Seattle Seahawks rookie grades for 2019: D.K. Metcalf earns top marks

Round 3

Cody Barton: B-

Per 710 Sports’ Brandon Gustafson, Pete Carrol praised Cody Barton following Seattle’s playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers. “I can’t imagine him not being a very good football player,” Carroll said.

Barton also received praise in the preseason. Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. called him special and went on to say:

"“He’s really smart. You can’t give him enough information. He’s always trying to get more and more. He has this great ability to take all the information and make it work for him on the field at a very young age. Usually rookies have a little slower process of diagnosing and understanding. He’s sharp, he’s quick. He’s going to help us out early.”"

Per the Seattle Times‘ Bob Condotta, Carroll praised Barton during the offseason. “We’re expecting him to be really an active part in all areas,” the head coach said. “We can’t hold him down.”

Bottom line, the Seahawks new Barton could become a significant player on their defense early in the offseason. The Utah product spent the majority of his rookie season competing as an outstanding special teams player, but he saw more time on defense later in the year.

Barton played 144 defensive snaps during Seattle’s final five regular-season games. Due to an injury to Mychal Kendricks, he also started both of Seattle’s playoff games.

Barton appeared in all 16 regular-season games for the Seahawks and finished the regular season with 23 special teams and defensive tackles.

With Kendricks entering free agency this spring, Barton could take over as a starting outside linebacker. While his rookie year did not yield much production, Barton looks primed for several big seasons down the line.