Will the Seahawks wait until #81 to pick again?

I think there’s a chance they will trade up. As we mentioned yesterday, some of John Schneider’s best moves involved trading up on day two — D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jarran Reed. I think we could see a level of aggression today to find a way to fill the void between #16 and #81.

A year ago the Seahawks received a future third round pick from Denver for moving down 25 spots (#83 to #108). Perhaps they could sacrifice their 2025 third rounder to make a similar move? Could #81 and next year’s third get you into 50’s or 60’s in this draft?

It might be more palatable to do that, given the Seahawks are projected to get a fourth and fifth round comp pick in 2025.

Alternatively, can they dangle a player trade? Increasingly it feels like Dre’Mont Jones is not for long in Seattle. The Seahawks need to create cap space in the coming weeks and parting with Jones is one of the few options they have. Trading him this weekend would save $4.8m. If they trade him after June 1st, they’ll save $11.5m.

For that reason, they might wait until training camp to do a player swap or just get whatever they can to make a decent saving. It could be an option though to dangle him in a trade situation, as part of a package to move up from #81.

Who could they target?

I think it has to be offense and in particular — O-line and quarterback.

If they wanted to move up for a blocker the names that stand out for me are Roger Rosengarten and Christian Haynes.

Someone I trust mentioned a few weeks ago that the UW staff now running Seattle’s offense have a lot of time for Rosengarten. The feeling is he has elite movement skills (he ran a 4.92 forty and a 4.60 short shuttle at 308lbs) and his combination of hand usage and ability to set is high level. The area he struggles is with his anchor — but that can be worked on.

There’s a chance he’ll go earlier than people think and could be viewed by some as a left tackle project. If he lasts into a range where they can go up and get him, they might.

As for Haynes — he’s a rough and ready blocker who played with consistent aggression and intensity even during blow-out losses for Connecticut. He has outstanding football character and his tape is really good. His body type is unusual — top heavy and his physique is quite different to, shall we say, Byron Murphy. But he’s a plug and play blocker.

I wouldn’t rule out trading up for a quarterback. James Palmer’s story about making calls to move up for Michael Penix Jr was interesting. I think they’re minded to add one in a way that isn’t a throwaway pick.

What might complicate things is the first round rush on the position. You’re now left with Spencer Rattler and Michael Pratt. They might come off the board earlier than ideal because teams like Las Vegas, the Giants, the Rams and one or two others might similarly want to invest in a QB.

I can imagine Seattle pushing the boat out for Rattler’s potential. I can also see them sticking at #81, or moving up a few spots, to get Pratt. We’ll see. The beauty (and point) of the Sam Howell trade was to have options. They now have options. But I can imagine them having interest in the two quarterbacks remaining on the board.

What if they stay at #81?

There’s a decent group of interior linemen who will likely go in the #65-100 range including Cooper Beebe, Zak Zinter, Christian Haynes, Dominick Puni, Mason McCormick, Beaux Limmer, Sedrick Van Pran, Matt Goncalves and Christian Mahogany. There are some really good options here.

This would be where Pratt comes into play I think.

It’ll also be interesting to see which tight ends remain from the group including Ben Sinnott, J’Tavion Sanders, Theo Johnson and Jared Wiley.

In both scenarios — trading up or staying put — it’s also about who remains available. Does someone last into a range where you just have to go and get them?

I think there’s been too much focus on linebacker and safety as early round priorities for the Seahawks this off-season. They’ve signed two good linebackers and two safeties. I think they’ll wait until day three at both positions personally — but again, if an opportunity arises to get a difference maker, they may act.

And how they grade players may differ compared to the consensus. I think Dominique Hampton is worthy of the #81 pick, for example.

There’s a chance a really good player (or players) lasts to #81. Look at Lance Zierlein’s day-two mock for example. Payton Wilson is the pick for Seattle, one spot ahead of Brandon Coleman and also just ahead of Ben Sinnott, TJ Tampa, Dadrion-Taylor Demerson, Dominick Puni and Spencer Rattler. If it works out like this, they won’t have to move anywhere. In fact you could make a case for trying to trade up from #102 to get back into the end of round three.

Beyond round three

Looking at the remaining players on my horizontal board — those two fourth rounders at #102 and #118 are going to provide real value. I’m convinced by it.

I would also stress to Seahawks fans — if they don’t add an offensive lineman on day two, don’t stress too much. Such is the nature of the class, there will be options at the start of day three. I keep saying — Michigan’s O-line was prolific for three years. Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan, the two starting guards, are both currently slated to be day three picks. Jarrett Kingston at USC is highly explosive. Isaiah Adams had a good Senior Bowl.

Given they picked at #16 and didn’t acquire a ton of extra stock, this now isn’t going to be a draft where they address every need and have every fan thinking they ticked everything off. The priority instead is going to have to be talent acquisition and value — adding quality.

Horizontal board for day two