The Seattle Seahawks now have an important decision to make for safety Coby Bryant’s future on the team. This follows their recent – and final – seventh-round selection of Nick Emmanwori in the NFL Draft. During his football career at the University of Cincinnati, Coby Bryant built his legacy with sweat and grit. Now, a year later as he heads into the final year of his rookie contract, it’s heady, cutthroat competition. Bryant’s 2025 base salary is $3.4 million. Our team will continue following his contract situation heading into training camp.
They’re not the whole story. Coby Bryant’s path hasn’t been a simple one. He started his professional footballing career on a pretty nomadic path across teams. Eventually, he carved out a niche for himself at the safety position after making the move from cornerback. This transition ended up being extremely successful, as it allowed him to maximize his talents and really shine on the field. Though Bryant opened the 2024 season behind established veteran free agent import Rayshawn Jenkins on the depth chart, he soon turned heads in practice. His run-stopping prowess got him opportunities to see the field in sub packages.
Bryant’s commitment to the game certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by his fellow teammates and coaches. Julian Love, a fellow safety, praised Bryant’s competitive nature, stating, “Coby has a chip on his shoulder, and that’s why we all love him so much.” As for that mentality, love compared Bryant’s to that of the ultimate basketball killer — legend Michael Jordan.
“It’s kind of like [Michael] Jordan in ‘The Last Dance.’ He takes everything personal. That’s the type of person he is. He competes in everything he does, and when he’s quiet, he’s locked in and in the zone. … I think we just love Coby for who he is, and he works his ass off,” – Julian Love.
Bryant’s performance over the past season has solidified his place among the Seahawks’ defensive ranks. He matched Jordan with four forced fumbles, added two sacks and did it all playing the seventh-most snaps of any Seattle defender. He stepped up in some of the biggest moments, though. Not only did he win the Ravens-Falcons game with an October interception, but he returned a November Cardinals interception for a breathtaking 69-yard touchdown to clinch that win. His dominating performance during that stretch of games rightfully granted him the award of NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Yet, the way that Emmanwori has been drafted, it begs the question about what Bryant’s long-term role will be with the organization. General Manager John Schneider’s decision to trade up 17 spots to select Emmanwori with the 35th pick suggests that the Seahawks may be looking towards a new direction at safety.
With all of that said, uncertainty aside, judgment aside, Bryant blows people away with his level of preparation and work ethic. Mike Macdonald, offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, emphasized Bryant’s extraordinary intentionality and focus on detail. He noted that Bryant always focused on the little things, even while playing off the bench.
“What stuck out to me was just his intentionality, and he cared about the minor details all the time even though his role wasn’t a starter [from the] get-go,” – Brady Henderson (Mike Macdonald).
As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on Coby Bryant as he vies for his position amid newfound competition. It is his dedication to continually improving that motivates him each day. This commitment to the team’s success will likely go a long way in determining if he is indeed a Mariner beyond the 2024 season.
Leave a Reply