— What are the Seahawks going to do today? Currently they only have the #76 pick. The third round EDGE options might be severely limited but that’s not the case for general defensive linemen. Bob McGinn’s league sources have Tyquan Lewis, B.J. Hill, Rasheem Green, Derrick Nnadi, Da’Shawn Hand, Jalyn Holmes, Justin Jones, Andrew Brown, Nathan Shepherd and Duke Ejiofor slated to go between rounds 3-4. Josh Sweat is touted to go between rounds 3-5 due to injury concerns and thus might not be on Seattle’s board. So if the Seahawks want to add an inside/out rusher or a defensive tackle, they’ll likely have an opportunity to do that today.
— If the Seahawks are truly committed to fixing the run (and the Rashaad Penny pick certainly suggests they are) — tight end could be a position to watch today. Ed Dickson is a short term solution and Nick Vannett hasn’t shown much in two years. Tyrone Swoopes is the only other TE on the roster currently. With Dallas Goedert, Ian Thomas, Mike Gesicki, Daltzon Schultz, Durham Smythe and Will Dislly all remaining on the board, this could be a target position. Keep an eye on Indiana’s Thomas. He’s a gritty player who has battled significant adversity. He’s considered to be ‘all football’ and a willing blocker. He had a workout pre-draft and has massive potential. He also, funnily enough, helped Rashaan Penny break off a huge run in the Senior Bowl with a terrific wham block:
#SDSU #NFLDraft #DraftTwitter #OnePride #Aztecs #SDSUFootball #AztecFB Rashaad Penny, who just made an huge play in the Senior Bowl, could likely be on the lions draft radar. I would not be surprised if the #Lions look his way as a compliment to AA, dynamic in the passing pic.twitter.com/QIiAsNETCx
— d money 313 (@airdeemoney30) January 29, 2018
— With the Seahawks re-signing Byron Maxwell, a hole has been filled at corner. Any lingering possibility of an early-round cornerback has likely been eliminated. If the Seahawks address this position it’ll likely be on day three when the likes of Holton Hill and Tony Brown might be slated to go.
— A reminder that McGinn’s multiple sources believe Shaquem Griffin will be drafted by the Seahawks:
Some teams appear convinced that Griffin will join his twin brother, Shaquill, as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. Shaquill, a third-round pick last year from UCF, had a strong rookie season as a starting cornerback.
“Just the vibe I’m getting from things,” said one scout. “Some of the comments made by some of their guys about the type of kid he is and the football player he is and what he embodies.”
Pick #76 might be a little too early for Griffin but he could very much be a fourth round target tomorrow.
— Overall the third day of this draft will present a fantastic opportunity to load up on defense. If you’re a Seahawks fan panicking about the fact they didn’t go defense last night, don’t be. The strength of this draft class in rounds 1/2 was clear — running back, interior O-line. The strength on day three will be defense.
— What’s going to happen with Earl Thomas? Either way it’ll be good to finally move on from this saga, played out uncomfortably through the media. If/when the Cowboys make a pick at #50 we’ll likely have a conclusion to the matter. If the Seahawks don’t trade Thomas, however, it kinds of feels like they might be setting themselves up for a repeat of the Richard Sherman situation. Consider trade offers all off-season, not get an offer you like, part ways for zero compensation a year later. And that won’t be any more palatable than trading him for say a third round pick this year and something next year.
— I made two podcast appearances last night immediately after round one. The first was on Tasteful Profanity. We did a quickfire reaction to every pick and I’d highly recommend checking it out below. My spot starts at 1:09:45:
I also did a full review of Seattle’s pick at #27 with Kenny:
You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.
No Tyler Conklin on your radar? I like him as a combo TE later on.
Can really stretch the seam
Injury concerns might be an issue for them
Thank goodness. I was wearing out my clicker finger hitting refresh.
Rob- no matter what happens the next couple days.. It’s been a helluva season & offseason.
All your work is much appreciated!
I’ve loved every minute
+1 for the umptenth season
I wonder if there is a tipping point as the draft rounds wane where the Team puts those with injury risks back on the board – say with Sweat or even Ejiofor with his labrum issue. We are all learning as we go with the Seahawks’ new clean board philosophy this year. But I have to image it does shift in rounds five or six.
You would think. I can definitely appreciate their mentality with the trimmed draft board, but at some point the risk sort of has to become worth it. Especially with a player like Sweat, should he fall. Imagine getting him in the 5th!
Pick 76 sounds like a long ways off, but I think there will be some really intriguing options available, even if we do stand pat. If we could get Shaquem Griffin in the 4th I would be ecstatic.
I wish we could’ve picked up a bit more in our trade down, but my guess that was our only option (as JS mentioned a number of teams lost interest). Figures Tom Cable is screwing up our draft plans even after he’s gone! (Kidding…sort of).
Regardless, it will be a bit frustrating with only 1 day 2 pick, but I do love the depth in this draft, particularly on defense so I still think we can come away with some nice additions when it’s all said and done.
I think PC/JS made it clear last night that they don’t look at rounds the same way. I was :thrilled” with the Penny pick last night but after having a day to reflect i can see their logic. I’m with you rob, I want the ET trade talk to either be done or lets go. Honestly my revengeful side is not wanting Dallas to get him. IF the likes of Cleveland or Tampa come calling with a multi-pick offer i say go for it but lets move on.
It brings the same sting to have them dangle him off of a hook instead of committing one way or another.
That being said, Last nights pick felt like today if they get the chance to take one of the top OL they would do it. I could see TE but i think they will pick one later in the draft.
Being reported Hawks have two offers for Earl. Will be interesting to see how it plays out, or if perhaps the hawks are just trying to create a market or last-minute leverage. I know Earl costs $$, but I have a hard time believing he can only net the same return as two-strike Martavus Bryant.
I was critical of Penny last night. My WTF moment wasn’t so much about the player, but more about the surprise and seeing other backs higher on “experts” boards. That said, I’m quickly warming to this pick. They had their choice of RBs (non-Barkley) and they wanted Penny. His highlight real is just sick. And seems like a humble, hard-working kid.
So many ways today can go. Can’t wait.
As always, thank you Rob for the constant and thorough contributions
Samsies
+12
Oh, and my prediction is: O-Line is addressed mid-rounds with Cole Madison (WSU)
Cole Madison is not good enough to beat out anyone on our current roster.
Who says they’re looking for a day 1 starter? Maybe they’d like to add depth with upside.
I just don’t want anymore OL who won’t contribute meaningfully to the offensive improvement. Maybe an UDFA flyer, but not an actual draft pick.
+1
Coug would give the 509ers something to smile about.
Michael Silver
✔
@MikeSilver
The Seahawks have listened to trade offers for star S Earl Thomas from at least 2 teams, and a deal could still go down today or tonight. However, Seattle has enough cap room to make it work in 2018 and is preparing to have him on the roster this season. Final year of his deal.
8:35 AM – Apr 27, 2018
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Of course, as Silver points out, the Seahawks are certainly not committed to dealing Thomas. They are planning to have him on the roster, and don’t need to trade him for cap reasons. In fact, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport calls a Thomas trade a “long-shot.”
cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-draft-round-2-seahawks-still-eying-earl-thomas-trade-have-gotten-at-least-two-offers
We will know by the end of tomorrow if the Duke of Earl ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Uht69h8Is ) is still a Seahawk.
If it doesn’t happen before the end of the second round tonight, its not going to.
Trade on ET partner!!
Enjoyed your take on the Penny pick with Kenny, and I appreciate how you took the positive approach to this. While I’m still not entirely on board with it (feels like a big reach), you made good points emphasizing how Pete doesn’t really care what the trends are. Considering all the cynicism, sarcasm, and negativity on Seahawks twitter these days, that was refreshing.
Thanks for all the hard work, Rob!
I don’t understand this line of thought – and I don’t mean this to come off as “dickish” at all so I hope it doesn’t come across way. More wanting to spur a discussion around what is a “reach” and how “experts” line up their draft board and how it influences what people think once the draft picks are made. It’s kind of fascinating to me.
In my mind the teams are the real “experts”, not all the draft analysts who do this as a hobby or as part of their day job (no offense Rob – clearly I enjoy it or I wouldn’t be here reading your stuff and commenting). That doesn’t mean teams and their scouting depts are infallible but they are the true professionals in all of this.
So if at least one team (and there were reportedly at least one more if not two teams looking at him around the same time the Hawks picked him) picked him in the first round why is it that people think the team must have reached and made a mistake instead of thinking the “experts” just really got that one wrong? I can’t get my head around why it seems to come out that way and why the benefit of the doubt is given to the writers instead of the teams …
Yep ^^
In general I think the draft hobbyists do great job of assessing talent. I think the bias has more to mispricing the market, and in particular the second order effects. Pretty much anyone watching the salary cap has noticed the o-line salaries are exploding and the o-lines themselves seem to be universally underperforming last year. It makes sense that there would be premium for elusive running backs to avoid overpaying your o-line. In particular this especially valuable for teams with bad o-lines or mobile quarterbacks aka the seahawks.
Completely agree. A reach is only in the eyes of the fans and people covering the draft, not the teams.
That’s the point I am trying to get at. Why do fans feel like draft analysts or sports writers have a better handle on where a player should go? I think it’s the emotional investment of spending all this time reading and researching players for months and their gets to be some sort of consensus around where a player “should” go and when that doesnt happen the first reaction is the team must have screwed up somehow.
I read all the time “so and so could have been had later”. Why is the default the pre draft media rankings are right and when a team bucks the trend they are automatically wrong instead of the analysts being wrong?
Hard to dispute that logic. Your point is well made. Let me pick up that mic you just dropped.
I would prefer they wait till Rd 4 but if the Hawks stand pat at 76 I think Shaq Griffin is the pick. Seems really for a situational pass rusher and special teams standout but wow would he be an incredible addition to that locker room.
I wouldn’t be thrilled if our draft haul in the first 3 rounds was only Penny and Griffin.
I agree it would be disappointing but when you trade away your 2nd and 3rd it limits what you can do.
Yeah, agreed. It sucks rooting for an ET trade, but they almost have to do that.
Yeppers
Nightmare scenario taking Shaquem in 3rd. We can get him in 4th. But, I do think PCJS will do it because they are sentimental guys and love his story.
He’s a grood player and the lack of a hand doesn’t bother me as much as the fact he really doesn’t have a position. He’s a tweener. Maybe he’s a box safety? Maybe a coverage linebacker on third downs? He’ll be a beast on special teams, but his lack of a reliable position suggests it would be a mistake to take him in R3. Rather take Ian Thomas.
I overreacted to the pick, but have come around: Outside of Barkley, all running backs have question marks. While not as exciting as RoJo, explosive as Chubb, violent as Guice, Penny carries less risk. It was a solid pick at a position of need that will improve the running game. Good enough.
Also contributing to my disappointment was the inability to acquire more Day 2 picks. If multiple offers are in place, it’s just a practice of patience. Thinking we pick 3x, tonight.
Work/travel prevents me from following in real time, so want to thank everyone for the killer content + analysis. Grateful.
Good post. Ok I confess, I’m in the same boat.
OG, WR. I still think offense if we acquire a round two pick. I wonder when Lorenzo Carter leaves the board. If he were to last until our round 3 pick, I would be great with that. I wouldn’t take griffin until the 4th, but I would jump on him there. One thing is most likely to be true after today: The Earl Thomas saga will be decided one way or the other. He’s one of the all-time best to wear a Seahawks uniform. It would be difficult to see him playing for another team.
Trade #76 for #90 + 120-130 to a team.
#90 – Draft Shaquem Griffen and fulfil Thy Prophecy.
Get Dante Please !!!
Still feel that Earl has already been dealt should be fair compensation.
If we get the #50 pick I think I’m on board Dallas G. So many of my fellow SDB’ers like this Bloke, I’m cool with it.
I’m happy we drafted Rsshaad he’s awesome and a good dude.
In his interviews he keeps it real and I love that about a person especially a Footballer!
It’s All Right (Aiight) Time !!!
Yes I Know his name is Rashaad !!! I thought it was Rashard until yesterday.
Go Edit Button !!!
Hoping we get Nnadi if we stand pat at #76. Would gladly spend a fourth-round pick on Griffin but don’t really want to go higher than that.
I like that plan. Wouldn’t object to Griffin in 3rd, but feel like we probably like him a bit more than other teams and good chance he’s there in 4th.
Open question:
How would we feel if we passed on Quem with this next pick and he gets the selected before our following pick?
Does the answer to that question change anybody’s mind on where you would make that selection for Quem?
The video of Penny learning that he’s been drafted is awesome. Tears of joy. That’s a kid who wants this badly.
I never get tired of those types of videos, the raw emotion of players that you can tell are truly thankful for the opportunity. It’s very powerful. Glad Seattle values those types of guys.
There is nothing but love and dedication in this kid! He will work 110%, 365, 24//7. All football. Gotta love it. The hawks are sending a message to this locker room, make no doubt. “This is 100% all in, or nothing”. Everyone knows this year is a crucial turning point. What we do from here on determines the future of JS and PC (as much as we don’t like to hear that, it’s the reality of what it is).
I think they are off to a brilliant start to a master plan that we have yet to see unfold. The cards are a bit more in the air this time around, but i think we can come out of this draft with 6-8 starting players. 3-5 start year one.
Here’s to another Championship Offseason with the best Seahawk Blog and the best group of followers anyone can ask for! Thank you again Rob for all the effort you put in year after year! I know your family is ready for the time off, but we sure will miss coming here every day for the premium Seahawk Draft insight and general knowledge that this wonderful site provides!
Cheers!!
6-8 starting players from this draft? Oh my.
Forgive my phrasing haha, 6-8 players who in year 2-3 will be starting quality players and great depth for the team we already have. I believe firmly however, that 3 maybe 4 players we select in this draft could have a chance to impact year 1. That is just the optimist in me! 😀
I wish this would be the case but it seems unlikely, especially this year. We had much better picks overall (2 2nd rounders and 4 3rd’s) last year and barely had 3-4 guys who saw any playing time year one.
I love the optimism though, hope you’re right!!
Shaquem Griffin ran a 4.38. ET ran a 4.41. Is there any reason why Shaquem can’t play FS? Serious question. I’d love to learn more about what it takes to play FS. I would think that the absence of one hand would be much less important to a FS than to a LB when you’re shedding blockers. True?
40 time alone doesn’t make a rangy player. Quickness, change of direction, instinct, no hesitation all play major factors and Earl is top notch in all of those categories.
No doubt that ET is the best. Just wondering if Shaq could develop in that direction.
40 speed doesn’t have much relation to field speed. It’s a useful test to highlight base athleticism but that’s about it.
Based on limited film available on YT, Shaquem seems to have a lot more than linear speed. He flashed good instincts and hip mobility, and really seems like a player that can fly around the field. I don’t think it’s out of the question that he can play FS, but I personally think he’s best suited to a death-backer role (LB/S hybrid).
I think he would be much better suited to SS rather than FS. He’s a guy that thrives closer to the line of scrimmage as a tackler and blitzer rather than in center field! Great addition no matter where he plays if we can get him.
My goal is to get one more pick today and target DL (any type of pass rush if we can swing it – whether that is outside or inside) and WR. I don’t think we have the picks to get into the 2nd (and I am against trading picks for next year) but I do think we can get back into round 3.
They could trade the 3rd they have and a couple 5ths to possibly try and get into the back end of round 2.
True – my comment was more based around getting 2 picks total for day 2 so that would preclude us from moving the 3rd we already hold.
B.J. Hill is also a guy I would love to get, but we may be good at DT for now. He’s a player.
Picking up someone to fill the Avril/Bennett production is the next obstacle, and a player like Rasheem Green would be awesome. If they stay at 76 and Green is gone, then they might have to go with Tyquan Lewis or Lorenzo Carter.
EBurgz and I were talking last night and he mentioned Georgia’s Lorenzo Carter as a possible target.
I’m also curious if they’re after big time production. OK St WR James Washington becomes interesting if so.
James Washington reminds me a lot of Tate when he was at Notre Dame. Built like a former running back, (which is what they were), able to adjust to the ball. They make plays. Tough players.
Man that play with Penny and Ian Thomas in the senior bowl… Penny looks silly smooth and so explosive! Watch him run straight at that LB then just turn and run away. Great vision there with unfamiliar blockers.
“GETTING SOME WORD FROM TMZ MAY HAVE AN UNFLATTERING STORY ABOUT GUICE THAT COULD BE PUBLUSHED SOON WHICH MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH TEANS STEERING CLEAR”
~Jason La Confora
Lol “teans”
Teams*
Does anyone think the Ravens would trade Jackson for any of the four QBs taken above him? I’m not so sure they would. I think teams like the Jags and Steelers will regret not taking him when he fell.
Going to be interesting to see what the Hawks do. Not seeing any scenario where losing Earl makes this a better team, but it seems like they’re pretty keen on clearing the big personalities out and there are so many holes to fill with so few picks. It’s not a great situation.
Trading Earl makes this a better team, in 2019. When Earl is likely gone. Better to have a young 2nd round player and miss out on earl for a year than to have Earl for a year and miss out on a young 2nd rounder. Even 3rd rounder. 1 year of a player does not = 4+ of another.
Well said slaw.
Ayyyy! Someone finally called me Slaw! Haha that’s my nickname
LOL
Well, they could always franchise him for another couple of years at the minimum. There’s plenty of ways to keep club control over players if you really want – the current bargaining agreement is massively stacked against labour.
I think it’s easy to forget how good truly great players are.
Dunno about the Ravens.
But I would. I’m not as high on Jackson as the rest of the world.
Me Personally:
1. Mayfield
2. Rosen
3. Darnold
4. Rudolph
5. Tie with Jackson and Allen
Good points. I don’t think it’s as much about losing Earl as it is about coming to the realization that the clock is already ticking on how much longer he will be with the team, like it or not and I personally don’t like it because I love Earl. Unfortunatley, this is a foregone conclusion. The only question remaining is what kind of advantage do you try to get out of the situation given you already know where it’s going? Might as well try and get some value in controlling his departure while you can.
Well said. We all love Earl I think, but careers end and as we’ve already seen, overpaying guys and “losing” the final contract does not bode well for the Win Forever mantra.
NFL players are a bit like DOGS, short life span and health concerns increase a whole bunch as they age.
I say this with our 8 year old, 8-Lb. mini-wiener dog sitting on my lap. Damn dog took exception to me when I typed this and started barking at me with his grey muzzle. (he is a very smart dog too.)
GO HAWKS!
I definitely agree with you, especially regarding Jacksonville. Is Taven Bryan the difference between them making the Superbowl or not? I doubt it. Jackson gives them a franchise QB at a draft positioning you would usually never get one.
Man that Griffin piece got me.
I want him so bad!!!
I hope we don’t give away Earl too cheaply. If he plays for us in 2018, and then leaves via FA, we would likely get a comp pick of the 3rd round.
I also hopes he goes somewhere other than Dallas, if he does go.
I think it’s a given that we’re gonna get a 3rd for him at least unless it’s a future pick. Any 3rd we get would be higher than the comp pick. Also the draft classes are different, could mean nothing or could mean every thing to JS
After Maxwell and last night, I want Shaquem, Braden Smith or a WR. If Rasheem Green is there (I don’t think so) I’d be coolin with that too.
Is there a cam in the Seahawk War room this year? Can’t find the link if there is! Help…
If a 2nd round pick and a future pick isnt enough for the Seahawks this year from Dallas, been seeing that is the word around twitter, is there any combo of pick and player that would be acceptable? If dallas shipped say, a DT or DE and this year’s 2nd do you take that for the perennial HOF in ET?
I do. and i think JS does too… This year’s second round is a gold mine.
Yep
The big concern with Penny has to be his atrocious pass protection doesn’t it? Although presumably that’s something that can be taught?
Penny talks about it openly, it’s not a secret. The fact that he knows it’s a problem and wants to work on it asap is encouraging to me.