#1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon)
Nothing’s changed for me. Mariota has all the tools to become a dynamic NFL quarterback. There are zero concerns about his character. Put him on an offense that already includes Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson and he can be productive very quickly.
#2 Tennessee Titans — Randy Gregory (DE, Nebraska)
I think Dante Fowler Jr is a better player, but Gregory is a better fit for Ray Horton’s defense as a pure 3-4 outside rusher. He’s got the length and size but needs refinement. At the moment he’s most effective blitzing from deep, he needs to become a more rounded threat.
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars — Andrus Peat (T, Stanford)
Peat is a natural pass protector perfectly suited to the left tackle position. After spending the #3 pick on Blake Bortles, they have to build around him. Drafting two receivers early last year was a start, now it’s about better line play up front.
#4 Oakland Raiders — Dante Fowler Jr (DE, Florida)
This would be a steal. Fowler Jr could be the best overall defensive talent in the draft. You can line him up anywhere — D-end, inside, linebacker. He just makes plays. Throw in a terrific motor, great attitude and plus athleticism and you have the makings of a perennial Pro Bowler.
#5 Washington Redskins — Landon Collins (S, Alabama)
The combine will be the making of Collins. He’s a SPARQ success story waiting to happen. Scott McClaughlin has first hand experience of what a rangy, physical safety can provide to a team. Washington’s secondary is a mess and needs a tone setter.
#6 New York Jets — Shane Ray (DE, Missouri)
Here’s another player who should really help himself in Indianapolis. Todd Bowles doesn’t inherit a natural edge rusher for his scheme. It’d be easy to slot Jameis Winston here — a player who fits Bruce Arians’ offense perfectly. But the appointment of Chan Gailey is fascinating. Winston isn’t quite the same fit for Gailey’s spread attack.
#7 Chicago Bears — Leonard Williams (DE, USC)
I’m not quite as sold on Williams as a lot of other people, but the Bears will likely focus on defense this off-season. They need to repair the whole unit and a pick like this makes a lot of sense.
#8 Atlanta Falcons — Eli Harold (DE, Virginia)
Expect a huge rise for Harold. He’s a former 5-star recruit with insane athletic qualities, length and grit. He knows how to convert speed-to-power. He could go even earlier than this. There’s some Barkevious Mingo to his game, some Brian Orakpo. With the right guidance he could be a top player at the next level.
#9 New York Giants — Eddie Goldman (DT, Florida State)
Goldman is another former 5-star recruit. He can hold the point as a run stopper but flashed genuine playmaking quality in 2014 as a pass rusher. He’s a tremendous talent and acted as the anchor to FSU’s defense.
#10 St. Louis Rams — Ereck Flowers (T, Miami)
After Peat, he’s the best pass-protector in this class. They’re similar prospects — both combine great length and foot-speed with ample power and hand use. They need to avoid lunging as much but it’s workable. Flowers would further bolster the Rams O-line.
#11 Minnesota Vikings — Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama)
He’s shown he has the deep speed this year to make up for a lack of elite size. He’s the most naturally gifted receiver to enter the draft since A.J. Green. Very focused individual and not a diva. Pairing Cooper with Teddy Bridgewater seems like a smart move.
#12 Cleveland Browns — Jordan Phillips (DT, Oklahoma)
When Phillips rocks up at the combine and runs a 4.8-4.9 he’ll start to fly up the boards. He has better tape than Dontari Poe but has the same kind of rare size and speed. He’s had some injury history and that’ll need to be checked out. If he’s cleared — watch out for Phillips. He declared for a reason.
#13 New Orleans — La’el Collins (G, LSU)
The Saints rely so much on their guards to protect Drew Brees. It’s the way it’s always been in New Orleans with that quarterback. They’re likely to make some cost savings with the current starters and Collins is an absolute beast.
#14 Miami Dolphins — Malcolm Brown (DT, Texas)
A stud. Anyone who needed convincing just has to look at the way he took on Arkansas’ massive offensive line. He kept making plays. Another former 5-star recruit who appears destined for stardom. Like Goldman he should impress at the combine.
#15 San Francisco 49ers — Devante Parker (WR, Louisville)
I think he’ll measure out at 6-2/6-3 and around 205lbs which isn’t huge — but he plays big. The Niners should move on from Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin won’t last forever. They need more talent on offense, especially with the Frank Gore era drawing to a close.
#16 Houston Texans — Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin)
It’s not their biggest need of course but Gordon isn’t going to last long in round one. Plenty of teams are going to fall for his combination of suddenness, a fluid running style and gym-rat mentality. It’s just a matter of how early he’ll go.
#17 San Diego Chargers — T.J. Clemmings (T, Pittsburgh)
Having revealed D.J. Fluker will be switching to guard, San Diego desperately needs to add a quality tackle. Clemmings has major upside potential but limited experience. He manned the right side for Pitt. Has an attitude and approach teams will love.
#18 Kansas City Chiefs — Kevin White (WR, West Virginia)
No touchdowns for a receiver all year only tells half the story. Look who they’re starting. It’s hardly a shock. Alex Smith is such a limited passing quarterback you need to put weapons around him. White will compete in the air, run after the catch and make plays downfield.
#19 Cleveland Browns — Bud Dupree (DE, Kentuck)
I like everything about Dupree’s game — except how he rushes the edge. Too often he’s guided away from the QB. The tenacity, athleticism, playmaking — it’s all there. But he’s like a more athletic Courtney Upshaw — or a less explosive Bruce Irvin. He might be best at outside linebacker with some rushing duties.
#20 Philadelphia Eagles — Jameis Winston (QB, Florida State)
Eventually someone will pull the trigger — and it’s likely to be an offensive mind that DNGAF. Chip Kelly clearly backs himself to fit any kind of quarterback into his scheme. The Eagles can afford to roll the dice — Kelly and not Winston would remain the focal identity. They also won 10 games with Foles/Sanchez, they wouldn’t be giving Winston the keys. This is the franchise that gave Michael Vick his second chance.
#21 Cincinnati Bengals — Vic Beasley (DE, Clemson)
A lack of size might be a hindrance although he should run a good forty time and ten yard split. Beasley has been ultra-productive at Clemson and the Bengals need someone who can get to the quarterback.
#22 Pittsburgh Steelers — Brandon Scherff (T, Iowa)
The guy just looks like a Steeler — and it’s more than just the Iowa uniforms. Lunch-pail worker who drives people off the ball in the running game. Right tackle is a huge need for Pittsburgh and Scherff would be a day one starter.
#23 Detroit Lions — Cameron Erving (C, Florida State)
He looked good at tackle last season — and looked even better at center in 2014. The Lions would get a player who can start immediately at center and back up every other position on the O-line. He’s a defensive line convert with massive potential.
#24 Arizona Cardinals — Todd Gurley (RB, Georgia)
A likely top ten pick without his ACL injury setback, Gurley could still be a top-20 selection. If he falls, a good team will get lucky. The Cardinals need a feature runner with size and are good enough to let Gurley take his time, fully recover and explode in the NFL.
#25 Carolina Panthers — Shaq Thompson (LB, Washington)
The Panthers rallied enough to feel comfortable taking the best player here. They have some cap freedom to improve the offense in free agency. Putting Thompson in that linebacker group is scary — so much speed and athleticism. Combined with a terrific defensive line it’d be a fun defense to watch.
#26 Baltimore Ravens — Trae Waynes (CB, Michigan State)
It’s a bad class of corners but even so — it’d be a shock to see none selected in the first round. Waynes is being touted to have a terrific combine performance and at 6-1/182lbs he could be the one and only cornerback taken in the first frame.
#27 Dallas Cowboys — Markus Golden (DE, Missouri)
The Cowboys have to keep adding pieces to their defense. They lack a threat off the edge. Golden is a beast — a ferocious, passionate football player who can provide leadership to a group of journeymen.
#28 Denver Broncos — Danny Shelton (DT, Washington)
I’m not a big fan of Shelton’s but others love him. I can’t be led just by my own opinions. Terrance ‘Pot Roast’ Knighton is a free agent and will be tough to keep if they re-sign Demaryius and Julius Thomas.
#29 Indianapolis Colts — Bendarick McKinney (LB, Mississippi State)
Big, physical 3-4 inside linebacker who made Miss State’s defense tick. Could be the player Rolando McClain should’ve been. Very solid prospect for any club looking for a presence on defense. He’ll move around at his size.
#30 Green Bay Packers — Owamagbe Odighizuwa (DE, UCLA)
I really, really like Odighizuwa. He’s not much of an edge rusher but the way he dips inside and uses brute force to decimate the interior is a sight to behold. For that reason he might be best acting as a 3-4 end with some outside rush duties thrown in.
#31 Seattle Seahawks — Devin Smith (WR, Ohio State)
I go into more detail below.
#32 New England Patriots — Tevin Coleman (RB, Indiana)
Coleman might not work out at the combine due to injury, but he’s shown enough on tape to warrant a top-40 grade. It’s pretty hard to work out the Pats — a team without a ton of needs. I like Coleman enough to put him in the late first.
Noticeable absentees
Dorial Green-Beckham (WR, Oklahoma) — a superb physical talent who could easily go very early. But there’s so much baggage. Teams will have to do their homework and until I hear positive news on that front, I have a hard time putting him in round one.
Maxx Williams (TE, Minnesota) — love his effort and ability to ‘maxx’ out his targets. He makes athletic plays despite looking fairly modest athletically. I think he’ll prove to a solid second rounder unless he excels at the combine.
Arik Armstead (DE, Oregon) — great run stopper but gets banged up too much and can he develop into more of a pass rusher? Why didn’t he ever entertain the idea of playing left tackle at Oregon?
Jaelen Strong (WR, Arizona State) — he just doesn’t wow me that much. I think he’s destined to be a second rounder.
So what about the Seahawks pick?
The options from about pick #26 aren’t that much better compared to the first 10-15 picks of the second round. For that reason, I think there’s every chance the Seahawks will look to move down (again) if they feel confident they can get ‘their guy’. Last year it worked for Paul Richardson. This is going to be a really nice first round with value all the way through the top-25. But the drop off after that is noticeable. Of course, the combine and Senior Bowl will have an impact on that perception.
Why Devin Smith? Let’s start with a few stats:
— Smith’s 30 career touchdown receptions have an average of 37.9 YPC. Think about that. He averages nearly forty yards per score.
— He had 17 catches worth +20 yards this season and ten touchdowns worth +20 yards. Both stats rank #1 among receivers in the power-five conferences.
— In 2014 he had a YPC average of 28.21 yards — good for #1 in the country among receivers with at least 20 receptions.
— He had 33 catches in 2014. 12 went for +40 yards — second only to Rashard Higgins at Colorado State.
— Smith is #2 all-time for touchdown receptions at Ohio State (30) — topping Cris Carter, Santonio Holmes and Joey Galloway.
In terms of explosive play-artists, nobody is better than Devin Smith in college football.
Then you move on to athleticism. He’s part of Ohio State’s track and field team and finished second in the high jump at the Big-10 Indoor Championships. He jumped 7-0.25. He was also part of the sprint relay team in the 4x100m. He was also Ohio state long jump champion at Washington High School in Massillon.
It would be a shock if he ran slower than a 4.45 at the combine. Odell Beckham Jr ran a 4.43. Smith and Miami’s Phillip Dorsett could end up competing for the fastest time. He could top Beckham’s 38.5-inch vertical.
Perhaps the most important factor is he’s made big plays despite limited targets. When we highlighted Kevin Norwood as a potential-Seahawk last year, one of the key aspects was his ability to max out his production. When A.J. McCarron threw his way, he usually made it count. Whether it was a scramble drill, coming back to the QB or a crucial third down. Norwood didn’t need multiple targets to make an impact. And that’s how Seattle’s passing game works.
A lot of critics are questioning whether Smith runs a full route tree or whether he’s much more than a simple downfield threat. I think he’s perfectly suited to Seattle’s offense. You can challenge him to win 1v1 — whether it’s throwing downfield or not. He’d provide a genuine deep threat — legit speed. He can eat up a cushion quickly and snap out of a break to force separation. He’s an chunk play specialist — a touchdown maker.
He’s also a productive special teamer — acting as a gunner for the Buckeye’s and earning particular praise from Urban Meyer for that aspect of his game. Can he return kicks? Possibly.
It’s a mistake to think all he does is run in a straight line and win with speed. He high points the ball superbly and takes it away from the defender. He has excellent body control. Seattle loves these types of athletes. Doug Baldwin keeps reminding us — it’s not just about size. And while they clearly could do with a seam-busting big target who can operate in the red zone, they also need to keep stockpiling talent around a quarterback soon to be worth $120 million.
By the time the Senior Bowl and combine are over, Smith could be being talked about as a top-20 prospect. I like the fit with the Seahawks right now — particularly with Paul Richardson facing a long recovery. Seattle faces the possibility of starting the season with Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Kevin Norwood at receiver. Consider they could also lose Marshawn Lynch. If you don’t think the skill positions will be a priority this off-season, I don’t know what to say to you.
Rob thanks for doing an awesome mock! I wonder if Smith blows up the Combine doesn’t he go in the top 15? With the speed and vertical, the lack of character concerns and strong stats as per explosive yardage doesn’t he grade out higher then even Kevin Smith?
I think he can move into the top-25 with a great combine, for sure. The league saw what OBJ did last year.
Rob, nice work there. My question to you and the board about Smith is this: He’s only 6’1″. The talk all along is that we need that elusive “big” target, which I take to mean a receiver in the 6’3″-6’5″ zone. Harold Simon got eaten up, but when Kelvin Benjamin established position, there was no one else getting the ball.
At USC, Pete Carroll was one of the major proponents of the big wideout, and I think those offenses influenced the popularity of that kind of player we now see in the NFL. In fact, I’m surprised that we don’t have such a threat on the roster currently.
While I love Smith, he seems to be another small- to mid-sized receiver on a corps that’s full of those guys. Who is that jump-ball guy RW can throw to in the back of end zone?
I think they need that type but if he’s not there you can’t force it in R1. I’d like to see them work on a deal with Tampa Bay for Vincent Jackson personally. Seattle’s need for a big target doesn’t put me off looking at a guy like Smith, especially in light of Paul Richardson’s knee injury.
Quick take from me on that situation…one Richardson may be out a while so a smaller explosive guy would still be in play for the draft and two….There are literally something like 7-8 big Wr’s this year and almost all of them have terrible production…baggage….both…..or play against hard to define competition, Dezmin Lewis per
Last year you had Evans and Benjamin…who both lived up to their billing…the two previous years there were severs TE’s available. This year the average height if the non blocking Te’s are less then Willson, He felt, Miller, and McCoy….its a down year to be sure
Peter, if your looking for a blocking TE with size, check out Texas A&M TE Cameron Clear. He’s 6’6, 274 lb., good athlete, and is somewhat of a TE Marcellus Bennett type. And not just because they both attended Texas A&M. TE Clear was used as a 6th O-lineman this year and is one of the ‘under the radar’ type TEs. Could be had in the mid to late rounds.
Thanks! I’ll check him out for sure. Still the coffers are pretty bare at this position unlike years past.
I have not been an advocate of the big WR. Here is why. Odell Beckham versus Kelvin Benjamin. Both are impact guys but Beckham is better. OBJ: 91 receptions on 130 targets with YAC of 5.7. Benjamin: 73 of 145 with YAC of 2.5. While a big body like Benjamin can post up, they find it difficult to get started again and get tackled once the ball arrives. They also tend to have less body control and a lower catch rate. Beckham can adjust his body while the ball is in the air anfd escapes after the catch, turning it into a big play. With our low volume passing we need YAC to move the chains and give us the chunk plays. We can post up a TE in the red zone. Devin Smith would check all of the boxes for me. I expect we take one WR early and one later in the draft.
Rob, I do it know if this question has been asked but who are the second day 6’3+ wrs that have put up stats but just haven’t lived up to the hype?
Last year no one heard of prich but we took him in the second. I guess what I’m sayIng is who’s this Who’s this years wr that the Seahawks could target with a trade back
Don’t know if this…
I intend to do a piece on this soon.
This is an area I think Seattle can make some hay in this year if they are willing to use at least two draft picks and run a competition. The second and third day receivers have a lot of interesting players but so many one year performers/small school standouts/ or Kasen Williams…yep he gets his own category for having the most non-typical disappearing act to his college career. No drugs, violence, criminal problems, no dismissal from program, seemingly plenty of time to heal from injury…just *poof* almost first round production to udfa…that said I’m no huskies homer but the hawks have got to bring him in
His problem is pretty simple – he couldn’t separate from a db to save his life. He’s neither fast nor quick, but he’s an incredible eager and has impressive body control. When the focus of that offense switched to wide open spread and YAC yards, he just had no role and he was really a one trick pony in college. Could actually fit well as a red line guy, but I’m not sure he’ll ever being much else to the table.
But essentially a redline guy is what Seattle looks for…thanks for the thoughts…i never watch the huskies so I can only go off of cut ups
Who was Williams’ QB? That may tell you everything you need to know…
Between Odell Beckham vs Kelvin Benjamin, you have to look at the QB situation as well. OBJ had Eli Kelvin Benjamin had Cam Newton. Evans is the one WR who really impressed me with the lack of talent at QB in Tampa (where I am). Really think Tampa played for the #1 draft choice this year.
Would love to see the Hawks take a impact WR in round 1 but they always seem to do the unexpected which is not a bad thing. I trust their scouts and JS/PC to get the right guys.
Great point curt. We have to keep in mind that Seattle does not adhere to conventional draft wisdom. They do things their own way.
Also nice one on moving up every awesome dline up into the first! I could see that happening in a way…I know you get tho all the time but any thoughts on Preston Smith? Seems like he could play inside and out…production climbed each year which is always a good thing…with injuries this year I wore about a back up to Bennet beyond Marsh…
Also I have watched tape cut UPS on nearly every draft eligible RB and if those 3 are gone before us we could be in for a strange ride if Lynch leaves….Two thoughts: One its going to be nearly impossible to strike gold the way the FO did with an easy trade for Lynch’s talent….and two I honestly could see. If lynch I gone up to two draft picks and or udfa signings for a four way competition in camp. Everyone I’ve watched or read up on has at least one or two glaring flaws. At least when I watched Turbin he looked strong and fast and didn’t go down easily (which he’s almost getting out of his system now)
I like Smith but also think he has some limitations that will prevent him going as early as some think. Solid R2-3 for me.
Picking this late in round one (between #30-32) they have almost no shot IMO at Gordon. Gurley would only fall if the knee is a legit concern. If Lynch walks I think you almost have to roll with Turbin and Michael. I’d call Carolina about a deal for Jonathan Stewart. I’d look at Josh Robinson at Miss State too.
that’s fair Round three for me unless he really gets it going at the combine etc…thanks
I like josh Robinson as well quite a bit. I just checked out David Johnson out of Northern Iowa…him and Jordan Taylor are my current super sleepers in the draft.
Johnson had really good yards from scrimmage production, Kick returns, etc. sometimes looked like he couldn’t figure out what,way his line was moving but other times looks every bit as strong as his 6’2 229 lb frame says it would be plus would bring some good second gear speed…good almost great hands, and good blocking awareness….hard to project where he would get picked but every year Seattle needs some head scratchers…so here’s my early entry
Josh Robinson would be a nice addition in the mid-rounds if we lose Beast Mode. I love his effort.
I hate to say it but I’m sure you’re right. If Gurley checks out he’s gone before SEA can get to him.
What would it take to get Stewart?
I doubt Carolina or any NFC playoff team would be willing to trade a good RB to Seattle. Best bet would be looking at a R2 draft pick, even trading up to mid R2 if necessary because it is such an important position for Seattle.
I’m not sure to be honest. He played well enough for CAR not to be interested in a deal. But I think it’d be worth a call. His cap hit is high ($8m). You might be able to restructure. He’d be perfect for Seattle’s scheme if they lose Lynch. He does get banged up though.
He has also been hurt a lot during his career. Don’t know if he would be reliable to stay on the field. Running back by committee like the Hawks are doing now would certainly help.
Are we potentially ignoring that we might not know Lynch’s status until after another showdown at camp? Also if Lynch stays, there isn’t really a roster spot for another RB. Could be a tough pickle, unless a guy like Gurley is available to stash on IR
Historically, we have extended guys before their last contractual year. I think Lynch gets an extension before the draft. If he does not, then the message is clear that he is no longer in the teams long term plans. He would then ask for a trade and the Hawks would draft a RB.
That’s actually not true. We waited on both KJ and Avril. I think there are many factors. The FO is smart, why would they extend an aging RB who is still under contract before his final season? They would wait to see as much data before attempting to extend because the downside of getting it wrong is worse then the upside of getting it right…early.
You extend them before their final year because you can tear up the last year of their contract and prorate the signing bonus over the new deal. For example, a two year extension would actually be a three year deal (2015 – 2017) Compensation via the signing bonus is guaranteed and paid immediately. Lynch might prefer that to his current deal.
Lynch had the second best year of his career in 2014. Until I see signs Lynch is actually slowing down I would keep him. He is too popular with the fans to have him finish his career some where else. Can you imagine the feedback if he goes to Oakland next year and plays well while the Hawks struggle to run the ball and miss the playoffs? He deserves to be paid.
That would mean committing to him for 3 more years at top running back money and I think this FO needs to be really carefully with their cap management after paying Wilson to be able to keep the core together.
Running back walls are pretty sudden as very drastic. It’s hard to justify a 3 year commitment when he’s been such a workhorse with back issues that have kept him out of games this year.
It’s all a moot point anyway because it seems pretty certain he’s going to retire.
It is not at all certain he will retire. Threatening to retire was the only leverage that Lynch had. It also helps inoculate him from being traded.
Lynch was worried about getting cut next year so he was trying to get the final year guaranteed, i.e., he wanted to play in Seattle.
If Seattle is willing to pay him the full amount of his contract next year I don’t see any reason he would not come back. If they ask him to take a pay cut who knows what will happen. He is not going to get more than a year guaranteed from any team and will have trouble matching his $6.5m salary. Logically it makes sense for him to stay here even with a modest paycut but he is pretty stubborn if he feels he is being mistreated and I don’t think anybody know what would happen in that scenario.
Well yeah, but we aren’t talking about locking up a young talent with 7-8 years of his career left. This is an aging RB, a great and very unique RB that we are all attached to. But they are getting paid to make good decisions. And I don’t care how many years he has left, you don’t extend him before his final year unless you have some serious conviction he ain’t dropping off…or a non guaranteed contract.
The one thing this FO has absolutely 0 of is aging veterans on big money deals.
Ezekiel Elliott any one, end of round 1 sometime round 2?
I’ll say it again. Watch out for LSU HB Terrence Magee in the 3rd or 4th round. With OT without Lynch.
In 2016 yes.
I think we’ll know what’s going on before free agency.
When will we find out what draft pick we get for Percy. Keep hearing if he is on the Jets at the end of the 2014 season it’s a 4th but if not it’s a 6th. Jets season is over so I am guessing it’s going to be after the Superbowl. Would love to see the 4th come to fruition.
It depends on if they keep him or not from what I heard. So sometime before the draft
Probably just before the end of the league year, precluding the start of free agency.
If he is a Jet the first day of Free Agency, that will be 2015 league year.
I almost wonder what the future holds for BJ Daniels at the rb or kr positions. We will see in the next two games if he really has built the skills needed.
I think he’s a bit of a red herring in that regard. I think PC is genuine when he says this is a reward, more than anything. It will be interesting though to see if he emerges as a candidate to be the #2 next season.
My thoughts as well. I think Pete wants to get B.J. ready to be the #2 guy next year. He also might want to see if he can justify keeping him as a #3 on the active roster by getting special teams/”offensive weapon” snaps out of him. Looking forward to next year, he won’t be able to pass the year on the PS without getting picked up by someone.
I think the biggest reason he did it now was that teams that are out of it could easily pick B.J. off our practice squad since they don’t need to worry about in-game depth anymore.
As for this week, he might return kick-offs, but if he does I would assume he’ll be replacing Matthews on the active 46 and playing all the special teams and serving as the #5 WR.
The no 2 what?
QB
Oh. I thought you meant no 2 WR. I was going to say, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. But, yeah BJ has a very exciting skill set.
I’m still intrigued with CM. I’ve rewatched a few of the Seahawks’ games and I’m struck by how few times he is asked to run the read-option with RW. In one of our early games, there was an instance when he did run the read option and the handoff was bothched and a fumble resulted. Anyway, I’m wondering if the reason we are not seeing much of CM is that he and RW do not mesh when they are running the read-option — that at that critical intersection where the ball is put into the belly of the RB, CM wants to keep the ball when RW wants to pull it back.
In any event, if/when the Seahawks look for a replacement for Lynch, I think it will be most likely that the RB comes from a school that runs a lot of read-option. I’ll have to admit that I haven’t gone the next step to investigate which of the top RBs in this draft have extensive read-option experience. Can anyone fill in this gap?
Phil, your really limiting your options on the board if you look at it that way. Lynch never ran the read option, pretty sure Turbo didn’t either. Doesn’t matter if they run it or not, because RW is such a perfectionist, that he’s going to try and perfect the ‘mesh point’ of the read option, regardless if a HB has extensive experience with it. The read option between the QB and HB is really all about chemistry, timing, and repetition.
As hawk fans we don’t get to see Vincent Jackson too often unless going out of the way too. We do see Larry Fitzgerald a bunch and there is reason to believe he may be available one way or another (obviously a trade within division is unlikely, but even the conservative John Clayton is saying there’s a decent chance he could end up here). How do you think they compare?
wow, the thought of Larry in a Seahawk uniform would be incredible. Theres just no way that Arizona lets him leave, right?
If Arizona wants to pay 14 mil not to play for them, then there could be a chance but won’t happen
there’s more at play with Fitz than just the money. There’s reason to believe he wasn’t overly thrilled by his new role in the offense. Fitz doesn’t have to re-do his deal if he doesn’t want to.
ARZ is in a pretty rough spot. If he stays on his current deal, his cap hit is over $23m. If they part ways his cap hit is still $7m.
I really don’t know how they can afford to keep him and I can’t see him cutting them that much of a home town discount.
Actually the cap hit is 14.4 million if they cut him and 23.6 mil if they keep him. That’s what makes the decision so difficult.
If the cap hit were only 7 mil if they cut him then there wouldn’t even be any hestitation. He’d be history.
huh, I was just going by this article I read the other day.
http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2015/1/14/7544313/larry-fitzgerald-cardinals-going-to-get-into-it-with-contract-talks
But you are correct. his dead money is 14.4 in 2015. Yikes.
That’s why I see them redoing the deal. They will pay him way more then anyone else regardless of what happens. Say they pay 17 mil, that would basically be paying 3 mil for the season. I don’t see fitz being the guy to say FU cut me.
I hope you’re right. I absolutely love Smith as a prospect and I think his strengths match up with Wilsons. I think it was on this blog but I could be wrong but I can’t wait to see someone paired up with Wilson who matches up skillset wise to him. Smith is the kind of guy who would excel in broken plays and creativity like Wilson does. The sky is the limit when, not if, Pete finds that match.
Great stuff as usual Rob. Wish you posted at .net more too.
I am a superstitions son-of-a-gun. I can’t remember did you have the hawks picking 31st during a mock before the conference championship?
I wondered the same thing. You mad bro?
Fair point Meat 🙂
Smith looks like a great player and great fit for this team but he would pretty much replace prich and at best his production. My concern is he’s pretty much a deep ball receiver and doesn’t do much else. Prich was the only player on his team the teams watched out for and they still couldn’t stop him. Smith is a after thought on his team. The seahawks don’t throw deep very much either. I view him as a very nice pawn on this team. The way pete sounded about prich it looks like there’s a good chance he could be shut done for the year and would need to be replaced. Smith could do that but the Obj comparisons are a big stretch.
I think an “afterthought” is a bit strong. He’s their most dynamic receiver.
He’s an afterthought when Elliot picks up 7 yes a carry! But anyone would be
Yards
I didn’t mean afterthought as a last option. I was just comparing his roll to prich roll on Colorado. Prich was the only player you really had to game plan for. The point of my post was to temper the obj comparisons. I think a better comp would be prich.
Agreed I lived in CO during prich’s time…and you’re right he was it at CU
Much like OBJ last year, I’m falling in love with the idea of drafting Smith. Which, if history teaches me anything, probably means he’ll go well before the Seahawk’s pick. Sure is fun to dream about though.
It’s a shame that the pickings are so slim this year for skill positions, which makes me wonder if this could be the year we see the Seahawks move up a few spots. The offense is going to need a player(s) who can step in and contribute immediately. We have so much drat capitol this year and few holes to fill. Perhaps it makes more sense to sacrifice some picks in order to get Wilson a “premium” weapon?
The only way I see Seattle moving up, and it’s a big IF, is if HB Melvin Gordon is still there or possibly HB Todd Gurley.
The biggest change on your latest Mock Draft is that the Seahawks are now selecting 31st!!!
I’ve never put the Seahawks at #32 during a season.
Is that like the bud light commercial where the guy realizes staying in the basement is his good luck charm for the team?
🙂
I can relate to that. But don’t worry, I still haven’t washed my Lynch jersey so we’re good for this weekend guys.
Never wash it…
If Smith runs 4.45 or lower, he won’t be available at the end of the round. Too many teams need help on offense. Smith helped himself in the game. The Panthers, possibly Philly, the Ravens, Colts all could be looking for help at WR.
I loved seeing Owa Odighizuwa in there. I teach at the middle school he and his 3 younger brothers came through. I missed coaching him in football and basketball by a year, but got to coach his younger brothers. Great kid and a great family that has overcome A LOT. He finally got a hip issue cleaned up that had bothered him since high school and was able to finish his college career with a strong senior year. I’m excited to see where he ends up.
I’m a big OO fan, too. I think missing his Jr. year with his hip injury really set him back. With the right coaching, I think he can be a star in the NFL — one of the rare individuas with the right mix of strength, quickness, and attitude.
Hi Rob
Have you seen any tape on Justin Hardy East Carolina? I like this guy as a third round type can play outside and slot both well does very well with jump balls for a guy about 6 feet good hands catches a lot of contested balls in traffic. Also was punt returner.
Seen one game and have some interest. Intend to watch more.
Hardy became the NCAA’s all-time leading receptions leader, passing Ryan Broyles’ mark of 349 and he finished his college career with 387 receptions for 4,541 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Hopefully these links work. I tried to do them all fancy. Holding my breath…
DraftScout
Highlights
More Highlights
Yes!
And here’s some game footage.
East Carolina vs Central Florida
2014 Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina vs Florida
East Carolina @ Virginia Tech 2014
2013 Virginia Tech @ East Carolina
According to Walter Football, Devin Smith is the 4th WR picked in the 1sr rd, going to KC, since they didn’t have any WR make a TD this season. They have Sammy Coates going to the Hawks at 32. Gordon and Gurley are gone.
The Hawks have a choice of Funchess, Dorial Green Beckham, and Tevin Coleman. DGB though talented, scares me with his drug use. The last thing the Hawks want is someone who is undesciplined to not smoke weed and get suspended, especially in a state that makes it so easy to get. Funchess would be good, but not fast.
Given these 3 choices, I would favor Coleman, who has break away speed and is shifty, and addresses a potential need.
No offense but the guy pushed a girl down a flight of stairs and you’re worried about him smoking pot???
I didn’t know he did that. I just thought he was suspended for pot, which would also be a problem if he was a pothead and suspended in the NFL.
In all fairness, he wasn’t arrested or charged in connection with the incident.
You can read more: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10766008/no-arrest-case-involving-dorial-green-beckham-missouri-tigers
If it was just the pot (even the amount and circumstances involved here – 1lb and intent to distribute), I’d be inclined to look at him like I did Tyrann Matheiu. Young and dumb, and worth another opportunity. Maybe his transfer to OK was that 2nd chance, if only he’d stayed for the 2015 season. But we’ll never know.
At any rate, if he can convince a FO that he’s worth the risk, he’ll be gone before the end of R1. Otherwise he’s not worth the risk.
I do think Seattle trades back into the early part of round 2.
As a sleeper/surprise pick I’d personally like Baylor WR Antwan Goodley. Maybe not as elusive as Ohio St WR Devin Smith, but just as if not more physical, more unique, I’d even dare to say he matches his athleticism. Has the game-breaking speed, more likely to help in the return game if needed, and as a WR is probably more versatile. Just my opinion and my favorite WR on the board as it stands now.
I love the thought of Devin Smith and think he’d be great in our offense. But I wouldn’t want us spending a 1st RD pick on him unless he can return kicks, which would open a roster spot by not needing Walters.
Maxx Williams is very comparable to our own Zach Miller, when he came out of ASU. He was clearly the best TE in the draft by everyone who watched games on Saturdays, but he was very underwhelming at the combine and slipped to the 2nd round. I felt then as I feel now, he may not be Jimmy Graham, but he’s going to be a great all-around TE in the league. I think he’d be a great addition to the Seahawks if Zach’s days as a Hawk are numbered.
I like Maxx a bunch, but he’s not the consensus top TE. Many will prefer the Walford kid out of Miami or even FSU’s Nick O’Leary as a pure Ebron-like pass catcher.
I think its safe to say Maxx was the best all-around TE in college last year. I have not heard the other names you mentioned as fringe first-rounders. Maxx is consistently mentioned as a fringe-first rounder.
Beware the consensus!
Leary will be limited in the NFL as a TE, he’s only 6’3″ and about 245-250. He’s a good TE, but I don’t think he’s a game changer in anyway to be drafted high.
Good work here Rob.
Trading down seems like a good move, as you could see a couple of the guys you mentioned as “just misses” for the first round could prove too tempting for teams in the top half of the 2nd round to wait on. If you are the Jets at #37 or Cleveland at #43 and DGB is sitting there you’re going to be AWFULLY tempted to move up.
The guy with the most variance in this draft to me is Dante Fowler, Jr. I love him about as much as you do. (His bowl game vs. ECU–that was just joyous to watch a kid have that much fun.) Still, I could easily see him falling into the 2nd round. I think he’s destined to disappoint a tad at the combine. He’s not an otherworldly athlete. He’s a football player. The two biggest issues that face that kind of prospect are: (1) teams with a prototypicality bias–what “position” does he play? and (2) teams with lower picks actively trying to drive down a prospect’s value by privately dogging his flaws in the press.
The Seahawks don’t need another WR early in the draft. They could get an athletic LT if one’s available (and valuable at that spot) to replace Okung or go with Maxx Williams to play in-line TE with Luke Willson and Cooper Helfet being movable match-up problems, long-term.
I get that WR is one of the Hawks least talented position groups, but I don’t see the value since Russ is going to spread it out anyway. Reliable guys like Baldwin, Kearse, and Norwood are a perfect fit for the offense they are running. Sure, Richardson (the one fast guy) is out for probably half of next year, but Kearse has made a ton of big plays deep down field in his tenure and Norwood is capable. I don’t think you draft a guy in round 1 to cover a 6-8 week gap in the beginning of the year, so I think the 4-deep is set and not in need of a “gamebreaker”.
The offensive line will need some help though, with Okung and Carpenter possibly moving on. That’s a good all-around LT and a very good mauler at LG. Bailey can play one of those spots, but we still have a hole and we need reinforcements to the depth. An athletic LT, even if it takes a year or two would be ideal – but may be available later. I also think they like what they have in Gilliam, so he may be the answer at LT and we might only need a versatile backup.
To me, if he’s there, Maxx Williams makes the most sense based on what he does and what the Seahawks are likely to need.
I get a ton of this post and think to a degree Seattle could pick up to three WR later and run a competition to keep two of them if at less one of them I a returned or a gunner because Walters and Lockette could be upgraded pretty easily relative to their lack of current production.
That said I’m not trying to be a jerkstore but I’m going to bang on this until the draft is over…okung is guaranteed money next year…7 million because of the old first round contracts…if Carps gone i could care less…but okung stays because he’s good to great and they paid him in essence…and only the dumbest exec would make a trade for someone essentially not on a contract.
Eugene Monroe & Branden Albert (ironically teammates at UVA) are a couple of precedents for this type of trade. Albert’s trade never was finalized – but that was only due to value. KC wanted a 2nd round pick and Miami was only willing to give them a 3rd round pick. Monroe landed the Jaguars a 4th & 5th (and cap relief) when he was dealt to the Ravens.
To me it’s about opportunity cost:
Okung at LT hitting the cap at $7M is not worth more than Bailey at LT, a 4th and 5th round pick and the cap relief which could allow Seattle to slightly overpay Lynch and keep Miller for one or two more years?
So the only precedent for a trade like this is when the Jags gave away a starting LT?
One year of Monroe was not going to make the Jags a playoff team. Why would they pay big money to him for one year and then watch him leave for no return? Bradley and company took the long view. They got two draft picks in 2013 for a player who was going to be too expensive to re-sign in 2014 anyway. Their goal was to get better and evaluate existing talent as they turned over the roster, not win a division or Super Bowl.
You believe keeping Okung for ONE year is more valuable than the $7M cap savings and two mid-round picks. That’s your position and based on our “championship window” its a viable position. I disagree though, primarily because I believe Lynch is going to require an overpayment to keep and Miller is much better than Luke Willson. If given the choice, I would prefer to spread Okung’s $7M around on other players. Bailey makes it viable.
The Jags didn’t have a quality backup when they made the move, the Seahawks do. Even so, it was the right move based on their 2013 aspirations. If they had held on to Monroe, they would have still won ~5 games and got nothing in return when he left the next year.
The 2015 Seahawks are a ~13 win team with or without Okung (assuming Lynch stays). I believe Lynch and Miller contribute more to winning than Okung, so give his money to them. Without Lynch, the Seahawks would be worse.
I think they should extend Okung. It’s incredibly difficult to find a good left tackle. Seattle has a good one.
Who has serious trouble staying healthy…
Not saying they should cut and run, but a long-term insurance plan might not be a bad investment.
Have to 100% back Rob here. Why would Seattle let go of one of the top 10 or 12 LTs for a guy they’d have to indoctrinate into the scheme and get used to blocking for RW, if you ever do, is not an easy thing. Okung brings more to the table than his performance on the field. He’s a great guy in the locker room, and with PC it’s all about comfort.
I do agree they need depth on the O-line and should spend a couple picks on the position in the draft. Not to replace Okung though.
Please to show me where in my statement the words ‘let go’ appear…
I will add — I’ll happily run the risk of Okung missing games too. If the Seahawks somehow end up with a top-ten pick over the next year or two and are in position to get a cheap, talented replacement — I’d consider it. But right now Okung is a valuable asset, a respected leader in the locker room, a damn good left tackle and I’m not giving up on that to save a few bucks.
Why is replacing Okung more of a priority than a WR Jake? At the moment Seattle’s receiving group to start 2015 could be: Baldwin, Kearse, Norwood. Lockette is a free agent. I guess they could keep Walters around. Richardson is a long term injury concern now.
Okung won’t move on this year. He’s due $7m in 2015 which is a bargain. I don’t understand this growing desire among fans to move on from Okung. Finding solid left tackles is not easy. Particularly outside of the top ten picks. There aren’t going to be top-tier athletic LT’s available in the late first.
Okung’s contract and injury history is exactly why I said a LT that takes a year or two is fine. If the rookie is ready to start, great. Save money by trading Okung. Spend that savings on Zach Miller & Lynch. Bailey played very well in his absence this year. $7M is a bargain for a good LT, I agree. But isn’t less than $1M is even better? That’s what Bailey is getting paid.
Carpenter is a very good run-blocker and not the complete liability/bust a lot of people claim. He will need to be replaced by a good player or re-signed and it may take an early draft pick or $5-6M to do it.
Lastly, I didn’t say don’t draft a WR – Lockette and Norwood need competition for the bottom of the depth chart. I am a big proponent of bringing in at least two mid/late round WRs and some UDFAs and let the competition decide. Baldwin & Kearse are UDFAs, so it isn’t like Pete and John can’t find WRs well after the 1st/2nd round.
I just don’t see why anyone would want to remove a proven, competent left tackle from the roster.
I wouldn’t chose Carpenter over Okung if money management is the issue. Carp will probably demand more than he is getting if re-signed. I think he could easily be replaced in the second or third round. We may even upgrade the talent at his position. A OG is one of he easiest positions to fill.
I wouldn’t either – Okung is the superior player and if extended his cap hit would drop most likely for 2015. I’d choose to save the cash on both guys though and play Bailey and someone else. Draft a G and/or T and let them compete with Bailey, Gilliam, and everyone else for the jobs. It sounds scary, but very good Gs are found often in the late 1st, early 2nd range. If we got a very good G on a rookie deal and paired him with Bailey, I think the left side of the line would be good.
PC sounds really critical of Bailey and Bailey undoubtedly has not endeared the trust where PC would turn over the keys to his future 120 million dollar qb’s blindside to him.
Sounds like from PC’s interviews on ESPN that as Rob, Cysco, and other posters have pointed out, left tackle pass blocking is hugely critical in his mind, and right tackle is much less so. The cupboard is pretty thin with left tackles you can just put out there and not worry enabling you to worry about something else.
Okung has also played all year injured so no one can doubt his toughness.
I believe not only will he play next year, that they will find money to extend him, because there isn’t much out there where you can plug in and not worry about the position.
The problem I have with his set up is three fold one…Carrol has already stated a perceived issue with Baileys weight and there is no known sense that they value his performance over Okung..two Honestly Miller already took a pay cut and the Seahawks proved that they could be just as effective without him (measured by getting to the nfccg) so it could be construed as just as unnecessary o pay him as okung if we’re going with a value based decision…and three at around the 30th pick in the draft who would they pick to replace okung? It doesn’t have to be the first pick for the hawks….i just can’t see ant tackles that are empirically better then say Gilliam meaning projects
Can Landon Collins cover? Is he markedly better than the last SPARQ-freak safety selected by the ‘skins? (Landry)
Was Landry a SPARQ demon or just ripped?
Collins is a playmaker with bad hands… sound like someone we know? (No, I am not suggesting he is the next Earl). Collins could be a superstar if he has good study habits and can avoid injury. He gets banged up regularly. His cover skills will need refinement – angles are sometimes suspect, but he never got beat over the top.
Fowler would be some pick for the silver and black. Considering Suh says he’s going to the highest bidder and Oakland are flush in cap space, you could be looking at Suh, Mack and Fowler in the same front 7
Scary.
And Del Rio at the helm.
Kiper put out his first mock and also has Smith going to the Hawks (how often has Rob agreed with Mel K before?)…but as the 8th WR off the board, behind Cooper, Parker, White, DGB, Funchess, Strong, and Coates. Just based on Smith being a likely riser between now and the draft, if there’s actually that much demand for WR it seems a stretch to hope he falls to us.
I can’t see that many WR’s going in round one, but I like his style at #32…
LOL. Kiper’s ridiculous. He has more WRs going in this year’s draft, when last years crop of wideouts was one of the best ever? Didn’t only 5 go in the 1st round of last year’s vaunted group?
Rob – one guy I don’t read much about on this blog is the 2014 Butkus Award winner (the best collegiate LB) Eric Kendricks from UCLA. My own take is that at 6′ and 230#, he’s light for an NFL LB and I don’t see him possessing the speed to be an effective edge rusher or a safety. But, he always seems to be around the ball.
Mychal Kendricks’ brother — and I was a big fan of Mychal. Eric is such a playmaker. Very similar player to his brother — could go in a similar range.
Couldn’t agree more with your statement Rob! He might be too expensive (2nd round) based on the current depth at LB on the Seahawks, but would be a nice addition with his explosiveness.
Biggest Salaries on expiring contracts:
Lynch 9 million (1 year)
Okung 7.2 million (1 year)
Mebane 5.7 million (1 year)
Unger 5.6 million (2 year)
Miller 4 million (1 year)
Free Agents:
Maxwell
Carpenter
Smith
Williams
Wagner (in 1 year)
Wilson (in 1 year)
Irvin (in 1 year)
Sweezy (in 1 year)
Biggest Needs:
WR/TE/OT/OG
I really think Lynch goes (Michael and Turbin get 1 year to see if they can be lead dog). We pay Wilson, Wagner, Irvin and I hope by letting go of Lynch/Miller and maybe restructure Mebane we can take care of Maxwell too (unless he wants 8 million). Rob, I won’t even go into Unger and Okung, but I think they should be looked at to restructure as well. If all the above happens, we need a weapon and get better on the oline. Maybe trade back a little again, then move up in 2nd.
1st DBG
2nd Williams
3rd OT
3rd OG/C
I can’t see Maxwell staying. Great cover corners are getting harder and harder to find. Look at the problems the Ravens and Giants had. Look at the Stealers after Ike left. He will get paid a lot. The Bears, the cowboys, the eagles all could use cover corners.
Just keep him away from the niners.
Hi Rob, how does Cardale Jones if he declares effect the first two rounds? Great talent, and a half page resume.
I will say, after watching a boatload of UCLA games the past two seasons, I’d take Jones over Hundley right now without hesitation. Hundley will be a career backup at best.
I too would take a chance on Jones over Hundley — but I wouldn’t draft Jones before the third round. I think there’s such a small sample size, and why was he the #3 at that age at Ohio State? He played tremendously well in those three games against good opponents. He’s very toolsy. But he’s still a project IMO. He’d be a nice fit for a team like Pittsburgh to develop.
Rob,
I really think Devin Smith would flourish with Wilson. He reminds me of Steve Smith Sr. (Carolina/Baltimore) but don’t know if he is a tough as Steve Smith Sr.
I also think Vincent Jackson would be a good #1 for the Hawks but do you think he is team player? Didn’t he have some issues in San Diego? Can’t really remember that far back (sometimers kicking in) I’m sure PC/JS know the story on him as far as attitude and if they think he will buy in to the Seahawk way. Would love to see him in a Seahawk uniform but not to the detriment of the team i.e. Percy.
I think the issue in San Diego was contract related. Tags and all that. I’m not aware of a negative review in terms of personality. I’d just love to see Seattle get that hulking red zone threat into their offense. It could put 6-7 extra TD’s on the field. Maybe more.
Well Rob, excluding comp picks which we don’t know yet. What is our draft count at by round because I think we got a 6th round for Harvin but I think we gave up a 6th rounder for burley so I’m wondering how many draft picks we have at the moment.
I’ve come across 2 big threats other than v. Jackson and they are Darrel Fells AKA Diesel the 6’8″ 280LB TE that we tried outa couple of years ago. I don’t know what is contract is at this time but he did score a TD for Arizona in the playoffs. You remember this guy was a pro basketball player who started to transition to pro football here. The other guy is Kris Durham who we drafted from Georgia. I don’t know if he’s gotten better but Pete loves to give 2nd chances and he’s a RFA for the Titans.
I probably reaching but I do try to think outside the box like the front office for Seattle does. I mean Ricardo left to San Fran and came back.
I looked up Daniel Fells and he’s a UFA
I think they have four comp picks coming. Maybe three. 10-11 picks is likely. As for the two guys suggested — I’m not overly keen. I think a real injection of quality is required to add to the existing WR’s and TE’s.
This post makes me think of Cody Latimer and your endorsement of him last year.
I was ambivalent about Latimer, as I am about Smith. Despite some nice attributes, I just couldn’t/can’t get excited about either.
Is Smith a better prospect, or are they as similar as they seem to me?
How do you mean similar? They are very different players physically and stylistically.
Yeah that was kind of vague. Sorry.
I meant similar in terms of their fit and potential impact.
Last year I thought of Latimer as a larger, more athletic Kearse. A potential improvement, but either not enough, or an improvement but not at a position of weakness, to make me think he warranted a R1 pick.
I like Smith. What’s not to like? But I just can’t get excited about him being the first pick (unless he slips to R2 and SEA trades back to pick him up there).
Fair comments.
I’m a big fan of Minnesota TE Maxx Williams, but I’m beginning to wonder if Oklahoma TE Blake Bell would be a better fit for Seattle without the high investment. Former QB, team first guy, fantastic blocker, sees the field with a QBs eyes. He may be close to the same type of athlete as well. Thoughts?
Don’t know a thing about him but e’s got the measurements for sure and they call him the Belldozer.
He might end up a UFDA.
Last year I was banging the table for Joseph Fauria who also ended up a UDFA.
Draft notes: (non of these guys are day 1 candidates)
I’m not the first guy to mention this kid (wish I remembered who brought him up) but what about Northwestern WR Kyle Prater? He’s 6’5, 225 lb., has a connection to PC who recruited him to USC I believe. He seems like he just got comfortable this year and has a TON of upside. Possess a big personality, is intense, competitive, may be a really good selection for that ‘big’ WR Seattle needs and since the bigger wideouts who are probably going to go early, don’t seem like great fits for Seattle.
What about this monster out of San Jose St? DL Travis Raciti-6’5,286 lbs. He’s been getting some buzz lately. Great motor, athletic, quick, strong, plays with tremendous passion, and may still be available with one of Seattle’s comp picks.
Does anyone know anything about Stanford DT David Parry-6’2,305 lbs? He reminds me of DT Jesse Williams in how they both have that weirdly built mid-section. Looks like he could be a good pick in the 6th or 7th round.
I want to address the Okung injury argument but that thread is just far to big already.
2010 – Played 10 games. High ankle sprain from being roled up on by a worthless OG that has been out of the league ever since.
2011 – played 12 games. Torn Pectoral (this injury occured after a play when a DL attacked him and did not get called for a penalty)
2012 – played 15 games.
2013 – played 8 games. Seahawks placed him on IR to return because of a toe injury that toke place after a storm delay froze him up with no time to warm back up. He had to sit out 8 games, but was ready to play after only 5 weeks. He played out the rest of the season/SB.
2014 – played 14 games. injured his chest wall when a player punched him in the throat after a play. Came back after only 2 weeks (he is a tough SOB).
Okung has really only missed a few games due to normal injury circumstances. And none have been recurring to suggest any proneness to injury. He gets dinged up easy is as close as you can get to an accurate statement, but has never missed a playoff game because of IR, and 6 of his missed games have been directly related to malice on the part of an opposing player (I believe this points us to how frustrated players become when they have to face Okung, they just don’t get there way with him).
Nicely said Jon.
I’m personally a huge fan of Okung and it just doesn’t seem like a sound strategy to replace him with a rookie. What happens if that rookie LT is a bust or doesn’t work out? Then Seattle just jettisoned a perennial pro-bowler for the sake od what?
Totally agree with ya my man, By the way, great job showing the years and games missed aspect.
It’s not just about games missed, it’s also about effectiveness while on the mend.
When he plays healthy, Russell is a top 10 LT in this league, this I doubt anyone would argue. However, how many games a season do we see healthy, effective Russell… 5? 8? 10? The rest of the time is missing games, or games riddled with false start penalties and getting routinely beaten because he can not effectively do his job.
Again, not advocating cutting and running. But a mid-round pick in a player who you can see developing over the next year or two into at the very least an insurance policy for these other games isn’t the worst idea I’ve ever heard.
I don’t think anyone is arguing against drafting and developing a couple O-lineman. I know I’m not.
A Russell Okung who is only 60 or 70 % healthy say, is still more effective than over half of the LTs in the league.
Great post Jon.
Rob, while we’re debating our current LT, have you ever gotten the chance to check out VA Tech OL Laurence Gibson? IMO he’d be a really good developmental pick. Has a great wingspan, athletic, versatile.
Just was curious if you had any thoughts on him, sine you’ve taken a look at another ACC OL in NC St’s Rob Crisp. Who by the way is really starting to grow on me. Love his length, movement skills, and the fact he’s battled back from multiple injuries.
Also, have you noticed that our boy CB Damian Swann has been getting some rave reviews and really challenging the WRs he’s matched up against at the east-west shrine game?
Glad to see Swann getting some love. Really excited by his potential and would love to see this team work with his talent. Keep an eye on Crisp I think he’ll be an intriguing prospect. As for Gibson — sorry not someone I’ve zoned in on.
Crazy thought I just had. what if Denvers new coaches don’t see Lattimore as a fit and are willing to trade him. And your looking at a 3rd or 4th round pick to get him? By no means do I see it happen but just wondering what kind draft comp would you be looking at?
They might need him if they allow one of the Thomas’ to walk.
Rob i think Mel Kiper should pay you royalties or something. I noticed last year when youd start talking these prospects up they would shoot up the mocks. Bitonio, amd that TN lineman are a couple that come to mind, then Kiper projects the ohio state kid coming this way a day you projected him to us. It cant all be coincedences can it?
If it isn’t I’ll be flattered, if it is I’ll be happy that Mel shares a similar viewpoint on these prospects.