The main topic on the blog for the last few days has been the possibility of the Seahawks taking Emeka Egbuka in the first round. If you missed yesterday’s article, check it out here.

One of the fears of such a pick is that they wouldn’t have appropriately addressed the offensive line. I wanted to look at a way that can still be achieved.

Let’s imagine a first round like the one below. Note, I am reflecting on how the league is viewing the defensive tackle position in this draft, where we could see many going in the first two days (and in some cases, earlier than people think):

#1 Tennessee — Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
#2 Cleveland — Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
#3 NY Giants — Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado)
#4 New England — Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
#5 Jacksonville — Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
#6 Las Vegas — Armand Membou (T/G, Missouri)
#7 NY Jets — Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
#8 Carolina — Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia)
#9 New Orleans — Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
#10 Chicago — Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
#11 San Francisco — Will Campbell (T/G, LSU)
#12 Dallas — Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)
#13 Miami — Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
#14 Indianapolis — Grey Zabel (G/C, North Dakota State)
#15 Atlanta — Mykel Williams (DE, Georgia)
#16 Arizona — Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
#17 Cincinnati — Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall)
#18 Seattle — Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
#19 Tampa Bay — Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
#20 Denver — Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
#21 Pittsburgh — Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
#22 NY Giants (v/LAC) — Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)
#23 Green Bay — Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
#24 Minnesota — Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
#25 Houston — Kelvin Banks (T, Texas)
#26 LA Rams — Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss)
#27 Baltimore — Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
#28 Detroit — Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE, Boston College)
#29 Washington — Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
#30 Buffalo — Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
#31 Kansas City — Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
#32 Philadelphia — Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami)

As you can see, Grey Zabel is off the board. I don’t think this is unrealistic. In this situation, the Seahawks might be forced to look elsewhere.

So what do they do?

#33 Cleveland — Tyler Shough (QB,Louisville)
#34 LA Chargers (v/NYG) — TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
#35 Tennessee — Luther Burden (WR, Missouri)
#36 Jacksonville — Mason Taylor (TE, LSU)
#37 Las Vegas — Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
#38 New England — Josh Simmons (T, Ohio State)
#39 Chicago (v/CAR) — Tyleik Williams (DT, Ohio State)
#40 New Orleans — Josh Conerly (T, Oregon)
#41 Seattle (v/CHI) — Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State)
#42 NY Jets — Will Howard (QB, Ohio State)
#43 San Francisco — Alfred Collins (DT, Texas)
#44 Dallas — Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)
#45 Indianapolis — Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA)
#46 Atlanta — Azareye’h Thomas (CB, Florida State)
#47 Arizona — Bradyn Swinson (EDGE, LSU)
#48 Miami — Darius Alexander (DT, Toledo)
#49 Cincinnati — Tate Ratledge (G, Georgia)
#50 Chicago (v/SEA) — Oluwafemi Oladejo (EDGE, UCLA)

In this scenario, the Seahawks trade up from #50, giving the Bears #50 & #92 in exchange for #41 & #148. It allows them to move up and select Donovan Jackson.

I don’t think this is unrealistic. Such a scenario would allow them to take a non-offensive lineman at #18, which might be their preference based on a ‘best player available’ approach.

Selecting Egbuka at #18 would be less about the position he plays and more about the person. Egbuka is the quintessential Seahawks pick. He was ‘the man’ at Ohio State who everyone looked up to. His maturity, leadership and competitive drive is top-level. He is a great scheme fit and his reliability on and off the field will replace the void left by Tyler Lockett. He’s also productive, physical, a winner and his testing creates a perfectly high ceiling and floor. Some believe he can be Amon-Ra St. Brown at the next level.

Look at it this way. Lockett had a 10-year career in Seattle. If the Seahawks had used a top-20 pick on him, nobody would’ve complained — irrespective of needs elsewhere. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility the Seahawks look at Egbuka and see someone capable of having an equally long and productive career, with the ability to help shape the mentality of the roster for years.

Then they make an aggressive move to add a plug-and-play starter at left guard. Jackson is well liked within the league and would give the Seahawks an impact lineman at a position of serious need. This kind of plan would enable them to add two highly regarded prospects who can contribute immediately. You can easily argue it would be worth swapping a late third for a fifth rounder to make this move. Chicago might be a willing trade partner because they don’t own a fourth round pick.

If you wanted to, you might be able to move back from #52 to gain extra stock. Or you can just pick again in round two. Having four day two picks creates an opportunity to be aggressive. I wouldn’t just assume it’d be for an offensive lineman either. I could also imagine them making a similar move to try and get Elijah Arroyo if he lasted into range.

I’m not going to spend the next three weeks just talking about Egbuka at #18. I do think, however, it’s an angle that warrants serious thought. I think it’s justifiable too — especially if you can still come away with a guard such as Jackson.

The more you think about it, the more it makes sense right? Get the top player on your board at #18. Then go and get the lineman you want in the range you’re comfortable taking them.

Earlier this week I was invited on the Hawkzone Rundown podcast. If you missed it, check it out here: