It would be an understatement to say that Seahawks DL L.J. Collier has not lived up to his status as a first-round draft pick. The No. 29 overall choice of the 2019 draft played in just 152 snaps in his rookie campaign, though he later said that his rush to return from a preseason ankle sprain may have played a role in that limited usage. But after starting all 16 games and Seattle’s lone playoff contest in 2020, Collier has been active for only two games in 2021.
As such, his name has come up in trade conversations, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rapoport does not say which teams have reached out to the Seahawks, but he does indicate that Seattle entertained discussions before and during the season. Given the disappointing start to his career, the Seahawks cannot expect a significant return in a Collier trade, and rival clubs are surely hoping for a low-risk, high-reward transaction.
Ironically, another former No. 29 overall pick, Robert Nkemdiche, has played a part in Collier’s lack of a role on this year’s defense. Nkemdiche, who was selected by the Cardinals in the 2016 draft and who was nothing short of a bust, was out of football entirely in 2020 and played in only two games in 2019. However, Seahawks DC Ken Norton said at the end of September that Nkemdiche had surpassed Collier on the depth chart.
“It came down to competition,” Norton said. “It came down to being able to play, being able to make quick decisions…and right now we felt like Nkemdiche was a little ahead of [Collier].”
It is certainly telling that Collier is having a hard time seeing the field for a defense that is ranked dead-last in terms of yards per game and that has been unable to generate a consistent pass rush. Still, plenty of teams need edge help, and it could be that a change of scenery will help the TCU product unlock his potential.
Probably get a 5th or 6th round pick for him.
I’d guess a 2023 7th… 6th at best.
“has not lived up to his status as a first round pick” applies to everyone picked by the Seahawks recently
The Hawks have had one phenomenal draft, a couple of good not great drafts in the PC/JS era. 2/3 of all their drafts have been poor- a couple were downright abysmal.
They did set the bar really high with the Russell Wilson and Legion of Boom * classes AND they are a victim of their own success- they have made the playoffs 9 times out of his 11 year tenure. Their 1st rd picks have all been late rd picks.
Forgive my naïveté, I was born in the UK, it took a while to understand and appreciate the NFL. It’s very difficult to move from a sport with constant movement to a type of football with constant interruptions.
Anyways- one thing I’ve never understood is why the media and the fans never really put high expectations on 2nd round picks. The expectations of a 2nd rd pick are nowhere near as close as a 1st rd pick. Yet the good teams of this past decade like Seattle NE GB etc have avg 1st rd picks around 25-31st, only a spot or two away from a 2nd rd pick. Many early 2nd rd picks could’ve gone 1st rd and vice versa. So why do late first rd picks get tagged with the same unrealistic expectations as those picks in the top 12-15 picks of the draft? I’ve never understood that.
Some of those 28th or 30th overall picks might be the 4th, 5th or 6th best player at their respective position. Yet they are classed, graded and compared together with the best player in the nation at that particular position.
Swap Collier for Ferrrell?
Both 2019 first round draft picks which have failed to produce in the NFL.
Ferrell is way better than Collier. While not fourth overall pick quality, he’s still a solid run defender and offers much more than a bust like Collier