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Why Will Johnson could be an option

I didn’t realise teams could do medical checks during official visits. They can. It perhaps explains why the Seahawks hosted a last minute meeting with Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. It’s also possible this was planned long ago and the timing is a coincidence. But what if it isn’t?

It’s at least worth considering that they have intel that Johnson lasts to #18. This has been a popular thing to mock recently, with Johnson lasting into the late teens or early 20’s. It may have been assumed he wouldn’t make it to Seattle’s pick. Johnson was once expected to go in the top-10.

This could’ve prompted the Seahawks to hastily arrange a quick visit to do their own medical checks, with the idea that if they want to take him they’ll need all of the information available. I’d suggest this at least hints at a genuine interest in Johnson and provided his medicals get the all clear, he could be the guy they take.

A year ago they were seemingly prepared to draft Quinyon Mitchell at #16 if Byron Murphy wasn’t available. Johnson is a different player. He isn’t running a 4.33 like Mitchell did. However, Devon Witherspoon wasn’t known for his speed and they took him fifth overall. He ran a 4.45 at an indoor facility at a personal pro-day. Typically in that environment you can add 0.10 seconds to the time. He and Johnson might be similar athletes, truth be told.

There’s another comparison to make. Twelve months before the Seahawks took Jaxon Smith-Njigba at #20, the expectation was he’d be a top-10 pick. An injury-plagued season and a non-elite 4.52 forty at his pro-day (again, tack on extra time for the environment) made him available. The Seahawks saw an opportunity they couldn’t pass. The grade had Smith-Njigba as a value pick.

History could be about to repeat. Johnson’s NFL.com grade from Lance Zierlein is a 6.50. That feels reasonable. A lot of the other players we’ve discussed for the Seahawks are going to grade in the high 6.3’s or the low 6.4’s. If they’re committed to ‘best player available’ — and the evidence shows they are — Johnson could be selected 18th overall provided his medicals were successfully cleared.

Why I’m still interested in Tyler Booker

Among the many, many thoughts racing through my mind with seven days to go is the lack of left guards on the roster and the feeling the Seahawks perhaps know who will fill the void. It’s possible one of the reasons they were so disciplined during free agency is the knowledge their guy is coming at #18.

Tony Pauline told us earlier this week that the people he speaks to expect Grey Zabel to be Seattle’s pick (he also added in a new article today that they also like Ty Robinson a lot, something we’ve been discussing). Separately, Mike Mayock paired the Seahawks with Tyler Booker after giving Zabel to the Dolphins at #13.

Are they just going to take one of these two? Much in the way Jim Harbaugh basically spelt out ‘this is who we are’ before last year’s Chargers draft, then promptly passed on Malik Nabers to select Joe Alt.

Maybe so. And if we’re being honest, that’s what most people expected six weeks ago. We might just be going full circle here. The Seahawks entered the off-season with an O-line priority. This isn’t a draft filled with can’t miss players. You have one top guard and one top guard convert expected to go in round one. Are they just going to take one of them, get it done with, address the need and move on their merry way?

I wouldn’t have any opposition to it, even though I think there are a collection of worthy options at #18 including multiple cornerbacks plus Emeke Egbuka and Malaki Starks, who may end up being better players in terms of production and performance.

I also can’t quit Alabama’s Booker. Everything about his testing profile makes you think he won’t be the pick. Here’s the thing though. Will Fries ran a 1.81 10-yard split at 309lbs and they wanted to give him big money in free agency. That isn’t a good time. Only six players in this draft class recorded a slower time.

Fries’ appeal came in his explosive testing and short shuttle (4.51). Yet if ‘foot speed’ and ‘get-off’ are the key aspects, that isn’t anything to do with vertical and broad jumps. The shuttle, including quick changes of direction, would give some indication there.

Booker isn’t explosive. He’s one of the least explosive linemen to enter the league in recent memory. That isn’t a good thing. Yet his short shuttle of 4.65 at 326lbs is highly impressive. It does speak to movement skill and agility. It works nicely alongside his on-field work-out at the combine, where he moved well:

 
People keep saying he’s a typical Baltimore pick. Isn’t that what the Seahawks want? Mike Macdonald football? Don’t they need a big, physical presence up front? Don’t they need a plug-and-play starting guard who can lift the whole O-line? Don’t they need, as he’s often described, ‘the Will Anderson on offense’?

Is the player you see in the video above not capable of pulling? Reaching up to the second level? Doesn’t he match everything the Seahawks have sought in a character fit?

Here’s another video from his pro-day. He neither moves nor looks like a big slob who can’t shift around a football field. He carries the weight superbly on his frame, has minimal bad weight and he can move:

 
A warning, I’m going to bring Aaron Banks up again. But if a player of his profile can be drafted early and paid mega money by Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur, I need it explaining why the Seahawks can’t draft Booker.

At the end of the day, when you need a yard on 3rd and 1 you’re not likely stressing the need to pull or get to the open field. You’re still going to need to win 1v1 in those situations. This will need to be an area the Seahawks improve in 2025, especially in the red zone.

Like I said, I can’t quit him. They might ultimately see a much better fit in Zabel. They might prefer the options later on for the offensive line. But if they end up going with Booker, it’d be fine by me.

A proposition if they did take Booker at #18

Go up and get Elijah Arroyo in round two, if he even makes it out of round one. I think there’s an outside chance he sneaks into the first frame, with the Eagles a potential suitor. I would move way up to get him.

I still think there’s a chance the Seahawks will explore trying to get up to Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland in round one. If not, Arroyo and Mason Taylor feel like legit alternatives. These players can be X-factors at tight end. I think this is something Seattle craves.

Arroyo in particular might be the hardest to cover and game-plan for. I think he’s an excellent player. If the medicals check out, I think you could genuinely supercharge the offense with a good day-one starter at guard and a weapon like Arroyo.

Alternatively, I’d look to move up for a quality defensive lineman. I don’t think Kenneth Grant, Tyleik Williams, Alfred Collins or Derrick Harmon last to #50. If you want to add a top player in a strong positional class, you’ll need to move up.

Mike Mayock in the video below also discussed the possibility of the Seahawks trading up from #50:

 
However, with their reported interest in Ty Robinson, it could be indicative that they’re willing to take him at #52 to fill a D-line hole after losing two players who haven’t been replaced (Roy Robertson-Harris & Johnathan Hankins). Booker, moving up for Arroyo or Taylor, then Robinson, would be a reasonable trio.

I do like the idea of trading up though. The Seahawks have had success doing this for Jarran Reed, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett — less so for Darrell Taylor. The roster is in a position now where quality over quantity feels right.

A final point on cornerbacks

I think this graph is interesting:

A final look at career production vs. athleticism for the 2025 CB class.

All scores are relative to the 2015-2024 classes.

Targets:
🎯Jahdae Barron
🎯Jacob Parrish
🎯Maxwell Hairston

Sleepers:
💤Zah Frazier
💤Jordan Hancock
💤Tommi Hill

Lower on:
🚩Trey Amos
🚩Denzel Burke pic.twitter.com/yMwc9M4jb1

— Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) April 17, 2025

It highlights cornerback production and athleticism. It’s no surprise Jahdae Barron shines the most. However, there are some other names in the ‘target’ area. Zah Frazier, who recently visited the Seahawks, Jordan Hancock — who is underrated and I recently gave a third round grade to plus Shavon Revel — someone else who had a recent visit to Seattle and is highly talented. You’ve also got fierce tackler Upton Stout, the aforementioned Will Johnson and Tommi Hill in the region.

So whether it’s a high pick like Barron or Johnson or someone a little bit later on, the Seahawks should be able to add a good cornerback in this draft.

— I think the Seahawks will really like the top-four tight ends and will explore finding a way to come away with one of Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, Elijah Arroyo or Mason Taylor. They will need to be creative because Warren and Loveland probably won’t last to #18 and Arroyo and Taylor probably won’t last to #50.

— A lot of focus has been on how the Seahawks can spend a lot of picks with five in the top-92. I think it might be a case of them feeling like this is a great opportunity to be aggressive and make sure they add quality players they want, rather than just seeing who lasts to them. They had lots of picks to build a foundation in 2022 and 2023 and they’ve become a good not great team. Now, it might be about using their stock to trade up and pursue difference makers.

— I can’t shake the thought that the Seahawks could play a game tomorrow and would be able to field a player at every position except left guard. Have they known, all along, that they’ll be getting the player to fill that particular void at #18? Could it be Grey Zabel? Is Tyler Booker still an option despite his combine testing numbers? Yesterday Tony Pauline told us he’s hearing Zabel, while Mike Mayock, who had Zabel going 13th to Miami, mocked Booker to the Seahawks.

— In 15 drafts as Seattle’s GM, John Schneider has taken an offensive or defensive lineman nine times with his first selection. On five occasions, his first two picks were both trenches players. It’s not unrealistic that this happens again.

— If they don’t go trenches early, I still believe Emeka Egbuka and Malaki Starks are strong options. Both are highly talented, underrated players with outstanding character. They are the ideal combination of talent and professionalism. They are ‘Seahawks’ types, even if they ultimately don’t end up in Seattle. Donovan Ezeiruaku and Matthew Golden also fit that billing.

— A wildcard ‘shock everyone’ first round option could be the aforementioned Elijah Arroyo. Depending on the medicals, he’s as good a chance as anyone of being a good starter within this class.

— There are two very intriguing physical comparisons to note. Tate Ratledge has an almost identical explosive physical profile and size/frame to Will Fries. They also both played right guard. Ratledge recorded a far superior 10-yard split and 40-yard dash though. Could the Seahawks view him as a more athletic, cheaper alternative who will likely be available in round two? Then there’s Georgia team-mate Jared Wilson. His testing profile and measurables are identical to New Orleans’ starting center Erik McCoy, a player who excelled under Klint Kubiak last year. Just a couple of things to remember for next week.

— The Seahawks have seemingly done a lot of due diligence with their official-30 visits. I believe this is to try and create complete profiles on players with question marks. Let’s run through what I mean below, while acknowledging it’s completely possible any of these players can ‘wow’ the team during their trip and address any doubts…

— Nick Emmanwori is an excellent athlete but this article noted some character question marks. Getting to know him better, seeing how he fits in the building, trying to get a complete profile on Emmanwori would be a useful exercise if the Seahawks shared some of the concerns in that article, where he’s described as possessing some “football immaturity” and being “naturally contrarian to most everything.”

— Princely Umanmielen has flashes on tape but there are big questions about his consistency and effort. It goes without saying that this is a player you need to get to know, especially if he suddenly provides value if he falls into round three.

— Tetairoa McMillan felt like he coasted through his final year at Arizona, didn’t play anywhere close to his best football and a video emerged recently from a few years ago showing him talking about not watching tape. It’s a handy use of an official-30 visit to try and work out whether he’s someone who fits the culture you are harnessing.

— Shemar Stewart’s production doesn’t match his physical talent and not doing anything at pro-day or on-field workouts at the combine left a sour taste. He was well worth an official visit. A reminder — I went through all the players with similar physical tools to Stewart and then looked at who succeeded in the NFL. On average, the freaky athletes who excelled had 24 college sacks per player. Stewart had just 4.5. He’s a tantalising prospect but his college production suggests he might be more likely to end up like the number of physical dynamos who disappoint. You need all the info you can get on him to work out if he can deliver on his supreme athleticism.

— Mykel Williams feels like a bit of an enigma. Once considered a potential #1 overall pick this year, another season of injury and inconsistency tempered his stock. He could go in the top-10 still or he could last to the end of the first round. He’s tricky to work out and his testing numbers at pro-day didn’t blow the roof off. What is he at the next level?

— Did they get Jalen Milroe in to put him on the whiteboard and see how he handled the information thrown at him? It could be the same for Tyler Shough who also made an official visit. Klint Kubiak’s scheme puts a lot of responsibility on the center for protections. Did they test Jared Wilson out in that regard too? Can he handle these duties early in his career?

— It could be a particularly pivotal meeting for Milroe. Everyone appreciates he has unbelievable physical tools. He needs to convince teams he can do the basics well too. Pretty much the entire internet is unusually aligned on how to view his short/intermediate passing and processing. If coaches come away feeling like they can teach him their scheme and develop him over time, he could be the high pick everyone is suddenly projecting following his invite to the draft. I do think this is more due diligence on Seattle’s behalf and you’d imagine they at least gathered some intel from Alabama when they had Ryan Grubb and Scott Huff on staff during the season with their connections.

— One other note on Milroe — remember, recent quarterbacks who finished their final college seasons with a QBR of 80 or above have typically been drafted in the first round. Milroe achieved that mark in 2024. For more information click here.

— Shavon Revel Jr, Will Johnson, Chase Lundt, Dylan Fairchild and Jihaad Campbell all have existing injuries. They were likely brought in for medical evaluations. It’s possible they also wanted to check with Mykel Williams and Tyler Shough too.

— On the other visits I’m not sure what it means. Bryce Cabeldue, Mason Taylor and Ty Robinson are all seemingly high character, clean and productive and don’t play positions where they’d necessarily need a lot of schematic testing. Maybe they just really like this group and want to finalise their grades? They all fit.

— In a few years we will look back on this defensive tackle class and while it might not be littered with elite stars, we’re going to see a lot of these players ended up being very solid starters in the NFL. I wonder if this could lead to teams rushing to select offensive tackles in round one, knowing the depth at defensive tackle stretches deep into round two?

— Will Howard will go earlier than people think. That might be one of the surprises of the draft. I think some teams will really like him. He’s another quarterback who had a QBR of +80 in 2024.

— Players projected to go on day three that I think are interesting: Kurtis Rourke, Jarquez Hunter, Tahj Brooks, Kyle Monangai, Jackson Hawes, Jack Nelson, Bryce Cabeldue, Garrett Dellinger, Connor Colby, Drew Kendall, Eli Cox, Clay Webb, Nazir Stackhouse, Jay Toia, Jeffrey Bassa, Chandler Martin, Shemar James, Robert Longerbeam, Maxen Hook, Marques Sigle, Keondre Jackson, Jordan Hancock

There are two people who, more than anyone else, inspired this blog. One is Mike Sando for his work on the TNT back in the day. The other is Tony Pauline.

His relentless passion for the draft, tape study and player evaluation struck a chord with me and it’s been a pleasure to interview him every year for the last decade. Tony has become a friend as well as someone I enjoy talking draft with. Here’s our latest conversation below. Please check it out — as Tony reveals what his sources are telling him about the Seahawks at #18…

Round one

#1 Tennessee — Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
Although this is now viewed as a lock, I don’t understand why. Ward is not a legit #1 overall pick, the Titans’ roster is still massively flawed and they keep drafting young quarterbacks. Why aren’t they drafting a blue-chipper instead or trading down?

#2 Cleveland — Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado)
Will the Browns use Joe Flacco as their bridge and then make a move to reunite Hunter with Shedeur Sanders later in round one? That would generate some excitement in Cleveland.

#3 NY Giants — Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
The Giants are the perfect example as to why drafting a franchise quarterback is difficult. However much you need one — even if you pick very early, it’s still hard to find them.

#4 New England — Will Campbell (T, LSU)
I wouldn’t like this move but it’s trending to be New England’s pick. Campbell didn’t play well in 2024 and the short arms bother me. I don’t think he’s an easy slot into guard either if he fails defending the edge.

#5 Jacksonville — Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
I really like his tape but the lack of testing paired with an unorthodox body type could push the Jaguars to go in a different direction.

#6 Las Vegas — Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
Part of me still thinks there’s a very realistic chance the Raiders don’t take Jeanty here and go with Membou or Walker.

#7 NY Jets — Armand Membou (T/G, Missouri)
When you’re one of the most explosive offensive linemen to enter the league in recent history and you run as well as he did, you go early in the draft.

#8 Carolina — Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia)
Some people, such as Mike Mayock, have him rated higher than Abdul Carter.

#9 New Orleans — Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss)
The injury to Derek Carr puts the Saints in a difficult spot. Do they go quarterback here or run the risk of waiting until later? I suppose it depends on their view of Spencer Rattler’s ability to start.

TRADE #10 Seattle (v/CHI) — Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
The Seahawks, armed with 10 picks, make their move. The idea is they want one of the few blue-chippers from this draft. This article recently looked at potential Bears trades so we’ll go with their suggestion — Seattle gives up #82, #137 and a 2026 fourth rounder.

#11 San Francisco — Kelvin Banks Jr (T, Texas)
Although defensive tackle is their biggest need, the 49ers face a future without Trent Williams and Colt McKivitz is replaceable. They invest in a tackle.

#12 Dallas — Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
I’m not a big fan of McMillan but I was told by my main source two weeks ago that he’d be the first receiver taken so I’m sticking with it.

#13 Miami — Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
With needs in the secondary, D-line and O-line, the Dolphins have a few options here.

#14 Indianapolis — Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
If the Seahawks don’t move up for Warren, they might move up for Loveland. This feels like his floor and Mike Macdonald will have good intel on him.

#15 Atlanta — Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE, Boston College)
He’s just a clean prospect, unlike some of the other pass-rushers. He had major production in 2024, he ran a great short-shuttle, he has ideal length and A+ character.

#16 Arizona — Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)
This isn’t Arizona’s biggest need but they’ve just got to keep adding talent at this point.

#17 Cincinnati — Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall)
The character allegations will put off some teams but the Bengals have tended to turn a blind eye to these things in the past.

#18 Chicago (v/SEA) — Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
The Bears move down eight spots and land a player they would’ve been comfortable taking at #10. He can be Ben Johnson’s plus version of David Montgomery.

#19 Tampa Bay — Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
A brilliant player, a legit top-20 pick and someone the Seahawks could easily take if they stay at #18. Big on talent and character.

#20 Denver — Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
Another player with major character positives while being talented and reliable. He could also be Seattle’s pick if they stick at #18.

#21 Pittsburgh — Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
Some slight character issues have been reported but the chances are he’ll still go in the top-25. The Steelers opt not to take Shedeur Sanders.

#22 LA Chargers — Mykel Williams (DE, Georgia)
Williams has promised a lot and delivered very little over the last 12 months. An interesting player but will he ever put it together?

#23 Green Bay — Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
The character concerns are legit but there’s a ‘love him or hate him’ vibe to Nolen and some people in the league definitely do love him.

TRADE #24 Cleveland (v/MIN) — Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)
Minnesota need picks so are willing traders. The Browns, fearing the Rams at #26, move up to reunite Shedeur with Travis Hunter.

#25 Houston — Josh Conerly (T, Oregon)
There’s a lot of love for Conerly. In this spot he wouldn’t be rushed in to start — but he’d still compete in year one.

#26 LA Rams — Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
I’m a big fan of Barron’s but there’s a general feeling he might fall a bit. I’m not sure why but wanted to reflect it in this mock.

#27 Baltimore — Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
He could go in the top-15 or fall out of round one altogether due to the labrum surgery.

#28 Detroit — Grey Zabel (G, North Dakota State)
I really like Zabel but there’s at least a feeling this might be his more realistic range compared to the top-20.

#29 Washington — Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
The lack of production and lousy tape (at times) balances out the intriguing physical tools.

#30 Buffalo — Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
It’s hard to work out where Grant could go but the Bills need someone to play one-technique.

#31 Kansas City — Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
The Chiefs need a partner for Chris Jones to wreak havoc from the interior.

#32 Philadelphia — Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
Even after drafting two DB’s a year ago, so much change at cornerback leads the Eagles to bring in the talented Hairston.

Round two

#33 Minnesota (v/CLE) — Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame)
It feels like his stock is rebounding so perhaps the injury concerns are easing?

#34 NY Giants — Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama)
There has to be a reason why he was invited to the NFL draft.

#35 Tennessee — Luther Burden (WR, Missouri)
If Cam Ward is going to work in Tennessee he needs weapons.

#36 Jacksonville — Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami)
I think there’s a chance Arroyo sneaks into round one. I also think the Seahawks will have an eye on him if the medicals are cleared.

#37 Las Vegas — Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA)
The kind of plucky, dependable player who’d work well for Pete Carroll.

#38 New England — Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
After getting a left tackle in round one, they further bolster their O-line here.

#39 Chicago (v/CAR) — Mason Taylor (TE, LSU)
They passed up the chance to get a tight end in round one, knowing they could get one of Arroyo or Taylor here.

#40 New Orleans — Jordan Burch (DE, Oregon)
I can well imagine the Saints seeing Burch as the heir-apparent to Cam Jordan.

#41 Chicago — Landon Jackson (DE, Arkansas)
The Bears chuck another pass-rusher into the mix.

#42 NY Jets — Will Howard (QB, Ohio State)
I know there’s a growing feeling Howard will go in round two and teams without an obvious future at quarterback should be willing to roll the dice on him.

#43 San Francisco — Tyleik Williams (DT, Ohio State)
The 49ers badly need to add an interior defender.

#44 Dallas — TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
Henderson lasts due to a lack of need so the Cowboys snap him up.

#45 Indianapolis — Josh Simmons (T, Ohio State)
There’s a view the Colts want to invest in a tackle and Simmons is the best available — the reason he lasts is due to injury recovery and character.

#46 Atlanta — Shavon Revel (CB, East Carolina)
In interviews he’s very detailed when talking about scheme and he has a fire about him. Gritty backstory. If he lasts to #50 he could be someone Seattle goes for.

#47 Arizona — Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State)
The Cardinals fill a hole in the interior of their line and get good value with Jackson here.

#48 Miami — Alfred Collins (DT, Texas)
It’s vital the Dolphins add an interior defender in the early rounds.

#49 Cincinnati — Jonah Savaiinaea (G, Arizona)
I’m not a big fan of Savaiinaea — he doesn’t finish or play with enough aggression. I know people who do like him, though.

#50 Seattle — Tate Ratledge (G, Georgia)
The Seahawks showed a lot of interest in Will Fries. Ratledge had identical explosive testing results, ran a great 10-yard split and a good three-cone. He could be seen as the value alternative to Fries.

#51 Denver — Joshua Farmer (DT, Florida State)
The Broncos tap into the D-line depth, knowing they can get a running back in round three.

#52 Seattle (v/PIT) — Jared Wilson (C, Georgia)
Klint Kubiak said his blocking scheme requires an elite center. Wilson’s testing profile is almost identical to Erik McCoy’s, the excellent center Kubiak worked with in New Orleans.

#53 Tampa Bay — Azareye’h Thomas (CB, Florida State)
The Buccs add a cornerback and a safety in the top two rounds to bolster their secondary.

#54 Green Bay — Jack Bech (WR, TCU)
He reminds me a lot of Jordy Nelson.

#55 LA Chargers — Jayden Higgins (WR, Iowa State)
Higgins would be a good complement to the other targets on their roster.

#56 Buffalo (v/MIN) — Saivion Williams (WR, TCU)
He’s a bit of a gadget player but there’s every chance a creative offense will have a lot of fun with Williams.

#57 Carolina (v/LAR) — Bradyn Swinson (EDGE, LSU)
If you’re getting Swinson in this range I think it’s an absolute steal.

#58 Houston — TJ Sanders (DT, South Carolina)
Teams are going to attack the defensive tackle options in round two.

#59 Baltimore — Aireontae Ersery (T, Minnesota)
This is the kind of lineman the Ravens take. They could play him inside early with a view to him becoming Ronnie Stanley’s long-term replacement.

#60 Detroit — JT Tuimoloau (EDGE, Ohio State)
I thought JTT had quite a disappointing final two seasons for Ohio State but his playing style fits the Lions.

#61 Washington — Ty Robinson (DT, Nebraska)
He’ll give you absolutely everything and he feels like a Dan Quinn player.

#62 Buffalo — Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame)
I’m not sure about his upside and while he did produce turnovers — some were quite flukey.

#63 Kansas City — James Pearce Jr (EDGE, Tennessee)
The character concerns are legit. So much so I think many teams will not entertain having him in their building.

#64 Philadelphia — Harold Fannin Jr (TE, Bowling Green)
This feels like a good fit for the Eagles given they’re trying to move off Dallas Goedert.

Thoughts on Seattle’s picks

I think there’s a very realistic chance the Seahawks will move up in this draft within the first three rounds. A year ago they tried to move up for Cooper Beebe, failed, and probably wish in hindsight they’d made a deal.

With five picks in the top-92 they can afford to be aggressive. Yes, it’s good to have a lot of picks and try to fill a number of holes. However, this is a draft lacking star power. The player they take at #18 could well be graded in a similar range to the players being taken between picks #30-40.

Sacrificing one of those five high picks in order to get a player some believe is a legit blue-chipper makes sense. Or, alternatively, they could trade up in round two to get a player they really want, rather than wait to see what remains at #50 and #52.

Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland are two of only seven players I’ve given ‘legit’ first round grades to. If they’re both available at pick #10 — the Seahawks might start sounding out teams to trade up. You’d be getting a player you might grade in the 6.7 range instead of the 6.3’s. That’s a rare opportunity, one you don’t typically have the ammunition to execute.

You’d need to get ahead of the Colts at #14. Chicago and Miami feel like possible trade candidates to do this.

The compensation here is #82, #137 and a 2026 fourth rounder to the Bears for pick #10. I used a Bears website, who pitched this move, as the basis for the deal. Frankly if it cost a third this year and next and maybe one of your fifth rounders instead of #137 — I think that’s a very reasonable offer too.

Trading up in round one is expensive and the price ultimately might be too high. That might be why a day two trade is more likely.

People will have a variety of opinions on this. Is tight end important enough to trade up for? Don’t you need to keep all of your picks? I just think any chance you get to grab one of the best players in a class, you have to consider it.

Had they stayed at #18 the players I would’ve considered for the pick would’ve been Malaki Starks and Emeka Egbuka.

For what it’s worth, if the Seahawks don’t trade up for Warren or Loveland, I could see them making a move in round two to go up and get one of Elijah Arroyo or Mason Taylor. Arroyo in particular feels like a great fit and, whisper it quietly, might be a wildcard option for them in round one. They could also move up for one of the appealing defensive tackles — perhaps Kenneth Grant who Mike Macdonald will know quite well — or an offensive lineman.

At #50, Tate Ratledge ticks a lot of boxes. I know he’s well liked within the league, with people buzzing about his playing style and demeanour. His physical testing was elite. The injuries stalled his 2024 season and keep him on the board. His similarity, physically, to Will Fries could be a hint to potential interest from the Seahawks.

With the #52 pick, Jared Wilson just fits. The remarkable physical comparison to Erik McCoy makes it very plausible he’ll be on Seattle’s radar. Remember — Klint Kubiak said the most important thing about his offensive line is an elite center.

These two selections, together with a fresh start for Christian Haynes, could help repair Seattle’s interior line.

If they don’t take two O-liners in round two, they’ll have options later. This is a class without many ‘pure’ guard prospects. However, there are a number of projected tackle converts with good zone-blocking tape. This includes Chase Lundt, Bryce Cabeldue, Charles Grant, Wyatt Milum, Jack Nelson, Logan Brown, Cam Williams and Marcus Mbow. They could also look at guards like Connor Colby and Clay Webb.

In this scenario, round three could be a defensive player (defensive back or defensive lineman) or a quarterback if any remain that they like.

They should be able to find a nose tackle on day three. There are also some day three receivers they can look at — with the pressure taken off somewhat if they take Warren or Loveland with their top pick, given they will effectively operate as the #1 or #2 target.

Many years ago we created a formula called ‘TEF’ to measure explosive traits in offensive linemen. It was based on stated ‘ideals’ by Tom Cable. The Seahawks wanted linemen who could jump a 31-inch vertical, a 9-0 broad and achieve 27 reps on the bench press. We combined each test to create a cumulative score to determine how explosive a prospect was.

Cable is long gone in Seattle and we no longer use it to try and work out who the Seahawks might have their eye on. However, as you’ll see below, the top offensive linemen in the NFL are predominantly explosive testers. TEF is still useful to project upside.

Here’s the formula:

1. Vertical ÷ 31
2. Broad ÷ 9, then cube the result
3. Bench ÷ 27
4. Results added together = TEF

Here’s what the ideal (31 — 9 — 27) would look like using this formula:

1. Vertical: 31 ÷ 31 = 1
2. Broad: 9 ÷ 9 = 1, cubed = 1
3. Bench: 27 ÷ 27 = 1
4. Overall score = 3.00

A prospect achieving the exact Cable ideal (31 — 9 — 27) will score a 3.00 in TEF.

In the early stages of using TEF it was incredibly accurate in determining who the Seahawks would have interest in. These days, with the outside-zone scheme set to be installed, they are more likely to focus on foot-speed and get-off. Good second-level tape and combo-blocking, a strong 10-yard split and a good short shuttle might be better indicators of interest than explosive testing. Still, that doesn’t mean they won’t be interested in explosive traits.

It is worth noting that New Orleans used their top pick (#14 overall) on Taliese Fuaga a year ago. He had an excellent zone-blocking grade and jumped a 32-inch vertical and a 9-3 broad. Without a bench press we can’t calculate a TEF score but with 33-inch arms it’s safe to assume he would’ve been an explosive tester. He did not do the short shuttle or the three-cone.

At the end of the article I’ll produce some takeaways based on the data.

TEF Results 2025

Armand Membou — 3.45
Luke Kandra — 3.42
Luke Newman — 3.26
Bryce Cabeldue — 3.25
Grey Zabel — 3.23
Nash Jones — 3.22
Jalen Travis — 3.21
Garrett Dellinger — 3.20
Donovan Jackson — 3.19
Tate Ratledge — 3.10
Logan Brown — 3.08
Jackson Slater — 3.07
Clay Webb — 3.05
Jared Wilson — 3.00
Eli Cox — 3.00
Miles Frazier — 3.00
Aireontae Ersery — 2.96
Caleb Rogers — 2.96
Josh Conerly Jr — 2.87
Jonah Savaiinaea — 2.84
Connor Colby — 2.83
Ben Scott — 2.83
Joe Huber — 2.81
Jake Majors — 2.67
Anthony Belton — 2.66
Torricelli Simpkins — 2.66
Drew Kendall — 2.64
Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan — 2.63
Charles Grant — 2.58
Joshua Gray — 2.56
Carson Vunson — 2.52
Willie Lampkin — 2.32
Tyler Booker — 2.31
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson — 2.05

There are 16 players who scored a 3.00 or higher in this class. This continues a trend of players being more explosive in recent years. Here are the numbers for each class since we started recording TEF:

2016 — 6
2017 — 3
2018 — 7
2019 — 8
2020 — 8
2021 — No combine
2022 — 9 (projection)
2023 — 19 (projection)
2024 — 22 (projection)
2025 — 16

Weighted TEF

We also created a second calculation to account for the fact that jumping a vertical at 320lbs is more challenging than jumping a vertical at 295lbs. Thus, we created a formula (weighted TEF or wTEF) to account for weight:

Weight x TEF x 0.1

We can give each player a score that sufficiently emphasises their unique size. For example:

Germain Ifedi — 324 x 2.97 x 0.1 = 96.1

Here are the scores this year:

Armand Membou — 114.5
Luke Kandra — 109.1
Jalen Travis — 108.8
Nash Jones — 103.0
Garrett Dellinger — 102.4
Luke Newman — 101.7
Grey Zabel — 100.8
Donovan Jackson — 100.5
Bryce Cabeldue — 99.5
Aireontae Ersery — 98.0
Logan Brown — 95.8
Tate Ratledge — 95.5
Jackson Slater — 95.5
Clay Webb — 95.2
Miles Frazier — 95.1
Jared Wilson — 93.0
Caleb Rogers — 92.4
Jonah Savaiinaea — 92.0
Eli Cox — 91.8
Anthony Belton — 89.4
Josh Conerly Jr — 89.3
Connor Colby — 87.4
Joe Huber — 87.1
Ben Scott — 86.6
Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan — 86.5
Torricelli Simpkins — 83.0
Jake Majors — 81.2
Drew Kendall — 80.8
Charles Grant — 79.7
Carson Vinson — 79.1
Joshua Gray — 76.5
Tyler Booker — 75.1
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson — 64.8
Willie Lampkin — 64.7

Incomplete data

The following players didn’t complete the full set of tests to create a TEF score. If they are one test away (eg didn’t do the bench press) I’ve taken the average of the draft class to create a projected TEF score:

Will Campbell — 3.07
Dylan Fairchild — 2.86
Wyatt Milum — 2.86
Jalen Rivers — 2.82
Kelvin Banks Jr — 2.81
Ozzy Trapilo — 2.73
Xavier Truss — 2.65
Chase Lundt — Not enough data
Marcus Mbow — Not enough data
Cam Williams — Not enough data
Jack Nelson — Not enough data
Emery Jones — Not enough data
Myles Hinton — Not enough data

Historical comparisons

As you can see below, most of the better linemen in the NFL were explosive testers. I’ve added the players who scored a 3.00 or higher within the 2025 class in bold:

Beaux Limmer — 3.68
Braden Smith — 3.52
Trey Smith — 3.49
Tristan Wirfs — 3.47
Armand Membou — 3.45
Lane Johnson — 3.44
Cole Strange — 3.42
Luke Kandra — 3.42
Rashawn Slater — 3.40
Peter Skoronski — 3.37
Bernhard Raimann — 3.37
Quinn Meinerz — 3.34
Cam Jurgens — 3.34
Zach Tom — 3.33
Drew Dalman — 3.31
Kolton Miller — 3.31
Frank Ragnow — 3.29
Luke Newman — 3.26
Creed Humphrey — 3.25
Cesar Ruiz — 3.25
Bryce Cabeldue — 3.25
Grey Zabel — 3.23
Nash Jones — 3.22
Jalen Travis — 3.21
Garrett Dellinger — 3.20
Donovan Jackson — 3.19
Chris Lindstrom — 3.18
Alijah Vera-Tucker — 3.16
Trent Williams — 3.11
Tate Ratledge — 3.10
Will Fries — 3.10
Logan Brown — 3.08
Quenton Nelson — 3.07
Jackson Slater — 3.07
Tyler Linderbaum — 3.05
Erik McCoy — 3.05
Clay Webb — 3.05
Penei Sewell — 3.04
Joe Thuney — 3.04
Joe Alt — 3.02
Elgton Jenkins — 3.01
Cody Mauch — 3.01
Garrett Bolles — 3.00
Jared Wilson — 3.00
Eli Cox — 3.00
Miles Frazier — 3.00

Ten yard splits

This data might be important to the Seahawks. The zone scheme relies on get-off and foot speed. Initial quickness over 10 yards can be seen is critical.

A word of caution though. Kyle Shanahan drafted Aaron Banks with the 48th pick to play in his zone-blocking offense. Matt LaFleur just paid him $19.25m to play in his. Banks’ 10-yard split was a 1.91 — slower than any of the names below:

Joshua Gray — 1.69
Josh Conerly Jr — 1.70
Jared Wilson — 1.71
Tate Ratledge — 1.72
Clay Webb — 1.72
Jonah Savaiinaea — 1.72
Bryce Cabeldue — 1.73
Garrett Dellinger — 1.73
Armand Membou — 1.74
Aireontae Ersery — 1.74
Will Campbell — 1.75
Eli Cox — 1.75
Logan Brown — 1.75
Chase Lundt — 1.76
Ozzy Trapilo — 1.76
Luke Newman — 1.76
Willie Lampkin — 1.76
Connor Colby — 1.77
Drew Kendall — 1.78
Jackson Slater — 1.78
Kelvin Banks Jr — 1.78
Luke Kandra — 1.78
Caleb Rogers — 1.78
Miles Frazier — 1.79
Jake Majors — 1.80
Charles Grant — 1.80
Carson Vinson — 1.80
Jalen Travis — 1.80
Joe Huber — 1.80
Branson Taylor — 1.82
Anthony Belton — 1.82
Xavier Truss — 1.82
Wyatt Milum — 1.83
Jalen Rivers — 1.85
Tyler Booker — 1.90

Notable 10-yard splits

Kolton Miller — 1.67
Lane Johnson — 1.68
Terron Armstead — 1.68
Chris Lindstrom — 1.69
Tristen Wirfs — 1.69
Joe Thuney — 1.70
Zach Tom — 1.70
Taylor Lewan — 1.71
Garrett Bolles — 1.71
Cam Jurgens — 1.71
Evan Mathis — 1.72
Trent Williams — 1.72
Eric Fisher — 1.72
Erik McCoy — 1.72
Jason Peters — 1.73
Charles Cross — 1.73
Joe Alt — 1.73
Anthony Bradford — 1.74

Short shuttles

The other test worth keeping an eye on is the short shuttle, due to it’s change of direction and ability to get up to speed quickly:

Caleb Rogers — 4.49
Drew Kendall — 4.51
Logan Brown — 4.51
Jared Wilson — 4.56
Connor Colby — 4.58
Eli Cox — 4.58
Luke Newman — 4.58
Bryce Cabeldue — 4.59
Grey Zabel — 4.60
Jake Majors — 4.62
Tyler Booker — 4.65
Joshua Gray — 4.65
Garrett Dellinger — 4.66
Kelvin Banks Jr — 4.66
Jonah Savaiinaea — 4.66
Marcus Mbow — 4.67
Wyatt Milum — 4.69
Anthony Belton — 4.69
Jackson Slater — 4.70
Ozzy Trapilo — 4.70
Willie Lampkin — 4.70
Hayden Conner — 4.72
Luke Kandra — 4.78
Joe Huber — 4.78
Aireontae Ersery — 4.82
Donovan Jackson — 4.84
Miles Frazier — 4.84
Carson Vinson — 4.85
Clay Webb — 4.90
Torricelli Simpkins — 4.90
Myles Hinton — 4.94
Jalen Travis — 4.94
Charles Grant — 4.95

Notable short shuttles

Jason Kelce — 4.14
Evan Mathis — 4.16
Nate Solder — 4.34
Nick Mangold — 4.36
Robert Gallery — 4.38
Abe Lucas — 4.40
Dominick Puni — 4.40
Eric Fisher — 4.44
Joel Bitonio — 4.44
Zach Tom — 4.47
Taylor Lewan — 4.49
Kolton Miller — 4.49

PFF zone blocking grades above 70

Charles Grant — 93.0
Willie Lampkin — 90.4
Wyatt Milum — 90.0
Chase Lundt — 88.2
Armand Membou — 87.4
Jack Nelson — 86.4
Logan Brown — 85.2
Clay Webb — 84.9
Grey Zabel —- 84.8
Cam Williams — 84.0
Kelvin Banks Jr — 81.5
Hollin Pierce — 81.5
Marcus Mbow — 81.3
Connor Colby — 81.3
Bryce Cabeldue — 81.0
Jacob Bayer — 79.8
Jared Wilson — 78.9
Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan — 77.4
Aireontae Ersery — 77.3
Dylan Fairchild — 76.6
Luke Kandra — 76.5
Will Campbell — 74.5
Josh Conerly Jr — 73.7
Donovan Jackson — 73.2
Joe Huber — 72.2
Drew Kendall — 71.8
Joshua Gray — 71.5
Garrett Dellinger — 71.4
Tate Ratledge — 71.4

Takeaways

— Will Fries, who they targeted in free agency, scored a 3.10 in TEF and a 95.8 in weighted TEF. He ran a 4.51 short-shuttle and a 1.81 10-yard split. His PFF grade for zone-blocking in 2024 was a 91.2 but that only occurred on 67 snaps before his broken leg. In 2023 his grade in zone was a 61.6 on 282 snaps. Tate Ratledge has the exact same TEF score and his weighted TEF (95.5) is very similar. Ratledge ran a far better split than Fries but didn’t run a short-shuttle. This is perhaps something to remember. I would say though, Fries’ tape in zone stood out like a sore thumb as an ideal fit for the scheme. Ratledge’s tape did not — whether that’s because of the role he played at Georgia or not.

— As one of the top explosive testers in recent history, there’s absolutely no doubt that Armand Membou will be taken very early. His combination of size, explosion and speed — not to mention an excellent zone-blocking grade — pretty much make him an ideal Seahawks pick. There’s zero chance he lasts to #18. If he lasted to #10, it might be worth considering trading up.

— Aireontae Ersery is massive (6-6, 331lbs) and on the borderline of a legit explosive tester (2.96 TEF) while running an excellent 1.74 10-yard split. Don’t be surprised if he finds a home in round one. He’s a pure tackle and has some reported small character concerns so likely won’t be on Seattle’s radar but he does have a decent zone-blocking grade.

— My top source on the draft recently told me Grey Zabel wouldn’t be a good use of a first round pick. His physical profile, however, matches those who were taken in the second half of round one. The question is — how much better do you think he is compared to, say, Bryce Cabeldue? If you don’t think there’s a massive difference you have to take that into account with your top-20 pick because you’re not finding another Malaki Starks on day three. Cabeldue has an almost identical TEF score and short shuttle time (coming out marginally on top in both). Unlike Zabel, he ran a forty and produced an excellent 1.73 split. They both grade in the 80’s for zone blocking. If this is about drafting to develop and kicking someone inside, someone other than Zabel at #18 and drafting Cabeldue later might be the better bet (and I say that as someone who really likes Zabel).

— Donovan Jackson’s explosive testing is enticing and speaks to a top-40 placing. A 4.84 short shuttle though is a frustrating counter point.

— Tyler Booker ran a 4.65 short-shuttle at his pro-day. His 10-yard split (1.90) is very similar to Aaron Banks’ (1.91). Are we totally sure he wouldn’t be a fit for Seattle’s scheme? The shuttle time adds an interesting layer to that conversation.

— Tate Ratledge has high marks for quickness and athleticism (4.97 forty, 1.72 split) and he’s also a legit explosive tester. Put this alongside his size and reputation as a strong locker room presence and it’s very easy to imagine him being a big favourite among scouts and coaches alike. He might’ve had a disjointed final year at Georgia due to injuries but his pre-draft testing process has been excellent.

— LSU’s Garrett Dellinger is one of the big surprises, managing a 3.20 TEF score and matching Kelvin Banks Jr’s short shuttle (4.66). His 10-yard split (1.73) is also intriguing. He doesn’t have a great zone-blocking grade but he has the characteristics to be a potential starter.

— Jared Wilson has an almost identical profile to Erik McCoy, who excelled for Klint Kubiak in New Orleans. He is definitely a player to keep an eye on if they want to use a pick on a center. Purely in terms of moulding a prospect for your system, he seems like the best fit. Wilson could quickly emerge as a top center in Kubiak’s scheme with this profile. The key is whether he can pick up the protection duties expected of him, which might be one of the reasons they’ve had him in for an official-30 visit.

— It’s a shame we don’t have any testing data for Chase Lundt because on tape, he looks like the ideal zone-blocking addition. There are a collection of players — Lundt, Connor Colby, Bryce Cabeldue, Clay Webb, Luke Kandra, Luke Newman, Logan Brown (and others) — who seem to fit the physical profile and grading of a good zone-blocker but will be later round picks. Are the Seahawks prepared to wait on the position? I doubt it — but it might be one high pick and one (or two) later on instead of a blitz of high O-line picks.

— If Kelvin Banks Jr isn’t an explosive tester, isn’t particularly quick and his short shuttle is in the ‘decent’ not ‘great’ category — does he have the kind of upside to be a great player? I’m not convinced.

It’s no surprise the Seahawks have an official-30 visit scheduled with LSU tight end Mason Taylor. Even with Noah Fant contracted for another year and with AJ Barner having a decent rookie season, it feels like this is a potential target position in the draft.

As John Boyle noted on Twitter this week, under Klint Kubiak the Saints ran 480 snaps in 12, 22 and 13 personnel last season. That’s compared to 202 snaps for the Seahawks under Ryan Grubb.

It’s not just a question of snaps. Anyone who’s tracked the game for any length of time will have noticed how important the tight end position is in the Mike/Kyle Shanahan offense. Although Fant is a former top-20 pick himself with a decent athletic profile, he feels very much like a draft hedge rather than a clear answer for this position.

So what might be the plan for the draft?

At #18 they’re likely to be on the outside looking in for the top two players — Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland. There are Seahawks fans online that have allowed themselves to believe Loveland will last to #18 — in part because sections of the media have underestimated his standing.

Some teams have him graded higher than Warren. Both players are among the top handful of players in the draft. I’d fully expect both to be gone by the time the Colts pick at #14.

The second tier at the position includes two more players — Elijah Arroyo and Taylor. Both should go in the top-40 but would arguably be a reach at #18.

That creates a dilemma. Seattle is outside of the range to get any of the quartet.

So will they trade up from either #18 or #50?

I’m guessing the idea of moving up for a tight end won’t sit well with many given the positional value. Again though, in this offense the tight end may end up effectively being your first or second best weapon.

I think the latest Warren will last is pick #10 and Chicago. Loveland’s floor is likely the Colts at #14. Let’s say both players are on the board when the Bears are on the clock. They don’t own a fourth round pick and may be interested in acquiring extra stock.

Per the draft trade chart, pick #50 would get you from #18 to #10. To move above the Colts, you’d have to give up #82 and probably your 2026 third rounder to get to #13.

It’d be a steep price either way but there’s something else to consider other than the potential desire to add an elite tight end to the offense.

This is a draft class with very few ‘legit’ first round players. Warren and Loveland fit the bill. Let’s look at how both players are ranked according to some of the draft pundits online:

Daniel Jeremiah — Warren #5, Loveland #6

Mel Kiper — Warren #7, Loveland #11

Todd McShay — Warren #5, Loveland #8

Lance Zierlein — Warren #4, Loveland #5

In my revised rankings I think they’re the fifth and sixth best players in the draft.

Zierlein grades Warren as a 6.77 and Loveland and as 6.70. The next highest graded player is given a 6.50. According to his tape study, there is a significant drop in talent once they leave the board, along with Ashton Jeanty, Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter.

The Seahawks have not had an opportunity to draft a player with that level of grading in a long time. Here are their most recent first round picks and their grades according to Zierlein:

Charles Cross — 6.44
Devon Witherspoon — 6.47
Jaxon Smith-Njigba — 6.43
Byron Murphy — 6.48

If they last to #10 it will not be down to talent. It’ll be down to perceived positional value and/or need.

This could be an opportunity to add a legit player to the roster that otherwise wouldn’t last until #18. You could make Warren or Loveland your immediate focal point in the passing game with Smith-Njigba.

One other thing to note is the trade chart isn’t always adhered to strictly. In 2023 the Steelers moved from #17 up to #14 and it only cost them a fourth rounder (#120). New England should’ve expected 150 points back from Pittsburgh in the deal, instead they only got 54.

Is it beyond the realms of possibility the Seahawks could use one of their two third round picks to move up the board and still keep their two second rounders? I wouldn’t rule it out.

The other possibility is that you trade up from #50 to try and get Arroyo or Taylor. I think Arroyo is an ideal fit in every way for this offense. He might go in the late first round. If he lasted to pick #35, you could use #92 and one of your two fifth round picks to move up from #50.

It’s just something to file away in the back of your minds. With five picks in the first two days the Seahawks can be aggressive if they want to be.

If you missed my latest Puck Sports show this week check it out below. Please give the video a like on YouTube if you can and leave a comment…

Please give the video a like on YouTube if you can and leave a comment…