Today I was invited onto Seattle Sports to talk to Bump & Stacy. Please watch the video below and if you can — head over to YouTube and give the video a like and leave a comment.
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It’s going to happen. One day, John Schneider is going to sit back in his chair and say to himself, ‘this is the guy‘.
The Seahawks are going to draft a quarterback. It’s just a question of when and who it is. Schneider has waited patiently. He’s been criticised for waiting by some but he did the right thing. Drafting a quarterback for the sake of it is not a good idea. He hasn’t whiffed on anyone worth having since trading Russell Wilson to the Broncos three years ago.
Eventually though, Schneider will find his man. The player he’s been waiting for. The quarterback he thinks can achieve a high level.
That player doesn’t necessarily have to emulate Russell Wilson’s impact or reach the status of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Schneider liked all three players a lot. He drafted one of them and was seemingly prepared to move on from Wilson for the other two.
I’m not sure he’ll have to foresee greatness to pull the trigger. If he likes enough about a player I doubt he’s going to hang around. He’ll make his move.
I found this report from Brady Henderson interesting on Tuesday:
The Seahawks have a 30 visit lined up with Louisville QB Tyler Shough, I’m told. Shough, 25, also played for Oregon and Texas Tech during a seven-year college career. @FieldYates, @MelKiperESPN and Scouts Inc. rank him the No. 4 QB in this year’s draft.
From @yougoodmuench: pic.twitter.com/eq8WQvS7bn
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) March 18, 2025
I don’t think Shough was firmly on the radar of a lot of teams during the 2024 college season. He’s an older player, he’s had injuries. He’s even said a few people told him along the way to give football up.
I’m not suggesting the NFL didn’t scout him, wasn’t aware of him or that every team wasn’t really taking him seriously. However, I also know when literally nobody in the media is talking about a quarterback at all, there’s a reason for that. Especially at this position.
He went to the Senior Bowl, practised, and spoke to teams. Then he goes to the combine and throws brilliantly. He runs brilliantly. He measures well. I listened to all of his media interviews in Indianapolis. He’s incredibly natural, humble, driven and likeable.
I think Shough has surprised the NFL. I think he’s caught their attention in a way many decision makers didn’t expect.
Schneider said in an interview after the quarterbacks performed at the combine that there were a couple of players they had to do more work on after watching them throw live. He talked about getting into the schools, trying to get more intel.
I said this at the time and I’m even more certain now. He was talking about Shough. I think his rise has been so unexpected within NFL circles that a lot of teams are now doing extra work on him.
In Seattle’s case, this means bringing him in for an official-30 visit.
The visit is probably part of the process of gaining more intel on a suddenly quite intriguing prospect. It’s due diligence — but with fascinating consequences if they determine he’s the guy they’ve been waiting for.
The beauty of the Sam Darnold contract is it’s flexible enough to allow the Seahawks to be wowed by another quarterback in the draft. Having Darnold also means if you’re going to draft a quarterback early, you probably need to be convinced they’re going to be better to warrant the investment and noise that will come with it.
Shough is ranked 32nd on Todd McShay’s big board, one place above Grey Zabel. It’s certainly trending in a way where he feels like he’s going to be taken in the second half of round one or top half of round two. The Steelers (#21), Rams (#26), Browns (#33) and Giants (#34) could all be possible suitors.
Would the Seahawks take him at #18? I don’t know. The answer is yes if they think he’s the guy. I like Shough a lot. I’m not sure he’s going to be considered quite that good. For desperate teams like the Steelers and Giants, or a team with an ageing quarterback reaching the end like the Rams, it makes more sense to take him early. For the Seahawks with a 28-year-old Darnold, I’m not sure they need to be that aggressive and can afford to be more picky.
It would also be quite the set of events if they were to hope for the best on the offensive line and pray that good options remain available at #50 and #52. Having seemingly put their eggs in the draft basket for the O-line, not taking one in the first round would be a gamble most people will hope they avoid.
Let me push back on that a little bit though. The Seahawks for some years now have operated on a best player available basis in the first round. They aren’t going to force a lineman pick. Daniel Jeremiah’s new mock draft today didn’t even have Zabel on the board at #18 which is interesting, while he has Tyler Booker falling — presumably because of his bad testing numbers.
In this kind of scenario, they might be forced to look at other positions anyway. Jeremiah pairs them with Colston Loveland — although personally I think there’s very little chance of the Michigan tight end lasting to #18. He’s one of the few true first round talents in the draft.
I think they’d consider Donovan Ezeiruaku, who is without a doubt a Seahawks type of player. Malaki Starks is too. So is Jihaad Campbell and Jahdae Barron.
Tyler Shough might be another. I’m guessing they’re trying to find out whether that’s the case.
The Seahawks’ greatest quarterback move in franchise history involved a big free agent signing (Matt Flynn) followed by a steal of a third round pick who pinched his job (Russell Wilson). It seems they’re at least open to history repeating.
This isn’t unusual for the NFL in general. The Bears signed Mike Glennon to much fanfare, invited him to their draft party as a special guest, then promptly traded up to select Mitchell Trubsiky second overall. A year ago, the Falcons spent a fortune on Kirk Cousins and then drafted Michael Penix Jr with the #8 pick.
Nobody saw the Falcons drafting Penix Jr until it happened. It’d be a similar situation if the Seahawks took Shough, another older quarterback, in round one.
If I had to guess, I’d say this is the Seahawks doing a ton of due diligence on an intriguing player and ultimately they won’t draft a quarterback in the first frame. I think if Shough was there in round two, the interest could be a lot more serious.
There’s absolutely no way I’d rule anything out though. When John Schneider finds the guy he wants, he’s going to draft him. It’s as simple as that.
If you missed my latest mock draft, check it out here.
Note — I’ll be appearing on 710 Seattle Sports tomorrow at 11am PT on the Bump & Stacy show. Please check it out!
The reason I hate doing mock drafts is I immediately want to change everything about the last one I did about 30 minutes after publishing.
Round one
#1 Tennessee — Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
All of Tennessee’s moves in free agency so far point to the Titans drafting Cam Ward with the #1 overall pick.
#2 Cleveland — Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)
Adam Schefter said a while ago the Browns will take a quarterback here. Time to take him on his word.
#3 NY Giants — Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
The Giants take the best player available who isn’t a running back and decide to wait on the quarterback position.
#4 New England — Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado)
Unless three quarterbacks go in the top-three, Carter and Hunter will be top-four picks.
#5 Jacksonville — Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
With Evan Engram moving on, the Jaguars can easily justify adding a playmaker like Warren in this spot.
#6 Las Vegas — Armand Membou (T/G, Missouri)
Instead of taking the running back here, they use a deep RB class to their advantage and claim Membou to play right tackle.
#7 NY Jets — Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
His lack of size and length plus no testing numbers could hamper Graham’s stock.
#8 Carolina — Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia)
Walker’s versatility and character will be coveted by teams.
#9 New Orleans — Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
Defensively they need a refresh. Campbell’s stock is sky-rocketing and rightly so.
#10 Chicago — Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
If Jeanty lasts to #10 the Bears will run to the podium. The pound-for-pound best player in the draft.
#11 San Francisco — Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
Whether it’s at cornerback or ‘STAR’, Barron is an exciting player with loads of character.
#12 Dallas — Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
There’s plenty of buzz around Hampton going this early. The Cowboys hedging against this position gives me pause though.
#13 Miami — Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
He’s one of the best players in the draft but the injuries are a concern.
#14 Indianapolis — Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
A legit first round talent. This is almost certainly his floor.
#15 Atlanta — Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE, Boston College)
Major production, good run defense, great length, top-level agility and he has great character.
#16 Arizona — Will Campbell (T/G, LSU)
He could play right tackle right away or start inside and eventually replace Jonah Williams.
#17 Cincinnati — Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
If they get a deal done with Trey Hendrickson, they can look at someone like Booker here.
#18 Seattle — Grey Zabel (G, North Dakota State)
Zabel is a perfect scheme fit and a player with top-tier potential and upside.
#19 Tampa Bay — Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
My prediction is his stock will recover in the weeks leading up to the draft. Teams will love his mental makeup.
#20 Denver — TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
Sean Payton apparently wants an X-factor in the backfield, as he did with Alvin Kamara. Henderson could go in this range.
#21 Pittsburgh — Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss)
The Steelers just have a black hole at the position and stop-gap Aaron Rodgers is only a short-term answer.
#22 LA Chargers — Mykel Williams (DE, Georgia)
Jim Harbaugh loves the trenches and he’s had success working with raw EDGE rushers in the past. Williams is a difficult player to get an angle on.
#23 Green Bay — Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)
There’s a fair bit of pressure on the Packers to add a legit target for Jordan Love.
#24 Minnesota — Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
Having pumped resources into their lines, they can now afford to look at other areas.
#25 Houston — Kelvin Banks (T, Texas)
The more you really dig into the tape, the less exciting Banks is. But the Texans need a tackle.
#26 LA Rams — Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
His run defense and tackling need major work but his coverage ability and smoothness in transition are attractive.
#27 Baltimore — Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
His tape leaves you wanting more but he’s the kind of player the Ravens do a good job developing.
#28 Detroit — Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall)
Teams will do a lot of work on the character concerns before deciding whether they’re willing to take him in round one.
#29 Washington — Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
Great athlete but the production is a major concern.
#30 Buffalo — Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
I don’t think running in the 4.5’s will do him any favours.
#31 Kansas City — Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
A great personality and a consistent force — the Chiefs could do with someone sensible and productive at receiver.
#32 Philadelphia — Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
His combine drills were good enough to secure a top-40 placing.
Round two
#33 Cleveland — Josh Conerly (T, Oregon)
I can’t work Conerly out. I could see him going early or late in round two. His tape is good but what’s his best position with his frame?
#34 NY Giants — Tyler Shough (QB,Louisville)
The Giants wait on the quarterbacks and get a player who can compete to start right away.
#35 Tennessee — Jack Bech (WR, TCU)
They have hardly any weapons. I think some will be surprised by how much teams rate Bech.
#36 Jacksonville — Azareye’h Thomas (CB, Florida State)
They need playmakers in the secondary.
#37 Las Vegas — Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)
After passing on the running back position at #6 they get a player who had a tremendous combine.
#38 New England — Josh Simmons (T, Ohio State)
Concerns about his maturity are an issue but the Patriots are desperate at left tackle.
#39 Chicago (v/CAR) — Jaylin Noel (WR, Iowa State)
He’s such a dynamic talent and Ben Johnson can do a lot with him.
#40 New Orleans — Luther Burden (WR, Missouri)
They need to replenish at receiver.
#41 Chicago — Bradyn Swinson (EDGE, LSU)
He’s an underrated talent who, like Donovan Ezeiruaku, probably deserves to go earlier.
#42 New York Jets — Mason Taylor (TE, LSU)
Someone is going to like Taylor’s body control and hands in the top-45.
#43 San Francisco — Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
There are a few character concerns with Nolen but the 49ers take a shot here.
#44 Dallas — Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas)
There’s been talk the Cowboys could look at Ewers here and it’d go along with a slightly barmy off-season in Dallas.
#45 Indianapolis — Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA)
His tape was so good in 2024. Even if he’s a one-year wonder — he’s an impressive player.
#46 Atlanta — Tyleik Williams (DT, Ohio State)
It’s all about fixing the defense for the Falcons this year.
#47 Arizona — Landon Jackson (DE, Arkansas)
He’s a terrific athlete and looks the part but there’s some stiffness to his game.
#48 Miami — Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State)
The Dolphins reinforce their interior with a player who could go a lot earlier than this.
#49 Cincinnati — James Pearce Jr (EDGE, Tennessee)
Character concerns are a problem but the Bengals are always willing to take a chance.
#50 Seattle — Marcus Mbow (C/G, Purdue)
Mbow comes in as a project at center but the Seahawks see value in his positional flexibility. He’s a good fit as a zone blocker.
#51 Denver — Tre Harris (WR, Ole Miss)
Running in the 4.5’s won’t help his stock but Sean Payton might be able to turn him into Michael Thomas, who also fell after running in that range.
#52 Seattle (v/PIT) — Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami)
He’s too good to pass on here. He could be a terror in Klint Kubiak’s offense.
#53 Tampa Bay — Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame)
They say they’re after ball-hawks and that’s what Morrison is. The injury needs checking though.
#54 Green Bay — Oluwafemi Oladejo (EDGE, UCLA)
‘The Mayor’ takes his talents to Lambeau Field.
#55 LA Chargers — Jayden Higgins (WR, Iowa State)
The Chargers wait until round two to add another receiver.
#56 Buffalo (v/MIN) — Darius Alexander (DT, Toledo)
After a strong Senior Bowl he finds a home in the top-60 picks.
#57 Carolina (v/LAR) — Harold Fannin Jr (TE, Bowling Green)
They need another playmaker for Bryce Young.
#58 Houston — TJ Sanders (DT, South Carolina)
His lack of lower-body power is a concern but he knows how to rush the passer and make plays.
#59 Baltimore — Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame)
They need to add a safety in the draft and Watts has the production to warrant consideration here.
#60 Detroit — Shavon Revel (CB, East Carolina)
A knee injury prevented him from potentially being a first round pick.
#61 Washington — Ty Robinson (DT, Nebraska)
He ticks every box — personality, aggressive playing style, versatility, production and brilliant testing numbers.
#62 Buffalo — Trey Amos (CB, Ole Miss)
The Bills need to add to their secondary in the first two rounds.
#63 Kansas City — Sai’vion Jones (DE, LSU)
He’s underrated and has some real juice as a pass-rusher.
#64 Philadelphia — Tate Ratledge (G, Georgia)
After a brilliant combine he could go earlier than this. He’s such an Eagle — based on school and playing style.
Thoughts on the Seahawks picks
This isn’t about reaching to fix the offensive line, as some people will inevitably claim. Grey Zabel deserves to be considered in the clump of similarly graded players set to be taken between picks #16-35. His explosive testing results matched with his tape hint at a high-upside player capable of becoming a top level offensive lineman. Only two offensive linemen have jumped a better vertical (36.5 inches) since combine records began being collected in 2003. It’s the same effort as Tampa Bay’s star lineman Tristan Wirfs.
The Seahawks will not be able to wait to round two to get a better blend of scheme fit, upside and talent. Zabel may or may not be their pick but he’s one of those offensive linemen where it’d almost be a surprise if he didn’t work out. He feels like one of the safer picks in the draft. That’s pretty much what the Seahawks need — someone they can plug in and do a good job in this system.
It’s also important to look at what Seattle’s line is going to be asked to do. The Ravens, for example, ran more zone concepts last year than gap. Todd Monken is well known for blending zone and duo to create variety up front and Baltimore’s personnel is a mix of hulking size and smaller agility.
However, even with the Ravens running zone 57.5% of the time in 2024, Klint Kubiak’s New Orleans team ran it 72.6% of the time. They really go above and beyond. I’d suggest we’re not going to see any hybrid ideas here, like Sean McVay has experimented with in LA. It’s possible the Seahawks go all-out for athleticism.
If that is their approach, nobody fits better than Zabel other than perhaps kicking Josh Simmons inside — but questions raised by Todd McShay about his maturity make him an unlikely fit in Seattle.
Had they signed Will Fries — who was also an exceptional athlete — they might’ve pivoted to other positions. Instead it feels like they’re going to sign a hedge and look at the interior in the draft. I did consider not going O-line in round one with Malaki Starks. His talent, character and professionalism will impress teams enough to recover his stock in the coming weeks. Had Jahdae Barron or Jihaad Campbell lasted to #18 I also would’ve considered them.
One position I didn’t consider at #18 was wide receiver. I can’t believe how many mocks are lazily pairing the Seahawks with a receiver in round one just because they traded away DK Metcalf. They’ll draft a receiver in the first four rounds but I highly doubt it’ll be in round one.
The second selection of Marcus Mbow is something I wanted to explore. I think he’s really raw as an interior blocker, as shown at the Senior Bowl. He’s going to need some technical work to move inside. However, his fit within the zone scheme is almost perfect. He’s tremendously athletic and adept at reaching to the second level. You can ask him to do anything within the system — pull, combo block, subtle shifts to open lanes. If you can coach his technique inside he has the potential to be a very good starting center.
Why not just take Jared Wilson? Two reasons. Mbow is far more aggressive than Wilson and to some teams that will matter. Secondly, it’s about positional flexibility. Wilson is a pure center. Mbow could play guard if ever needed.
With pick #52, I think receiver could be in play. If someone like Jack Bech is available he could be a great option. John Schneider was a huge fan of Jordy Nelson from his time in Green Bay and might see some similarities here. Bech is a player, like Zabel, where it’s very easy to imagine him having an excellent pro career. I think he might go earlier than people think.
I considered defensive tackle Ty Robinson again as a replacement for Roy Robertson-Harris. He ticks every box — personality, aggressive playing style, versatility, production and brilliant testing numbers. I think he’s a late second rounder or early third rounder. He’s exactly the type of player I can imagine the Seahawks adding to their rotation and he played all across the line for Nebraska.
Another option would be Toledo defensive lineman Darius Alexander. I just wish his agility numbers were better from the combine.
I went with Elijah Arroyo. I’m not comfortable going all offense with the three early picks but the value felt strong. Arroyo shone at the Senior Bowl and is perfectly suited for a play-action heavy offense. He’d be a strong receiving option, making up for the losses at receiver. Arroyo could also be the long-term answer at the position with Noah Fant only having a year left on his deal.
I would still have them taking a quarterback in a seven-round projection but in this mock five are off the board by #50. This makes it harder to justify early. In round three they could look at someone like Riley Leonard, Will Howard, Kyle McCord or Jalen Milroe. This is the beauty of signing Sam Darnold to a flexible deal. If they want to draft a quarterback early they can but they’re also guarded against a run like we see here where they might miss out on guys they like.
A final note — character is key. We’ve got to remember that. Some teams are willing to take chances. Others are more risk-averse. The Seahawks have been quite conservative on character for a while, opting to focus on players without any hint of a red flag. They are extremely unlikely to take risks on character in the early rounds.
To see how I’m grading players, click here to view my horizontal board.
EDIT — After writing this article, I was made aware of comments by Todd McShay questioning Josh Simmons’ maturity. McShay doesn’t toss this information out casually. He is well connected. I am absolutely taking this on face value and given how seriously Seattle takes football character, I am going to suggest he is unlikely to be drafted by this team in round one. I’m leaving the article up for the discussion purposes in the comments. However, if I had heard McShay’s comments earlier, I wouldn’t have written this piece.
The Seahawks are likely to make some additions to their offensive line before the draft. They’re visiting with Teven Jenkins today. His willingness to take a low-commitment shot on a prove-it deal will likely determine whether he signs in Seattle. Lucas Patrick also met with the team — a player who always felt like a possible draft hedge given his experience in Klint Kubiak’s offense.
When Garrett Bradbury is released, he could also be signed depending on how hot his market is. None of these players are clear long-term solutions though. They’ll look to the draft for that. Their inactivity in free agency suggests they really like the draft options.
Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons jumped off the tape from 2023 and continued to build on that in 2024. Then he suffered a knee injury, required surgery and his stock was in flux. He declared for the draft but was less likely to be a possible top-10 selection as a consequence of the injury.
I always thought he was a pure tackle, deserved to be considered as such and likely would still be drafted to play tackle. Then I saw his measurements. It’s not ideal for a left tackle to have 33-inch arms. You really want +34-inches. It might not be Will Campbell-level alarm bells but it does make you think — is he better suited inside?
Then you develop that thought. This is a draft without a lot of blue-chip players. None are likely to last to #18. If Simmons was a legit top-10 potential talent pre-injury, could this be an opportunity to ‘chase edges’ again for Mike Macdonald and John Schneider?
It would be a risk to take a player still in recovery (although Simmons has stated his intention to do a pro-day in April). However, if you can feel comfortable with the medicals — it’s a chance to get a player of high quality in a value range.
His game translates very well to the zone scheme. He’s so good on the move and shows explosive, sudden movements to progress. He’s very quick to get on the run and seek out blocks. Simmons uses what almost looks like a swim move to get out on a screen and he’s quickly up to second-level defenders.
There’s a level of aggression to his play and he carries an edge. His combo-blocking isn’t as good as Grey Zabel’s but you can work on that. Everything else is perfect for the system. There will be no worries about his pulling ability, his willingness to get on the move or his athleticism. I don’t think it’s out of the question he could develop into a premier guard — perhaps developing into a plus version of Tyler Smith.
Obviously you’d have to be comfortable with the medicals, not having any testing numbers and you’d need to feel confident he can start this year. You’re not taking a guard in round one to redshirt him for 12 months. Yet it’s not out of the question he has the highest upside for zone blocking in this draft.
There’s also the benefit of positional flexibility. He can cover at tackle if needed, or even revert back to tackle in the future.
There are a lot of options for the Seahawks. They might prefer the plug-and-play ability of Tyler Booker — plus his tone-setting leadership — but he’s not a perfect scheme fit. Zabel, Kelvin Banks Jr and others too — they have options.
The guard options also last into day two, providing some flexibility to go in a different direction at #18 if they want to. We talked about Malaki Starks yesterday as someone who might see some course-correction on his stock as we near the draft. Jihaad Campbell’s a ‘run to the podium’ type of talent. If they want to draft a quarterback early, there’s nothing about Sam Darnold’s contract preventing them from doing so.
If the aim however is to build an offensive line ideally suited for wide zone — I think Simmons is almost the perfect prospect to slot into left guard. If you then draft someone like Jared Wilson to play center — and with Christian Haynes being such a productive zone blocker in college — you have the makings of a line that can execute this scheme.
Keep Simmons on your radar. He’s one of the best players in the draft, a good scheme fit and he could be available for the Seahawks at #18.
John Schneider wants to draft a quarterback. He’s wanted to draft a quarterback since trading Russell Wilson. In fact, he wanted to draft a quarterback earlier than that if you believe the talk about Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.
Having the intention and possessing the ability to execute the plan relies on supply meeting demand. In the three drafts since Wilson’s departure, the Seahawks simply haven’t had the opportunity to draft anyone worth having.
Part of the reason Geno Smith likely wanted to move on from Seattle was due to a desire for commitment — financially and in terms of contract length. The Seahawks wanted to save as much money as possible and retain the flexibility to move on whenever they wanted.
Swapping Smith for Sam Darnold didn’t change anything. Darnold might be younger and therefore might have a greater chance of providing a longer-term solution. He turns 28 this year while Smith turns 35.
That said, at no point during this pivot have I thought that was it for the Seahawks in terms of potentially drafting a quarterback.
Mike Florio today revealed Darnold’s contract details. According to Florio:
Bottom line? If Darnold regresses in 2025, he could be released after only one season. And the Seahawks will be out only $37.5 million. With Geno Smith apparently looking for much more than $37.5 million per year on a new deal in Seattle, the strategic decision to pivot from Smith to Darnold makes sense — even if it ultimately puts the Seahawks back in the market for a quarterback a year from now.
The signing of Darnold is quite handy for the Seahawks. It’s a hedge against the draft and it’s also a misdirection. If their intention is to potentially draft a quarterback early, teams might second-guess that intention with Darnold on the roster.
The Seahawks’ greatest quarterback move in franchise history involved a big free agent signing (Matt Flynn) followed by a steal of a third round pick who pinched his job (Russell Wilson). It seems they’re at least open to history repeating.
This isn’t unusual for the NFL in general. The Bears signed Mike Glennon to much fanfare, invited him to their draft party as a special guest, then promptly traded up to select Mitchell Trubsiky second overall. A year ago, the Falcons spent a fortune on Kirk Cousins and then drafted Michael Penix Jr with the #8 pick.
Darnold’s contract is entirely flexible for the Seahawks. It doesn’t mean they’ll draft a quarterback in round one. They might prefer to use one of four day-two picks on a signal caller.
However, I also wouldn’t rule it out in round one. Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough have been gaining momentum for some time. Shough in particular seems to be having a similar off-season to JJ McCarthy, where his stock grew as teams got to know him. It’s also worth noting that nobody really knew where Penix Jr and Bo Nix would land this time last year. Some thought it likely they’d last to day two. They were both top-12 picks.
I’ve had this feeling that Shough might’ve caught the attention of John Schneider. He has a terrific personality, great size and athleticism, a competitive edge, a good arm and he’s a creative gunslinger. There’s been some buzz about a potential first round placing. I don’t think it’s out of the question the Seahawks take him to compete with Darnold.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if they waited until round two or three and let the board come to them. Either way, with a middle-class of quarterbacks for the first time in a while, I still think the Seahawks will take one. It also might be sooner than some people think.
Other notes
One player who I thought had a really good combine session on the field was Malaki Starks. He just looked so smooth in his backpedal, his range was strong, I love the way he tracks and high-points the football and everything is in control.
A few months ago he was seen as a consensus top-15 pick. However, a bad second half of the 2024 season sunk him on many boards. He just stopped making plays.
Even so, don’t be surprised if between now and the draft word gets out to the main players in draft media that Starks’ stock is back on the rise. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Mike Macdonald really likes his versatility and fit in Seattle’s defense.
With four picks currently on day two, if they think they can address their O-line properly later on, they might be quite flexible at #18. At the moment they haven’t signed a safety and while many might assume they’d prefer Nick Emmanwori, I’d keep an eye on Starks if I were you.
It’s also worth noting that he has excellent football character and a strong personality, something the Seahawks pay a lot of attention to.
A year ago there was a feeling the Seahawks would’ve taken a cornerback at #16 if Byron Murphy was off the board. They’re willing to go by their gradings and it’s possible Starks will have a high grade.
One of the other discussions that might be had in Seattle’s draft room is a debate around Tyler Booker’s tape, leadership, ability to start quickly and size versus Grey Zabel’s superior athleticism and scheme fit.
As I’ve mentioned a lot recently, Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur both coveted and invested in Aaron Banks — a player with a similarly poor testing profile. For that reason I’m not ruling out Booker to Seattle. Sean McVay also recently opted to blend size/power and adapt his zone scheme, so it’s not out of the question the Seahawks do something similar.
In many ways Booker is perfect. He’s the exact type of character the Seahawks want. He’d set the tone up front, provide a voice for the line that is lacking and he can play quickly. The poor testing will be mitigated somewhat by the tape and a good combine workout. There’s always going to be that nagging thought though about his physical profile and upside. Will it show up when the opponents are far better? Or do they simply think, ‘great — this will keep him on the board at #18’?
Zabel carries no such concern. He’s a perfect scheme fit but there might be a bigger learning curve for him in the NFL. He also doesn’t have the kind of personality and aura that Booker has — few do.
I’d be fine with either pick in round one and the Seahawks could still consider other linemen. I’d love to know how they’re weighing up the O-line options but either Booker or Zabel would be a quality addition at guard. I wouldn’t assume they’ll take an offensive lineman at #18 though, especially with good day-two options available.
There are two concerns people are discussing in reaction to the Seahawks signing Cooper Kupp. One is warranted, the other not so much.
He hasn’t played a full 17-game season since his record-breaking year in 2021. Kupp turns 32 in June. The Seahawks will probably have to manage his workload to keep him available. This isn’t unusual for players of his age.
That’s the legit concern. The money side of it, though, is far less problematic.
Firstly, the Seahawks have a lot of money to spend. It’s not just the millions they still have to play with this year. It’s the massive amount of cap available to them in 2026 and 2027. This signing isn’t going to stop them doing anything they want to do this year or in the future.
Furthermore, the final details on the reported three-year $45m contract will likely show some flexibility for the team. The first reported numbers you see are from the agents. I’d be surprised if the Seahawks are on the hook for a hard $15m-a-year without any outs. This is hardly committing tens of millions to Will Fries without a progress report on his recovery from a broken leg first.
Even if it was $15m, the rest of the NFL provides context. Tutu Atwell just signed a one-year deal worth $10m. Allen Lazard and Jakobi Meyers earn $11m a year. Gabe Davis, Darnell Mooney and Khalil Shakir are on $13m.
The Rams gave Davante Adams $22m-a-year and he turns 33 in December.
As you can see, the contract the Seahawks gave Kupp is hardly out of the ordinary or some kind of massive overpay. This is about what he should get for a player of his reputation, if you believe he still has something to offer. The Seahawks clearly believe he has.
It’s also worth noting that DK Metcalf just got $33m to go to Pittsburgh. He only had 992 yards himself in 2024, although I’m sure he’d argue there are reasons for that. If Kupp can get to that level of yardage for half the cost, it’ll be a net-win.
I see the signing as low-risk and very much in the ‘why not?’ category. If it doesn’t work out, there aren’t going to be any serious ramifications. You spent a bit of money on an ageing legendary receiver. It’s hardly a fireable offence.
If it does work out — you’re getting a player with natural skill, veteran savvy, he’s a good blocker and he adds to a receiver room that was suddenly quite thin. He’ll be suitably motivated after being cut by the Rams and clearly has the kind of ‘want to be there’ feeling John Schneider talked about yesterday that was lacking with Metcalf.
He might not be quite the athlete he was five years ago but can he still run the routes this system needs, particularly on the short-to-intermediate range, to move the chains and convert critical downs? I suspect he can. I also think he and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be able to play off each other and Marquez Valdez-Scantling will be able to provide the deep threat.
The Seahawks will draft a receiver. I doubt it’ll be at #18 but it could be in rounds two or three. Earlier today I published a mock with Colorado State’s Tory Horton being selected in round three.
This has been a productive free agency so far. It hasn’t been a game-changer but in reality that was never likely with the players available.
I won’t repeat all of the arguments about the offensive line, I’ll just say again that I don’t think it’s any crushing blow to miss out on the player they wanted and I think the draft will provide solutions. People pining for Teven Jenkins and Garrett Bradbury should at least acknowledge why they were replaced by their previous teams. They will likely not help form a great O-line in Seattle but they might be able to act as cheap draft hedges on one-year deals.
The Ernest Jones Jr and Jarran Reed contracts are excellent value. The pivot from Geno Smith to the younger and cheaper Sam Darnold, with a third rounder thrown in too, is a good move. As with Kupp, I think there’s absolutely no reason to quibble about the addition of DeMarcus Lawrence.
With five picks to spend in a good draft — this is turning into the disruptive, potentially transformational off-season this franchise needed. John Schneider and co. deserve credit for being willing to take risks to improve, rather than settle in the middle ground of the NFL.
If you missed our instant reaction live stream to the Cooper Kupp news, check it out below, and please subscribe to the channel:
Round one
#1 Tennessee — Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
All of Tennessee’s moves in free agency so far point to the Titans drafting Cam Ward with the #1 overall pick.
#2 Cleveland — Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
The Browns could reach for a quarterback here, or they could pair Carter with Myles Garrett and terrorise opposing offenses.
#3 NY Giants — Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss)
They just seem so stuck that they’ll need to make sure they come out of the draft with a quarterback. Dart appears to be emerging as QB2.
#4 New England — Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado)
Unless three quarterbacks go in the top-three, Carter and Hunter will be top-four picks.
#5 Jacksonville — Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
With Evan Engram moving on, the Jaguars can easily justify adding a playmaker like Warren in this spot.
#6 Las Vegas — Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
The pound-for-pound best talent in the draft.
#7 NY Jets — Armand Membou (T/G, Missouri)
The Lions were built in the trenches and there’s a chance Aaron Glenn will follow that approach in New York.
#8 Carolina — Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
His lack of size and length plus no testing numbers could hamper Graham’s stock.
#9 New Orleans — Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia)
Defensively they need a refresh. Walker’s versatility and character will be coveted by teams.
#10 Chicago — Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
It seems to be gathering pace that the Bears could take Hampton this early if Jeanty’s off the board.
#11 San Francisco — Mykel Williams (DE, Georgia)
Williams is a difficult player to get an angle on but he’ll probably go in the top-half of round one.
#12 Dallas — Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
The Cowboys signing two running backs in free agency perhaps suggests they aren’t optimistic either of Jeanty or Hampton lasts to this pick.
#13 Miami — Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
Whether it’s at cornerback or ‘STAR’, Barron is an exciting player with loads of character.
#14 Indianapolis — Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
They remade their secondary in free agency and this would be a great pick to plug in at linebacker.
#15 Atlanta — Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE, Boston College)
When you have massive production, good run defense, high-end agility and strong character, you tend to go early.
#16 Arizona — Will Campbell (T/G, LSU)
Another player who is tough to work out. Perhaps the Cardinals start him at guard or push Jonah Williams inside?
#17 Cincinnati — Mike Green (DE, Marshall)
Teams will need to look into the possible character concerns with Green. The Bengals are typically more willing to overlook such issues.
#18 Seattle — Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
If Aaron Banks’ testing profile can convince Kyle Shanahan to draft him and Matt LaFleur to pay him $19.25m, Booker can be a fit in this scheme.
#19 Tampa Bay — Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
The injuries are mounting up and it’ll likely keep Johnson on the board. He’s a good player, though.
#20 Denver — TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
Sean Payton apparently wants an X-factor in the backfield, as he did with Alvin Kamara. Henderson could go in this range.
#21 Pittsburgh — Tyler Shough (QB, Louisville)
I think someone will draft Shough in round one. His size, personality, athleticism, arm strength and playing style warrant early-round consideration.
#22 LA Chargers — Grey Zabel (G/C, North Dakota State)
Jim Harbaugh loves the trenches and the chances are he’ll love Zabel — either at guard or center.
#23 Green Bay — Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)
The Packers typically wait until round two for receivers but they seize a chance to get WR1 here.
#24 Minnesota — Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
Having pumped resources into their lines, they can now afford to look at other areas.
#25 Houston — Kelvin Banks (T, Texas)
The more you really dig into the tape, the less exciting Banks is. But the Texans need a tackle.
#26 LA Rams — Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)
Sanders falling this far would be a big story but landing with Sean McVay would be an ideal situation for him.
#27 Baltimore — Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
Safety remains a need for the Ravens and they typically find value in the first round.
#28 Detroit — Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
His athletic profile is top-15 worthy. The production is not. Teams will weigh-up potential versus results.
#29 Washington — Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
An EDGE rusher would be ideal but the options aren’t great here.
#30 Buffalo — Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
His tackling and run defense is a problem but he’s silky smooth in coverage and will be able to cover at a decent level quickly.
#31 Kansas City — Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
A player who relies on ball-tracking and body control, plus natural gifts, but lacks great upside and athleticism.
#32 Philadelphia — Mason Taylor (TE, LSU)
With the news they’re willing to move off Dallas Goedert, will they take his replacement here?
Round two
#33 Cleveland — Josh Simmons (T, Ohio State)
The Browns need to add a left tackle, whoever lines up under center.
#34 NY Giants — Tate Ratledge (G, Georgia)
The Giants badly need to upgrade their offensive line. Ratledge wowed with his testing at the combine.
#35 Tennessee — Bradyn Swinson (EDGE, LSU)
He’s being slept on. Swinson and Donovan Ezeiruaku led the NCAA for pressures during the regular season.
#36 Jacksonville — Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
A super smart receiver who’d be a great complement to Brian Thomas Jr.
#37 Las Vegas — Jack Bech (WR, TCU)
He’s such a good player. Naturally talented and driven. He can have a great NFL career.
#38 New England — Landon Jackson (DE, Arkansas)
Jackson is built like a terminator and feels like a Mike Vrabel type.
#39 Chicago (v/CAR) — Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami)
He’d excel as Ben Johnson’s Chicago-version of Sam LaPorta.
#40 New Orleans — Luther Burden (WR, Missouri)
They need to add a receiver and Burden would be good value here.
#41 Chicago — Jaylin Noel (WR, Iowa State)
Noel is such an impressive, dynamic talent.
#42 New York Jets — Tyleik Williams (DT, Ohio State)
He could do with shifting a bit of weight but he has excellent physical upside.
#43 San Francisco — Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
Harmon could go earlier than this after a good combine workout.
#44 Dallas — Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)
An excellent combine should put him in the top-45 range.
#45 Indianapolis — Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State)
Will Fries is in Minnesota, so they replace him with another BIG-10 lineman.
#46 Atlanta — Shavon Revel (CB, East Carolina)
If it wasn’t for the knee injury, Revel might’ve gone in the first round.
#47 Arizona — Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA)
His tape was so good in 2024. Even if he’s a one-year wonder — he’s an impressive player.
#48 Miami — Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
A mix of some character concerns and inconsistent play could drop him a bit.
#49 Cincinnati — Darius Alexander (DT, Toledo)
He really looked the part at the Senior Bowl. He could be an option for the Seahawks in round two.
#50 Seattle — Ty Robinson (DT, Nebraska)
The replacement for Roy Robertson-Harris. He ticks every box — personality, aggressive playing style, versatility, production and brilliant testing numbers.
#51 Denver — Tre Harris (WR, Ole Miss)
Running in the 4.5’s won’t help his stock but Sean Payton might be able to turn him into Michael Thomas, who also fell after running in that range.
#52 Seattle (v/PIT) — Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas)
Even after signing Sam Darnold, this feels like the year the Seahawks will draft a quarterback to develop.
#53 Tampa Bay — Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame)
They say they’re after ball-hawks — and Watts has a ton of interceptions over the last two seasons.
#54 Green Bay — Azareye’h Thomas (CB, Florida State)
If they move on from Jaire Alexander, they’ll need a replacement.
#55 LA Chargers — James Pearce Jr (EDGE, Tennessee)
There are apparently a lot of concerns regarding Pearce’s character so a dramatic fall isn’t improbable.
#56 Buffalo (v/MIN) — Andrew Mukuba (S, Texas)
Another addition to Buffalo’s secondary is necessary and Mukuba feels like their type of player.
#57 Carolina (v/LAR) — Harold Fannin Jr (TE, Bowling Green)
They need as many pass-catching playmakers as they can get for Bryce Young.
#58 Houston — TJ Sanders (DT, South Carolina)
His lack of lower-body power is a concern but he knows how to rush the passer and make plays.
#59 Baltimore — Demetrius Knight (LB, South Carolina)
When you watch Knight it’s impossible not to think of the AFC North.
#60 Detroit — Marcus Mbow (G, Purdue)
He has to kick inside and the Lions might give him a shot to replace Kevin Zeitler.
#61 Washington — Oluwafemi Oladejo (EDGE, UCLA)
Dan Quinn is going to love ‘The Mayor’.
#62 Buffalo — Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame)
Three out of three picks in the secondary. That’s how badly Buffalo needs help on the back-end.
#63 Kansas City — Sai’vion Jones (DE, LSU)
He’s underrated and has some real juice as a pass-rusher.
#64 Philadelphia — Josh Conerly (T, Oregon)
When I look at Conerly’s size it scares me. The Eagles once took Andre Dillard though.
Notes on Seattle’s picks
Half the people who read this will reply immediately saying Tyler Booker isn’t a scheme fit. I’ll refer you to what I wrote yesterday:
Another potential target, Tyler Booker, might be more likely to reach #18 after a poor combine testing performance. However, it’s worth noting that the 49ers drafted Aaron Banks in 2021 for the same scheme Seattle is now running. Let’s compare their testing numbers:
40 yard dash: Booker – 5.38, Banks – 5.34
10-yard split: Booker – 1.96, Banks – 1.91
Short shuttle: Booker – 4.83, Banks – 4.92Kyle Shanahan picked Banks in round two. Green Bay just gave him $19.25m a year to play in Matt LaFleur’s offense. This is ample evidence we shouldn’t rule out Booker in Seattle.
If Banks attracts both Shanahan and LaFleur, I see no reason to think Booker won’t be on Seattle’s radar. If anything, his poor testing at the combine might’ve done them a favour — ensuring he lasts to #18.
I maintain he has the best guard tape I’ve seen since Quenton Nelson entered the league. His legendary leadership qualities will appeal to the Seahawks and he’s possibly the most equipped player to start early as a rookie.
Isn’t that what the Seahawks need?
In round two, people might say Ty Robinson is a reach at #50. I totally disagree. He had seven sacks in 2024 and his testing profile is excellent — he ran a 4.83 forty at 288lbs, jumped a 33.5-inch vertical, ran a 4.50 short shuttle and managed 28 reps on the bench press. He has A+ character, is exactly the type of player who fits the personality of the defense Mike Macdonald wants and he’d be an ideal replacement for Roy Robertson-Harris.
Then there’s Quinn Ewers. There’s not much more to say about him at this stage, other than to repeat my hunch that I’ve had for two years that John Schneider admires his natural talent. The fact he’s been working with Mike McCarthy should provide some useful intel. He only turns 22 tomorrow so he can be developed behind Sam Darnold for a year or two, before competing to start.
Seahawks picks — rounds 3-7
R3 — Jared Wilson (C, Georgia)
He has an athletic testing profile similar to Erik McCoy, who excelled at center in New Orleans for Klint Kubiak.
R3 — Tory Horton (WR, Colorado State)
A highly respected leader who tested brilliantly at the combine and just has the look and feel of a Seahawk.
R4 — Jackson Hawes (TE, Georgia Tech)
The best blocking tight end in the draft and someone with the personality and attitude they’ll love.
R5 — Nazir Stackhouse (DT, Georgia)
A classic nose tackle who had an impressive combine, standing out with a well proportioned frame and good movement skills.
R5 — Robert Longerbeam (CB, Rutgers)
Another strong leader with plus athleticism who could add to the depth at cornerback.
R7 — Josh Williams (RB, LSU)
Wore the fabled #18 jersey for LSU and gives everything as a runner. Underrated.
R7 — Luke Kandra (G/C, Cincinnati)
Medical concerns could drop him in the draft but he’s a good scheme fit and if he’s not off their board, could be an option here.
Full Seahawks draft class
R1 – Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
R2 – Ty Robinson (DT, Nebraska)
R2 – Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas)
R3 — Jared Wilson (C, Georgia)
R3 — Tory Horton (WR, Colorado State)
R4 — Jackson Hawes (TE, Georgia Tech)
R5 — Nazir Stackhouse (DT, Georgia)
R5 — Robert Longerbeam (CB, Rutgers)
R7 — Josh Williams (RB, LSU)
R7 — Luke Kandra (G/C, Cincinnati)
Here’s my best attempt at trying to guess Seattle’s thought process with regards to their offensive line this off-season.
Plan A — sign Will Fries
The Seahawks were clearly in the mix. He was a great scheme fit and his tape showed signs of real promise. There’s no doubt Fries was the best option available in free agency.
The Minnesota Vikings went above and beyond to get him. They didn’t just beat the Seahawks to his signature but several other suitors. You might say they should’ve done whatever it takes to get him. It’s not that simple though.
Many think it is — and that’s been the frustrating thing over the last few days. It’s why I probably came across as a grumpy so-and-so during my Puck Sports show yesterday. I appreciate Seahawks fans want a solution and that’s understandable. That can’t come at any cost though. Let me try and explain why.
Bob Condotta reported that the Seahawks wanted Fries to come in and take a medical after he suffered a broken leg last season.
John Schneider confirmed this today:
“We wanted a visit. Another team didn’t want a visit and they just went ahead and did the deal. So what does that mean? Does that mean you just go ahead and start panicking and throwing money at other guys that aren’t quite as good? No, you make the smart, patient decisions.”
It’s a perfectly logical position for the Seahawks to take. He ended up signing a contract worth $17.5m a year. You could argue it’d be reckless to sign him to a mega-deal without doing a medical, as Minnesota did.
Secondly, the Vikings did something that no other team has done for any player at any position in free agency this year by signing him to a five-year contract. We’ll need to wait for the details on the deal to see if the extra year or two means anything — but is it reasonable to criticise the Seahawks for the way they structure their contracts, when no other team — other than the Vikings in this instance — are doing deals like this?
I really liked Fries and wanted the Seahawks to sign him. By all accounts, the team felt that way too. At no point, though, did I voice an opinion saying caution should be thrown to the wind on the medicals, any amount of money should be spent on him or any length of contract agreed. As I mentioned on Tuesday, his strong zone-blocking PFF grade was based on 67 snaps in 2024. Before that, he graded poorly. You were investing in promise, not proven quality.
Plan A didn’t work out — and it’s OK.
What’s the pivot then?
The reaction to missing out on Fries by many fans and media is to say they had to immediately turn their attentions to Teven Jenkins, Mekhi Becton and Kevin Zeitler. It wouldn’t be acceptable not to produce solutions through free agency.
I think this misses the point. A General Manager in this situation has to ask whether these players are actually any good and are they going to be part of a great line in the future?
The situation with all of the free agent linemen paints quite an interesting picture and arguably justifies Seattle’s position so far:
Teven Jenkins — Ben Johnson replaced him and clearly decided he wasn’t part of the future as a starter in Chicago. He remains a free agent.
Mekhi Becton — Failed in his first gig in New York amid plenty of concerns about his application and attitude. The Eagles didn’t make a big effort to retain him. He remains a free agent.
Kevin Zeitler — The Lions haven’t re-signed him and he’s since joined the worst team in the NFL in 2024, the Tennessee Titans.
It seems like the league universally viewed Fries as ‘the guy’. Drew Dalman was also in the running but his contract is cheaper than Fries’. His deal seems reasonable and appealing — but it’s also possible he had his heart set on joining Johnson’s Bears revival.
Even the Colts seemingly didn’t make a big push to keep Fries or his team-mate Ryan Kelly. They preferred to spend their available money on Cam Bynum and Charvarius Ward.
‘Plan B’ for the Seahawks didn’t seem to exist in free agency. Not because the Seahawks can’t be bothered to address an issue they undoubtedly accept is a huge priority, or because they have cash-flow problems or are overly strict on contract-length. Plan B doesn’t exist in free agency because the options are, to put it bluntly, ‘a bit crap’.
So what is Plan B then?
It’s the draft.
I understand all the concerns that come with this. Seattle’s O-line is already quite young. In an ideal world, proven quality would’ve been added as a quick fix. Ideal worlds don’t exist though. Fries joined the Vikings and now the Seahawks have to reassess.
It might mean there are some teething problems at the start of the season. It might mean the Seahawks are not at their peak contender level as a consequence. Was anyone expecting that in 2025 anyway?
The upside of this approach is the ability to draft cost-effective players who are actually capable of building a quality interior structure. I’m not saying this as a cope. I’m not saying there are really good players in this draft to excuse Schneider or anyone else. I genuinely believe, having studied countless hours of tape since last summer, that there are players in this draft who can get Seattle’s O-line to a place we all want it to be.
I appreciate people will bring up Schneider’s history of drafting linemen. What I’d say is, this is the best draft class for interior linemen in a while. Plus, they have an O-line coach with a lot of experience and a track record. They have a better chance compared to previous seasons to draft and develop players.
So what might ‘Plan B’ actually look like?
In November I was talking up Grey Zabel as an outstanding prospect. My words in a text to Jeff Simmons were something along the lines of, ‘get this guy in Seattle’.
Personally I prefer him at guard. Many others see him as a better fit at center. How about this for a proposal? What if the Seahawks didn’t really pursue Drew Dalman because they feel very good about their chances of landing Zabel? I’ve not seen any mock projecting him above the 18th pick. I don’t think it’s a reach, personally. I think in a draft where the player taken 18th will have a similar grade to the player taken 45th, it’s completely acceptable to think he’d be a worthy pick in the top-25.
Some claim Schneider refuses to draft for the interior O-line early. Yet in 2016, there was a lot of buzz about his interest in drafting Ryan Kelly. He was taken 16th overall, before Seattle’s pick at #26. What if the Seahawks believe they can draft Zabel at #18, they think he’s very much worth the pick and in the worst case scenario of them missing out — which seems unlikely — they’re content to go with the centers already on the roster? Or see what options are available in the middle rounds, such as Jake Majors or Jared Wilson? On Wilson, his testing profile is very similar to Erik McCoy’s. He excelled for Klint Kubiak in New Orleans.
Zabel is 6-6, 312lbs, he has 32-inch arms and 9.5 inch hands. He jumped a 36-inch vertical and a 9-3 broad, with 26 reps on the bench press. We don’t have any speed or agility numbers, which is a shame.
Creed Humphrey, the NFL’s top center, is 6-4 and 302lbs. He has 32-inch arms and 9.5 inch hands. He jumped a 33-inch vertical and a 9-4 broad. There’s not a massive difference between the two in terms of profile, provided Zabel can run a similar 4.49 short shuttle.
They could also draft Zabel to play guard. Chris Lindstrom, the former #14 overall pick by Atlanta, was the #1 guard in the NFL per PFF in 2024. Zabel, for me, can match his production. If you’re concerned about Zabel coming from North Dakota State, know that PFF’s #2 ranked guard went to UW-Whitewater and their #5 ranked guard went to Bowling Green.
Whatever his role, he has incredible potential coming into the league.
Another potential target, Tyler Booker, might be more likely to reach #18 after a poor combine testing performance. However, it’s worth noting that the 49ers drafted Aaron Banks in 2021 for the same scheme Seattle is now running. Let’s compare their testing numbers:
40 yard dash: Booker – 5.38, Banks – 5.34
10-yard split: Booker – 1.96, Banks – 1.91
Short shuttle: Booker – 4.83, Banks – 4.92
Kyle Shanahan picked Banks in round two. Green Bay just gave him $19.25m a year to play in Matt LaFleur’s offense. This is ample evidence we shouldn’t rule out Booker in Seattle.
I don’t think it’s preposterous to suggest they have their eye on several draft targets and believe — not unfairly — these players are a lot better than the free agent options available.
Clearly if a top player, a ‘can’t miss’ player, lasts to #18, they’ll need to pivot again. I’m not sure the Jihaad Campbell types will be there, paving the way for Zabel as an option. If he or others are, they’ll likely have alternative plans with their other high picks.
They might double-down on the interior. If they took Zabel and started him at center, I’d be very interested in drafting Tate Ratledge to play guard. His testing at the combine was elite. A 4.97 forty, 1.72 10-yard split, 32-inch vertical, 9-5 broad jump, 7.38 three-cone. He ticks every single box for athleticism and explosive power.
If he goes in the second round, we may well be asking ‘why?’ a few years down line, just as we do with Humphrey in Kansas City.
Put these two together in the interior and what do you get? A tough-guy mentality, extreme physical quality and you re-shape your identity in their image. The Eagles draft guys like this. I think both can start quickly. Isn’t this more preferable than signing Teven Jenkins just so we can say they ‘did something’?
As I keep saying, the aim is to create a top-10 line. It isn’t to sign veterans for the sake of it. If we have to live through a challenging-at-times 2025, with two brilliant young interior blockers, to emerge with greatness in the future, sign me up.
The beauty of having five picks in the top-100 is you can justify a double-dip on the O-line and still:
— Add a young receiver if you want
— Draft a quarterback if you want
— Bring in another defensive tackle or pass-rusher if you want
— Consider any other position
The signing of DeMarcus Lawrence takes a little bit of pressure off needing to draft an EDGE rusher. If they sign Cooper Kupp, the same will be true at receiver (although they’ll almost certainly add one — it just might be in rounds 3-4 where the options remain strong).
My suggestion to all Seahawks fans is, let’s see what happens. I accept some will reject that plea. I think it is quite limiting, though, when people say the idea of drafting and developing for the O-line this year is “stupid” while implying the Seahawks didn’t go “all-in to fix” the problem as Michael Shawn-Dugar suggests in this video. My response to that would be, show me what ‘all-in’ constitutes? Is it the recklessness discussed at the start of this article? Paying out $50m contracts for players recovering from injury with no checks? Is it signing a veteran or two ‘just because’? This feels very much like trying to win free agency on the internet — the downfall of many teams in the past.
Every single person who reports on or follows the Seahawks can agree that ideally top veterans would’ve been added. My aim over the last few days has been to try and provide some perspective as to why that’s easier said than done and why the draft can provide solutions.
If they take a receiver at #18, a cornerback at #50 and a linebacker at #52, I’ll be the first one to challenge and question their approach to the O-line. My guess is that won’t happen — but let’s at least wait to find out.
A final note to make today. I hope this means something to some people, because regulars to this blog know I don’t cheerlead for this team.
I’ve been tremendously impressed with Schneider and the front office so far this off-season. I think they’ve found a gem of a Head Coach in Mike Macdonald and put a strong offensive staff around him. I think they handled the situations with Geno Smith and DK Metcalf superbly — not wasting any time, effectively moving on and getting value via trade within a good draft class. The way they replaced Smith with no fuss, signing Sam Darnold, was incredibly efficient.
I’m optimistic. I accept other people feel differently. I see great opportunities in the draft to set up the future of this team and improve upon recent years where the team was stuck in a ‘good not great’ middle-area. This off-season so far has been a success and I’m upbeat, not downbeat, about the direction of this team.
