5 players who Seahawks need to be great in 2020

1. L.J. Collier

Metcalf really impressed Seahawks officials as a rookie, but L.J. Collier was underwhelming in every sense of the word in 2019. Seattle spent a first-round pick on the edge rusher, but he didn’t contribute a single sack during his rookie campaign.

The departure of Jadeveon Clowney suddenly thrusts Collier back into the frame to grab a starting spot at defensive end. Expecting him to blossom into a star in year two is foolish. Hoping that he’ll develop into a reasonable starter is something the Seahawks can still do.

Collier has some talent, but he was overwhelmed by the speed of the NFL game as a rookie. He just needs to slow down and stick to his strengths this year. That means he needs to get comfortable with the idea that his sacks will come as a result of power and technique rather than speed.

The Seahawks desperately need Collier to show some signs of life this season. They’re short of talent at edge rusher, and that means he is going to play significant snaps. Another empty year from Collier might torpedo both his career and Seattle’s 2020 season.