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Seattle Seahawks: 2018 Rookie report card grades

By Samuel Teets

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Running back Rashaad Penny #20 of the Seattle Seahawks gets around inside linebacker Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams to score a touchdown in the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Running back Rashaad Penny #20 of the Seattle Seahawks gets around inside linebacker Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams to score a touchdown in the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 09: Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts scrambles under pressure from defensive end Rasheem Green #94 of the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on August 9, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 09: Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts scrambles under pressure from defensive end Rasheem Green #94 of the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on August 9, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Third Round: Rasheem Green

The Seahawks didn’t have a pick in the second round which means we get to skip ahead to the third where the team drafted defensive end Rasheem Green out of USC 79th overall. At 6-4, 279 pounds, Green is close to the height and weight of former Seahawks star Michael Bennett. For me though, Green’s selection was more reminiscent of when Seattle drafted Frank Clark in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

It’s clear why Seattle used their second pick on Green. Aside from 10 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in his final year at USC, the Seahawks needed to replace two pass rushers. Clark had already taken over Avril’s production since the veteran only played four games in 2017.

Bennett’s production was a different story. When the team traded the three-time Pro Bowler away, they needed to find someone to fill his spot. Dion Jordan produced well last year in five games, but he didn’t seem like a long-term answer so Seattle went with Green.

Initially, perhaps foolishly, I had high hopes for Green’s production in 2018. As I mentioned, the Seahawks were desperate for pass rushers and I thought Green would get a lot of playing time. I wasn’t expecting some kind of Pro Bowl performance, but I thought Green would get close to the numbers Clark put up in his rookie season.

Those numbers were: 16 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, six quarterback hits, two passes defensed and a forced fumble through 15 games. In 10 games Green recorded nine combined tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, and one quarterback hit. He wasn’t even the best pass rusher for the Seahawks from this draft class.

Now that I’ve said all that, Green will have plenty of opportunities to produce in 2019 and beyond. Not every great player gets a ton of snaps and stats right away. I already mentioned that Clark didn’t have an outstanding rookie campaign.

He didn’t start a game that season either, just like Green. Defensive tackle Jarran Reed is another example. The 2016 second-round pick had three total sacks in his first two seasons and then recorded 10.5 in 2018. Green can still reach those levels, but, based off of his limited use and low production, he’ll get a low grade.

Rookie Grade: C-

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