Marquise

Blair

Blair was the 47th overall pick out of Utah in 2019 and was entering the final year of his rookie deal. He started three games as a rookie but has been limited to eight games over the last two seasons.

Blair was already out for the season after suffering a broken kneecap in Week 7. It’s the second straight year Blair’s season has ended early due to a knee injury. The 24-year-old is owed a non-guaranteed $1.3 million salary this offseason.

Blair suffered the injury this past Monday night against the Saints and will undergo surgery Wednesday. He’s been in on 26% of the defensive snaps for the Seahawks this season.

Blair missed the final 14 games on IR last year. The 2019 second-rounder got in limited reps at OTAs and looks on track for the start of training camp. Seattle is counting on a healthy season from Blair, who’s projected to start opposite Jamal Adams in base sets.

Blair got injured by friendly fire from teammate K.J. Wright. The No. 47 overall pick of last year’s draft was serving as the Seahawks’ slot corner. He made it only 10 snaps into Sunday night’s win over the Patriots. Ugo Amadi appears to be the next man up in the slot. Further depth thinning is not what the Seahawks’ depth-challenged defense needed. Blair was in his age-23 season after playing 462 snaps as a rookie.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, he’s a guy we’re very interested in finding a role for him,” Carroll said. “We’ve already mapped that out. In the nickel package, he is going to get a lot of consideration to contribute.” Just 34 of Blair’s 440 rookie snaps came at nickel back, but it is a position of need for the Seahawks. Ugo Amadi did not get the job done in 2019.

He’s sitting out minicamp. It’s a tough blow for Blair, who needs as many reps as he can get. With only Tedric Thompson ahead of him, Blair has the talent to be a Week 1 starter.

Carroll tends to be overly optimistic when it comes to injuries, so take this with a grain of salt. McDougald sat out Sunday’s loss to Baltimore after being bothered by back spasms throughout the week. Marquise Blair would draw another start at strong safety if McDougald can’t get the green light for Week 8.

Blair (6’1/195) spent two years at Utah after transferring from JUCO, tallying five career tackles for loss and two picks and earning second-team All-Pac 12 as a senior. Blair helped himself with a 4.48 forty and explosive 10-foot-5 broad jump at the Combine, confirming the high-end speed Blair flashed on college tape. An aggressive striker with experience at both single-high and box safety, Blair’s range, explosive movement skills, and knack for laying wood on ball carriers gives him underrated upside as a possible D.J. Swearinger-level player.