Generally I think most people are content with the way the Seahawks have gone about their off-season. That’s where I’m at. Yet many fans are questioning the state of the offensive line and wondering what the plan is.
They’ve signed Tremayne Anchrum, a player most people hadn’t heard of. They also added George Fant — a very useful (and cheap) insurance policy against Abraham Lucas’ recovery from knee surgery.
Aside from that there’s been no big spend on the interior O-line, or even medium spend. John Schneider instead went on Seattle Sports last week and declared he believed guards were being ‘overpaid and over-drafted’.
There is some perspective to be had here.
Baltimore, unlike Seattle, are right in the middle of a Championship window. So far this off-season they’ve allowed John Simpson to leave and sign with the Jets, while Kevin Zeitler has gone to the Lions. They also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets.
Three fifths of their O-line will be different in 2024, yet they haven’t made any moves to replace these players.
Their current line looks like this — Ronnie Stanley at left tackle, Andrew Vorhees at left guard, Tyler Linderbaum at center, Ben Cleveland at right guard and Patrick Mekari at right tackle.
This isn’t dissimilar to the Seahawks.
Vorhees is a seventh round pick who dropped due to a knee injury sustained before the last draft. He had mid-round talent with some upside. Cleveland is a former third round pick who I liked a lot in the 2021 draft but he hasn’t been able to play consistently well. Mekari was undrafted in 2019 and has a guard body with short 31 inch arms.
The Ravens, like the Seahawks, are relying on linemen to make a step up — or they’re looking to the draft. Each team has also spent big money on a defensive tackle, plus they opted not to pay big money at linebacker or safety to keep their own players.
It’s possible both teams have messed up and have a bad plan. It’s also important to note that just because the Ravens do something, it doesn’t justify the Seahawks doing it too because they hired Mike Macdonald and would probably like to emulate their playing style.
I do think it provides some context though. Not every well run team is throwing money at guard. The Ravens probably had a far better chance of signing Kevin Zeitler this off-season — a player a lot of Seahawks fans wanted — and they let him go to Detroit.
The Ravens are hoping that Vorhees can take a step in year two, just as the Seahawks hope for the same from Anthony Bradford and Olu Oluwatimi. Both teams will need to add at least one lineman in the draft — and they probably feel comfortable doing so given the great strength of the group in this class.
Baltimore’s GM Eric DeCosta hasn’t announced he finds the guard position overpaid and over-drafted — but his actions match Seattle’s. He might share the view, he’s just not sharing it publicly.
PFF’s top graded guard in 2023 was former #14 pick Chris Lindstrom. Of the next fourteen players in the rankings, only two were first rounders — Zeitler and Tyler Smith (a player the Seahawks seemingly liked a lot in 2022).
The league lacks elite guard play at the moment and is instead full of ‘decent contributors’ who were previously mid-to-late round picks.
I have 22 interior linemen graded on my board that I think will go anywhere from pick #20 to the fourth round. There are seven other players I see frequently graded a lot higher than I have them. There are some players I’m yet to watch.
Basically, there are plenty of options. There’s never been a better draft as far as I can recall to do what the Seahawks and Ravens are preparing to do. There are also some older veterans still available on the market.
Scott Huff and Ryan Grubb have a proven track record developing linemen (albeit in college) and will probably thrive on having five starters who fit their athletic and playing style preferences rather than prioritising experience. I think they actually want a young group they can grow.
Eventually they’re probably going to have to use a high-ish pick on an interior player to add that bit of extra quality — and that could come this year. I think some perspective is important though. The Seahawks are not alone in their approach. It’s not just the Ravens. The Steelers are starting a seventh rounder at left tackle, moderately priced veterans at guard and center (none big names) and a first rounder at right tackle. If you pick through every team in the league, there are probably more in this boat than in the LA Rams/Detroit Lions one.
If the Seahawks drafted, say, Troy Fautanu in just over a month — their investment in the O-line would actually be more than most. They’d just be young — which again, might actually suit the Huff/Grubb system given the apparent desire for aggression and athleticism.
I’m not sure taking Noah Fant’s $7.5m cap hit this year and using it on the line instead would’ve got you much. Plus you’d have to find another tight end with some of that money. So overall, while there may be plenty of questions asked about Seattle’s approach to the offensive line — I think it’s somewhat understandable.
Who wants to see the same mock over and over again? If you’re a Seahawks fan, that’s pretty much what you’re getting at the moment.
If Troy Fautanu makes it to #16, it’d be a fantastic pick for Seattle. He is the player most regularly mocked to the Seahawks and for obvious reasons — the need to improve the O-line, Fautanu’s aggressive playing style plus his history with Ryan Grubb and Scott Huff. He’s one of the best players in the draft. Arguably, one of the ten best. I’m not convinced he’ll last to #16.
If both he and Taliese Fuaga are off the board, as I keep suggesting — that might be the trigger point for the Seahawks to move down.
I do think there will be opportunities to trade back in a draft where a group of top offensive tackles, cornerbacks and pass rushers (all premium positions) are projected to come off the board in the teens. It could tempt a team like Green Bay, with two second round picks, to be bold and move up nine spots using #58.
That said, you can’t guarantee a great offer. It isn’t that helpful that Houston just agreed to move down from #23 to #42 for a second rounder next year (essentially, a third round value). Thus, the Seahawks might not get the great offer they’re perhaps hoping for.
In this mock I wanted to go through that scenario and bring a different name to the table — someone nobody talks about for the Seahawks but who actually fits them in quite a big way.
You’ll also find a ‘Seahawks seven rounder’ looking at who else the Seahawks picked in this class, explanations for all the trades I made and a blurb on Seattle’s first round selection.
Round one
#1 Chicago (v/CAR) — Caleb Williams (QB, USC)
It’s never been a question that the Bears would take Williams here.
#2 Washington — Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)
The Commanders will select Daniels and look to replicate some of the Ravens’ success with Lamar Jackson.
#3 New England — Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina)
The minute they signed Jacoby Brissett, it felt like they were setting up to draft someone who needs a year’s grace. That’s what Maye needs.
TRADE — MIN #11 – ARI #4 #4 Minnesota (v/ARI) — JJ McCarthy (QB, Michigan)
The Cardinals’ GM made it clear today he wants to trade down. The Vikings, who are analytically driven, trade into this spot to get a quarterback who excels in the things analytically driven front offices focus on.
#5 LA Chargers — Marvin Harrison Jr (WR, Ohio State)
They have a major need at receiver.
#6 New York Giants — Malik Nabers (WR, LSU)
The Giants have long needed an X-factor difference maker at receiver.
#7 Tennessee — Rome Odunze (WR, Washington)
I watched an interview with new Head Coach Brian Callahan not so long ago, where he spoke about modern NFL teams needing great receivers. He’ll let his dad coach-up the O-line and save that need for round two. Odunze is a WR1.
#8 Atlanta — Jared Verse (DE, Florida State)
I think Verse or Chop Robinson, rather than Dallas Turner, will be the first pass rusher taken.
#9 Chicago — Taliese Fuaga (T, Oregon State)
They’ve added weapons, now they have an opportunity to really bolster their offensive line to protect their #1 pick at quarterback.
#10 NY Jets — Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia)
The Jets clearly aren’t thinking long-term and are just going all-in this year, probably to try and save jobs. Bowers would give them another dynamic weapon for Aaron Rodgers.
#11 Arizona (v/MIN) — Dallas Turner (DE, Alabama)
He’s a scheme fit and he has outstanding physical traits but I thought his tape was massively underwhelming.
#12 Denver — Chop Robinson (DE, Penn State)
The Micah Parsons comparisons are not hyperbole.
#13 Las Vegas — JC Latham (T, Alabama)
He’s just too huge, strong and athletic not to go in the top-15.
#14 New Orleans — Troy Fautanu (T/G, Washington)
There’s absolutely no doubt that Fautanu is one of the best players in the draft.
#15 Indianapolis — Joe Alt (T, Notre Dame)
Chris Ballard made a point of going onto the field at the combine to get a good look at the offensive linemen. They need to protect Anthony Richardson. Alt is a bit overrated — but teams will see a solid, safe pick.
TRADE — PHI #22 – SEA #16 #16 Philadelphia (v/SEA) — Terrion Arnold (CB, Alabama)
The Eagles must get younger and better at cornerback and they move up to make sure it happens. Arnold and Quinyon Mitchell are really close battling to be CB1.
#17 Jacksonville — Brian Thomas Jr (WR, LSU)
After losing Calvin Ridley, the Jaguars secure a dynamic weapon at receiver.
#18 Cincinnati — Byron Murphy (DT, Texas)
With the way he’s looking during workouts, someone will take him early.
#19 LA Rams — Amarius Mims (T, Alabama)
The Rams are going with a ‘bigger the better’ approach to their O-line.
TRADE — BUF #28 – PIT #20 #20 Buffalo (v/PIT) — Quinyon Mitchell (CB, Toledo)
The Bills, like the Eagles, move up to secure a cornerback. Mitchell is the real deal.
#21 Miami — Laiatu Latu (DE, UCLA)
After suffering injuries at the position late in the season, the Dolphins secure another dynamic edge rusher and go for value here.
#22 Seattle (v/PHI) — Darius Robinson (DE, Missouri)
The Seahawks get the best deal they can to move down then make a surprise choice — adding ‘alpha’ Robinson who shone at the Senior Bowl and for Missouri. This is the type of pick the Ravens/Steelers would make and they get back to that approach here. The trade compensation is explained below.
TRADE GB #25 – ARI #23 #23 Green Bay (v/ARI, MIN, HOU, CLE) — Olu Fashanu (T, Penn State)
The Packers desperately need a left tackle of the future. Fashanu is talented but needs technical refinement, which is why he drops. Green Bay jump the Cowboys to make sure they get him.
#24 Dallas — Tyler Guyton (T, Oklahoma)
He could go much earlier than this but one of the tackles is going to slip a little.
#25 Arizona (v/GB) — Jordan Morgan (T/G, Arizona)
Morgan can play guard or tackle and the Cardinals are happy for him to start inside.
#26 Tampa Bay — Adonai Mitchell (WR, Texas)
The talk is the league sees him as a future #1 target and the Buccs could do with adding weapons to be as dynamic as possible.
#27 Arizona (v/HOU) — Graham Barton (T/G/C, Duke)
The Cardinals continue to improve their O-line with the versatile, athletic and consistent Barton.
#28 Pittsburgh (v/BUF) — Jackson Powers-Johnson (C, Oregon)
After trading down in the first, the Steelers add JPJ — who they’re said to be big admirers of.
#29 Detroit — Nate Wiggins (CB, Clemson)
He’s been described as a poor man’s Devon Witherspoon and we know the Lions liked Witherspoon a year ago.
#30 Baltimore — Edgerrin Cooper (LB, Texas A&M)
The Ravens need some dynamism next to Roquan Smith after losing Patrick Queen and as a WILL, Cooper can pin his ears back and play in attack mode.
#31 San Francisco — Jer’Zhan Newton (DT, Illinois)
The 49ers love to replenish their interior D-line in the draft and they’ve lost Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw this year.
#32 Kansas City — Ladd McKonkey (WR, Georgia)
He’s had a perfect draft process so far and you wouldn’t bet against him going earlier than this.
Round two
#33 Carolina — Keon Coleman (WR, Florida State)
#34 New England — Roger Rosengarten (T, Washington)
#35 Arizona — Malachi Corley (WR, Western Kentucky)
#36 Washington — Ben Sinnott (TE, Kansas State)
#37 LA Chargers — Junior Colson (LB, Michigan)
#38 Tennessee — Kingsley Suamataia (T, BYU)
#39 Carolina (v/NYG) — Cooper DeJean (S/CB, Iowa)
#40 Chicago (v/CHI) — Cooper Beebe (G, Kansas State)
#41 Green Bay (v/NYJ) — Braden Fiske (DT, Florida State)
#42 Houston (v/MIN) — Troy Franklin (WR, Oregon)
#43 Atlanta — Kool-aid McKinstry (CB, Alabama)
#44 Las Vegas — Michael Penix Jr (QB, Washington)
#45 New Orleans (v/DEN) — Xavier Legette (WR, South Carolina)
#46 Indianapolis — Xavier Worthy (WR, Texas)
#47 NY Giants (v/SEA) — Kamari Lassiter (CB, Georgia)
#48 Jacksonville — Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (S, Texas Tech)
#49 Cincinnati — Jacob Cowing (WR, Arizona)
#50 Philadelphia (v/NO) — Brandon Coleman (T/G, TCU)
#51 Pittsburgh — Roman Wilson (WR, Michigan)
#52 LA Rams — Spencer Rattler (QB, South Carolina)
#53 Philadelphia — Javon Bullard (S, Georgia)
#54 Cleveland — Payton Wilson (LB, NC State)
#55 Miami — Ja’Tavion Sanders (TE, Texas)
#56 Jacksonville (v/DAL) — Ruke Orhorhoro (DT, Clemson)
#57 Tampa Bay — Ennis Rakestraw Jr (CB, Missouri)
#58 Green Bay — T’Vondre Sweat (DT, Texas) TRADE #59 Denver (v/HOU) — Bo Nix (QB, Oregon)
#60 Buffalo — Zach Frazier (C, West Virginia)
#61 Detroit — Ricky Pearsall (WR, Florida)
#62 Baltimore — Tyler Nubin (S, Minnesota)
#63 San Francisco — Jalen McMillan (WR, Washington)
#64 Kansas City — Mekhi Wingo (DT, LSU)
The trades explained
For the purpose of this mock, I’m looking at a scenario where the trade market in round one isn’t red hot — with the Houston/Minnesota deal influencing negotiations. If dropping down 20 spots only nets you a future second rounder, that could be used as leverage by teams looking to move up.
Minnesota (#11) trades with Arizona (#4)
The Vikings give up #23 and next year’s first round selection to move up to #4 so that they can select quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The Cardinals are making it very clear they want to move down. The Vikings know if they trade up to #4, they’ll be guaranteed one of the top quarterbacks.
Philadelphia (#22) trades with Seattle (#16)
The Eagles give up a fourth round pick (#120) plus a 2025 third rounder to move up six spots for Terrion Arnold. It’s critical the Eagles upgrade at cornerback and this kind of move would enable them to have their pick of the crop. Nobody was willing to give the Seahawks a second rounder to move down, so they take the best offer they can get and that includes getting more stock for next year.
Buffalo (#28) trades with Pittsburgh (#20)
The Bills give up two fourth round picks (#128, #133) and a sixth (#189) to move up eight spots for Quinyon Mitchell. After watching the Eagles trade up for Terrion Arnold, the Bills don’t hang about and make a similar move to ensure they land Mitchell.
Green Bay (#25) trades with Arizona (#23)
The Packers chuck the Cardinals a fourth rounder to jump the Cowboys in order to get Olu Fashanu.
Denver (#76) trades with Houston (#59)
The Broncos give up their third rounder in 2025 to move up 17 spots to select Bo Nix. Many people believe Nix is ideally suited for Sean Payton’s system but the #12 pick is far too early for him. Payton’s Saints were very aggressive trading away future picks and they did it last year in Denver too — giving the Seahawks their third rounder in 2024.
Thoughts on Seattle’s top pick
I’m guessing it’s going to be one that a lot of people aren’t fond of but Darius Robinson is a more likely Seahawks target than perhaps people think.
Firstly, we know they’ve placed a major focus on character. They are not compromising and haven’t for the last two drafts. Take the pick of Derick Hall. The official team website revealed they had a first round grade on him. Hall had fantastic traits and showed an aggressive playing style on tape. He also had A++ character. He was all football, all the time.
You might read that and think about Hall’s difficult rookie season and feel it was a bad judgement call by the Seahawks. Park that for a second and focus on the mindset of the team. It feels like they are trying to find ‘alpha’s’. Devon Witherspoon was definitely one. Hall, whether he played poorly last year or not, most definitely was one too. At the time of the pick I mentioned he reminded me of James Harrison the former Steeler. For what it’s worth it took a bit of time for Harrison to settle into the league. Hall looked like a Raven/Steeler.
I’ve spent a lot of time studying Robinson this week. Firstly, there’s no doubt in my mind he’s an A++ character. They call him ‘Mr. Mizzou’ at Missouri. Watch any of his interviews at the combine and he just excels. On tape he is all-out effort on every down. There’s no ‘snaps off’ with him. He was highly productive last season — getting a sack against every SEC opponent he played against for a super-tough Missouri team.
John Schneider mentioned in a recent interview that it mattered to him for a player to play in his team’s Bowl game. Robinson did, helping the Tigers beat Ohio State in a dominant defensive performance (he had another sack in that game).
Robinson was the star of the Senior Bowl 1v1’s, winning in numerous ways. His length, power, quickness, motor and repertoire all shone. He lined up inside and out and just created carnage all week in Mobile:
I interviewed Mekhi Wingo at LSU, one of his best friends. Wingo told me that Robinson basically was his mentor and taught him how to be a pro. Several players have taken the time to speak highly of him during this draft process on their social media accounts and he gives off a vibe that he could quickly develop into a heart-and-soul leader for whichever team drafts him.
How good is he as a player and how would he fit in Seattle? I think his tape shows some similarities to Jadeveon Clowney. He’s not the same twitchy athlete as Clowney but they have that same ungainly ability to just wreak havoc. He’s also bigger than Clowney at 285lbs — but they share that same ability to move across the line and win in different ways. I do think Robinson has the ability to wreck games — perhaps not in the most refined, cultured way — but he’s a D-liner. It’s supposed to be a bit rough and ready.
In terms of his fit — I appreciate the Ravens don’t have anyone like this. Yet for a coach in Mike Macdonald who wants to mix between three and four man fronts, it’s hard to see why Robinson wouldn’t fit. He’s an ideal inside/out type. Putting him in the same defensive front as Leonard Williams would create ‘F-the-game-up’ opportunities — at a time when San Francisco and the Rams might be losing some of their ability to do that from the inside, with Arik Armstead now in Jacksonville and Aaron Donald retiring.
Further to this, it does feel like the Seahawks are lacking that one monster on the defense who just brings everything together. Think Kam. That guy who everyone looks up to and knows — he’s going to be the most violent, aggressive, committed player every week. The player other teams fear.
Remember what we highlighted yesterday. Seattle’s mantra in the draft for the last two years was ‘stick to the board’. It’s been high character. Don’t reach for specific positions or needs. It feels like the trenches are now more important in terms of resource spend.
Robinson could be the final piece to an angry, aggressive, disruptive D-line that nobody wants to play. He could become the alpha on this team. He could easily be one of the top players on their board. There aren’t many players like this guy.
I used the Sportskeeda Mock Draft Simulator for this and tried to ignore players who wouldn’t obviously be available (eg Malachi Corley in round four).
Trevin Wallace would give them a very athletic, hard-hitting middle linebacker to add to the depth and competition at that position. He could be the long-term future at the position.
I’ve taken Schneider’s words on the radio last week literally about guards and determined that he, Scott Huff, Ryan Grubb and advisor Steve Hutchinson will be able to ‘find a guard’. Trevor Keegan had 44 starts for an award-winning Michigan line that they picked from a year ago (Olu Oluwatimi). He had 37 starts at left guard. I thought he had an excellent combine. It’s this type of player, who should be available early on day three, that makes me think Schneider has confidence he can find guys who fit.
The Seahawks need another pass-catching tight end and Cade Stover fits the mentality, agility testing and character traits they look for (he also has excellent catching technique).
Dominique Hampton is physical, intelligent and versatile and would be a great pick in round four. Jarrett Kingston offers the ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line. Tyrice Knight offers more depth at linebacker plus special teams value and Emani Bailey has the makings of a terrific third down back.
The Seahawks didn’t get a great offer to trade down from #16 but adding another pick this year and getting a third rounder in 2025 from the Eagles might help them — especially if they need to start thinking about being aggressive to land a quarterback of the future.
It’s a different mock to most — but the picks, I think, make sense based around the philosophy and the type of player the Seahawks have been drafting for the last two years. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.
It was reported today that Western Kentucky receiver Malachi Corley is taking an ‘official 30’ visit to the Seahawks. It’s the second confirmed meeting, following the news that UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight will also be travelling to Seattle.
What does the apparent interest in Corley suggest?
I think it’s indicative of a potential plan for the Seahawks in this draft. I was speaking to a source I really respect today and he made a reasonable point, whether you agree or not. This class is too good on day two. The only justification in his mind for not trading down would be if you’re taking a quarterback of the future at #16. Otherwise, move down.
Again, just park your own personal view on that take for a second and let’s imagine that’s how the Seahawks feel. They might believe they’re better off picking three times between, say, #25-81 rather than just once at #16 and then waiting 65 picks to select again. You’d have to believe the player at #16 was truly something special. Now, you can make an argument for some of the players in this class fitting that description. The Seahawks might not see it the same way.
I see both sides. Another former #16 pick, Brian Burns, would’ve been an excellent addition for the Seahawks in 2019. Instead they had a pick in the 20’s, traded down further, and took L.J. Collier. The last thing the Seahawks want to do is watch someone else get a great player when they own #16, only for John Schneider to settle on quantity and whiff on another Collier/Marquise Blair double (for context, I didn’t dislike either pick at the time).
On the other hand, the history of the #16 pick is pretty boom or bust. Along with Burns we’ve seen Marlon Humphrey, Taylor Decker, Zack Martin and Ryan Kerrigan taken at #16 over the last few years. We’ve also had E.J. Manuel, Kevin Johnson and Zaven Collins. Last year’s #16 pick, Emmanuel Forbes, endured a baptism of fire as a rookie in Washington. I’m sure plenty of teams picking right in the middle of round one believed they’d got the guy who slipped through the elite cracks but the results have been a mixed bag.
If the Seahawks were to move down aggressively — meaning into the late first round or beyond — they might be able to get a decent haul to fill out their board. In this draft, that could put them into a fairly enticing range where some of the second round picks stand as much chance of succeeding as those in the mid-first.
Corley is a good example of that type of player but he’s not alone. Lance Zierlein compares him to Deebo Samuel and others have said the same thing. Purely based on his frame, you can see why that connection is being made. On tape he runs through contact brilliantly, he finishes every reception, he’s adept at a lot of the modern route concepts, he produces terrific YAC potential and yet when he operates in a more conventional receiver role he knows how to get open.
He’s different to what the Seahawks have and anyone with the upside of Samuel warrants consideration.
Do I think Seattle’s top pick will be a receiver this year? No. However, it’s also worth remembering their approach from the last two drafts. They’ve focused on best player available and sticking to their board.
I’d recommend reading the excellent ‘Inside the draft room’ article from a year ago, where John Boyle reported nuggets of info from, well, the draft room. It’s good a reminder of their process. They had needs but didn’t reach. They let their grading do the talking. They added players at non-critical need areas. There’s no reason to think anything will be different this year.
If Malachi Corley was extremely highly rated on their final board, to the extent you think he’s a top-20 player and you can get him at, say, #40 — that’s just good value. Even if you don’t agree with that opinion — that’s the ideal process for any team in the draft. Don’t force needs, focus on the talent.
Part of the problem with their 2019 draft was the focus on need. As it happens, that was Deebo Samuel’s draft year. They’ve played him every year since. I wonder if they’ve rued their decision to focus on the glaring need (D-line) rather than being able to pair Samuel with D.K. Metcalf, who they traded up to select in round two?
Corley, for me, fits into a grading range that contains a lot of players. There are a ton of receivers in this group unsurprisingly. It’s where the likes of Ben Sinnott will slot and I don’t think the media realises how early he’s going to go. He could be a surprise target for Seattle too. They might see an alpha in Darius Robinson — whose rushing style is ungainly at times but his disruption also feels somewhat akin to a poor-man’s bigger version of Jadeveon Clowney — just with more consistency. This is also where I think Cooper Beebe and Jackson Powers-Johnson could fit in, plus Braden Fiske and others.
This is the glorious mystery of a new era combined with Seattle’s approach to the draft over the last two years. I still think if they stay at #16 the chances are it’ll be an offensive tackle — but I wouldn’t rule out one of the dynamic edge rushers. If they trade down, it could be any position. Whoever is top of the board. It could even be someone like Quinyon Mitchell or Terrion Arnold.
This is where I tend to agree with the source I referenced before. Unless it’s a potential franchise quarterback you’re taking at #16, you have to consider trading down in this class. It’ll be a very tricky call to make if you really like someone available at #16 — but the Seahawks can ill-afford to wait until pick #81 to select again. Not because it’ll mean missing out on specific positions on day two. Simply because they won’t be able to keep enhancing their roster and adding talent via ‘best player available’ — the plan that is always the key to good drafting.
A final point — we all acknowledge left guard is a glaring hole at the moment. I also sense many fans are not enthused by the idea of Olu Oluwatimi and Anthony Bradford taking on bigger roles in 2024. However — it seems clear the Seahawks targeted these two players in this range specifically, believing they could get value. Boyle’s piece from earlier also highlighted Seattle’s interest in fourth round center Jake Andrews, who was selected by New England. It seems the Seahawks — aided by Steve Hutchinson as an advisor — believe they can possibly find ‘their guys’. I’m not sure, with Hutchinson advising, we have enough evidence so far to say this isn’t true.
If Oluwatimi and Bradford both really come along under the guidance of Scott Huff, it will — to an extent — justify Schneider’s comments about interior offensive linemen being over-drafted and overpaid.
This is a draft class full of very interesting interior O-liners who are set to be taken between rounds 3-5. That’s another reason for moving down, getting extra stock — to be able to add talent and competition to the interior line, while also addressing other positions too.
A couple of people sent me this tweet from Jim Nagy yesterday, in response to my article on not overthinking Seattle’s likely positional targets in the draft:
Would be a good pick because he could start at center or guard. I think they'll give Olu first crack at center. Just guessing but don't see them going OL in 1st.
As Jim says, it’s only a guess. He has a view on what the Seahawks might do that he isn’t going to share publicly.
I have a couple of thoughts on this. There are clearly circumstances that could lead to the Seahawks not to take an offensive lineman first. Firstly, a potential run on the position before they select. I think there’s a very good chance Taliese Fuaga and Troy Fautanu are off the board by #16. That could be the trigger point to trade down, or capitalise on someone else who falls into range.
For example, if the run on tackles pushes the top pass rushers down the board, the Seahawks might sense an opportunity and thus, they could go in a different direction. I really like Chop Robinson and Jared Verse. Others are big fans of Dallas Turner. Laiatu Latu’s stock also feels really secure in the #11-20 range.
Secondly, the aforementioned trade down scenario. Not enough people discuss the tiers within this class. You have, in my opinion, a very clear top-seven players. The next tier down isn’t far behind. I have eight players in tier two. The Seahawks are right on the border of that group.
I appreciate they might view things completely different to me (they probably do) but let’s imagine their tiers and numbers are similar. It’s possible they won’t have a significant grade difference between the player they’d take at #16 or the player they’d take later in round one.
On top of this, there’s the black hole on their draft board between picks #16 and #81. The 2024 draft is too good to not pick in that void. So the question will be — is the player available to you at #16 so good that you are prepared to wait 65 picks to select again? Or do you try and trade down with the idea that you might be able to get two or three players instead of one at #16?
The other thing to consider is you need a partner to trade with. I’ve had a number of people say to me it’s a certainty they’ll trade down. Not if the interest in moving up isn’t there, or the right offer isn’t forthcoming. Trading down ten spots for a third rounder beyond pick #70 won’t be tempting.
If they do trade down from #16 — as I noted in yesterday’s piece, it opens up the possibility of going ‘best player available’ regardless of positional need. I think at #16 an offensive tackle or pass rusher is likely. If you’re picking between #20-40, then all bets are off. In that instance, go for value.
I do think at some point in this draft they will select a right tackle. That could be Roger Rosengarten or Caedan Wallace on day two, to give a couple of examples. We’ve all heard John Schneider’s comments about guards being overpaid and over-drafted. We’ll soon find out if that was misdirection or what he truly believes. The way the Seahawks have handled the guard position in free agency suggests he was being up front and honest.
Let’s go back to that top pick though. If they move down into the #20-40 range, there are several things they could look at. I’m not convinced Byron Murphy will go quite as early as some are predicting and he could last beyond #20. There may come a point where the physical toughness and explosive qualities of Darius Robinson becomes intriguing for them. Ben Sinnott, in my opinion, is going to go in the 30’s. Keep an eye on him. I see a lot of mocks with Chop Robinson going in the 20’s or 30’s. It makes me laugh every time because he’s too good for that. If I’m wrong and these mocks are right though, what an opportunity that would be.
Then there’s also the quarterback position. It won’t be surprising at all if the Seahawks move back with the intention of selecting Michael Penix Jr in a range they are more comfortable taking him (assuming Penix Jr isn’t off the board before #16 — as we’ve mentioned, his draft range feels bigger than most). I do think, though, that the Sam Howell trade is indicative of an expectation within the front office that they probably won’t be able to get a quarterback this year.
There’s another name I want to mention as a wildcard. Florida State’s Braden Fiske. Although he generated a lot of buzz after his performance at the combine, it almost seems to have been forgotten a few weeks on.
I’ve been doing a live blog on the combine for 14 years. Fiske’s workout at Indianapolis is one of the best I’ve seen in that period.
I can’t remember seeing a defensive tackle at his size move around the field like he did. His change of direction ability at 292lbs is stunning. On one drill where you have to go in and out of the bags, then bend round the edge and straighten to tackle a final bag, he showed the balance and control of a top-end 250lbs edge rusher. They simulcast his effort alongside Byron Murphy and he was quicker across every section of the drill and he could bend around the edge, while Murphy had to almost stop to change direction. Further to that, his figure-eight drill was excellent for a man his size and his bag drill — stepping in and out of the bags — was possibly the best I’ve ever seen by a defensive lineman.
Here’s a little snippet of what I’m talking about:
In terms of testing — he ran a 4.37 short shuttle which is one of the best times ever by a defensive lineman. Aaron Donald ran a 4.39. Cam Jordan also ran a 4.37. He’s also highly explosive — jumping a 33.5 inch vertical and a 9-9 broad jump. His 10-yard split was a blistering 1.68 for his size.
None of this would matter if the tape didn’t match-up. His get-off and first step quickness is reminiscent of the top defensive linemen. His motor never runs cold — there’s evidence of him chasing down quarterbacks to the sideline long after the snap. He can play stout against the run — engaging, slipping blocks and filling gaps. You are going to get 100% effort in every game, from a player with elite-level athleticism at his position. This is the definition of a potential difference maker.
When he’s given a gap he’ll attack it and you’ve constantly got to monitor where he’s lining up because his get-off enables him to shoot into the backfield better than most. Even when he has to go 1v1 vs an interior lineman, he’ll generally push the pocket to create disruption. I don’t think he’s ever going to be an elite swim/rip specialist. Yet his combination of brute force, stoutness, twitch, fight to get the absolute most out of every rep and when you give him a sniff of a runaway to the quarterback — he’ll just explode through that hole and make a play.
Here’s Nagy on Fiske, speaking on a Bills podcast at the combine:
The short arms (31 inches) are a concern and he’ll face challenges at the next level to get off blocks if he’s losing battles early because he can’t press, keep himself clean and stay in the play. However, the Ravens under Mike Macdonald utilised Michael Pierce (31.5 inch arms) effectively. Broderick Watson also has only 32.5 inch arms. It’s unclear whether they’ll view this as an issue.
Statistically Fiske isn’t anything to write home about. He only had six sacks (although Florida State were so dominant that might’ve impacted stat-collecting). His 6.9 PRP (PFF’s formula that combines sacks, hits and hurries relative to how many times they rush the passer) is comparable to Jer’Zhan Newton (6.8) but it’s behind Michael Hall Jr and Ruke Orhorhoro (both 7.1) and well behind Byron Murphy (9.6). It’s worth noting that Fiske isn’t even listed in the top-200 for ‘pass rush snaps’ in PFF’s system. Apparently he had a quarter of the attempts to get after the passer that Murphy had at Texas. A different role at the next level could lead to greater production.
The other thing to consider is character. Fiske’s is outstanding. The Seahawks have placed a huge emphasis on character and view it through a ‘no compromises’ lens these days. If we’re talking about character traits, Fiske is an A+.
There’s just so much to like about his profile. There are players who have all of the physical traits to be excellent yet somehow they slip through the cracks and go much later than they should do. Aaron Donald had no business lasting to #13. T.J. Watt shouldn’t have been pick #30. Lamar Jackson shouldn’t have been pick #32. Chris Jones was pick #37. There are countless examples. There are also plenty of these types who don’t achieve greatness. Could we be looking back in a few years and wondering why Fiske lasted as long as he did?
There are key things to consider. How much better is Fiske compared to the likes of Orhorhoro, Hall Jr and Mekhi Wingo — all of which could be available later? Then there are the reported injury concerns. Tony Pauline noted at the combine that Payton Wilson and Fiske had received ‘ugly’ medical grades. Teams view these things differently and no final decision will be made until shortly before the draft, when the doctors consult with the front office to determine which players should be dropped on boards for health reasons — or even removed from consideration. Fiske does have an extensive injury history — in High School he suffered a bulging lumbar disc and had shoulder and elbow surgeries.
“You don’t want to like him because he doesn’t look awesome,” said one scout. “But this guy plays every down like he’s going to the firing squad after the down’s over. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anybody play this hard. The lack of length shows up as a pass rusher, but for his size he’s powerful and a penetrator. He gets behind the line of scrimmage. He can run. Really good athlete. He can bend. He’s going to be a really good player. It wouldn’t even surprise me to see him go ahead of Murphy. This guy’s a f—— buzzsaw.”
“Has short arms but uses his hands well,” a second scout said. “Outstanding worker. Has to be kicked out of the weight room. Blue-collar pro mindset. More disruptive than productive as a rusher. Gets stuck on bigger and longer offensive linemen at times.”
“He just goes all-out, all-out, all-out,” said a third scout. “The more you watch him the more you like him.”
On Byron Murphy, it’s also worth noting that McGinn’s sources spoke glowingly about him too:
“His athletic ability and quickness are amazing … off the charts,” one scout said. “Plays his ass off. He’s destructive. The two-gap stuff is not really his deal but he’ll drop a knee in there, he’ll hang in there. Pass rush, his power and explosiveness through the gap, that’s his deal. In this modern NFL, with all the throwing, he’s going to be a problem. I like him better than (Calijah) Kancey from last year, who was another undersized guy. Much better player. Stronger. Kancey kind of came on a little because he worked out like a phenom, but I don’t care how this guy worked out.”
“Disciplined both run and pass,” another scout said. “Excellent straight-line power pass rusher. Thing that worries me is he’s going to be 6-0 and weigh only 300. You will have to team him up with a (much bigger) guy. Can Murphy play square? Yes, I think he can play square.”
“High character,” said a third scout. “He’s sudden, flexible, plays on his feet. Hands and feet work well together. Got pass rush for an inside guy. He’s fairly strong for his size but he’s more of a movement-oriented scheme player, of which there are many nowadays. He’s the best one.”
Murphy, to be blunt, has a fantastic arse and thighs combo that will have the league very intrigued by his explosive lower body power. For a player who lacks height and length, he still looks fantastic. As noted earlier, his analytical success has been charted by PFF — he’s the most consistent pass rush threat and their highest graded interior defender. He too, if he’s available after a trade down, could be firmly on the radar.
Fiske also had a successful Senior Bowl in Mobile:
With the injury history and the short arms it’s hard to project where he’ll go in the draft, even if his talent and traits screams top-40 lock. Daniel Jeremiah had him at #37 in his latest top-50 board.
I don’t think it’s beyond the realms of possibility that the Seahawks trade down once or twice and consider a player like Fiske. It’d create quite a duo with Leonard Williams when they want to rush with four and a front three with Jarran Reed or a true nose tackle (Johnathan Hankins — who signed today — or Cam Young) could be productive on early downs.
If you’re comfortable with the medicals he’d give you a productive player who can ‘do a job’ with the potential to be so much more due to his physical traits. If you trade down once or even twice to fill out your board and take him with your first selection — you’d be having a strong BPA start to round out the quality to your roster.
It’s just so hard to project these things. We’ll never know how they view Fiske’s short arms or the medicals. It’s quite easy to project that they’ll like Troy Fautanu because of the playing style, talent, health and history with the offensive staff. A lot of Seahawks fans and media are on the Junior Colson hype train — but we haven’t got any testing numbers for him and he came in slightly lighter (238lbs) than expected at the combine. I think he’s become a little bit overrated. He’s not the rangiest player but he’s tough and typically ‘Michigan’. He’s a very solid player — but until we have testing numbers it’s hard to gauge his upside.
Fiske to me is very intriguing, as are others. If Jim Nagy is right and they go in a different direction than O-line early — it might be because they traded down and BPA available when they pick is someone like Fiske.
One other thing to consider — at some point between now and September the Seahawks are going to have to create some cap space. Trading Dre’Mont Jones after June 1st saves them $11.5m. It’s very possible they take a defensive lineman in this draft with the intention of that player being a better schematic fit for Macdonald, while producing a chance to create cap space. You won’t get much back for Jones — it’d be a salary dump. A late rounder, a future conditional pick or maybe a player swap. But it feels like Seattle’s most realistic way to create necessary space down the line, unless he just blows the new staff away during OTA’s and camp.
I still firmly believe with the lack of significant activity on the O-line — plus the rumoured interest in Johnathan Hankins and Randy Gregory — that the Seahawks are very likely to select an offensive lineman early, particularly if one of their top targets is available. If they do move down though, as I said yesterday, they could easily pivot to BPA. Fiske might be too much of a medical risk but if he isn’t — and they can see beyond the lack of length — his upside potential is so high that he warrants some consideration for the Seahawks.
Here are some thoughts on where I think the Seahawks are at, following main section of free agency and with just over a month to go until the draft…
— With the current state of the roster, especially the lack of additions to the offensive line, it seems pretty obvious at this stage that the Seahawks will go O-line at #16 or trade down.
— I think it’s less likely that they’ll take a quarterback after the Sam Howell trade but wouldn’t rule it out completely. I think it’s possible the Seahawks share the apparent league consensus view that there’s a top-four in this quarterback class and that other players, such as Michael Penix Jr and Bo Nix, are day two picks. With no second round pick currently, and no guarantee they’ll be able to trade down, they couldn’t afford to go into the draft without an adequate backup quarterback. Now they’re hedged against missing out in the draft.
— The lack of interior offensive line investment in free agency speaks to the strength and depth of the O-line positions in this draft. Free agent additions and re-signings at linebacker and tight end also speak to the weaker depth at those two positions. The Seahawks signed former seventh round pick Tremayne Anchrum for depth purposes today — but it changes very little in terms of the draft.
— The willingness to move down from #78 to #102, coupled with already spending their second round pick on Leonard Williams, perhaps speaks to their desire to trade down and acquire extra picks. Day two feels like a strong area for adding players and it’s hard to imagine they’ll be comfortable picking at #16 and then having to wait until #81. That said, there’s always a chance a ‘can’t miss’ player lasts to #16 — or a good trade offer isn’t forthcoming. After all, once you trade out of the top-20 in this class, there’s going to be a drop-off in talent.
— I think when we’re projecting what they’ll do in round we shouldn’t overthink it. The strength of round one is offensive tackle. John Schneider has often bemoaned the lack of good, quality offensive linemen coming into the league. They have needs on the offensive line. If they stay at #16, it’s almost certainly going to be an O-liner.
— Is pass rusher an alternative? It could be, purely based on the fact there are four good edge rushers in the draft plus a defensive tackle in Byron Murphy that a lot of people like. However, the investment in Leonard Williams plus the fact the Seahawks already have four edge rushers on their roster that they’ve already invested in, suggests O-line is a lot more likely.
— A respected source mentioned to me over the weekend that when Jaxson Kirkland — once a highly rated offensive tackle — suffered injuries and saw his college career stall, he was moved inside by Scott Huff to play guard. Kirkland was an athletic, tall guard at Washington (he’s 6-7 in height). It was put to me that the Seahawks could do the same with Abraham Lucas. Many evaluators projected Lucas to guard at the next level. I never agreed with that and thought he was tailor-made for right tackle. However, if the injuries prevent him from playing his best football at the edge, a move inside could be a way to manage the situation. This would afford the Seahawks an opportunity to draft a right tackle at #16 if they don’t move down. With Lucas competing at guard and a new highly drafted right tackle on the roster, this could be a way to upgrade Seattle’s O-line.
— Further to this, Nate Kalepo played left guard for Washington in 2023. He’s 6-6 and 327lbs — so he also has a similar frame to Lucas. He was an offensive tackle convert from High School. There’s really no reason to believe Lucas isn’t a fit at guard for Scott Huff and it’s possible they’re earmarking him for that role.
— I think Seattle’s 1a and 1b preferences for the #16 pick are Taliese Fuaga and Troy Fautanu. They both have the athletic qualities, the aggressive playing style and personality that the Seahawks are looking for up front. I suspect both players would be used at right tackle. Although Fautanu is regularly touted for a move inside to guard — he’s played fantastic football at tackle and I think there’s every chance they would play him on the right side, at least initially. Both players would be great picks. The only problem is, sadly, I’m not convinced either lasts to #16.
— If both of these players are gone, that could be the trigger to trade down. They could also look at Amarius Mims and Tyler Guyton as right tackle alternatives. I suspect J.C. Latham won’t last to #16. If they do trade down, don’t be surprised if they still draft a right tackle and follow through with the plan above. Roger Rosengarten could be a day two target, among others. Penn State’s Caedan Wallace could be an option.
— If they trade down, it could simply be a ‘BPA’ scenario with no strict position in mind. John Schneider’s comments last week about guards being ‘overpaid and over-drafted’ doesn’t suggest they’ll be rushing to the podium for Cooper Beebe or Jackson Powers-Johnson (who I think many teams will view as a guard because of his 330lbs frame). That said, both players might be sufficiently good enough to be taken. I’m a huge fan of Beebe and see some similarities to Quenton Nelson. Trading down, though, could present a situation like a year ago where receiver wasn’t a huge need but they took Jaxon Smith-Njigba anyway based on grading. So everything could be on the table if they move down, especially if they get more than one extra pick.
— If the Seahawks don’t address the O-line early — and trade down to add more picks — let’s not forget that it’s a deep draft at all three offensive line positions. They’ll be able to get stuff done here.
— My guess is they’ll like Michael Penix Jr but possibly not as a first round pick. There does seem to be a fairly general consensus that he will be a day two selection. If the Seahawks grade him in round two, they almost certainly won’t reach. Thus, they’ll probably only feel comfortable taking him if they trade down from #16 and get a pick in a range where they feel comfortable selecting him.
— To recap — my prediction as of today is they go offensive tackle at #16 if they stay put and if they trade down, it could open up a pure ‘BPA’ scenario with multiple positions being on the table. I think Fuaga and Fautanu will be key targets and if they’re gone, the likes of Mims and Guyton could come into play. I think they feel it’s going to be tricky to draft a quarterback in a range where they’re comfortable taking one in this class and that’s why they made the move for Howell. Abe Lucas could be moved to guard and there’s evidence that Scott Huff likes to use players like Lucas in that position anyway.
I discussed some of these topics in a video published yesterday, check it out below:
In the fourth part of my pre-draft interview series, I had a chance to speak to Washington State’s underrated pass rusher Brennan Jackson. Not only has he shown to be a very effective disruptor off the edge, as you’ll see — he’s also a brilliant talker. Prepare to want him on your team…
With today’s signing of Jerome Baker, the Seahawks appear to have filled all the necessary starting positions on defense. This will give them great flexibility in the draft to add depth. In totality there’s only one glaring void at the moment — at left guard. That might be a strong indication of Seattle’s draft intentions and it’s something I looked at in yesterday’s seven round mock.
In Baker and Tyrel Dodson, the Seahawks have arguably upgraded at linebacker at a cheaper price. I asked Si Clancy, a friend and Dolphins fan, about Baker and what he’ll bring to Seattle:
Plenty. Solid if unspectacular, hard worker, always available – only missed 4 games in 6 seasons & all 4 were 2023 when his own player took him out. Green dot, leader, solid tackler, decent in coverage. Can blitz. Fans didn't love him because he wasn't flashy. Just solid.
As someone who has long called for resources to be shifted from linebacker and safety to the trenches, it’s encouraging to think Seattle’s biggest free agent investment (Leonard Williams) and their top draft pick (O-line or pass rusher) could be used up front. After years of seeing huge contracts and high draft picks spent on non-premium positions, this is refreshing.
Overall, as I keep saying, I think this has been a positive off-season. The Seahawks showed necessary restraint to avoid spending elite money on non-elite players. I think they’ve found some value. They kept Williams and it’ll be interesting to see what he does in Mike Macdonald’s system. I’m not a fan of moving from #78 to #102 for a backup quarterback — it feels like an overpay for a player I don’t believe will ever provide anything more than cheap insurance. I’m also not going to agonise over the deal — it is what it is.
However — there is one big question that remains. The most important question. One that has to be asked by fans and media alike.
What is the long term plan at quarterback?
Until the Seahawks find ‘the guy’ — they are going to be stuck in the murky middle of the NFL.
I appreciate this is the hardest problem to solve in the league. However, the Seahawks are now into their third off-season since the Russell Wilson trade and their most significant investment at the position beyond keeping Geno Smith is the Howell trade — a player John Schneider said isn’t even competing with Smith to start this year.
They had ammunition a year ago in picks #5, #20, #37 and #52 and didn’t come away with a quarterback. Now, they’ve traded away or diminished their stock making it difficult to trade up from #16. You have to wonder if the Howell trade is partly motivated by a growing expectation within the front office that they might not be able to get a quarterback they like this year either.
They can’t keep kicking the can down the road, in the hope that the next Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen falls into their laps. Eventually, they’re going to have to identify a player with the tools to succeed and take a chance — either by trading up or just picking someone early.
Personally, I look at the Minnesota Vikings with a degree of envy. They’ve moved off Kirk Cousins, just as Seattle moved off Russell Wilson. Their reaction to doing so was to be quite aggressive in free agency and then make a ballsy trade to acquire an extra first round pick. They are going to trade up for a quarterback.
This feels pro-active. This feels like an attempt to break away from mediocrity. There’s no guarantee it’ll work but at least they’re taking a chance. The fans will be excited to see how this plays out and whether it’s successful or not — Minnesota isn’t settling.
It does feel like the Seahawks are risk-averse when it comes to investing in the most important position in football. They’ve had two highly productive, talent-adding drafts in 2022 and 2023 and all it has produced is two 9-8 seasons. Perhaps the new staff can change that? Hopefully so. But I tend to think eventually you need to do something like the Vikings are doing now. You can’t fear turning 9-8 into 5-12, otherwise you might never get to 13-4.
If you were to give me the choice of risking the two extreme scenarios or sticking in the middle-ground of the NFL — I’d pick the risky option every time.
Several contradicting decisions and comments are clashing. Schneider said a year ago they were determined to add extra 2024 stock because it was a deeper draft class. They’ve since turned three day-two picks into one with the Williams and Howell trades. Schneider constantly talks about wanting to draft quarterbacks — but he never does. While he never explicitly stated after the Wilson trade that drafting a replacement quarterback was priority #1 — it surely was at the forefront of his mind. Two years on, we’re no nearer to understanding how they’re going to do that.
Perhaps we’ll have the answer in a month and they’ll take Michael Penix Jr either at #16 or after moving down? I just feel less confident of that after the Howell move — it feels a little bit like they either sense Penix Jr won’t be there for them, might not be there for them or they’re just not interested. You can make the same argument for Spencer Rattler and Bo Nix if you wish. They currently don’t have a left guard on the roster, or much in the way of O-line depth. They haven’t added a new pass rusher. Are they going to take a quarterback at #16, after adding Howell, then wait 65 picks to select again?
A serious plan needs to be formed to get a top young quarterback with serious franchise potential. With the way they started trading away picks mid-season last year, it’s hard to make a case they had a serious plan for the 2024 draft. Instead, they started acting more like the Rams during their ‘F-those picks’ phase.
The question needs to keep being asked. How exactly are the Seahawks going to find ‘the guy’ who can lead this team to the promise land at the most important position in the sport? Because until they start taking chances to get that individual — I don’t think the Seahawks will break out of the middle-ground in this league. And no, adding a former fifth round pick, discarded by the Washington Commanders, who threw 21 interceptions last season, who the GM is already calling a backup, is not a serious plan to find ‘the guy’ for the future.
The Vikings are being brave and bold. It might work, it might not. But at least they’re trying.
Over the last two years, the Seahawks have made a big point of not reaching for need. They went into the draft with most areas addressed in some form or another. That gave them the freedom to pick for talent, not position.
This is how they ended up drafting a cornerback and a receiver in the top-20 last year. Neither was a striking need but they were able to stick to their board and select the best available players. In the past, such as the 2019 class, we’ve seen what happens when they force needs.
They’ve also doubled down on character, learning from past mistakes where they took risks. ‘Without compromise’ is a term that has been throw around and it rings true. Every player the Seahawks have taken has been of quality individual character with no flags.
I think what we’re seeing at the moment is an attempt to re-create that same environment for the 2024 draft. They are trying to address their needs and fill holes. Jerome Baker is making a visit to Seattle today and could sign, while Brady Henderson says they’re interested in classic nose tackle Johnathan Hankins. K’Von Wallace visited the team earlier this week too.
These three players would fill remaining needs at linebacker, defensive tackle and safety. It’d only leave one glaring void at left guard. It’s hard to know what the Seahawks could do there, especially after John Schneider’s slightly pointed remarks about the overrated cost of the position both in terms of salary and draft range. Guard aside, you can see the team positioning itself for a ‘best player available’ draft again.
I still think the Sam Howell trade is difficult to look at on paper, given it now leaves the Seahawks with only one day two pick. It’s hard to square the circle that they believe they have to make moves like this, in part because they’ve been so reluctant to draft someone like Howell when they’ve had the chance in day three, to produce the kind of salary value they now crave.
Before I get into the mock, some thoughts on the quarterback situation overall. When listening to John Schneider yesterday I thought he sounded a little irked. I wasn’t the only one, as it happens. You don’t have to agree with what I’m about to say but this is how I’m connecting the dots.
I think there’s a reason why, for the first time yesterday, Schneider declared Geno Smith ‘the guy’. He had ample opportunity to do that before yesterday but answered in a very different way. I believe this is because it’s true today but wasn’t necessarily true two months ago.
I think Schneider was open to trading Smith but discovered there wasn’t a market. I think he talked up Drew Lock so much, as did Mike Macdonald and Ryan Grubb, because they knew there was a possibility Smith could depart and they needed a starter. Once it became apparent Smith couldn’t be moved, they re-worked his deal to save money in 2024. At that point, it became likely that Lock would seek a fresh start with a new team where he had a better chance to win a job. The Seahawks settled in with Smith as the starter for this year — thus Jordan Schultz reported the quarterback had been informed he would be with the team this season.
I also think the Seahawks were very minded to draft a quarterback early, potentially trading up to do so. There are enough people reporting or speculating within the national media to believe a ‘top-four’ consensus has emerged — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy. It’s possible the Seahawks align with the view that the quartet are a clear top-four.
With Lock departing, they needed a replacement backup anyway and that could be the sole motivation for the Howell trade. Did they also know, perhaps 24-48 hours ago, that the Vikings were working the phones to try and acquire another first round pick, thus increasing their chances of trading up from #11 for a quarterback? It’s hard to believe they only approached the Texans and a deal was done. They likely pitched to multiple teams between #12-32 about moving up from #42. Thus, it was likely the talk of the league.
If it’s believed the top-three quarterbacks will go #1-3 and now the Vikings will trade up for QB3/4 having acquired the stock to pull it off, it’s possible the Seahawks found themselves in a situation where any viable shot at the consensus top-four quarterbacks was gone.
Therefore, they made the Howell move to get a young quarterback so that they didn’t come out of the off-season empty handed. Now, at least they have a cost-effective young signal caller who — as Schneider pointed out — is the same age or younger than many of the big-name quarterbacks in the draft.
The downside is, if this theory carries any water, that it might mean they’re resigned to not drafting a quarterback again. Or it could simply mean the market for Michael Penix Jr is so unpredictable, they want to be fully prepared. That would fit in with the ‘not forcing anything’ approach. But I do think it’s possible the Howell trade indicates a growing expectation that they might not draft a QB.
Onto the seven round Seahawks mock…
First round — #16 — Trade down
It feels increasingly inevitable that they move down for two reasons. Firstly, this draft is too good in day two to think they manipulated a way to turn three day-two picks into one. They have to be planning to get more stock in this range, surely?
Secondly, I think a lot of their key targets at #16 will be off the board. I think they’d love to get Taliese Fuaga or Troy Fautanu but if I were doing a full first round projection today, I’d have them at #9 and #10 respectively. I also think JC Latham will be gone and Jared Verse will be too. Chop Robinson is the blue-chipper most likely to last, I think, but there’s no saying whether they would stick and pick for another edge rusher.
I have the Seahawks trading down to #25 in a deal with the Packers. Green Bay needs a left tackle, so they move up. They’ve got two second round picks so they give the Seahawks #58 to jump up and select Olu Fashanu at #16 — a player I think will last longer than many mock drafts are projecting.
First round — #25 — Trade down
The Seahawks trade down for a second time as they continue to stock-pile picks. Here’s the thing — once you trade out of the top-20, you trade out of the value range in round one. That’s why I’m not a huge fan of them trading away their second rounder and one of their third round picks. Now, they feel under greater pressure to trade out of #16. Once you get to about pick #22, the value drops. It’s why I think Houston were so comfortable going from #23 to #42 in their trade with the Vikings, for nothing more than a 2025 second round pick. The value between pick #23 and #42 is minimal. So the Seahawks might as well see if they can move down again if they trade off #16.
I have them making a deal with the Panthers. Carolina traded away Brian Burns and they need a replacement. I have them trading the pick they got from the Giants — #39 — to the Seahawks for #25 so they can select Laiatu Latu. In return, the Seahawks get #65 and they send pick #118 to the Panthers.
This means the Seahawks swapped #16 and #118 for #39, #58 and #65.
Second round — #39 — Cooper Beebe (G, Kansas State)
I’m less confident projecting this today after hearing Schneider speak about the guard position — but Beebe just feels like a great fit. Firstly, he’s very athletic for a guard — running a 5.03 at 322lbs. I sense Scott Huff and Ryan Grubb are looking for a degree of athleticism up front. I think they also want extremely physical, punishing blockers. That’s Beebe. He loves to get out in space and run people over.
He also has a flawless character background and he’s experienced. Schneider mentioned recently how much he likes to see players play in their Bowl games and not sit out. Beebe participated in the Pop Tarts Bowl, despite knowing he was turning pro.
Athleticism, performance, playing style and character — Beebe ticks every box. He could slot in at left guard on day one and currently, that would fill a big need. He’s a sure-fire top-45 talent so this wouldn’t be a reach. It would further help establish the kind of team they want to be up front.
Second round — #58 — Javon Bullard (S, Georgia)
I want to continue along the theme of not drafting for need. After signing one safety (and potentially adding a second) in free agency — this isn’t a desperate need this early. However, Bullard is a legit top-60 talent in the draft and you can’t help but love the way he plays the game. He is a tone-setting, heat-seeking missile of a safety who strikes fear into opponents — yet also has enough range to play well in coverage.
He’s versatile and can play in a number of different roles. I think his best spot could be ‘big nickel’ where he can play downfield — but if you wanted to confuse opponents he could easily drop. He has the quickness and field IQ to deceive.
In terms of character, there are again zero flags. Like Beebe, Bullard played in his Bowl game — the Capital One Bowl against Florida State. To me he’s a throwback to what the Seahawks used to be — tough, physical and fast. I like his fit based on what we’ve been told about Baltimore’s defense and think he could become a real asset in the secondary and a possible long-term fixture.
Third round — #65 — Ruke Orhorhoro (DT, Clemson)
When studying tape, I just kept thinking how much Orhorhoro reminded me of Justin Madubuike. Back in 2020, Madubuike was a blog favourite. His upside potential was obvious and Mike Macdonald helped bring out the best in him towards the end of his rookie contract. The comparisons are obvious in terms of playing style and physical traits.
For example, Orhorhoro ran a 4.89 forty and a 1.67 10-yard split at 294lbs. Madubuike ran a 4.83 with a 1.73 10-yard split at 293lbs. Orhorhoro has 34 inch arms, Madubuike has 33.5 inch arms. They ran a 7.37 and a 7.40 three-cone respectively. The one big difference is there were some slight character questions on Madubuike and Orhorhoro has no such problems entering the league.
I’m not convinced Dre’Mont Jones is a fit for the scheme Macdonald will run. Curtis Allen has projected the Seahawks have about $9m to spend in free agency currently. With work still to be done, they need nearly all of that. However, they still need to find a saving down the line to be able to sign their draft class and provide funds for injured reserve, a practise squad and have a little to play with if needed.
I wonder if they could draft Orhorhoro to be their version of Madubuike, then after June 1st they could trade Jones to create $11.5m in cap space. Trading Jones before June 1st only saves $4.8m — so there’s incentive to wait. They could theoretically just move him for a throwaway future pick in training camp or a player swap to create the extra cap space. Adding Orhorhoro not only gives them a player who’s a better fit and has extremely appealing physical and character traits — it could pave the way for Jones moving on in the future.
Third round — #81 — Trente Jones (G/T, Michigan)
Jones had limited starts at Michigan (13) but did enough in those appearances to think he has a far more exciting NFL future than his experience suggests. I thought he was impressive on tape, he’s capable of providing positional flexibility at guard or tackle, he’s a good (not great) athlete and plays with great base and power. I thought he excelled at the combine during on-field drills and constantly stood out with team mate Trevor Keegan.
I think in this range, he’s worth a shot. There are others we could discuss such as Beaux Limmer (who can play guard or center), Mason McCormick (a small-school prospect who tested through the roof and is extremely physical on tape) or Caedan Wallace (a vastly underrated right tackle). I like Jones for this projection though just because he can provide quality depth and competition, his best football could be ahead of him, he has a likeable personality and tapping into the Michigan O-line is no bad thing.
I really liked watching Lovett on tape and I think in this kind of range he has a chance to be a steal. He’s not a classic nose tackle at 6-4 and 314lbs but his vines for arms (35.5 inches) keep his frame clean and once he plants the anchor in the ground, you can’t move him. He’ll eat up double-teams, he’ll give you a great shift up front in the key early downs and he’ll help repair Seattle’s broken run defense. He also has 10.5 inch hands that act as great big clamps.
The potential signing of Jonathan Hankins doesn’t prevent the Seahawks from adding competition at nose. Lovett will never be a disruptive force creating pressure and blowing up interior lines. However — his toughness and ability to become a big Oak tree in the interior carries early day three value.
Plus — once again — he is considered an elite character player with ‘heart and soul of the locker room’ potential.
Sixth round — #179 — Tyrice Knight (LB, UTEP)
He’s one of Seattle’s ‘official 30’ visits and frankly, he could easily go earlier than this. He plays the run well, he’s well sized, he packs a punch as a tackler and although there’s some evidence of inconsistent discipline monitoring gaps — he generally moves well across the line and delivers the key tackle. There’s definitely a player to work with here and he could provide depth and competition at linebacker.
Part of me wonders if I’m being too generous imagining Hampton is still on the board in round six after his great combine. However, he was generally flying under the radar before then and it’s possible only teams with intimate knowledge of his value at Washington will understand how good he can be.
I’m told Hampton was asked to play a complex role in the Huskies defense that required discipline and high football IQ. He executed at a high level and was extremely well liked in the locker room. To me, he feels like the kind of player who would fit in Mike Macdonald’s defense and if nothing else — he could provide core special teams value.
Take him here, stash him on special teams as a rookie and see if he can develop into something more over time.
Seventh round — #235 — Emani Bailey (RB, TCU)
The Seahawks have often taken running backs in the sixth or seventh round to compete for backup and special teamer jobs. Bailey had an exceptional Senior Bowl — flashing quality as a runner and a catcher. His third-down value could immediately replace Deejay Dallas and he would provide excellent competition for Kenny McIntosh.
This is one projection so don’t get too worked up. I’ll do others where the Seahawks can potentially still add a quarterback. There are other players I’d also like to pair with the Seahawks in the future — including my recent interviewees Malik Mustapha, Jaylen Harrell, Mekhi Wingo and Brennan Jackson.
This is a very ‘trench heavy’ draft but I don’t think that’s too unrealistic at the start of this new era. I think all of the players tick the necessary character boxes, their playing styles and schematic fits seem to be on point and you could lay the foundations for a tougher, more rounded and balanced football team.
What you’re lacking is that bit of star quality at the top. Imagine this class with #16 thrown in — and that pick being, for example, Chop Robinson. This is the bed the Seahawks have made for themselves, though. They’re either going to need to move around the board, add picks and potentially end up with a class like this — or they’re going to have to live with having very little in the meat of the draft (day two) but coming away with someone who could be more of a X-factor player at #16. It’ll be interesting to see what they decide.
When the Commanders signed Marcus Mariota, I thought Howell would just get the Mac Jones treatment. Despite a decent start in Washington last season, things soon spiralled. Admittedly, his situation was not ideal. The Commanders had a Head Coach on the way out, they traded away their two best pass rushers before the deadline and the team fell apart. That said, he also took too many avoidable sacks and had a penchant for turnovers.
Rightly or wrongly, Howell went from being seen as a possible answer for the long haul to a player nobody thought was the future in Washington.
Now, the Seahawks have dropped 24 picks in the draft in round three and 27 in round five to acquire two years of Howell. They’ve gone from #78 to #102 and from #152 to #179.
Is it the end of the world? No, of course not. They needed a backup quarterback and Howell is cheap with starting experience. However, it’s hard to fathom why Adam Schefter, who broke the news, reported ‘Seattle has long liked Howell’ yet in 2022 — immediately after the Russell Wilson trade — they passed on him several times including in round four. That doesn’t exactly scream a great desire to have him on the team, especially when this was before Geno Smith’s resurgence.
Schneider, speaking on Seattle Sports today, spoke about how impressed he was by Howell when the Commanders played in Seattle in November. It was a decent display — but it also came against the Seahawks’ defense at pretty much its worst.
For what it’s worth, I had Sam Howell as a fourth round prospect on my final 2022 horizontal board and was never a big fan.
So what does it all mean in terms of the bigger picture?
It could be that they simply had to hedge for the draft. Going into it with only one contracted quarterback would be extremely dangerous — plus you’d be a Smith injury away from starting a rookie. They needed another player and for that reason I’m tempted to suggest this is just a necessary addition, filling a need.
Further to this, his salary of just over $985,000 is a lot cheaper than all of the veterans being signed in the last few days — many of which are well past their best.
However, the trade compensation feels inflated unless other teams created a bidding war. Schneider said on the radio that several others were trying to make a deal with the Commanders.
You can’t help but wonder if this is indicative of a team resigned to not drafting a quarterback again this year. Perhaps the players they want are not going to be available? If Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy are the third and fourth picks overall (assuming someone like Minnesota trades up), it could become a one quarterback draft for the Seahawks (at least in the early rounds). There’s a chance Michael Penix Jr is taken before the 16th pick too.
Or, they might intend to trade down from #16 and will consider Penix Jr later — but there’s no guarantee you get him. Thus, you need insurance.
It is frustrating to think that the Seahawks might have to endure yet another year with kicking the can down the road at the position. You can’t force things but eventually they’re going to have to be bold and ambitious — just as Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore were to acquire their franchise QB’s.
It’s also true that in a draft rich in day two talent, they now only have one pick in that range. I’d say the chances of trading down from #16 just massively increased. That makes sense to a degree — although in every mock I work on at the moment, there’s a noticeable talent drop from #16 to outside the top-22.
I can see why they might prefer a quantity approach and might trade down several times to fill out their roster. To an extent I can get behind that. It’s also very easy to imagine some of the players they’d miss out on at #16.
They talked up Drew Lock so much, only to see him walk out the door to the Giants. Is this an overreaction to that? Is it an overreaction to Lock’s departure and perhaps the realisation that Maye and McCarthy won’t be within reach and that the draft range with Penix Jr is murky?
Whatever the reason, my conclusion of the deal is such — it feels pricey, I’m a little bit concerned it means another year without drafting a quarterback, but I also appreciate they probably had to do something at the position before the draft.
With everything else, I think they’ve done the right thing
Before the market opened I said I hoped the Seahawks wouldn’t be overly aggressive in free agency. I think they’ve been restrained in a good way (at least up until today’s trade).
We’ve seen how the market is once again fool’s gold. Decent players have been paid like elite players. I want to see the Seahawks invest in their O-line as much as anyone — but not at any cost.
For example, I had a fourth round grade on Jonah Jackson going into the 2020 draft. He was taken in round three. Jackson was a solid college guard with a chance to become a NFL starter. He was PFF’s 34th ranked guard in 2023 with a 61.0 grade.
He’s now earning $17m a year in LA. That is ridiculous.
Robert Hunt graded a lot better with the Dolphins, he was PFF’s sixth best guard with a 76.4 grade. However, he only played 11 games last season. Now he’s on $20m a year.
Damien Lewis, who most people would agree saw his career in Seattle stall out after they made the poor decision to move him to left guard just to accommodate Gabe Jackson, will join Hunt in Carolina on a deal worth $13.25m a year.
None of these players are difference makers, yet two of them are earning difference-maker contracts. Let’s go back to Jackson and the fourth round grade from 2020. There are seven guards on my current horizontal board graded for round three. Zak Zinter, who I have in round two, could last to the third round as he recovers from injury.
The Seahawks don’t need to spend $17-20m on a guard in this market. They need to go and draft a guard in the first four rounds and develop them into a competent or plus starter. It’s not rocket science. This is a quality offensive line draft. Use it to your advantage.
They have finally shifted resource to key areas
I had no problem with the decision to spend big on Leonard Williams. I think he’s a really good player — the type they’ve been trying to find for years. The deal is for three seasons and given the success Mike Macdonald had with Justin Madubuike, I’m fascinated to see what Williams can achieve under the new Head Coach.
Let’s put it this way — give me a player like Williams over the inflated prices being handed out to the guards listed above.
When you put this with the investment in Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed, plus what they’ve spent on the edges in salary (Uchenna Nwosu) and second round picks (Mafe, Hall, Taylor) — this is genuine investment up front.
If you take it to the offensive line, there’s a top-10 pick at left tackle and they’re covered at right tackle with the signing of George Fant (more on him shortly). Hopefully Abe Lucas will also be able to return.
There’s clearly more to be done and that could come in the form of their top pick in the 2024 draft. However, you can’t look at the Seahawks in their current form and say they haven’t committed resource to the trenches.
In the past it was very different. Remember the days where they were paying a fortune to Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, while still drafting Jordyn Brooks in round one? Then they spent a huge amount of money on Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, not to mention the draft capital used on Adams.
Meanwhile, the team struggled up front on both sides of the ball.
The Seahawks should be applauded for finally, seemingly, changing their personnel tactics. They are now following the rest of the league and seeking value and versatility at safety. They haven’t felt the need to panic at linebacker and spend a lot of money for average output — which is what they’ve been getting.
I think people have overreacted to the Ravens’ success with Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton and tried to make it seem like a huge new trend was developing. Based on Seattle’s moves so far, the man who led Baltimore’s defense last year doesn’t agree.
I’m sure if the Seahawks could acquire a Smith or Hamilton, they would. Jordyn Brooks and Patrick Queen weren’t Smith. Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams weren’t Hamilton. You have to play the cards you are dealt. In this instance, that meant re-signing Leonard Williams — a good defensive tackle — and now looking for value at linebacker and safety.
The Seahawks can add talent at safety and linebacker in the draft
I’ve seen a lot of people saying this is a bad class at the two positions and that’s a lazy way of looking at it. There aren’t any sure-fire first round picks, that’s for sure. There are good players set to be available though in a range where the Seahawks are likely to be in the market.
There are seven really appealing safeties that I’ve seen projected anywhere from rounds 2-5 — Tyler Nubin, Javon Bullard, Malik Mustapha Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Jaden Hicks, Kitan Oladapo, Dominique Hampton and Cole Bishop. Some of these players would be positively exciting if they are selected. Mustapha reminds me a lot of Budda Baker. Nubin is tremendously rounded and a ballhawk. Bullard hits like a ton of bricks and has great range. Taylor-Demerson is an elite athlete with fantastic closing speed and he packs a punch. Hicks is very versatile and savvy, Oladapo is an all-rounder with size and Bishop’s testing hints at solid upside. Robinson managed a complex role at Washington, is flying way under the radar and could be a steal.
At linebacker, it’s not impossible that the Seahawks trade down from #16 and acquire a pick that puts them in range for one of Payton Wilson, Junior Colson or Edgerrin Cooper. I don’t think they need to do that though. Trevin Wallace is tremendously fun to watch and plays with speed, intensity and range. Cedric Gray is a very solid player and can cover and run-and-chase. Jeremiah Trotter was disappointing at the combine but clearly has instinct and talent, while Nathaniel Watson is a sack-machine who plays with an old-school edge. Ty’ron Hopper is tough and consistent and UTEP’s Tyrice Knight is going to Seattle for an official-30 visit.
Then you have a bunch of possible early day-three types — from Steele Chambers to Jaylan Ford to Tommy Eichenberg to J.D. Bertrand to Edefuan Ulofoshio. There are plenty of others.
It’s perfectly possible for the Seahawks to draft a couple of linebackers from this group if they wish, with the objective of developing them into competent starters. Big-money investment, or the use of high picks, isn’t necessary if you have the right coaching staff and the right talent evaluators.
Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw were former blog favourites and were drafted in rounds three and five respectively. They were identifiable based on traits and playing style. Demario Davis was a third rounder. Leo Chenal, another blog favourite, was a third rounder. Frankie Luvu was undrafted. Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright were drafted in rounds two and four.
It’s very possible to find contributing linebackers without spending a fortune — and that’s an argument we’ve often made.
So while there may not be an Earl Thomas or Luke Kuechly in the first round this year, there are still plenty of very capable linebackers and safeties in this class. It’s just a shame they’ve dropped 24 spots from the #78 pick, making it potentially harder to get stuck into the players listed above.
George Fant is a wise addition
The reaction to his contract was one of surprise online but the deal — worth up to $14m over two years — is about par for the course for a swing tackle. Look at the amount being paid to starting guards and tackles in free agency. For someone who might need to start for you at right tackle, this is about what you’d expect to spend.
Further to that, he has positional flexibility and experience. Now the Seahawks are adequately hedged for the draft and for Abe Lucas failing to properly recover from his knee trouble. Fant’s addition was absolutely critical. It’s no bad thing to have him as your worst case scenario as a starting right tackle.
Schneider called him a ‘utility’ lineman on the radio. It speaks to the nature of the signing — he’s a draft hedge and quality depth at multiple positions.
Noah Fant is also a wise addition
This is a draft class without a lot of quality at tight end. There are players who have traits to develop — but unlike linebacker and safety, there isn’t a long list of potential early starters.
Fant has always felt like a player with great potential but also great misfortune. It wasn’t ideal playing for a shambolic Denver in his first stop and the Seahawks under Pete Carroll never really worked out how to make best use of a tight end. Now, with Ryan Grubb in charge, he could become a consistent threat for the first time in his career.
Pharaoh Brown is a perfectly acceptable TE2. He grades well for blocking, he’s capable of making catches when targeted. They needed to add a starter and a depth player so it’s job done.
Nick Harris suggests they still have a type at center
As noted a month ago, the Seahawks, Ravens and Huskies have all been using smaller more athletic centers in recent seasons. I did wonder if that would change — especially given the LA Rams’ decision to revamp their running schemes and go for bigger linemen. However, the signing of Harris suggests otherwise.
Alternatively, they could’ve just signed a player who is familiar to Scott Huff and can provide depth, competition and versatility up front. Yet there’s a consistency here between three different regimes that have come together in Seattle.
It does make me wonder if it makes it less likely that they draft Jackson Powers-Johnson — but they could also move him to guard.
I like the Rayshawn Jenkins signing
I’ve always thought he was a very solid player who can do a lot of things at a decent level. Then I saw this statistic and it’s certainly encouraging and suggests, given where Jenkins is ranked compared to Kyle Hamilton, that it’s something Mike Macdonald perhaps pays attention to.
On top of that though, Jenkins comes across as a good leader. His mic’d up segments are fun and you can well imagine he’ll be a popular player with team mates. The Seahawks need some of that given the amount of experience that has now left the locker room.
Darrell Taylor re-signing feels like a shot to nothing
Taylor can be a dynamic edge threat but the Seahawks under Carroll never seemed to be able to hide his flaws against the run and just let him pin his ears back. Bringing him back with minimal guarantee of a roster spot is a savvy move. We’ll see if Macdonald can unleash his pass-rushing potential — something he definitely did with Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy last season.
This could be the fresh start Taylor needs. We can all see the talent is there. If it doesn’t work out, they can move on quite easily with barely any dead money.
It’s no gamble at all on a player with untapped potential.
On top of this, bringing back Michael Jackson and Artie Burns maintains Seattle’s cornerback depth.
No envy for any other moves
I can honestly say there hasn’t been a single other move that I’ve thought, ‘I wish the Seahawks had done that’. Like everyone else I had a list of players I wouldn’t have minded seeing in Seattle. Frankie Luvu and Jeremy Chinn were a couple of names on mine. However, amid a whole bunch of reckless spending and a lot of air time and online space taken up discussing free agency — it’s still true that winning teams are built through the draft.
It’s critical the Seahawks continue to avoid drafting for need and keep adding talent. However, as mentioned, eventually they are going to have to be pro-active in finding a long-term answer at quarterback. They can’t keep putting that off.
Of the players who departed for new teams, I don’t wish any of them had stayed. Jordyn Brooks might have his admirers online but he always felt ‘decent’ rather than ‘great’. It was time to move on from Bobby Wagner, despite Richard Sherman’s nonsensical rant about the Seahawks not showing loyalty because they haven’t signed Wagner ‘forever’ until ‘he’ has decided he’s had enough.
Damien Lewis was way too expensive, Colby Parkinson felt destined to try for a new start and Will Dissly’s contract was too rich for his production. Quandre Diggs’ play regressed in 2023 and there was no way they could justify his huge cap hit.
I’m surprised Drew Lock decided New York was better for him, given the toxicity of that franchise and the major sales pitch from the Seahawks. Perhaps he just felt the writing was on the wall when it was confirmed Geno Smith would definitely be staying (although I think that was up in the air for a while). Regardless, Lock was not going to be the future in Seattle.
What happens now?
I’m pretty sure at least one linebacker will be signed soon — perhaps ending this phase of the off-season for the Seahawks. Perhaps they’ll have enough money to bring in a cheap hedge at guard too. They’ve set up the last two drafts to avoid picking for need so it feels like they’ll do the same this year. It’s a good tactic.
EDIT — The Seahawks today agreed terms with former Bills linebacker Tyrel Dodson. He was PFF’s highest graded linebacker during the 2023 season with a 90.2 grade.
I think it now looks increasingly likely they’ll trade down from #16 to add stock. They should receive a lot of interest — with teams competing potentially for the offensive tackles, cornerbacks and the fourth receiver (Brian Thomas Jr). They might move down multiple times to really fill out their board.
I suspect part of the Howell trade was an acceptance that trading up isn’t viable for one of the consensus top-four quarterbacks. They might still have interest in Michael Penix Jr — but it’ll depend on his draft range. It’s not unrealistic to think he could go as high as 13th overall or as low as day two.
The Howell trade — and the compensation given up — could’ve been with the understanding that they’ll be able to add more day two stock after trading down.
I don’t think the Seahawks are in a position to do any more than they have so far. They have a rookie Head Coach and two rookie NFL coordinators. They are having to install new systems across the board and it’s fair to expect there will be growing pains. It might be unintentional but a somewhat uneventful free agency could end up managing expectations this year — which won’t be a bad thing.
It’s a process and they’ve got to try and grow and develop the players they have while adding to their core. They need to start hitting on players who can be great, not just good or very good.
This year, this is all very understandable. It won’t be for much longer though. They can’t stick around in the murky middle of the NFL — eventually, they’ll need to be more aggressive to find the ingredients needed to produce a Championship caliber team — which mostly means identifying a franchise signal caller.
For more thoughts on the Sam Howell trade and Seattle’s off-season so far, check out my latest video below:
