Seattle Seahawks: 5 Biggest needs to address in 2020 NFL Draft

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 29: Offensive lineman Germain Ifedi #65 of the Seattle Seahawks blocks against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL football game at State Farm Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

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Seattle Seahawks (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

2. Defensive end

While the Seahawks will pursue Jadeveon Clowney and try to retain the former Pro Bowler, there’s a chance Clowney leaves Seattle high and dry. Clowney only played like a true Pro Bowl-caliber defender in only four or five games in 2019, but his potential far surpasses that of any other defensive end available to Seattle.

Besides Clowney, the Seahawks could lose Ezekiel Ansah, Branden Jackson and Quinton Jefferson in free agency. If all four defensive ends leave, then the Seahawks need to rebuild their defensive end depth from scratch. The team’s only defensive ends under contract for 2020 are L.J. Collier, Rasheem Green and Shakir Soto.

Seattle drafted Collier with the 29th overall pick in 2019. The TCU product played sparingly and never made a start. Even when he got snaps, the rookie never made an impact. Collier finished his rookie season with only three tackles.

Seattle’s 28 sacks in 2019 tied for the second-fewest in the NFL and four of the team’s top six sacks leaders will enter free agency this spring. The Seahawks desperately need at least one new edge rusher.

Even if Collier develops into a regular starter, which seems extremely unlikely right now, Seattle still needs a rotational defensive end to fill Jefferson’s production.

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