So far, 24 of Seattle’s 30 official ‘visits’ have been made public (either by the players themselves or via various reports).
Seven off-site workouts have also been revealed.
Here are notes on most of the players the Seahawks have met with…
‘Official 30’ visitors
Justin Reid (S, Stanford)
Ran a 4.40 forty at 6-0 and 207lbs. Despite that speed, he isn’t a natural rangy free safety. He does his best work up at the line like his brother. It doesn’t mean he can’t develop into a viable single-high option but there’s not a lot of that on tape. High character, strong personality. If the Seahawks end up trading Earl Thomas they might consider Reid or Wake Forest’s Jesse Bates III with an early pick.
Bob McGinn’s sources: “Some people like the guy but I think they like him because of his brother… I just didn’t see it. I don’t know why the guy came out. He’s got some ball skills but he misses a lot of tackles.”
Likely range: Could easily go in the 20’s based on bloodlines and speed. Worst-case scenario is probably early round two.
Ronnie Harrison (S, Alabama)
Only ran a 4.58 at his Pro-day at 6-2 and 207lbs. Does possess a +80 inch wingspan though and had decent explosive testing numbers at the combine (34 vertical, 10-0 broad). His hit on Kerryon Johnson in the Iron Bowl potentially changed the course of the SEC in 2017. Very much a strong safety. With a potential Earl Thomas trade in the pipeline, it’s no surprise the Seahawks are looking at the available options.
Bob McGinn’s sources: “Tough guy… Plays the game the right way. Got to be coming forward. More of a box guy.”
Likely range: It won’t be a shock if he sneaks into the late first round but a safe projection is round two.
Kemoko Turay (DE, Rutgers)
Classic EDGE type and when he’s healthy and on it, Turay looks the part. He had a terrific Senior Bowl and ended the practise week as a big winner. Didn’t complete all the drills at the combine due to a hamstring injury. Didn’t do anything other than the bench at pro-day. Ran a 1.62 10-yard split at 253lbs. It’s not the ideal 1.5 but he was hampered by that hamstring issue. Comparisons to Yannick Ngakoue aren’t without merit.
Lance Zierlein: “Explosive edge defender with the coveted traits of an NFL pass rusher.”
Likely range: He’s a day two pick, possibly round three but could land somewhere in round two due to the weak pass rush options this year.
Leighton Vander Esch (LB, Boise State)
A stud. Pure and simple. As we highlighted a month ago, Vander Esch compares physically to all of the top linebackers in the league. He’s one of the top 15-20 players in the draft. Explosive, instinctive, intense and quick. He doesn’t get the same hype as Roquan Smith or Tremaine Edmunds but he might have a better career. LVE could play SAM in year one and eventually replace K.J. Wright at the WILL.
Bob McGinn’s sources: “Very instinctive… Alert, active, aggressive. Square tackler. Got good range. These guys don’t get blocked because they have such a great first step.”
Likely range: Probably won’t make it to #18
Austin Corbett (T, Nevada)
He’s similar to Isaiah Wynn. They both played left tackle in college, they’re both expected to kick inside to guard. Yet neither got beat very often at tackle. Wynn and Corbett played better than Kolton Miller in 2017. Miller will be drafted first purely because he projects to tackle. We wrote about Corbett in depth here. Like Wynn, he’s a stone-cold stud. One of my five favourite players in the class.
Bob McGinn’s sources: “Day one starter… He’s similar to the (Joel) Bitonio guy that came out of there (2014, second round, Browns). He doesn’t look like he should be a left tackle but just very, very, very productive. Competitive, smart (Wonderlic of 27), good athlete, good strength for his size. Just a really good player. First round.”
Likely range: He’s so good it won’t be a shock if he goes late first round. If he’s there in round two — it’s a steal.
Josh Sweat (DE, Florida State)
If draft grades were given out for physical measurements and testing, Sweat would be a top-five lock. He has everything — a 1.55 10-yard split, 34.5 inch arms, a 4.53 forty, a near 40 inch vertical and a 4.28 short shuttle. Quickness, length, explosive traits. Injury history (knee) and a tendency to be late off the snap are the negatives but there’s a lot to work with here. Mature, high-character player. Would be a LEO/EDGE in Seattle.
Bob McGinn’s sources: “He reminds me of the guy from there who went to the Ravens. Peter Boulware. Built like him. He’s got that kind of take-off.”
Likely range: It’ll depend on how willing teams are to take a chance on his health and how desperate they are to get a pass rusher given the limited options. Top-45 isn’t out of the question.
Maurice Hurst (DT, Michigan)
Some will view him as arguably the best defensive tackle in the draft (he’s certainly the best interior pass rusher). Others won’t like the scheme fit. Hurst is dynamite as a one-gap penetrative force. Physically though nothing stands out. His frame (6-1, 292lbs) and length (32 inch arms) could be a problem defending the run and might limit him to a role as a specialist rusher. His pro-day marks were nothing special — 4.95 forty, 1.69 10-yard split, 4.64 short shuttle. High character. Could be a Clinton McDonald type.
Bob McGinn’s sources: “I could never take the guy in the first round… He’ll get hammered if he has to play two gaps. He’s a quick penetrator. He‘s just got to fit your system.”
Likely range: A team like Atlanta could show serious interest at #26. It’s also possible he lasts into round two.
Andrew Brown (DT, Virginia)
Former 5-star big-time recruit. Neither Brown or Quin Blanding lived up to the billing at Virginia. Was that down to them or circumstance? It wasn’t for a lack of effort though. Brown gives everything on the field. He had a terrific Senior Bowl and really looked the part. Super quick short shuttle (4.48) for a 6-3, 296lbs lineman. An underrated player with a lot of potential. A possible Michael Bennett replacement.
NFL.com sources: “Great football character and he goes hard all the time. I think he has a chance to be a good pro because he’ll play inside full time and he’s got some quickness to beat guards.”
Likely range: I think he’ll go a lot earlier than expected. Possibly rounds 2-3.
Breeland Speaks (DE, Ole Miss)
Watching a Speaks highlight video feels like you’re watching a first rounder. His mobility and quickness working the edge at 6-3 and 287lbs is impressive. He rushes like a pure EDGE at times. Sadly the full game tape shows inconsistent play to go with the occasional flash. Even so, he ran a 1.65 10-yard split at his size and that can’t be ignored. Another possible Michael Bennett replacement.
Lance Zierlein: “He can be chippy and emotional on the field and needs to mature, but he has the talent and ability to continue getting better.”
Likely range: Middle rounds — but the type that could end up turning into a valued starter.
Holton Hill (CB, Texas)
Hill looks like a Seahawks corner. He’s nearly 6-2 and 195lbs with that wiry, long frame they like (32 inch arms). His short shuttle (4.15) was very good — an important test at this position. There seems to be some concern about his maturity but it’s difficult to find specific examples of this. Didn’t have a great combine in terms of the drills but it was a lousy CB session overall. I like him and he played well against Oklahoma State’s James Washington. The Seahawks often take a day three corner to develop and Hill could be the guy.
NFL.com sources: “He will fall further than he should because you can’t trust him. He needed a clean, productive season to rehab the perception around him and I felt like he should have gone back to school. He can play. He’s a Day 2 talent, but I doubt he goes there.”
Likely range: Fourth or fifth round. Ideal for Seattle.
Isaiah Oliver (CB, Colorado)
There’s a ton to like about Oliver. He’s good in press, he’s 6-2 and 201lbs and he has fantastic length (33.5 inch arms). He’ll cover a huge radius and will be able to compete with bigger receivers. At his pro-day he ran a 4.00 short shuttle which is outstanding. He looks and plays like a Seahawks corner. But how early are you willing to take a corner? Because he will not last long due to his testing numbers and size. He’s going to be an early pick.
Bob McGinn’s sources: “He’s really good in press… Off, he needs a lot of work. He’s got a lot of skills. Got good length. Not very strong. He might go in the first round.”
Likely range: A few weeks ago the third round felt likely. Now? First or second.
Dorance Armstrong (DE, Kansas)
AKA one of the guys who instigated Baker Mayfield’s infamous ‘gesture’ during the Oklahoma vs Kansas game. Shaking the cage didn’t have the impact they hoped for that day. This was a curious workout and perhaps hints at the lack of pass rush options in this draft. Armstrong ran a 4.87 forty at the combine despite weighing 257lbs. He then ran a 4.88 at his pro-day. So he’s not especially quick (1.69 10-yard split). He is a natural pass rusher though.
Lance Zierlein: “Armstrong has the tools and upside to become a complete player and good NFL starter.”
Likely range: It’s difficult to say. A drop in production last year and a mediocre combine could push him into day three.
Jacob Pugh (LB, Florida State)
Former four-star recruit who chose FSU over Alabama and Florida. Major explosive traits. He managed a near 40 inch vertical plus a 10-2 broad jump. He’s 6-3 and 246lbs with great length (34.5 inch arms). In terms of a physical prospect he’s one to watch. He’s had concussions and this will limit his stock. The Seahawks need young depth at linebacker and could see Pugh as a priority free agent.
Lance Zierlein: “Pugh needs a strong lead-up to the draft because his tape is uneven and his career production has been unimpressive. There are some traits to work with, but finding the right positional fit may be a challenge.”
Likely range: Undrafted
Poona Ford (DT, Texas)
Ford wasn’t invited to the combine and that seemed to tick him off. He’s only 5-11 but that’s not as much of a problem when you have 33.5 inch arms. He’ll win a lot of leverage battles at that height and unusually, for a shorter DT he’ll be able to extend and keep blockers off his frame. He might be a diamond in the rough as a pass rusher. Ford has a tremendous motor and plays with great effort.
Lance Zierlein: “While Ford flashed the ability to stack blocks and play with some strength at the point of attack, his lack of overall mass could make it tough for teams to see him in anything other than a penetrating, 4-3 scheme.”
Likely range: Day three is likely, somewhere between rounds 5-7
Other ‘official-30’ visitors: Foyesade Oluokun, Ito Smith, Keith Kirkwood, Khalid Hill, Devron Davis, Cole Madison, Kyle Allen, Simeon Thomas, Julian Taylor, Edward Shockely
Off-site workouts
Dallas Goedert (TE, South Dakota State)
It’s a weird year at the tight end position. It doesn’t look like a horrendous class by any stretch. It’s just not particularly exciting. And for a lot of the bigger names, Goedert included, it’s difficult to work out where they should go. He performed well at his pro-day — jumping a 35 inch vertical and a 10-1 broad. He also had an eye-catching 4.06 short shuttle and a 6.87 three cone at 6-5 and 256lbs. The Seahawks are very likely to be in the market for a young tight end.
Bob McGinn’s sources: “He’s getting a lot of hype but I don’t quite understand why… I guess it’s just because there is nobody else. He’s just kind of a small-school guy.”
Likely range: It’s so hard to say. Some think late first. There was a time when it looked like no tight ends would be drafted in the first two rounds, though.
Christian Kirk (WR, Texas A&M)
If the Seahawks want to draft the complete opposite of Malik McDowell they might turn to Christian Kirk. Zero character issues, ideal attitude, consistent college performer. If they just want a good football player with minimal bust potential, Kirk’s the man. He’s a downfield dynamo and a good fit for an Air Coryell-type offense. He uncovers well in the scramble drill and he’s a special teams force as a returner. Solid but unspectacular testing numbers.
Bob McGinn’s sources: “Big-time player… Excellent returner on punts and kickoffs. Explosive. Only thing that hurt him this year was the quarterback didn’t throw well. Only negative is his height. He’s well-built. Good hands. Extends and lays out. Really strong.”
Likely range: He’s trending upwards and could be a late first or early second round pick.
Kalen Ballage (RB, Arizona State)
Tony Pauline said in our conversation this week that Ballage looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane. Ballage promised a lot at Arizona State and was unable to deliver. That said, Tony also told us he’d heard Ballage’s pro-day performance was one of the best his sources had ever seen. He can run with toughness and he’s an excellent threat in the passing game. Is he ever going to be more than a compliment though? Ballage fits Seattle’s prototype at the position (size, explosive traits) perfectly.
Lance Zierlein: “Ballage can do a little of this and a little of that, but a team will need to have a clear-cut plan for how to use him.”
Likely range: Rounds 3-4
Other off-site workouts: Demone Harris, Abdullah Anderson, Manase Hungalu, Kyle Allen
If you missed our interview with Tony Pauline from Draft Analyst yesterday, make sure to check it out below…
You can now support Seahawks Draft Blog via Patreon by clicking the tab below.
Good Stuff Rob.
And now the other shoe drops, Dez cut by Dallas.
The other other shoe might be a trade for ET.
Feels like that’s the way we’re heading.
Plus a number of the players on this list are R2 types. They might have three R2’s by the start of day two.
If they end up with (3) Rd#2 picks
Option #1
Rojo
Sweat
Goedart
Option #2
Kirk
Chubb
Turay
Which option would you prefer?
Option #1 for me but either would be awesome.
Both good options but I think i would like #1 as well.
Option #3
Rojo
Kirk
Sweat
Option 2 for me.
I’ll have the #2 with a side of Shaq Griffin, Holton Hill, Martez Carter, and Poona Ford, please.
Tasty. Let’s eat.
And for dessert, Ryan Izzo in place of Goedert.
So excited for the draft in less than 2 weeks!
Still pretty bummed that in all likelihood we will not be able to sit and draft best available player at 18, I have a feeling a blue chip player or two will slide to us. Oh well, we made our bed and now we have to sleep in it.
I feel like a kid at Christmas when the draft comes. I wake up Thursday morning all bubbly ready to go. To bad though at Christmas you wake up and open presents, here we have to wait until 5pm. Then the Seahawks may not even pick. Either way we have 13 days to go and cant wait.
Agreed lol. I have watched the draft for as long as I can remember. Before Walt Jones, Springs, Ahman Green, etc. The first round was always so exciting. I still love it, but I sit there all evening knowing we won’t even pick.
I miss the 2 day format.
Rob. Wow. Great breakdown. 1 clap 2 clap…breakout into thunderous clapping. Thank you
If not RB Chubb with our first pick. I want Ballage round 4.
Stephen Morris signed for one year $550k, zero guaranteed. Most likely just a roster body to compete.
I’m either asleep at the wheel or something but I just found out my dude frank ragnow killed it at his proday:
4.98 40 ( t-5th place)
33.5″ vert ( 👕2nd place)
9-7″ vert
27 reps on the bench (t-8th)
Oh and the seahawks were at his pro day and he said he met/spoke to Pete carrol.
Frank ‘Ragnarok’ Ragnow.
Ha! At the pro day he was talking about being in the Minnesota snow training a little rocky 4 style.
Rob, all team needs aside, what is your guess as to how the Seahawks view Tim Settle? I seem to remember both you & V12 believing he’s not a guy they would probably draft. To my eye I thought he looked like a potentially great interior rusher. Just curious how you think they would assess in him.
add a big leg kicker to the roster! seemed like a no brainer when they brought him in.
It’s odd to not spend as much time on defensive backs partially due to the class this year as we did last year. I wonder if now Seattle goes for cb early with Oliver. to me he looks like a guy that could really dial in opposite of griffin.
I’m still a big believer in holton hill. Ive aren’t he vaguest of issues involving pot but nothing definitive enough to explain a team suspension from games but not all activities.
Obviously poona ford….that dude is alllllll kinds of football.
Hopefully ballage is a smoke screen for jaylen samuels. Very similar profiles but Samuels brings more for me to the table.
Samuels is not a feature runner.
Nor is ballage.
Jaylen Samuels 2017 stats: 75 rec. 593 yards 4 tds. Rushing: 78 carries 402 yards 12tds
Kalen ballage: 2016 stats….comparable year.
126 carries 536 yards 14(!) Tds. 44 rec. 459 yards 1. Td.
Ballage has 4.4 yards a carry On his career. On his three ‘good’ seasons he didn’t sniff 700 yards rushing on any season. 6 tds per season and thats with him having a 7 touchdown game to totally skew the numbers. and as a “weapon,” only one time did he crack 100 yards receiving.
I feel like a 76ers fan when I say “trust the process.” Because ballage isn’t some slept on talent waiting to realized. He plays in the same conference as ronald jones against the same teams and just hasn’t really done much with his chances.
It’s definitely an apples to oranges comparison
Totally different players man. Gonna have way different roles at the next level.
All I was saying is that Jaylen Samuels is a Zback at the next level
So we’ve more or less narrowed our first pick down to these 3 guys;
Leighton Vander Esch
Harold Landry
Maurice Hurst
Marcus Davenport
William Hernandez
Isaiah Wynn
Kolton Miller
Nick Chubb
Ronnie Harrison
Christian Kirk
Carlton Davis
Dallas Goedert
Isaiah Oliver
Kerryon Johnson
Jessie Bates III
Ronald Jones II
Austin Corbett I
Josh Sweat
and counting…
We’re getting there.
Funny! But we can give ourselves a little bit of break, it’s not as easy guessing WHO we’ll pick when we’re never sure WHERE we’ll pick….
Maybe we can narrow it down. I think your first four guys *should* be gone by 18. There, we’ve just shortened the list. We’re doing great!
A little bit like Dorance Armstrong, at least long speed wise, is Joe Ostman, who ran a 4.80 at his pro day and yet had a very productive 2017 in spite of his lack of ideal length and long speed. Ostman tested pretty well at his pro day, he may just be one of those guys that plays his position with + +
effort and hustle every snap. I’d think he’d be a good MLB B/U and likely a nice Rd-7 pick to develop
for the Seahawks. Currently ranked #247-overall, with up arrow, projected Rd-7 @ nfldraftscout.com
DE/OLB-Joe Ostman, Central Michigan, 6-022/253, 10.5″-hands, 30-7/8″ arms, 75.5″ wingspan,
4.80/40, 1.68/10-yd, 2.80/20-yd all HH.
31-reps. –At combine, would have been #1 as LB, Tied for #1 as Edge (with Kyle Fitts), #2 = 27.
36.5″-vert, –At combine would have been Tied #6 as LB, #3 as Edge
10′-2″-broad, At combine would have been Tied #7 as LB, Tied #4 as Edge
4.41/20-yd shuttle, At combine would have been #15 as LB, #11 as Edge
7.02/3-cone, At combine would have been #9 as LB, #4 as Edge
2017: 10-games, 60-tkls, 34-solo, 19.5-TFL(#9 in NCAA), 13.0-sacks(#2 in NCAA), 3-FF
Career: 48-games, 220-tkls, 123-solo, 45.5-TFL, 26.0-sacks, 3-PD, 4-FR, 8-FF.
I like how that guy plays. He’s got some fun tape to watch.
Ton of DL on the list. Players projected in every round and UDFA. Its clear we are interested in a type-rangy edge, inside/outside DL, penetrating 3T- but who? Tricky stuff JS. Basically it’s the exact opposite of how they’re visiting and w/o the RB’s. Makes me think they know which RB(s) they want.
Interview well done. I saw smiling as I was listening to that. Such a classic Rob interview total focus on packing as much quality content as possible in a short amount of time. Total focus on the meat and potatoes questions an absolutely no non-sense or wasted time whatsoever. A SDB listeners dream IMO. Please keep doing your own podcasts/hangouts/interviews. Much rather see you driving the car rather than being a guest passenger.
Here’s a 338 player big board for all you other draft nerds
Not much rhyme or reason to the order other than draftable grades and a basic ranking on where I think they’ll go.
The day 3 picks are a crap shoot for the round as we all know.
I’m not gonna pretend I know what round JT Barrett will go in, but I would like him as an udfa for sure
I also don’t grade ST because I wouldn’t draft a PK 👌
Something for everybody at QB
RB isn’t deep so much as it is thick with pockets of great talent that is going to go at the top of each round or be void of the position
Flowers, Bawden, and Samuels are excellent FBs and should all be good starters for different teams. Very unique players, each.
Terrible WR class. Last year’s wasn’t exciting, but this years class just completely lacks star power to the point where you have to look at guys like Jmon Moore who had an awful combine, is a bad interview, and had horrible horrible drops.
Gesicki is a bit of a paper tiger and I’m hearing that a lot of teams like Hurst as the only first rounder at TE. It only takes one team, but I believe Gesicki will be first TE off the board in the second, starting a run on those first few guys. There will be talent available later no need to overdraft.
Thin class at OL all around. Very middle heavy draft for OL. Ragnow is incredibly underrated. This is group will have great value in the early third.
I haven’t gone very deep in the DL class, but as always… If you want a pass rusher, you gotta take em early. Josh Sweat is gonna be the best value you’ll find at the position.
Love me some Poona Ford. He plays fired up and looks like our kind of NT in that Mebane/Jesse Williams mould
I’m not leaving this draft without Quem if I’m Seattle. He’s heart, he’s speed, he’s all-football, and who could overlook this reunion’s chance to ignite the new era of LOB with actual loving brothers?
It’s actually a really good Seahawks draft at corner. Isaiah Oliver is an option early, but we have plenty of potential cbs throughout.
I think it’s quite a mediocre safety class. There are some very overrated players.
I’m absolutely terrified at the prospect of losing Kam and Earl both so. Kind of totally unprepared for this draft for the first time in quite a while. We’ve never been in a position where we were basically 60/40 losing our best player 2 weeks before the draft.
How do you replace Earl with the second round pick you recoup from him.
QB; 19
Sam Darnold 1st
Josh Rosen
Josh Allen
Lamar Jackson
Baker Mayfield
Mason Rudolph 2nd
Luke Falk
Kyle Lauletta 3rd
Chase Litton
Logan Woodside
Austin Allen
Riley Ferguson
JT Barrett
Mike White
Nick Shimonek
Kurt Benkirk
Tanner Lee
Quentin Flowers
Kenny Hill
RB; 26
Saquon Barkley 1st
Ronald Jones II 2nd
Nick Chubb
Kerryon Johnson
Sony Michel
Derrius Guice
Royce Freeman
Rashaad Penny
Kallen Ballage 3rd
Bo Scarborough
Nyheim Hines
Akrum Wadley
Josh Adams
Mark Walton
John Kelly
Chase Edmonds
Darrell Williams
Roc Thomas
Martez Carter
Lavon Coleman
Justin Jackson
Ito Smith
Ralph Webb
D’Ernest Johnson
Phil Lindsay
Kamryn Pettway
FB; 5
Jaylen Samuels 4th
Dmitri Flowers
Nick Bawden
Ryan Nall
Chris Warren
WR; 25
Calvin Ridley 1st
DJ Moore
Courtland Sutton
DJ Chark 2nd
Anthony Miller
Christian Kirk
Auden Tate
Michael Gallup 3rd
James Washington
Equanimeous St. Brown
Keke Coutee
Simmie Cobbs Jr.
Marcel Ateman
Desean Hamilton
Dante Pettis
Javon Wims
Daurice Fountain
Deontay Burnett
Allen Lazard
Darren Carrington
Jordan Lasley
Tre’Quan Smith
Cedric Wilson
Antonio Callaway
Deon Cain
J’mon Moore
TE; 12
Mike Gesicki 2nd
Ian Thomas
Hayden Hurst
Mark Andrews
Dallas Goedert 3rd
Tyler Conklin
Dalton Schultz
Durham Smythe
Troy Fumagalli
Will Dissly
Chris Herndon
Jordan Aikens
OT; 17
Mike McGlinchey 1st
Isaiah Wynn
Kolton Miller
Austin Corbett 2nd
Connor Williams
Brian O’Neill
Tyrell Crosby 3rd
Geron Christian
Martinas Rankin
Chukwuma Okorafor
Jamarco Jones
Brandon Parker
Desmond Harrison
Orland Brown Jr.
Cole Madison
Brett Toth
Ike Boetgerr
OG/C 17
Quenton Nelson 1st
Billy Price
Will Hernandez
James Daniel 2nd
Braden Smith
Frank Ragnow
Scott Quessenberry 3rd
Wyatt Teller
Colby Gossett
Mason Cole
Tony Adams
Sean Welsh
Will Clapp
Skyler Phillips
David Bright
KC McDermott
Mark Korte
DE; 19
Bradley Chubb 1st
Lorenzo Carter
Marcus Davenport
Harold Landry
Rasheem Green
Josh Sweat 2nd
Dorance Armstrong Jr.
Duke Ejiofor
Jalyn Holmes
Breeland Speaks 3rd
Tyquan Lewis
Sam Hubbard
Chad Thomas
Marquis Haynes 4th
Jeff Holland
Ja’Von Rolland-Jones
Ade Aruna
DT; 18
Vita Vea 1st
Da’Ron Payne
Taven Bryan
Maurice Hurst
Tim Settle 2nd
Harrison Philips
Trenton Thompson
BJ Hill
Derrick Nnadi 3rd
Andrew Brown
Justin Jones
RJ McIntosh 4th
Nathan Shepherd
Poona Ford
Bilal Nichols
Foluronso Fatukasi
Kendrick Norton
JoJo Wicker
LB; 23
Tremaine Edmunds 1st
Roquan Smith
Rashaan Evans
Leighton Vander-Esch
Malik Jefferson 2nd
Darius Leonard
Shaquem Griffin* 💙💚 (Quill said “whatever it takes” to get him)
Uchenna Nwosu 3rd
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Oren Burks
Micah Kiser
Jerome Baker
Skai Moore
Josey Jewell
Nick DeLuca 4th
Fred Warner
Tegray Scales
Dorian O’Daniel
Matthew Thomas 5th
Azeem Victor
Leon Jacobs
James Hearns
Javon Rolland-Jones
Mike McCray
CB; 25
Denzel Ward 1st
Joshua Jackson
Isaiah Oliver
Donte Jackson 2nd
Jaire Alexander
Mike Hughes
Carlton Davis
Anthony Averett 3rd
Kevin Toliver II
Christian Campbell
Kameron Kelly
Tarvarus McFadden
Tony Brown II 4th
Holton Hill
Dane Cruikshank
D’Montre Wade
Isaac Yiadom 5th
Jamarcus King
Parry Nickerson
Greg Stroman
DJ Reed
Levi Wallace
Chandon Sullivan
Quenton Meeks
Brandon Facyson
S; 22
Derwin James 1st
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Justin Reid 2nd
Terrell Edmunds
Jessie Bates
Deshon Elliott
Ronnie Harrison
Marcus Allen 3rd
Kizer White
Armani Watts
Siran Neal
Natrell Jamerson 4th
Dominick Sanders
Quin Blanding
Godwin Igwebuike
Tre Flowers
Jeremy Reaves
Troy Apke
Trayvon Henderson
Tray Matthews
Damon Webb
Van Smith
K; 5
Dan Carlson
Eddie Pineiro
Aidan Schneider
Michael Badgley
Matthew McCrane
P; 5
Michael Dickson
Will Gleeson
Johnny Townsend
JK Scott
Shane Tripucka
Shit so many exclusions and oversights
Feel free to comment your inclusions
Holy Duck’s Kenny!
You got Dante Pettis on your list. I’m starting to come around on him.
The question I ask myself is can he return punts?
I need to do some scouting, I got this guys!
I got Madison and Falk too
Dissly and Coleman
Yep, Dante can return Punt’s alright!
My Scouting notes:
Goes back to catch punts and can catch football’s in the Air.
Willing to make a signal with his hand for fair catches
When catching punts attempts to make defenders miss while running
His goal with position of the ball is to score touchdowns.
After scoring Touchdowns will dance around and or show enthusiasm
I’m so good at scouting I believe?
Go Scouting
Go Hawks
Brilliant. Must have taken you a while. Could be good for someone to do a break down of each pick we have in the draft and pick the players we would perhaps take at that point. Realistically speaking. Such as:
Round 1
QB Jackson
RB Jones, Chubb
WR Sutton, Kirk
TE N/A
OL Wynn, Corbett, Hernandez, Price
DE Davenport, Landry
DT Bryan, Hurst
LB Van Der Esch
CB N/A (really can’t see it happening)
S James
Just as a means to gauge who might be available at certain points. First round picks ranging from 18-32. Obviously some of those guy won’t be available at the end of the first, this takes into account trading down.
I’ll try to post a seahawks board closer to the draft.
Like I said there’s just more uncertainty for me with this draft than many others.
Usually I have both boards ready by now
Great list Kenny thanks for sharing!
Some favorites of mine!
QB;
Kyle Lauletta 3-4th
Logan Woodside 4th
Kenny Hill 7th
RB;
Royce Freeman 2nd-3rd
Akrum Wadley 5th
Chase Edmonds 6th-udfa
Ito Smith 6th-udfa
I like all the FBs I listed
TE;
Ian Thomas 2nd
Tyler Conklin 5th-6th
Will Dissly 6th
OL;
Isaiah Wynn 1st
Will Hernandez 1st
Frank Ragnow 2nd
Tyrell Crosby 2nd-3rd
Mason Cole 5th-7th
David Bright 7th-udfa
WR
DJ Chark 1st-2nd
Equanimeous St. Brown 2nd-3rd
James Washington 3rd-5th
Darren Carrington 5th-6th
Deontay Burnett 5th-7th
DE
Josh Sweat 1st-2nd
Breeland Speaks 3rd
Marquis Haynes 5th
DT;
Tim Settle 1st-2nd
BJ Hill 2nd-3rd
Poona Ford 5th
Bilal Nichols 5th-6th
LB;
Leighton Vander-Esch 1st
Malik Jefferson 1st- 2nd
Quem got that Malcolm X grade “by any means necessary”
Oren Burks 4th
Dorian O’Daniel 4th-5th
Matthew Thomas 5th-6th
Azeem Victor 4th-6th
CB;
Isaiah Oliver 1st
Carlton Davis 2nd
Kameron Kelly 3rd
Christian Campbell 3rd-4th
Tarvarus McFadden 4th-5th
Holton Hill 5th
Tony Brown II 5th
Brandon Facyson 5th-6th
S;
Derwin James 1st
Deshon Elliott 2nd-3rd
Troy Apke 5th-6th
K;
Eddie Pineiro udfa
P;
Will Gleeson udfa
JK Scott udfa
Wow jeez wonder if I have a type
QB; mobile, accurate game managers
RB; productive and technical, complete, lead backs for their schools
TE; Lean, athletic, combo TEs
WR; H/W types or route runners
OL; Versatile tough guys
DT; space eaters with lateral agility and passrush upside
DE; speed
LB; speed
CB; length
S; I actually really don’t like this class all that much
P/K; Australians
Oops you somehow forgot Dante Pettis on this other list!
Isn’t UW your second favourite team after the Oregon Ducks?
It’s cool Kenny, not everyone can be perfect like Robbie.
I like this lay out. The safety class is terrible. I can barely muster enthusiasm for Jessie Bates not because hes bad just that I think he’ll go in the second. Terrible value for a team with limited picks.
the wide receiver class may be the least interesting in a few years. Calvin ridley ? Really he’s the best in the class. I suppose so if the talking hairdos say so it must be true. Chark in the second round seems legit. I think he’s a fourth rounder with a normal aggregate of talent but again this year he’s tall and fast and that’s gonna do it.
Super into Kirk and moore. and raised an eyebrow to st. Brown as a highly ranked as that. Pauline keeps pushing him down pretty far. Look at those names…woof….from st. Brown to jmon moore. Are any of those guys going to improve seattle? Maybe Carrington in a sort of hybrid kearse role. Maybe trequan smith if you want to run a bunch of go routes?
?
Draft scout has St. Brown in the second
Walter has him as a potential first!
I think late third was a pretty harsh prediction.
St. Brown is listed as a potential 2-3rd rounder on Walter football. Maybe in Their drafts they are putting him earlier but not in his rankings. He’s ranked as the 6 th wr.
and Tony Pauline has him listed as a 5th rounder. He’s got 23 wr listed above him.
Meant to say after st. Brown it feels like scrap shoot.
Sorry they had a scouting report on him saying he could sneak into round 1
Which I whole heartedly disagree with.
He has a brother going through the ranks called Amon Ra that is… Aw man raw
None of this will matter I fully expect a running stuffing d tackle first and for the passing game a lawler esque kind of guy…….that we can all talk about how he just needs some time to develop.
Well they did just sign a bunch of FA DTs so maybe that isn’t super likely
And they took Kenny Lawler in the seventh
I mean the fun of all of this is your and I being sure obi is the pick last year only to figure out who pocic is.
You and I have a lot of the same ranges for players thanks to your exhaustive list but Seattle has a very unique system and what we, this blog, is honing into and what they are honing into seem to be pretty different.
I would think dj moore Kirk and at Brown would all be 2nd rounders with this regime but for all I know moore and st Brown don’t even rate….
+ Joe Zema, P, udfa
Also, there is Austin Allen and Kyle Allen, both AB.
“How do you replace Earl with the second round pick you recoup from him.”
You don’t, he’s irreplaceable. If the trade happens it’s with the understanding that they’ll get a little bit worse as a team in the near term in exchange for some cap space and a couple of “prospects.” In that sense it would be similar to all those July 31 trades in baseball.
Or they’ll get worse at free safety but better at a couple of other positions perhaps (plus younger and cheaper with a new culture).
What Rob said.
I’m hoping (expecting) that Earl has been a luxury item, not a necessity, for Pete to build his defense.
Plenty of other teams can function well w/o Earl, so we should be able to as well.
In fact, I’d argue that having your defense *require* a player like Earl is extremely risky. We’ve all seen the results when Thomas has been hurt in the past.
Better to build a solid/sound defense that isn’t reliant upon a HOF free safety.
“Plenty of other teams can function well w/o Earl, so we should be able to as well”
Well, sure, they also function without the one or two draftees that would replace him. Not sure of the point here.
That doesn’t make any sense.
Brandon’s point is, the vast majority of NFL defenses succeed without an elite free safety. Which is fair.
They do function with other players, the type presumably Seattle would draft or add.
If that’s the point it’s a completely trivial one. Yes, teams will function with or without any player that you can name. What does that even mean?
Look, I started by answering a simple question as straightforwardly as I could. I didn’t use a lot of emotional language and I didn’t express opposition to trading Thomas, but to me it seems pretty obvious that trading him entails a real risk of getting worse in the near term. Maybe they will and maybe they won’t. But even suggesting it as a possibility seems to have triggered a harsh response.
You do great work scouting all these prospects and presenting the information to the public, but I don’t want to be argumentative for it’s own sake, and if making this simple point is going to cause such problems I’ll just bow out.
It’s not trivial at all. It’s a mere counter to what you said.
Don’t think I’ve been harsh at all personally. Merely debating.
Younger and cheaper for sure. Better at a couple of positions is possible, but you’re trading a sure thing for a couple of maybes. “New culture,” you have absolutely no idea how that’s going to work out, I can think of a few recent high ‘Hawk picks who got into knockdown-dragouts in practice, never even made it as far as training camp, and so on. There’s nothing wrong with trading a vet star for a couple of draft picks, but I think we should see the risk that’s being taken with clear eyes.
A sure thing they don’t want to pay as a 30-year-old and might believe/know his best football is in the past. And if he’s leaving in a year anyway, getting something now makes sense.
I never claimed to know how the new culture would go, merely implied that’s what they’re shooting for.
My eyes are perfectly clear. I haven’t offered an opinion on whether it’d be right or wrong to trade Earl. Not in a piece or in a comment.
Look, I know there’s an emotional attachment to Earl. I feel that too.
But this team is changing. There’s no point pretending it isn’t happening.
Well, I got into this thread simply to answer the question, how do you replace Earl Thomas? And the answer is, you can’t, he’s one of a kind, one of the best to ever play the position. If you trade him it’s basically a 100% certainty that you’ll be worse at that position for a while. I don’t think that’s a particularly emotional observation, nor have I expressed opposition to a hypothetical trade. I’ve been following the Seahawks since the expansion team was announced decades ago and have grown very used to the endemic personnel turnover and hard decisions that the sport entails. I was just answering a question.
Sure, you came to answer the question and the topic developed from there.
And I stand by what I said earlier. They might get worse at FS and better at two other positions. This is a good class for defensive talent in round two and day three.
I think that PC / JS have real interest in Shaqueem Griffin and I really thought he would be the pick in Rd #4 for Seattle. But with the NFL inviting him to the draft does that mean he is a lock to go on Day#2?
I realize it is probably for TB ratings etc but I think the last thing they would want to do is invite a guy an have him sit there in the green room till Day #3. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
My if Tony Pauline is right and Hawks want 10 draft picks Mock
Only 2 Trades to keep things less complicated.
– Earl + 159 to Dallas for #50 and #81
-#18 to Cleveland for #33 and #64
#33 Josh Sweat (Edge/ FSU) the Hawks get killed on twitter for over drafting Sweat but he has as much upside as anyone in this draft and plays a premium position. There are just not many athletes like him on the planet and they take a shot at a potential game changer on defense.
#50 Christian Kirk (WR / Tex AM) the Hawks get thier new Golden Tate
#64 Andrew Brown (DT / Virgina) Hawks add an ultra athletic penetrating DT who will be much more productive in the NFL.
#81 Shaqueem Griffin (LB- UCF) The green room explodes as he joins his brother in Seattle.
#116 Kallen Ballage (RB – Arizona) Not my facourite RB for sure but seems like a Hawks pick and who knows he certainly has the potential.
#132 Holton Hill (CB/ Tex) Fits the Hawks profile and is great in run support. Could be the starter opposite Shaq Griffin by end of year #1
#137 Leon Jacobs (LB/ Wisc) ultra athletic eventual replacement for KJ and great special teams / depth guy to start
#147 Wil Dissly (TE / Wash) Hawks add another blocking TE to compete with Swoopes for TE3
#200 Kyle Allen (QB/ Hous) Project backup QB with good physical skill set
#222 Khalil Hill (FB/ Mich) Hawks add a big bruising FB to help with the run game.
This is my guess at what the Hawks might do. Not whom I would pick nessecarily.
Also think they will add a smaller scar back like Ito Smith or Chase Edmunds late or as an UDFA.
Trevor. You have Cleveland trading their 33rd and 64th pick for Seattle’s 18th pick. Who would Cleveland want to move up to 18?
Not Trevor, but my guess: K. Miller, C. Williams…L. Jackson.
It would be for an OT either Mcglinchey or Miller. They need one with Joe Thomas retiring and the options are pretty limited in this draft.
I’d be surprised if the Browns don’t move back into the back half of the 1st round to get a LT. Only two worth having and they need to replace Thomas. With three 2nd rounds they have lots of ammo to move back up.
@Trevor/All
With all the talk about fixing the running game and with the lack of any consistency (production and/or health) from our current group of RBs, do you think the Hawks would be good with not taking a premier / difference maker kind of back early and just taking a lower round or complimentary type of back later in the draft? Would that be sufficient to accomplish their stated objective of fixing the running game? Sincere question.
Is our run game fixed if it requires a special guy to run it?
What’s really wrong if we’re relying on a rookie to bring the culture back?
Telling people with a straight face that you have a second round grade on Carson like you won a prize getting an oft injured back in the 7th round. Just say you are stoked and move on. He’s a good get you don’t need to church it up for fans.
Picking a fair to average wr with one year of running back experience to be your running back . so minimal vetting via game tape.
Christine michael.
A pull a name out of a hat style o line and being good with that.
Not using a full back.
Hoping for the deep shot on first through third down.
What’s going on for me is trying to be the smartest guys in the room and watching it not work. Hey just like oakland and moneyball. Sometimes you just need good players whom have proven to be good to get results. Lynch wasn’t a fluke. He was good in college, good until buffalo tired of him and good in seattle. It’s not a real mystery.
Good post, Peter, and I’ll be really disappointed if one of our two top picks isn’t one of the top 3 rated (after Barkley) RBs, Rojo/Chubb/Johnson.
It’s actually a prestigious list even if it doesn’t contain a bunch of your favorite players. The defensive players alone you would hope with then open holes rather many as two could contribute from the first game forward..
“Pretty good list”
I really like the thought you put into this, and I could definitely see each of those guys as possible/likely Seahawks picks.
My only real quibbles would be that (a) other than adding Dissly, it doesn’t seem to help the running game at all, which is something PC said he wanted to do. And (b) something just nettles me about the idea of Kirk (or any draft WR) that high. Just don’t see it as the need that others do, I think, or I want us to move away from type, whatever. Maybe swap the best avail. RB at 50 (Kerryon Johnson?) and take the WR at 116 (Traquan Smith?) and I’d be happier. But that’s just me.
Dude… go look at 2019 DL class. We could get Sweat without red flags and a better Andrew Brown. I really believe we’re going to target other areas
We did sign several FA DTs.
I think Leo is one position you should never take for granted because of how distinct our parameters for the position can be.
If there’s a guy that you can work with, you can never draft enough pass rushers.
I think we’ll go after a guy like Breeland Speaks to replace MB this year though.
Kenny. I get the feeling that Breeland Speaks is this year’s Malik McDowell.
To be fair
Breeland Speaks has never really flashed on the same level that McDowell did.
A bunch of their visits and interviews have been with DL. If they were not considering taking one why waste all that time and the visits etc. We are losing Bennett and Avril and have only signed two Veteran DT to one year deals. There is a huge need for both Edge rusher and pass rushing DT IMO to replace Bennett and Avril. The need is even greater if McDowell can’t play.
It’s really hard to predict a draft class a year in advance. Agreed that it looks awesome now, but a lot changes in a year. Guys come out of nowhere, guys disappoint, injuries happen. Plus its impossible to have too many edge rushers.
I don’t think Kirk is there at 50. I say take Kirk at 33 and then you likely have your pick of Jones/Chubb/Johnson at 50. Inject some new life into the offense, then go to defense with next two.
I’m starting to convince myself Seattle will take a pass catcher early, maybe with their first pick, and if they end up having multiple day two picks (3 or more), WR and TE could both be early targets.
I was drawing up a mock draft last night that included an Earl trade to Dallas and Seattle trade with Cleveland, and a move up into round three. Seattle drafting, Kirk, Goedert, Turay, and Ballage.
I definitely feel like pass rusher will be a desired target early, Sweat and Turay feel likely. I’m kinda favoring Turay at this stage. I keep going back to that Washington v Rutgers game and remembering how much Turay was flustering Jake Browning. Washington was in danger of losing that game. Turay had major impact.
Terrible terrible WR class.
Might have to target that position early if you want one
Except Dante Pettis of course, I know you don’t want the GM’s who read this Blog (which GM’s don’t) to draft Dante but I believe that some things are fate and I’m not scared that he won’t become a Hawk!
Don’t worry Kenny Duck
Beginning to like the idea of taking Kirk early on but only if we have multiple picks in the second round. Great hedge for Lockett with his special teams ability and potentially more upside as a receiver.
I don’t know why, but I have this weird feeling he is their guy. OTOH, I’m usually wrong.
Also we’ve seen JS/PC like to choose for needs a year in advance. Kirk would be insurance against Lockett leaving after next year.
Best of luck to Rotherham today! Also, a few updates from Lance Zielen doing Q&A on Twitter:
– the top guards (including Nelson) will go lower than expected due to the depth
– Billy Price unlikely to go Day 1 (seems like great value to me on Day 2)
– there may or may not be chatter around Rojo that he won’t go into – I hope he’s ok as I’m really rooting for him
Importantly, he sees the end of the 1st round talent in the mid 20s, making pick 18 more valuable than I anticipated (if correct).
don’t like the “may or may not be,” …..line. Just say it or don’t bring it up.
It’s just a corny way to incite engagement while avoiding any thing resembling journalism and most importantly not staying something that is potentially libelous.
I believe every living Human Being has a right to their beliefs and feelings.
So I accept the fact that you don’t like the “Do or Do not know” expression.
I don’t get the deal though I like your posts Peter.
To Quote the Poet Rodney King
“Can’t we all just get along?”
Thy hawk! I have no problem with unshakeable bringing up lances tweet. Not at all.
My problem is solely with the part of lance zerleins tweet…..ominous music playing in the background….. “There may or may not be chatter about jones but I’M not going to get into it……”.
but by making that tweet he is actually getting into it. He’s making people feel that there something up with jones and that it isn’t good. Because positive chatter would be said what it was…..
It just bums me out that people that are influencers choose to operate this way. One of the things in love about this blog is people have no problem swingman they like and why they like them. It’s refreshing from sports journalism that is often a or of inuendo.
IMO there’s only a few DL in this class who even come close to the 2019 options. Of those guys I can really only see us spending an early 2nd on Settle. Unless someone drops.
I see a lot of guys talking about the vertical offense
Does Schotty run lots of Air Coryell and is he bringing it with him?
It will be interesting to see how Russ adapts to a new system and potentially new terminology. Bevell was getting way too cute with that waco
Like I wonder if we’ll use a number system for receivers.
It’s a great question because he’s never had a qb worth a crap so it remains a bit of a mystery what he’ll do.
going to be strange to run a vertical offense with a tactician and a slowed down deep threat as the only weapons. I have to think someone like st. Brown is in play. But every year because once a hundred years ago pc had big Mike Williams fans, including me, think this is the year where they really mean it and get some size at wr.
Good point Kenny I think the change in OC adds a real unknown into the offense and may be a reason why they have been checking out some of the smaller RB like Ito smith and Edmunds as well.
I kind of like the Air Coryell scheme and Russ seems like a good QB to run it.
I personally really hope they utilize the screen game a lot more this year to help slow down the pass rush. Carson, Prosise are already good pass catchers out of the backfield and I have a feeling any rookies they add could be strong in this area as well. I think the lack of a screen game the last couple of years really hurt and let defenses just pin their ears back.
Did a 7 round mock with Tony Pauline’s board. Making a trade down Cleveland and Earl to Dallas.(2018 #50+ 2019 conditional 2-4 round).
33: WR CHRISTIAN KIRK. TEXAS A&M
50: RB RONALD JONES II. USC
64: EDGE JOSH SWEAT. FLORIDA STATE
120: TE DALTON SCHULTZ. STANFORD
141: CB ISAAC YIADOM. BOSTON COLLEGE
146: G WYATT TELLER. VIRGINIA TECH
156: LB MATTHEW THOMAS. FLORIDA STATE
168: LB/EDGE LEON JACOBS. WISCONSIN
226: DL JULLIAN TAYLOR. TEMPLE
248: S TROY APKE. PENN STATE
Speed, speed and more speed. Gives Wilson a couple explosive weapons and a solid blocking TE. Not sold on Teller, but we gotta get an OL at some point. Taylor has inside pass rushing upside. I’m a believer now that Sweat is worth a mid-late 2nd, if that knee checks out of course. Thomas and Jacobs- 2 4.4 40 LB’s who like to run and hit. Yiadom looks like a Hawks CB, length, good athlete. Apke can ‘Oh he can run run!’ Haha
Love the picks if you can get them in that range.
How about another Seminole, Ryan Izzo, at 226 or 248 instead of Schultz at 120? What options would that open up at 120?
Actually, Zierlein has him in rd 5-6, so maybe slot him where Teller is (since you said you weren’t sold on him) and maybe there’s a better OL at 120?
No Quem = F
(Jk good draft)
If they go with Kirk—he’ll project as a slot for us right? Would that then mean Dougie B plays X Receiver primarily?
Kirk would probably take over from P-Rich
Kirk is exactly the type of player I want the seahawks to pick. Smart-Tough-Reliable.
I actually hope Dez goes to Houston, Him and Hopkins on the outside with Fuller doing his thing… They’d be scary, and they already are very scary.
Does it feel like this could be the year the Hawks explore drafting a CB earlier than they ever have before? I know they have a set of standards they look for physically & I believe last season was the earliest they drafted a CB (Shaq in the 3rd) but it sure seems like they’ve been linked to some CB’s (Isaiah Oliver) that you’d have to draft earlier than later.
Obviously this would be contingent on getting more picks but I’m coming around to the idea that the Hawks would have two talented, young, potential lock down corners on the outside for a long time. That would allow them to focus on other areas of needs over the up coming years draft & free agency wise.
We’ll see. It’s still very, very unlikely. If they have three second rounders and Isaiah Oliver is there, maybe they do pull the trigger. But Holton Hill looks like the hedge. If Oliver goes R1 then not convinced they just move to Carlton Davis.
Whoops, well don’t worry about responding to my other reply rob. You got it covered with this one 🙂
And i agree 100% if they do it it has to be ‘the guy’
How do we know they haven’t wanted to go CB in the 1st or whatever before this year? Could be a case of victim of circumstance.
I still believe in my heart of hearts that Bradley Roby was their guy in ’14.
Last year would have been a year to do it too. Before trading back the fist time they had a chance at Tre’Davious White then before trading back again could have had Kevin King.
Still not convinced Earl will be traded. But it would be Jerry Jones move to make a splash in the limelight.
We really don’t have much of a choice, we either extend him, which we shouldn’t and likely won’t do, or trade him. Those are the 2 best case scenarios. The 2 worst case scenarios are he stays and holds out, or we cut him for no compensation.
They can always franchise him for a year if they have to. But I’d rather get good compensation for him if they aren’t going to do another contract.
Ryan Leaf believe Baker Mayfield will be a huge bust. (via NFL.com)
That is one hell of an endorsement of the player there.
Question for the forum: what has changed between last year and this that makes Colin Kapernick (sp) a viable option? Money? Last year PC said that Kap was a starting QB in the league. What that a reference to how much Kap wanted to get paid? Or that Kap wanted to start? If the latter, why even consider Seattle, given the presence of RW?
Sure, the workout/meeting was postponed, pending Kap coming back with a plan, but why invite him to Seattle in the first place? What has changed?
Two things I am certain of:
The Seahawks will trade back with Cleveland, Cleveland will draft a left tackle at 18.
The Seahawks will trade Earl Thomas for the cowboy’s second round pick and another pick (fourth for this year or maybe a third for next year)
2nd-4th is loaded this year. At least for me it is.
It’s pockets like every year.
I like some guys from all over, but yeah top of the second and third are choice ranges
My thought is why would teams trade those 2nd-3rd rounders then?
Only for a player of Earl Thomas’s caliber I say.
Something that struck me was how much work the Seahawks are putting into the front 7 of the defense on their pre draft visits. Specifically DL. Something else that I keep rolling around in my noodle is the ET trade possibility.
Could it be possible that Seattle “might” have the #18 and #19 picks in the draft (after a trade) and actually use both picks at that position of #18 and #19? Which 2 players would be must have players, that you could not pass up on at that spot, if available.
These 2 guys stand out to me… and seem like a very obvious short and long term fit.
Leighton Vander Esch (LB, Boise State)
Marcus Davenport (DE, Texas – San Antonio)
Will either of these guys be available… tough to call right now…. but if the LB is available, he seems like such an obvious pick for Seattle…. SPARQ’d up and very unique physical gifts.
Davenport is also very unique and would bring alot to the table at the DE position. The loss of multiple players on the DL’s impact would also be negated. Not to mention, if you can get Clark on one side and Davenport on the other… not a bad 1/2 punch.
I confess, it was tough finding a good value for offensive players at this spot, except for an OG (Wynn or Hernandez). The likelihood of a trade back for more value picks in the 2nd or 3rd round would be very high in this scenario, but as I mentioned before… the BST LB is so unique, they might HAVE TO pull the trigger with one of the 2 picks (#18).
Makes sense. There’s far more potential blue chippers on that side of the ball this year. Combine that with PC being a defensive mastermind and Seatttle losing most of their big time personnel on D, it’s now time to find the next core.
Or you could go running back and wide receiver and get your choice of players. Either way you upgrade defense or offense.
One advantage of going offense early is that the defensive picks seem deeper into all the rounds.
If they had both 18 & 19, there’s 3 possibilities:
1-Stand pat and draft at both spots.
2-Draft at one and trade one down to accumulate more picks.
3-Trade both down to super-accumulate more picks.
I think 2 & 3 are the most plausible scenarios. I’d take #3 in a heartbeat if they can walk away with 2 second rounders and 2 3rd rounders.
But if they stood pat and drafted at 18 & 19 I think there’d be some great options. A player on each side of the ball would be a great way to infuse some talent into the roster. Personally I’d advocate for a skill player on offense rather than an OL.
Are there any skill players worth taking there though? That seems like the sweet spot to get your OL of choice. Or a front 7 player.
This is purely personal preference but I would take Isaiah Wynn at one of those then trade down for 33 and 64 with the other. Pick up Chubb or Michel and a pass catcher like Chark, Pettis or Michael Gallup.
My hunch is that Seattle would not go WR in the first round, but could take one in the 2nd round. This could be where Kirk fits in or another WR similar or a clone of Golden Tate.
I keep hearing words such as “unique” and “exceptional athlete” with regard to Davenport. Why do people keep saying that? He seems like a fine athlete and a good prospect, but I can’t see anything particularly unique or exceptional in his athleticism. For example, I think Turay or Aruna or one of those “project” guys tested as a better athlete.
I guess I’m just missing it with this guy, or he’s getting pushed up because of the lack of good DE prospects.
Mel Kiper Jr. says running backs Nick Chubb, Nyheim Hines and Mark Walton could all be valuable picks after the first round of the NFL draft. ~ ESPN
Agree!
It will disappointing if we don’t get a starting RB. We have too many needs this year but RB should be highest priority. I’m worried JS/PC don’t get too cute and risk it.
+12
Dontae Johnson’s contract is one year $1.3 million.
Nice!
Marcus Smith played through a torn ligament in his foot last year? And still looked pretty good. I’m not worried about DL if I’m PCJS. A Tyquan Lewis or Settle if hes there would be nice, and they’ll likely add 1 guy day 3, but I think we’re pretty set. We could use a DT who can actually look push the pocket (I think Reed develops into this this year) and a DE. But I’m honestly comfortable with what we’ve got.
Next year we could go DL with both of our top picks and make our line so nasty. Or Settle this year and one of the DEs next year and we wouldn’t miss Bennett, Avril or Richardson a bit.
Tim Settle this year and Joe Jackson from Miami next year would be excellent additions to Clark, Jordan, Smith, Reed and Jones.
Heres my mock draft. I believe this is best case scenario for the Hawks.
2nd- Christian Kirk (WR ATM)
3rd- Ronnie Harrison (S Alabama)
3rd- Kallen Ballage (RB ASU)
4th- Shaquem Griffin (LB UCF)
4th- Breeland Speaks (DE Ole Miss)
5th- Austin Corbett (OT/G Nevada)
5th- Colton Hill (CB Texas)
7th- Ito Smith (RB Miss St.)
7th- Ponna Ford (DT Texas)
Notes:
If the Seahawks managed this it would be an amazing job by Schneider and the rest of the team. Although turning the #18 first round pick into 2nds and a third is a lot it is reasonable. I believe this draft is very realistic because all of these players have met with or been interviewed by the Seahawks. I believe there is a very high chance we will see Christian Kirk Kallen Ballage and SHaquem Griffin become Seahawks on draft night. There is a very obvious want for Shaquem Griffin and Kallaen Ballage and Christian kirk were invited to. private workout by the Hawks. I also really like Ronnie Harrison he is extremely raw but with proper coaching I see him becoming a very Landon Collins Jamal Adams like player. Also I believe Ito Smith in the 7th is possibly a HUGE steal. He could very easily not become anything but his ceiling is so amazingly high its worth a seventh rounder.
It’d be great to get Austin Corbett in round five — but he’s going to go firmly in the top-45.