Darrell Taylor: The Final Link to the 2020 Seahawks Draft Class Is Gone

Darrell Taylor's Trade Overview

Just days out from cutdown day, the Seattle Seahawks moved on from pass rusher Darrell Taylor, who was traded to the Chicago Bears for a 2025 sixth-round pick. Taylor always battled for a roster spot this season, but the emergence of Derick Hall and the transition to edge rusher for Dre'Mont Jones left him on the outside looking in.

Significance of the Trade

The symbolic significance of the trade pertains to the 2020 NFL Draft. Taylor was the Seahawks’ second-round pick from “the COVID draft” and was the last remaining member of that class heading into the 2024 preseason. Now that he’s gone, the Seahawks will enter the regular season with zero players from that class.

• Round 1, Pick 27: Jordyn Brooks (signed with Miami Dolphins in 2024)
• Round 2, Pick 48: Darrell Taylor (traded to Chicago Bears in 2024)
• Round 3, Pick 69: Damien Lewis (signed with Carolina Panthers in 2024)
• Round 4, Pick 133: Colby Parkinson (signed with Los Angeles Rams in 2024)
• Round 4, Pick 144: DeeJay Dallas (signed with Arizona Cardinals in 2024)
• Round 5, Pick 148: Alton Robinson (waived in 2023, out of the NFL)
• Round 6, Pick 214: Freddie Swain (waived in 2021, on Chicago Bears injured reserve)
• Round 7, Pick 248: Stephen Sullivan (waived in 2020, out of the NFL)

Looking Ahead

Before declaring this a terrible class, it’s essential to consider that this group differed from other recent Seahawks drafts. The free agent contracts of Brooks, Lewis, and Parkinson were substantial enough to warrant compensatory picks. Although Parkinson’s comp pick was cancelled out, Lewis and Brooks are projected to generate a fourth- and fifth-round comp pick for 2025. Including the Taylor trade, the Seahawks are set to have three picks in next year's draft due to the departures of their 2020 players. For comparison, none of the 10 departed players from the 2019 class generated a comp pick or draft pick in trade.

In summary, while the 2020 draft class may not be hailed as great, it certainly wasn't a disaster. At least the Seahawks gained solid contributions and future draft value from players they chose to part ways with, a trend that had become concerning in previous drafts.