The defense ultimately proved the downfall of the Seahawks last season. However, with a young but extremely talented secondary, there is confidence Seattle can take a big step forward on that side of the ball.

Yet for all the obvious attributes of the likes of Tariq Woolen and Quandre Diggs, the Seahawks cannot hold realistic hopes of significant defensive strides without improving the level of pressure produced by their defensive front. The Seahawks, per Sports Info Solutions, ranked 21st in the NFL with a pressure rate of 32.1 percent.

Seattle addressed that issue in part with its main free agency signing, that of former Broncos defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones to a three-year, $51.35 million contract. However, as a defensive end on the Seahawks' three-man line, Jones will be focused largely on providing an interior rush. It is on the edge where there remain doubts about the Seahawks' options.

Uchenna Nwosu was the standout for the Seahawks last season with 9.5 sacks and 62 pressures, the latter number tied for 13th most among edge players, according to Pro Football Focus.

But identifying the players best placed to provide support to Nwosu should be the primary aim for the Seahawks in training camp, which begins next Wednesday.

A look at the raw numbers would suggest they already have that player. Darrell Taylor, the Seahawks' second-round pick from 2020, matched Nwosu's tally of 9.5 sacks, but did not disrupt the quarterback as consistently. Taylor's pressure rate, according to SIS, was 10.3 percent compared to 14.9 percent for Nwosu.

With no Seahawks edge rusher recording a pass rush win rate of over 10 percent, per PFF, Seattle recognized the need for more help at the position. They spent a third successive second-rounder on an edge, picking Derrick Hall having also selected Boye Mafe in the same round in 2021.

A previously underrated player on the Chargers' defense prior to signing with Seattle last offseason, the Seahawks are hopeful the 26-year-old Nwosu can continue to ascend, but it will be easier for him to maintain a significant influence if at least one of the trio of second-round picks can emerge as a disruptive running mate.

Taylor is the leader in the clubhouse given his sack production last year. When at his best, he offers explosiveness, power and an ability to bend and turn the corner.

Darrell Taylor must have guzzled some jet fuel before kickoff on Sunday. Perfect jump – so much so that all George Fant could do is look at the refs in disbelief – and he immediately hones in on Mike White for the first of 2.5 sacks. #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/0mu49EqRFJ

— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) January 3, 2023

Mafe has markedly similar gifts but a rookie season that featured only three sacks and 12 pressures means he has ground to make up in the fight for snaps on the edge.

Power was Hall's calling card at Auburn, though he will need to add more explosiveness and another move to complement a well-refined rip move to maximize his hopes of making an early impression.

A convincing camp and preseason from Taylor that gives the Seahawks confidence he can be more consistent in creating disruption would firmly establish him as the top edge rusher across from Nwosu.

But with Mafe and Hall hoping to take snaps away from him, the stage is set for an intriguing battle between a triumvirate of edge rushers with the physical gifts to develop into consistent defensive playmakers at the highest level.

The onus is on Taylor to prove that he can continue to deliver the splash plays along with more frequent pressure. Him succeeding in that goal to form a formidable duo with Uwosu and at least one of Mafe and Hall proving a productive rotational piece would put the Seahawks' front in a much better position and significantly improve the odds of the Seattle defense realizing aspirations of an upturn.

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