With Frank Clark departing for the Chiefs via trade, this team needed a pass rusher and they got one with LJ Collier in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Many say that the definition of bull rush is LJ Collier out of TCU. If that is the case than the Seahawks just got super lucky in this pick that very few people really saw coming, even though defensive end was a big position of need for the Seahawks. Collier has lined up both inside and outside and managed 14.5 sacks overall- not numbers that jump off the page, but still pretty solid numbers nonetheless.
“I love that feeling cause I know offensive linemen don’t like to be hit in the mouth over and over,” Collier said in an interview with the Star-Telegram. “I love to do that. I love the physicality of it. I love to be in your face the whole game. I’m not a player who is going to say much, but if you say something to me, I’m going to let you know it’s going to be all game.”
He is more athletic than he looks, that much is for sure and he is stout, powerful and quick. I’m not sure how high I can rank this pick though with other edge rushers ahead of him that were possibly better and more productive than what Collier has been at TCU.
He was good enough for the Horned Frogs, but he wasn’t the best that the Big 12 had seen or anything like that. He is a middle of the road pass rusher that won’t be able to fill the shoes of Frank Clark on his own. That said, this was a need for the Seahawks, and they left the first round with an answer on the edge.