Seattle Seahawks: Predicting stats for 2019 rookies
By Samuel Teets
Ben Burr-Kirven (No. 142)
Washington linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven was Seattle’s lone pick in the fifth round. Burr-Kirven, like Amadi, had size concerns going into the draft. He’s 6-0, 230 pounds, which puts him a little under the weight desired for NFL linebackers. Size issues cannot wipe out the incredible production Burr-Kirven put up at Washington though.
In his senior season, Burr-Kirven appeared in 14 games and recorded 176 combined tackles, two sacks, six passes defensed, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. He led the Pac-12 in solo, assisted and combined tackles, which earned him the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Needless to say, Burr-Kirven has a nose for the football and is accustomed to making big plays.
Whether Burr-Kirven’s 12.5 tackles per game translate to the NFL has yet to be seen, but there were clearly doubts if he slid to the fifth round. He will start far down the depth chart at both the middle and outside linebacker positions and will have to earn every snap he gets this coming season.
Projected 2019 stats: 20 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble
Travis Homer (No. 204)
Sixth-round pick Travis Homer is walking into a crowded Seahawks backfield. With Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny as the established workhorses, Homer will have to battle for scraps. His main competition is C.J. Prosise, J.D. McKissic and Bo Scarbrough. None of those three players are guaranteed snaps in 2019. In fact, not all of them will make the active roster. Still, it’s hard to see Homer seeing any serious action.
Projected 2019 stats: None
Demarcus Christmas (No. 209)
Former Florida State defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas had a lot of potential heading into college, but he never quite delivered which is why he fell to the seventh round. He’s a space eater and run stopper rather than a pass rusher, and he could be a quality steal. The chance of him stealing snaps from Poona Ford or Jarran Reed is slim to none.
Projected 2019 stats: 15 combined tackles
Next. Seattle Seahawks: 3 Players out of place on current roster. dark
John Ursua (No. 236)
That just leaves Hawaii wide receiver John Ursua. The Seahawks liked Ursua enough that they traded back into the seventh round to take him, but he’s only 5-9, 178 pounds and wasn’t even guaranteed to be drafted. At the same time, he did post 89 receptions, 1,343 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 13 games last season. He was only going against Mountain West Conference defenders, but that level of production is eye-catching, on paper at least.
Projected 2019 stats: None