The Seahawks’ rookie class is already sorting itself out in the first full week of training camp, and a few names are starting to separate from the pack.
At running back, Price is getting the kind of runway that usually tells you a team wants to see more. Seattle plans to put him through plenty of tests and drills as it works on his conditioning for the season ahead.
George Holani and Emanuel Wilson are also getting first-team work, but Price is the top option in that group. Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury already knows he can run the ball, and the focus now is on turning him into a dependable, efficient pass-catcher.
The picture at safety has been a little different for Clark. He was never expected to open with the first-team defense, and that’s held true so far.
Veterans D’Anthony Bell and Rodney Thomas appear to be the choices when Julian Love and Ty Okada are off the field, while Clark has been working with the second- and third-team defense. That’s not a setback so much as a developmental stage, and there’s still time for him to settle in.
Neal has been steady in the way teams usually want from a rookie corner. He’s not surging up the chart, but he isn’t sliding either.
He’s where he was expected to be, working with the second-team defense. Neal is set up as the primary backup to Josh Jobe, with third-year veteran Nehemiah Pritchett next in line at corner.
That’s especially notable with slot cornerback Nick Emmanwori potentially out for all of training camp. Neal has reportedly flashed against the first-team offense, though some minor injuries could slow him down.
Stephens, meanwhile, is still in the early grind. He’s been working with the third-team offense while trying to beat out other young veterans for a 53-man roster spot. The expectations around him have been high, but it’s worth remembering he is a fifth-round rookie, and he’s being asked to climb a crowded depth chart.
Henderson has a tougher road in front of him, too. He’s competing with several former undrafted veterans who have already spent time with the Seahawks, but there are encouraging signs.
Media members at practice have praised his speed and his hands, and he’s starting to get noticed. He still has to make the most of his team reps, but he’s putting himself on the radar.
Fuller has been more of a mixed bag. He was solid during rookie minicamp and OTAs, but he hasn’t delivered the same eye-catching moments he showed earlier in the offseason.
He’s been with the third-team defense and has shown up on some team-period snaps, though he hasn’t been especially loud to start camp. Even so, he reportedly turned in a solid practice just before the Seahawks’ pads session.
Eastern’s path has been slowed by time missed on the PUP list, which is never ideal for a rookie trying to learn the NFL game. He did come off the PUP list and took part in his first practice on Thursday. That first workout came in full pads, which is a steep introduction, but the door is open for him to keep improving, especially with defensive tackle Brandon Pili injured and more reps available.
The most eye-opening rookie so far may be Michael Dansby. He was already strong during OTAs and minicamp, and that has carried into camp. Through the first week, Dansby has picked off multiple passes in 1-on-1s and team drills.
He’s making his case at cornerback and adding value on special teams, too. Locked On Seahawks’ Corbin Smith has called Dansby one of his favorite rookies outside of Price this offseason, and there’s a real chance Dansby ends up on the 53-man roster when camp is done.
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Training camp has given the Seahawks a better look at one of the more interesting young defenders on their roster, and rookie Bud Clark has been making it hard not to notice him. Mike Macdonald has been impressed by the second-round pick from TCU, whose ball skills and versatility fit the kind of hybrid secondary Seattle has been building, especially with Nick Emmanwori in the mix.
The opening left behind by Coby Bryants departure to the Chicago Bears is still there, and Ty Okada remains in the conversation to help fill it. But Clark is starting to look like the more natural long-term answer for the slot duties, with enough range to move around and enough instincts to keep his name in the discussion as camp wears on. [Read more 🡒]
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Bud Clarks first rookie minicamp with the Seahawks came with a side of franchise history. On May 1, the rookie safety met Richard Sherman, who was at the facility unofficially to help out the defensive backs and pass along a little guidance. For a young player trying to find his footing in Seattle, it was the kind of introduction that reminds you how much weight this organization still carries.
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