With Seahawks training camp kicking off later this month, Seahawks.com is taking a look at 10 of the most intriguing storylines, position battles and players heading into the 2024 season. So far, we've taken a look at special teams, tight end, safety and running back, and today we focus on inside linebacker, where the Seahawks made some big changes this offseason. Check back Monday when we turn our attention to receiver, and in particular a breakout candidate in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
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Key Linebacker Back Additions: Jerome Baker (free agent), Tyrel Dodson (free agent), Tyrice Knight (draft).
Key Linebacker Departures: Bobby Wagner (signed with Washington), Jordyn Brooks (signed with Miami).
The Seahawks defense will look different schematically in 2024 as new head coach Mike Macdonald puts his stamp on the team, and while there are plenty of returning players on defense, one area in which the personnel will look quite a bit different is at linebacker.
Gone are last year's starters, Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks, the former being an all-time great and future Hall of Famer, and the latter being a 2020 first-round pick who contributed 456 tackles over the past three seasons. Wagner is now in Washington, reunited with former Seahawks defensive coordinator and current Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, while Brooks signed with Miami in the early stages of free agency.
To bolster the roster at linebacker, the Seahawks signed Jerome Baker, a six-year starter in Miami, and Tyrel Dodson, who is coming off a strong fourth season in Buffalo after taking over a starting role. Baker piled up 587 tackles, 22.5 sacks, 31 tackles for loss and five interceptions in his time with Miami. Dodson, meanwhile, took on a bigger role last season, starting 10 games, and though he was not an every-down player throughout the season, Dodson was Pro Football Focus' highest graded linebacker last season with a 90.2 grade, including high marks against the run and pass, and he was named to that site's "All-Breakout Team" for the 2023 season.
The Seahawks also used a fourth-round pick on linebacker Tyrice Knight, who is coming off a highly productive career at UTEP. (And for clarification, today's training camp preview is focused only on inside or off-ball linebackers, not outside linebackers. Those edge players will be covered, along with the defensive line, next week). Those changes allowed the Seahawks to be athletic at linebacker while getting younger on aggregate and devoting fewer salary cap resources to the position.
And while the Seahawks have high hopes for those three newcomers, they have yet to get a good look at what the defense might look like with Baker and Dodson, the frontrunners to win the two starting jobs, both on the field. While both players are expected to be healthy for training camp, neither was able to participate in on-field work during the offseason workout program due to injuries suffered last season. Missing OTAs and minicamp isn't a massive setback for a veteran player, but those two will have some catchup work to do as they join a new defense.
"It's tough because some of the guys aren't out there," Macdonald said last month during OTAs. "It's something we're chasing right now. We're seeing how it fits, where guys feel more comfortable inside or outside, that sort of thing. So it's probably early to give you a full report on that."
Macdonald has extensive experience coaching linebackers and his defense in Baltimore helped Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen both have Pro-Bowl and All-Pro seasons in 2023, so when healthy, Dodson and Baker should be set up for success. Knight also showed flashes in offseason workouts and as he gets up to speed, he should challenge for playing time as well.
"He's coming along," Macdonald said. "The mentality is there. The game's fast for him right now, but it's a process. It's his fifth practice with the big boys, and like all the rookies, they have a lot to learn, but he's made some plays, he's seeing some things right now, so there's a foundation there that we're excited about. He's a rookie right now, so he's got to pick it up just like the rest of them."
And with Dodson and Baker sidelined, Seattle's linebacker depth has been getting some valuable experience, in particular the duo of Jon Rhattigan and Patrick O'Connell, who spent most of OTAs and minicamp working with the No. 1 defense. And while those two may very well end up as backups and special teams mainstays when everyone is healthy, the position group will be deeper and more experienced for the time they got with the starters this offseason.
Check out the best photos from the linebackers during the team's 2024 offseason workout program.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) and linebacker Derick Hall (58) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker (17) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) and linebacker Derick Hall (58) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53), linebacker Derick Hall (58) and linebacker Joshua Onujiogu (49) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59) and linebacker Jerome Baker (17) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) and the linebackers participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) and linebacker Joshua Onujiogu (49) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks linebackers participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) and the linebackers participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker (17) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (50) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks linebackers participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (50) and the linebackers participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) and linebacker Boye Mafe (53) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) and the linebackers participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks linebackers participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59) participated in offseason workouts at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
