn Newton to Seattle in Round 1.
Now, Jordan Reid at ESPN has also mocked Newton to the Seahawks, this time at No. 19 overall.
“At 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds, Newton is a stout tackle who can lock out and shed blockers to make plays against the run. He is a pocket collapser and finisher, consistently making quarterbacks worry. Newton is at the center of one the best defensive units in the country and led Illinois in tackles for loss (14.0) and sacks (5.5) last season. He’d help Seattle continue to build up that defensive line.”
It may not seem like a sexy pick, but the latest data indicates that high-end run-stopping and pass-rushing interior linemen are actually the most valuable defensive players on the field going by EPA.
there are some obvious caveats about of/off splits in football (situation differences, opponent strength, etc.) but if anyone was curious here were the players who had the biggest difference of their defense's performance when on the field vs. when they were off the field pic.twitter.com/bMu4f2dW6A
— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) July 4, 2023
We love Devon Witherspoon, but this is yet more evidence that Jalen Carter would have been the correct pick at No. 5 overall in the draft this year.
In any case, if the Seahawks can’t figure out their tackle situation in 2023 Newton would make a great fit.
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