A player 12s can be happy is no longer eating up space on the Seahawks roster

On December 1, 2024By Littum

The Seattle Seahawks are on top of the NFC West, but they aren’t exactly dominating the league either. They could still use an infusion of talent at almost every position. But the way this season has played out, it’s absolutely clear that they made the right decision to let this player move on.

It should come as no surprise that my pick is in defense. After an interlude of terrible play, the Hawks’ defense is playing exceptionally good ball. So while Seattle could use some help on offense – does anyone have an extra guard? – The defense looks pretty solid right now. Of course, you can always use another player. A good player, that is. He certainly doesn’t qualify at that level.

It looks like the Hawks will soon get a good player back on defense. Uchenna Nwosu returned to the training ground this week. He is not expected to be ready for the Week 14 contest against the Jets. Getting him back in time for the rematch with the Cardinals would be excellent. But let’s look at the player. Seattle certainly doesn’t need to take on New York or anyone else. Speaking of that Cardinals rematch…

To say Collier was a disappointment in Seattle would be an understatement, just as the Bears demonstrated poor clock management on Thanksgiving Day. The Hawks used their 2019 first-round pick on the TCU lineman, expecting him to develop into the next Michael Bennett.

Well, he might be a philanthropist in the future, but he was no closer to being the black Santa on the field that I would have been. In his four seasons with the Hawks, he managed just three sacks, six tackles for a loss and 13 quarterback hits. That’s literally half of a good season for Bennett – his averages in Seattle: 7.8 sacks, 13.8 TFL and 23.6 QB hits. To paraphrase one of the major lines from American Politics: “Mr. Collier, I knew Michael Bennett, and you are no Michael Bennett.”

When the Seahawks declined to pick up his 2023 option, Collier made very clear his gratitude to the organization, the city and especially the 12s for his opportunity here. His agent, not so much:

Scott Casterline @ScottCasterline on LJ Collier to #Cardinals ‘Our main goal was to get LJ to the right team, the right coaching staff and the right system. Look what they did last year in Philadelphia. They play on the field. Jonathan Gannon is what you want in a coach.’ @KPRC2

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 21, 2023

Unfortunately, Collier appears to have paid for the sins of his representative. LJ’s move to the Cardinals in 2023 was not the success he had hoped for. An injury in his first game took him out for the entire season. Naturally, he was thrilled when Arizona brought him back for another chance in 2024. Despite that the statement that Collier “starting to become the player the Seahawks always thought he could be,” he’s still not performing like a first-round pick should.

Yes, he leads the Cardinals in pressure and rushing, according to Pro Football Focus (paywall). He also only has one and a half sacks, two QB hits and four TFL. PFF rates him as one of the Cardinals’ worst run defenders (44.5) and tacklers (30.0). His overall grade of 48.5 ranks him 96th in the league. He makes some plays for the Cards, but the Hawks certainly don’t miss his play.

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