Seattle Seahawks linebackers Cody Barton and Jordyn Brooks have ‘big shoes to fill’ – Seattle Seahawks Blog

RENTON, Wash. — Past watched present at Seattle Seahawks practice on Thursday.

K.J. Wright was in attendance for their fifth organized team activity, albeit merely as a visitor. The longtime Seahawks linebacker and current free agent is interested in playing in 2022, but only if an opportunity arises in Seattle. He doesn’t want to be away from his family again like he was last year during his lone season with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Seahawks and Wright have discussed a possible return, but as general manager John Schneider has said, that would probably be in a non-playing role.

Wright is one of the most important players from the most successful era in franchise history, but the Seahawks are starting a new chapter at linebacker. And they’re more eager to see fourth-year pro Cody Barton join Jordyn Brooks in the starting lineup than you might realize.

After primarily spending his first three seasons as a special teams player and backup behind Wright and Bobby Wagner, Barton is finally getting his shot with both franchise cornerstones gone.

“I think people are going to be surprised at how well he plays,” said one Seahawks talent evaluator.

Barton has five spot starts since the Seahawks drafted him in the third round in 2019 out of Utah. He made 18 combined tackles in place of an injured Wagner during the final two games of last season.

It was indeed an audition for the starting job that came open when the Seahawks released Wagner in March. The only inside linebacker they signed in free agency was Joel Iyiegbuniwe, who got a minimum-salary deal to be a backup and play on special teams. They didn’t draft a linebacker with any of their nine picks.

“Really good in the pass game,” said new defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt of Barton. “He’s…