How the evolution of the linebacker position has changed in Bobby Wagner’s eyes – NBCSports.com

There are a number of lenses worth looking through when the NFL releases the regular season schedule each year. One of them is which top rookies Seattle will face. The Seahawks 2020 schedule is loaded with first-year talent, especially within the NFC West.

Heres a glance at who theyll have to deal with this season and when.

Week 1 at Atlanta Falcons

Notable picks: CB A.J. Terrell, DL Marlon Davidson

It will be interesting to see whether or not Atlanta chooses to play Davidson as a defensive tackle or a defensive end. Regardless, he could be a Day 1 difference maker on Dan Quinns defense.

Week 2 vs. New England Patriots (SNF)

Notable picks: S Kyle Dugger, LB Josh Uche

The Patriots took Dugger, a Division II star our of Lenoir-Rhyne, at the top of the second round. Hes got elite size and athleticism that Bill Belichick is surely eager to see at the back end of his defense. Uche is a raw pass rusher out of Michigan that many Seahawks fans had on their draft wish list. New England feels like a great fit that should allow him to maximize his unrefined tools and traits.

Week 3 vs. Dallas Cowboys

Notable picks: WR CeeDee Lamb, CB Trevon Diggs, DE Bradlee Anae

Cowboys fans are still celebrating Lamb falling to them with the 17th-overall pick. Lamb put up 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns for Oklahoma in 2019. The trio of Lamb, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup is arguably the best in the NFL. Diggs was thought to have first-round potential, but Dallas nabbed him in the second. Anae offers supreme value in the fifth round given he racked up 13.0 sacks for Utah last season.

Week 4 at Miami Dolphins

Notable picks: QB Tua Tagovailoa, T Austin Jackson

Seattle will be one of the first teams to see Tagovailoa on an NFL stage, assuming he's able to win the job immediately. The Dolphins chose the Alabama product over Oregons Justin Herbert. Miami taking Jackson to protect his blindside was a wise choice in the back half of the first round.

Week 5 vs Minnesota Vikings (SNF)

Notable picks: WR Justin Jefferson, CB Jeff Gladney, T Ezra Cleveland

The Eagles picking Jalen Reagor over Jefferson was a bit of a surprise, but I doubt Minnesota is arguing. Jefferson was Joe Burrows top receiving threat and put up video game numbers in 2019: 111 receptions, 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. Cleveland was a nice get in the second round when many draft analysts thought hed be off the board in the first.

Week 6 BYE

Week 7 at Arizona Cardinals

Notable picks: LB Isaiah Simmons, T Josh Jones

Arizona has had a fantastic offseason beginning in free agency, stealing DeAndre Hopkins via trade from the Texans and retooling one of the leagues worst defenses last season. Now theyve added one of this years the most exciting defensive prospects in Simmons, who offers similar versatility to Chargers star defensive back Derwin James. Theres a ton of potential there, and it will be interesting to see how Arizona deploys him.

Jones was seen as a potential first-round pick but somehow slid all the way to the third round. He should serve as one of Arizonas tackles of the future.

Week 8 vs. San Francisco 49ers

Notable picks: DT Javon Kinlaw, WR Brandon Aiyuk

The 49ers were masterful on draft weekend, landing a pair of first-round picks as well as acquiring star left tackle Trent Williams in a trade with the Redskins. San Francisco will have the luxury of transitioning seamlessly from Joe Staley to Williams and DeForest Buckner to Kinlaw.

The selection of Kinlaw ensures that the 49ers will continue to have one of, if not the best defensive line in all of football. Kyle Shanahan said Aiyuk was his favorite receiver in what was considered an all-time great class of wideouts. You can decide whether or not you believe him, but its hard to argue that the reigning NFC West champs arent at least as good as they were in 2019, if not a tick better.

Week 9 at Buffalo Bills

Notable picks: DE A.J. Epenesa, RB Zach Moss, WR Isaiah Hodgins

A number of Seahawks fans were hoping Seattle would land Epenesa as an edge rusher of the future. Hodgins was a nice value pick at the end of the sixth round. The Oregon State wideout put up 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Beavers in 2019.

Week 10 at Los Angeles Rams

Notable picks: RB Cam Akers, WR Van Jefferson

Akers will be the Rams long-term replacement for Todd Gurley. He posted two separate 1,000-yard seasons at Florida state as well as 34 total touchdowns. Jefferson was a player who many draft experts liked as a potential fit with the Seahawks. Hes coming off of a foot injury, but he was seen as maybe the purest route runner in this years class.

The Seahawks have had trouble dealing with Sean McVays offense in previous seasons. Stopping them in 2020 should be just as challenging.

Week 11 vs. Arizona Cardinals (TNF)

Week 12 at Philadelphia Eagles (MNF)

Notable picks: WR Jalen Reagor, QB Jalen Hurts

I expected the Eagles to go with LSUs Justin Jefferson, but everyone knew Philadelphia was going to go receiver in the first round so it still Reagor still makes sense. How will the Eagles utilize Hurts? What does that pick mean for the future of Carson Wentz. Hurts might be a special player, but it was a head-scratching pick all the same.

Week 13 vs. New York Giants

Notable picks: T Andrew Thomas, S Xavier McKinney

The Giants landed one of the Big Four tackles in this years class as well as arguably this years top safety prospect in McKinney, who slipped out of the first round to the Giants benefit.

Week 14 vs. New York Jets

Notable picks: T Mekhi Becton, WR Denzel Mims

Both New York teams grabbed a Big Four tackle. Mims, an athlete build like DK Metcalf, had a similar Metcalf-like fall in the draft to the bottom of the second round. He ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and posted 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns for Baylor in 2019. This could turn out to be one of the steals of the draft.

Week 15 at Washington Redskins

Notable picks: DE Chase Young, WR Antonio Gibson, WR Antonio Gandy-Golden

Young is expected to have a Nick Bosa-like immediate impact as a rookie. Seattle already sees Bosa twice a year. Young will surely be a handful as well. Gandy-Golden was a prospect many analysts like as a fit in Seattle on Day 3. Theyll have to face him in 2020 instead.

Week 16 vs. Los Angeles Rams

Week 17 at. San Francisco 49ers

Be sure to listen to the latest Talkin' Seahawks Podcast with host Joe Fann and special guest Texas Tech head football coach Matt Wells.

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How the evolution of the linebacker position has changed in Bobby Wagner's eyes - NBCSports.com