I think this was a ‘settling’ first round. I think a lot of teams ‘settled’ — including the Seahawks.
Without the big name quarterbacks or the blue-chip Ja’Marr Chase types available, it felt like a lot of teams simply tried to make the best of the situation they were presented with. I’m not sure anyone was that excited about the first round, looking at the different draft rooms on TV. There was a fair amount of low energy shots with a couple of big exceptions.
For some, such as Jacksonville with the top pick, they opted to try and gamble a little bit by going for someone they clearly think has more upside than Aidan Hutchinson — who is in the ‘will be good, might not be great’ category.
For others it meant acknowledging what’s going on in the receiver market and trying to find cheap talent, creating a massive rush. For two other teams it was about tapping into that unknown and being willing, in Philadelphia’s case, to give a young star $25m a year. And then there was the Minnesota Vikings — ridiculously gifting a division rival arguably the best receiver in the draft and dropping down 20 spots in the process to basically acquire one extra mid-round pick.
From the Seahawks perspective, my guess is they probably had a firm eye on some of the big upside players in this draft. That would include Derek Stingley Jr, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal. All three players have been mocked to Seattle so they maybe even got their hopes up. Yet all three came off the board and in that situation, I would guess that initial instinct was to move down.
Yet it was being reported by Tony Pauline right before the draft that the phone lines simply weren’t ringing for Seattle’s pick. Thus, they took a left tackle with their first pick to launch their biggest draft in many years.
I’m not sure it’s what they pined for when they woke up in the morning. Each of these four picks is going to be scrutinised heavily and compared to the player, Russell Wilson, who they dealt. Picks always kind of look better before you use them. I’m not sure Charles Cross is a knock-your-socks-off talent to launch a new era. He is a left tackle though and that at least is something.
I’m not a huge fan of his as regulars will know. His physical profile is underwhelming. He ran a decent 4.95 forty but his explosive testing wasn’t very good (26 inch vertical at the combine) and his agility testing (4.65 short shuttle) was nothing to write home about. He’s not small but he’s not particularly big either. Not for a tackle. I’d like to see him bulk up a bit and add some muscle definition and power in a pro-weight training program (which is very achievable).
I’ll preempt the reaction of ‘testing doesn’t matter, tape does’ by saying I’ll come onto the tape in a moment. Firstly, I would recommend checking out this article. There are always outliers but generally speaking, the better performing O-liners in the league share a physical profile that Cross simply doesn’t have.
On tape I think he’s a challenging assessment at times because of the Mike Leach offense. There’s a lot of him just needing to basically get in the way just long enough for a pass to be thrown. And regardless of down or distance, it’s nearly always a pass. So you see a lot of the same reps and how he handles certain scenarios remains a bit of a mystery — especially in the running game (which, presumably, he’ll now be doing a lot of). For example — I have no idea if you can run behind him on 3rd and 1.
I don’t like his narrow base because he looks at times like he’s crying out to be bull-rushed on every snap. Sam Williams the Ole Miss pass rusher had great success against him. I worry a little bit what he’ll do when bigger, more explosive defensive ends decide they’re just going to run through him. Can he fix that base to provide a greater anchor against those kind of moves?
He does do a good job clamping on at times without ever looking like he’s going to get flagged. His feet move well with his body — it’s just that base needs fixing. I like how he recovers when opponents gain position or win with a better get-off.
There are mixed reviews on his grading. I’m not alone in having some concerns but there are also people who think he’s one of the top prospects in the class. PFF’s Mike Renner ranked him the fifth overall prospect and Dane Brugler had him #7. However, Lance Zierlein graded him at #17 and Daniel Jeremiah had him at #22. So it’s a mixed bag.
As I noted on my podcast earlier — the league source I spoke to believed Ikem Ekwonu deserved to go in the #7-9 range and Charles Cross the #8-12 range. That proved to be virtually what happened.
Personally I preferred Abraham Lucas but he’s a right tackle not a left tackle.
If he proves to be a franchise left tackle it’ll be an ideal starting point for this rebuild. Certainly despite my own personal underwhelming impression of the pick, I’m not going to write him off. I’m intrigued to see what he can do.
I do wonder though if the Seahawks even know what they’re trying to be any more. It’s still Pete Carroll’s team but they continue to select what I’d consider ‘finesse’ players with their top picks. Last year it was Dee Eskridge over players like Creed Humphrey. Now it’s Cross who is from a pass-heavy offense.
These aren’t really the moves you’d expect from a team that wants to be a connected, great defense and run-the-ball side. I also wonder what direction the defense is going in really — and I’m intrigued to see how they improve that side of the ball on Friday and Saturday given the need for an injection of major talent.
The savings they presumably made on Duane Brown with this pick probably means they’ll invest in a collection of lower level free agents now — such as Mario Addison who had a recent visit. That’s not going to move the needle much but they don’t have the money to splash on a Jadeveon Clowney type.
Of the players remaining available — I’ll go into more detail on Friday. However, I would have no issues doubling down on the O-line by taking Abraham Lucas and/or Cam Jurgens. Pass rushers remain available — such as Boye Mafe and Sam Williams. There’s a healthy crop of linebackers and cornerbacks. I really like Travis Jones while Logan Hall is still out there. All of the running backs remain available too.
I can mention plenty of others. Here’s an updated horizontal board with the drafted players removed (click on the image to enlarge):
I might look to make one pick then trade down with the other if possible.
One final note though — I really hope they do avoid this quarterback class. The NFL confirmed how bad it was today, by keeping all but one on the board. This is a group — including Kenny Pickett who was taken by the Steelers — that is graded in round three. They aren’t good. There’s nobody to hang your hat on for the future. Not Malik Willis. Not Desmond Ridder. Not Sam Howell.
I have some faith in Matt Corral but not enough to want the Seahawks to take him in round two.
Resist. Wait until next year. Continue to build this roster with a big emphasis on the trenches.
Welcome to the live blog for this year. I’ll be posting my reaction to every pick on here, including longer-form analysis of the Seahawks pick (or picks?).
Don’t forget — I’ll be doing an instant reaction live stream immediately after the first round concludes.
NO tipping picks in the comments section
#1 Jacksonville — Travon Walker (DE, Georgia)
It’s indicative of this draft class that a player who many thought ‘might’ be a first rounder four months ago has been selected first overall. He’s long, powerful, physical and explosive. He’s a great athlete but is he twitchy enough to bend and straighten to really threaten in the speed rush? That would be my question.
#2 Detroit — Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Michigan)
A superb fit. Hutchinson not only fills a huge need for the Lions but his character and attitude perfectly fits the culture they’re trying to create in Detroit. He’s never going to be Myles Garrett. He is going to be really good though — extremely solid and productive. Great pick.
#3 Houston — Derek Stingley Jr (CB, LSU)
This shouldn’t be a surprise. He is a remarkable player and probably the most talented in the entire draft. He would’ve been #1 on my board. When I spoke to my league source (who had scouted Stingley Jr extensively) on the day of the LSU pro-day, he was gushing about him as a player and a person. He felt he was better than Patrick Surtain, taken ninth overall a year ago. The only concern was the Lis Franc injury. Forget the last two years though, that was never a big concern given Covid and what happened at LSU. In this draft, he is worth taking a chance on this early.
#4 New York Jets — Sauce Gardner (CB, Cincinnati)
The Jets go cornerback — which was always a possibility but they can’t rush the passer. I thought Stingley Jr was the better corner but Gardner is a good player with the kind of confidence you want in a top corner. He will help set a culture for the defense. But again, they need a pass rusher. That’ll be a big target for the Jets (along with receiver) with their remaining three high picks (#10, #35, #38).
#5 New York Giants — Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE, Oregon)
They clearly feel comfortable with three tackles on the board — this ensures they get one at #7 and nobody can trade up to #6 to prevent them taking Thibodeaux. I noted in the podcast earlier it was 50/50 he went in the top-five and 100% he went in the top-10. The talk of him falling was massively overrated. He’s extremely talented and just very business orientated. He needs to succeed in football to make the business stuff work so what’s the problem? Good pick for the Giants — he has great potential.
#6 Carolina — Ikem Ekwonu (G, NC State)
I think Ekwonu is a guard, not a tackle. They’ll try him at tackle of course. Eventually though I think he’ll kick inside. That would be his better fit for me. I suspect they really wanted to trade down, couldn’t and went with what they considered the best value. It’ll be interesting to see if the Giants go for Evan Neal or Charles Cross next.
#7 New York Giants — Evan Neal (T, Alabama)
The top offensive lineman for me, the Giants played an absolute blinder here. Getting Thibodeaux and Neal is a home-run for them, setting the foundation for success in the trenches. The man who drafted Brandon Scherff, Scot McCloughan, told me Neal reminded him of his former #5 overall pick in Washington. He could play left guard and be dominant. He can play either tackle spot. Great pick.
#8 Atlanta — Drake London (WR, USC)
There was always a chance Atlanta took a receiver here. I found it really hard to judge London given his lack of testing numbers. He’s big and made plays on tape but again, how big is the upside without the testing? The Falcons clearly believe he can be something special but I’m curious to see if he’s more Mike Williams than Mike Evans.
#9 Seattle — Charles Cross (T, Mississippi State)
I’m really surprised and will admit, I got this totally wrong. I never expected the Seahawks would take a left tackle who played in the air-raid offense, who isn’t explosive and doesn’t have the kind of size the LA Rams’ tackles had. A lot of people like him but I was never a big fan. But, as we’ve also been saying, they were going to take a tackle with one of their early picks because they had two glaring holes. I wish Evan Neal had lasted here, instead of Cross.
#10 New York Jets — Garrett Wilson (WR, Ohio State)
The Jets were always expected to take a receiver with one of their high picks but I’m a little surprised they did it here instead of taking Jermaine Johnson. Wilson is talented, quick but I found it strange how he often contorted his body to make catches harder than they perhaps needed to be.
#11 New Orleans (v/WAS) — Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State)
The Saints gave up third and fourth round picks to move up. I bet Seattle would’ve liked an offer like that. They move up to get a needed quick receiver. The rush on receivers is happening.
#12 Detroit (v/MIN) — Jameson Williams (WR, Alabama)
I can’t believe the Lions traded up twenty spots and only had to give up a third (there was also a swap of seconds). That’s incredible. They needed a receiver badly and arguably get the best one here. Given how they little they gave up, kudos to them.
#13 Philadelphia (v/HOU) — Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia)
Whichever team drafted Jordan Davis was always going to be excited. This is a great selection for the Eagles and the teams they will face in their division. He has a shot to be great at what he does for a long time. He’s just never likely to be a pass rusher.
#14 Baltimore — Kyle Hamilton (S, Notre Dame)
The Ravens always have a knack of finding value. I’m not the biggest fan of Hamilton and they’ll probably be disappointed to miss out on Jordan Davis. But a lot of people had Hamilton down as the best player in the draft. Given it’s a need, it’s not a bad fit at all. Bizarrely, the Ravens have also traded up to #23 with Arizona.
The Cardinals trade for Marquise Brown
Wow — Arizona dealt #23 to the Ravens for the rights to Brown (who played with Kyler Murray at Oklahoma). The Cardinals also get a third round pick in return. Big move by the Ravens. I think they win this trade personally.
#15 Houston — Kenyon Green (G, Texas A&M)
I’ve never really ‘got it’ with Green. His testing results were truly awful. He will be an outlier if he succeeds. And outliers happen — but they aren’t that common. He’s just a big lump of a guard really. I can’t believe he’s gone this early before Zion Johnson.
#16 Washington — Jahan Dotson (WR, Penn State)
Ok, now the draft has gone nuts. The Brown trade, the Green pick and now this. I think Dotson is decent at everything and not brilliant at anything. Taking him at #15 overall is pretty remarkable for me. They passed on Olave and Williams to make this move after trading down.
#17 LA Chargers — Zion Johnson (G, Boston College)
Great pick by the Chargers. This is how you do it. Incredibly explosive, perfectly proportioned. Could be tried at tackle or guard. A very, very good player who will likely play for a long time. Terrific run blocker.
The Eagles trade for AJ Brown
Wow, wow, wow. The Titans have dealt A.J. to the Eagles for a first and third round pick. No wonder the Eagles didn’t want to trade up for a receiver. The deal gives Tennessee #18 and a third rounder. Is now a bad time to remind everyone that Seattle paid twice as much for Jamal Adams? The Eagles are giving him $25m a year. So are you ready to give Metcalf $25m a year?
#18 Tennessee (v/PHI) — Treylon Burks (WR, Arkansas)
The Titans immediately replace Brown with Burks. So they’ve basically opted not to pay Brown $100m over four years. Now they’ll pay a rookie about $14m over four years. The receiver market in free agency is shaking the foundations of the NFL. It really makes you wonder what Seattle is going to do with Metcalf. Burks’ testing results were poor but on tape he did look a lot like Brown.
#19 New Orleans — Trevor Penning (T, Northern Iowa)
He was connected to the Saints a fair old bit. Can he play left tackle long term? The Saints think so, unless they’re going to move Ryan Ramczyk across. He’s big, very athletic and very explosive but has to work through technical flaws and learn to play with greater control.
#20 Pittsburgh — Kenny Pickett (QB, Pittsburgh)
The Steelers make their choice and it’s Pickett. He gets to stay at home, playing in the same stadium he’s played in for the Panthers. He’s a better athlete than people give him credit for, his personality matches the team and he does a lot of things well. He just doesn’t really wow you.
#21 Kansas City (v/NE) — Trent McDuffie (CB, Washington)
The Chiefs move up from #29 in a deal with the Patriots. There was talk of the Chiefs liking Kyler Gordon. I suspect this is a case of them sensing an opportunity to draft a player they perhaps thought wouldn’t be available, so they’ve moved up. McDuffie reminds me of Byron Murphy and he might need to play in the same kind of role. Very likeable player on tape and during interviews.
#22 Green Bay — Quay Walker (LB, Georgia)
I really like Walker. He’s going to play for a long time. He’s a dude — big, quick, physical with range. You can’t go wrong drafting these Georgia defender. This is very early though. Very early. I’m surprised he’s gone here. I suspect the Packers are being caught out big time by all these receiver moves. Who are they going to throw the ball to next season?
#23 Buffalo (v/BAL, ARI) — Kaiir Elam (CB, Florida)
He’s big and athletic. I think he needs to ramp up his effort and you can get him to bite on double moves. When I watched him during the season I always kind of felt like you wanted to see more. He tested well though, suggesting some upside potential.
#24 Dallas — Tyler Smith (T, Tulsa)
He’s aggressive and he’s intelligent but I thought he looked like a tackle destined to shift inside to guard and his testing mark was underwhelming. He’s just not that good defending the edge. This was a trendy mock pick. I had him graded in round three.
#25 Baltimore (v/BUF) — Tyler Linderbaum (C, Iowa)
Some teams just get it when it comes to the draft. Baltimore are one of those teams. For me, this is a great pick. They just drafted someone who will fit here for the next 8-10 years. The Ravens part ways with an underachieving receiver and come away with two holes filled with Kyle Hamilton and Linderbaum. Bravo, Baltimore. You’ve done it again.
#26 New York Jets (v/TEN) — Jermaine Johnson (DE, Florida State)
The Jets come away with Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson. What a day for them. What a tremendous day. Incredible. This is how you build. Joe Douglas is building something and played a blinder in the Jamal Adams and Sam Darnold trades.
#27 Jacksonville (v/TB) — Devin Lloyd (LB, Utah)
He was a really difficult evaluation. When I was writing my mock I couldn’t place him. I couldn’t decide whether he was late teens or late 20’s. He’s not an amazing athlete, he has unorthodox technique but he’s amazingly productive.
#28 Green Bay — Devonte Wyatt (DT, Georgia)
This is an amazing pick by the Packers. He is outstanding. They’ve drafted two Georgia players. I mocked Wyatt to Green Bay because he’s an ideal fit for what they look for and I was told by my source a really good team late in the first ‘loved him’. I didn’t get a name but I figured it was Green Bay. I’ll say it again. Draft Georgia defenders. They are really good.
#29 New England — Cole Strange (C, Chattanooga)
Explosive offensive lineman. They tend to get bumped up. Strange did exactly that. I thought they’d take Zion Johnson for the same reason but LA took him at #17. They move down and take a player who tested in a very similar way. I really liked this guy — quality player with a lot of upside.
#30 Kansas City — George Karlaftis (DE, Purdue)
My source said some people view Karlaftis as basically a poor man’s Aidan Hutchinson. I think his run defending is far, far worse than Hutchinson’s and he’s not as twitchy off the edge. He’s really quick though. Tremendously and surprisingly quick. And he causes opponents problems with his deceptive burst.
#31 Cincinnati — Daxton Hill (S, Michigan)
This is a bit of a surprise. He was expected to go in round one and he’s extremely competitive with great agility testing. I’m not sure a versatile defensive back was necessarily the expectation here — not with good interior D-liners still available.
#32 Minnesota — Lewis Cine (S, Georgia)
I can still barely believe the Vikings traded down 20 spots — with a division rival — only to get back a third rounder and a swap of second rounders. That’s incredible. I really like Cine. He’s a heady, intelligent player who hits like a hammer. And one more time — you can’t go wrong when you draft these Georgia defenders.
If you missed it earlier, check out the latest podcast which has a lot of sourced news in it. Also, you can view my final mock draft (posted last night) by clicking here.
Here’s my final horizontal board for draft day. I haven’t watched every player in the draft, obviously, but these are the players I have spent considerable time studying over the last few months.
Click the image to enlarge…
If you like the content on Seahawks Draft Blog this off-season then why not consider supporting us via Patreon (click the tab below)…
If you missed my final mock draft yesterday, check it out here. It includes a Seahawks seven-round projection. In the podcast below (available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple) you’ll hear the insider notes I gathered yesterday from my league source — plus further thoughts on the mock and what I hope for the Seahawks.
Big day today, lots of content coming. Stick with SDB.
This is the mock draft I will submit for Huddle Report scoring. I will publish the mock in list-form first and then there’s a lot to follow, including a Seahawks seven-round projection. Here we go…
Final 2022 mock draft
#1 Jacksonville — Travon Walker (DE, Georgia)
#2 Detroit — Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Michigan)
#3 Houston — Evan Neal (T, Alabama)
#4 NY Jets — Ikem Ekwonu (G, NC State)
#5 NY Giants — Charles Cross (T, Miss. State)
#6 Houston (v/CAR) — Derek Stingley Jr (CB, LSU)
#7 NY Giants — Sauce Gardner (CB, Cincinnati)
#8 Atlanta — Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE, Oregon)
#9 Philadelphia (v/SEA) — Jameson Williams (WR, Alabama)
#10 New York Jets — Jermaine Johnson (DE, Florida State)
#11 Washington — Kyle Hamilton (S, Notre Dame)
#12 Minnesota — Trent McDuffie (CB, Washington)
#13 Carolina (v/HOU) — Kenny Pickett (QB, Pittsburgh)
#14 Baltimore — Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia)
#15 Seattle (v/PHI) — Trevor Penning (T, Northern Iowa)
#16 New Orleans — Garrett Wilson (WR, Ohio State)
#17 LA Chargers — Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State)
#18 Philadelphia — Devin Lloyd (LB, Utah)
#19 New Orleans — Dax Hill (S, Michigan)
#20 Pittsburgh — Malik Willis (QB, Liberty)
#21 New England — Zion Johnson (G, Boston College)
#22 Green Bay — Drake London (WR, USC)
#23 Arizona — George Karlaftis (DE, Purdue)
#24 Dallas — Treylon Burks (WR, Arkansas)
#25 Buffalo — Andrew Booth (CB, Clemson)
#26 Tennessee — Tyler Smith (T, Tulsa)
#27 Tampa Bay — Travis Jones (DT, Connecticut)
#28 Green Bay — Devonte Wyatt (DT, Georgia)
#29 Kansas City — Kyler Gordon (CB, Washington)
#30 Kansas City — Boye Mafe (DE, Minnesota)
#31 Cincinnati — Logan Hall (DT, Houston)
#32 Detroit — Nakobe Dean (LB, Georgia)
There are two trades in the mock. The Texans move from #13 to #6 in a deal with Carolina. In return Carolina gets #73 (R3) and #108 (R4). The Seahawks move from #9 to #15. In return they get #101 (R3), #124 (R4) and #162 (R5).
Further to that, there are two gaping holes at offensive tackle. They’ve done nothing to address either position. Compare that to cornerback where they’ve at least brought in Artie Burns and re-signed Sidney Jones, or at pass rusher with the addition of Uchenna Nwosu.
I’d have to be bloody stupid not to pair Penning and the Seahawks together in this mock. All of the signs point to it happening — unless someone else takes him off the board before they pick.
I don’t want to believe the Desmond Ridder reports. I cannot for the life of me imagine taking him in round one. I just can’t. The accuracy issues, the absolute cringe-inducing misses at times, the robotic mechanics.
I contacted my source in the league today and he summed it up. He said Ridder has already reached his ceiling. And I agree. I also accept that might, sadly, be what the appeal is. He can probably come in and do what he was doing at Cincinnati in the NFL. The problem is, it’s just not good enough. So I’m not going to project that here. I’m going to hope they prefer to spend their picks at #40 and #41 further enhancing their offensive line and the front seven of the defense.
There are two other things I want to mention.
The Seahawks have a shell of a roster, frankly, and they need a major injection of talent to create competition, depth and improvement. I think they’ll set out to acquire as many picks as possible. Teams might be less inclined to trade this year because rounds 2-4 are so strong. I think Seattle’s intention though will be to use an absolute boat-load of picks to fill out their roster.
Trading down from #9 could still net a bit of a haul with picks in the third, fourth and fifth.
I do think there is also a scenario where the Seahawks wouldn’t trade down from #9. I think they’ll probably be open to adding a top, top player. Who constitutes a top, top player? My best guess would be Kayvon Thibodeaux or Derek Stingley Jr.
I have to address Jermaine Johnson. I’ve been saying for ages I don’t think there’s any chance he’ll be there at #9. In fairness, there’s still plenty of talk about that being the case in the media. If Stingley Jr rises though, someone has to drop. And it might be Johnson.
I would hope they would make that pick if he’s there. I just think everything points towards this team acquiring as much stock as possible and drafting a tackle. I hope I am wrong and if Johnson is available at #9, that they take him.
This is the problem when you go into a draft with glaring needs. The Seahawks would be better off, in my opinion, trying to get Johnson and say Tyler Linderbaum from this draft. Instead, they might end up trying to fill holes.
Other notes on the first round
— The Panthers are intriguing. In this mock the top offensive tackles were all gone at #6. I think that played into their hands for what they might actually want to do. With only one pick in the first three rounds, I think they’ll be desperate to trade down and get more stock. I also think they’re very open to drafting a QB, just not at #6. Remember — owner David Tepper is a significant booster at Pittsburgh. Is he prepared to risk Kenny Pickett going somewhere else and succeeding? How would that look? Plus Matt Rhule recruited Pickett when he was at Temple and got a commitment out of him. He only didn’t go to Temple because Rhule bolted for the Baylor gig. One other thing I’ve heard — Rhule has been the big decision maker in Carolina, not the GM. It’s worth noting because even if he’s fired soon, he might still have a bigger say than the GM.
— If Carolina drafts Pickett after trading down, I wonder if their next move will be to sign Duane Brown?
— I think the floor for Kayvon Thibodeaux is #8. Increasingly I think he’d be perfect for the Seahawks and the Seahawks would be perfect for him. He needs a coach like Pete Carroll. Seattle needs a player with his immense talent to rush the edge. Then again, they might have their heart set on trading down.
— The problem with trading down to #15 is, if the Seahawks want Penning, you run the serious risk of someone else taking him. The teams at #13 and #14 in my mock could select him. I wonder if that’s why they’ve been digging around Jordan Davis? Because if they move down to #15 the chances are Baltimore will choose between Penning or Davis. The Seahawks might go with whichever player is left.
Seahawks seven-round projection
#15 — Trevor Penning (T, Northern Iowa)
Not my first choice because I think he has significant technical flaws and I worry about him trying too hard to be a tough guy when he needs to concentrate on finding a level of fundamentally sound, controlled aggression. Even so — he fits the new blocking scheme perfectly in terms of size and traits and the huge gaping hole at tackle makes this extremely likely.
#40 — Tyler Linderbaum (C, Iowa)
Rather than trade up for a quarterback, I’m going to have the Seahawks give Drew Lock a run at this and focus on further improving the trenches. They might have to move up a few spots from #40 to land Linderbaum — perhaps even get back into the late first. However, it’s also been reported that no team has a firm first round grade on him. That’s understandable. At his size he simply doesn’t fit every scheme. He would fit in Miami, San Francisco and with the Rams but they’re three of the teams without any early picks. So why would Seattle do this, doubling down on the O-line? Carroll stood at the owners meeting and declared they liked Austin Blythe for his wrestling background. He also said they specifically wanted to try a new type of center — smaller in stature. Linderbaum has a strong wrestling background and he has an almost identical body to Blythe. And let’s be right here, Blythe is a hedge. Just as he was a hedge for Creed Humphrey a year ago. It stands to reason if they want this type of center, they’ll go after Linderbaum.
#41 — Channing Tindall (LB, Georgia)
I don’t think the Seahawks convinced their new defensive staff to take the gig on the proviso that they would get Shelby Harris, Uchenna Nwosu, Artie Burns and not a lot else. I’ve long thought the lack of activity at offensive tackle and linebacker was a massive tell for the draft. It’s also felt inevitable since that day at the combine, when the linebackers lit up Lucas Oil Field, that the Seahawks were not going to miss an opportunity to tap into the class. The Seahawks love special athletes at linebacker. They’ve often sought extreme speed, agility and explosive traits. Tindall ran a 4.47 at the combine and jumped a 42 inch vertical. He ran a reported 4.03 short shuttle at his Pro-day and the Seahawks are instantly attracted, it seems, to any linebacker running in the 4.0’s. Not only that, Tindall is a missile to the ball-carrier and showed at the Senior Bowl he will have immense special teams value.
#72 — Dameon Pierce (RB, Florida)
He has everything the Seahawks look for in a running back. He has the size, the explosive traits and the physical style and the ability to run through contact. He energises team-mates with the way he runs. From the first moment I watched him at Florida I thought, ‘they’re going to draft this guy’.
#101 — Michael Clemons (DE, Texas A&M)
They need a rotation of pass rushers and proper competition. The reason I’ve picked Clemons here is because he looks like a Greek God and he wins, on tape, the same way that Darrell Taylor won at Tennessee. He’s also an absolute BAMF who looks scary as hell and the Seahawks need a bit of that. Ideally the Seahawks take a pass rusher earlier than this. However — they’ve spent a fair bit of money on Nwosu and when they brought Mario Addison for a visit recently, that felt like a tell that they might need to find alternative options.
#109 — Logan Bruss (G, Wisconsin)
The Rams featured two converted tackles at guard (David Edwards, Austin Corbett) and I wonder if the Seahawks will try a similar plan? Bruss is well suited to kicking inside, he has massive hands that act like clamps and his testing profile is marvellous. He’s not only an explosive 3.08 TEF tester, he also ran a 4.55 short shuttle at the combine. I think Gabe Jackson’s days are numbered in Seattle and they’ll look for competition at guard.
#124 — Thayer Munford (T, Ohio State)
The Seahawks often tend to try their hand at a big-name offensive lineman with poor testing numbers in this range. Munford isn’t explosive or particularly athletic. However — he actually played well on tape at tackle and his size (6-6, 328lbs) and length (35 1/8 inch arms) is right up Seattle’s street. The Rams use big tackles. Munford’s a big tackle. Rob Havenstein is the opposite of athletic. So is Munford.
#145 — Percy Butler (S, Louisiana)
Like the Dameon Pierce pick, this one feels obvious. Butler is an absolute marvel as a gunner on special teams. We know the Seahawks love a good special teamer and this draft has a handful of day three prospects who offer excellent value on teams. With 4.3 speed I also think eventually you could develop his role into something more. He just looked like a Seahawk on tape.
#153 — Romeo Doubs (WR, Nevada)
There are no testing numbers available for Doubs but the Seahawks are less strict in this range. Why pair him with Seattle? He wins the way they want to win in the passing game — he gets downfield and makes plays. He stood out catching passes from Carson Strong. He’s got big hands and knows how to pluck the ball out of the air. He’s a good punt returner with big-time special teams value. He’s also known as an alpha type who is ultra-competitive. So basically, a Seahawk.
#162 — Carson Strong (QB, Nevada)
When I watched the Nevada games during the season, Strong impressed me. His arm talent was obvious and he made some mind-blowing completions. Then he stunk out the Senior Bowl. So I went back and studied the tape more closely. He played the entire 2021 season on one leg. He practically looked like Philip Rivers the time he played in the AFC Championship with a torn ACL. Initially I hadn’t noticed how bad it was. The knee wasn’t right and frankly, who knows if it ever will be? The Seahawks have been prepared to take chances in this range and if Strong falls — he’d be worth a shot to nothing. There’s definitely something there. It’s just a shame about the knee — and it’s possible he’ll never make it as a consequence.
#229 — Jaylen Watson (CB, Washington State)
I’m not sure Watson will last this long and frankly, in round seven, the chances are whoever they take here will be pretty obscure. He’s big, long, physical and although he lacks great speed he showed off subtle technique at the Senior Bowl to win plenty of reps and impress.
Pete Carroll would be the ideal coach for Kayvon Thibodeaux
Yesterday I wrote about Tony Pauline’s report that the Seahawks intend to try and trade down from #9 (with the Eagles and Saints interested in moving up) before selecting Trevor Penning. Tony believes they could also move back into round one for Desmond Ridder.
I dislike the idea immensely so today I wanted to write about an alternative proposal.
Firstly a heads up. I will be posting my own final mock draft for Huddle Report scoring later today. On Thursday I will be live blogging throughout the draft. At the end of each day I will be doing a live stream with Robbie to offer instant reaction. On Friday, before the start of round two, I will also be doing a live stream with Jeff Simmons. A time for that will be confirmed shortly.
After the draft I intend to produce plenty of podcast/stream content (including interviews), articles and reaction before providing a look ahead to the 2023 class.
My aim is to try and provide the most extensive Seahawks draft coverage possible. I hope you’ll give SDB a go from Thursday onwards.
I am going to post my final Horizontal board early on Thursday morning too. I’ve been working flat out to finalise it.
Right, onto the thought for this morning…
The reporting over the last 48 hours has been unlike anything I’ve seen before in the lead up to a draft. There are so many different ideas, suggestions and sourced reports. This is going way beyond the usual scuttlebutt at this time of year.
I’m starting to think I might’ve underestimated how ‘out there’ the top-10 is going to be. It felt for a long, long time that things were pretty much set. The defensive and offensive linemen would come off the board quickly and we’ve had an idea that the Seahawks would pretty much be left with a choice of someone like Derek Stingley Jr at #9 or trading down. Plus, of course, Trevor Penning.
That could still be the truth. That’s what I’m going to spend the rest of the day thinking about. Are all these new rumours, that I’ll come onto, valid?
A lot of prior assumptions still seem destined to be true. I have never mocked a quarterback in the top-10. I’ve never felt they were good enough. I interviewed Scot McCloughan who said he’d be surprised if any went in the top-10, adding three would go later in round one and all would carry third round draft grades.
Right now, I can’t find a mock draft with a QB in the top-10. Nobody is talking about that. Everyone is talking about Carolina taking an offensive lineman. This is what we’ve been saying for weeks and weeks — even during the hype season (aka the pro-day circuit).
Thus, are we likely just going through a particularly ridiculous couple of days of headline making and mystery creating to add intrigue to a draft class without those top quarterbacks to promote and talk about?
It’s possible. I might stick to my guns in the mock and retain a bunch of pass rushers going off the board quickly, followed by a bunch of O-liners.
That would be the scenario, in my opinion, where a trade down for Seattle becomes a distinct possibility. Especially with so many teams itching to get a crack at WR1 or WR2.
However, I’m going to consider a few other things here.
Aside from Tony Pauline’s report on Seattle, Penning and Ridder — he mentioned the three-way battle that’s going on in Jacksonville. The owner wants Aidan Hutchinson, the GM wants Travon Walker and the Head Coach wants Ikem Ekwonu.
Tony said in his mock, coming out today, he’s going to have Doug Pederson winning that battle. Chris Simms, as it happens, said exactly the same thing on Dan Patrick yesterday. Pederson wants Ekwonu and the word on the street is the owner is siding with him.
There’s constant buzz around Derek Stingley Jr to Houston at #3. Multiple people are mentioning it. Three weeks ago I reached out to a contact about Stingley Jr. I can’t share the name, obviously, but this person is in the NFL and I promise is an impeccable source.
This individual was convinced Stingley Jr was the best corner in the draft. He said he was a superior player to Patrick Surtain a year ago.
“I love Stingley. He has better movement skills than (Sauce) Gardner. He’s instinctive. He has god-given skills. Explosive. He’s been around it his whole life. If he came out as a freshman he would’ve been the top cornerback in the draft.”
“He’s wired perfectly.”
The source said if the preferred options on the D-line and O-line were taken, he’d essentially run to the podium to draft Stingley Jr.
Houston have been linked heavily to Ekwonu. If he goes #1 and Hutchinson goes #2 — it’s absolutely possible the Texans find themselves in that position. Their two preferred lineman are off the board and they decide Stingley Jr is next man up.
There’s more. I’ve been projecting Jermaine Johnson high in the first round, with good reason. He’s been steadily rising.
However, there’s just been a little bit of push-back recently. A few mocks either have him available to Seattle at #9 or lasting deeper into round one.
Tony Pauline on his New York Giants podcast this week said he’d been told #4 would be too high for Jermaine Johnson, having previously suggested it could happen.
Then we have the medical stuff on Evan Neal. Charlie Campbell reported that some teams medically failed Neal. There’s been some unconvincing pushback to this with well known national reporters tentatively saying some teams have a slight concern but there are enough other teams out there that would still take him.
This isn’t unusual for Alabama players. Remember Jonathan Allen who lasted to #17 in 2017? He’s had a great career but there’s a history of linemen for the Crimson Tide carrying a medical concern and falling.
Neal hasn’t done any pre-draft testing. Meanwhile, the likes of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have recently had him lasting to #9.
So what’s the reality here? Is it simply that the likes of Charles Cross will be seen as a safer medical projection for O-line needy teams and go ahead of Neal? Could he potentially fall into the mid-first round like Allen? Or is it all nonsense?
And then there’s Kayvon Thibodeaux. A real mystery. Mike Garafolo tweeted this morning he’s an option at #2 to Detroit but appears to be a no-go for the Jets at #4.
There’s no doubt in my mind that there’s absolutely no ‘character flags’ to be wary of. This is simple. I took a new job in January. If I’d gone into that job interview and told the bosses how I thought this opportunity would set me up for other jobs, or other money-making opportunities, and if I spent far less time reflecting on the actual position I was applying for, it would be off-putting.
That is all this is. Thibodeaux refers to himself as a ‘true entrepreneur’. He has business aims and ambitions and he talks about them pretty much all the time. And while he acknowledges football will help him achieve his goals, it always sounds like it’s a means to an end — rather than what drives him internally. Supposedly, he’s been speaking this way when meeting with teams, not just during media interviews.
Personally I couldn’t be less bothered. He’s hardly the first player to have grand ideas for his portfolio of non-footballing business interests. But teams preparing to make a franchise-changing decision and invest millions are, not unfairly, going to weigh up their options when another player with a similar grade comes in and spends their entire interview talking about schemes, football ambitions and winning Super Bowls.
Working out how early he’ll go is tricky. I suspect Atlanta at #8 will be the floor. Eventually the attractive, football-obsessed alternatives will run out and Thibodeaux will be the clear BPA. And someone will take him and feel delighted about it.
Indeed the Falcons at #8 feel like the key to all of this for Seattle. How inclined are they to force a receiver pick? There’s going to be a run at the position that starts anywhere from #8-#11. Do they want to be the ones to kick things off? Or do they just go for BPA and seek to build?
They could shatter any dreams of a great pass rusher reaching #9. Or they could be the useful friend, ready and willing to get out of the way.
From here, you’d assume the Jets would go with either Travon Walker or Sauce Gardner. I’ll go with Walker because New York badly needs a pass rusher and they’ve invested in corner already this off-season. The Giants, according to virtually everyone, like Charles Cross.
#4 NY Jets — Travon Walker (DE, Georgia) #5 NY Giants — Charles Cross (T, Miss. State)
It would get really interesting from here. If the Panthers are 100% invested in taking a tackle, what if the concerns over Evan Neal’s health are legit? I read yesterday they like Trevor Penning too. I recently mentioned with Jeff on a stream that my prediction for a top-10 shocker would be Penning to the Panthers. Scott Fitterer is from the Seattle braintrust and if the Seahawks like him, Carolina probably does too.
The note yesterday suggested the Panthers would prefer to trade down before taking Penning (sound familiar?) but what if they can’t move down? And what if they’ve flunked Neal’s medicals? Could they take him at #6? Is it that ridiculous in this draft?
For the purpose of this mock let’s say they take Evan Neal.
Now you’re in a position where Sauce Gardner, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jermaine Johnson are still available and you’re on the clock in two picks’ time. At least one of the three makes it to you.
This is where it could get exciting. The Giants could go pass rush but they could take Gardner. Let’s say they do. Then you’re guaranteed a top pass rusher at #9.
King had Seattle dropping down to #13 and Thibodeaux and Johnson were still there. I kind of get it. Let’s say you deal your pick to a team like Houston wanting a receiver. The Jets, having taken Travon Walker at #4, aren’t going pass rusher at #10. The Commanders wouldn’t take yet another defensive lineman. The Vikings already have Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter. So it’s not totally out of the question you could move down and still, comfortably, get a pass rusher.
And if the Seahawks get a sniff of a top defensive lineman, I really hope they grab it with both hands and don’t trade down to manufacture a way to take Penning instead. The idea of Darrell Taylor teaming up with Johnson or Thibodeaux is exciting.
I’ve felt for a while that Johnson’s attitude would be ideal across from Taylor, helping create a new identity for the team. With Thibodeaux, I think Pete Carroll would be the ideal coach for him. He’d let him be himself, he’d encourage him to be himself and he’d find the happy balance between football and business.
The ideal scenario for me would be a top pass rusher with the first pick, a really good offensive lineman with your second pick and then best player available with the third.
If the pass rushers are gone and they trade down, I’d even rather they pivot to Jordan Davis (linked to Seattle by Todd McShay this week) than force a need with Penning.
More than anything though, I just don’t want this team to spend resource moving from #40 to #28 — as Tony Pauline suggested — to draft Desmond Ridder. That would be a deflating move for me and I think a lot of other people who’ve studied Ridder’s tape (it’s not too late to go and watch the Navy, Notre Dame and Alabama games). I don’t know how anyone can watch Ridder and think yes — I want to draft this player in round one. For me he’s a mid-rounder you take a flier on.
Trading down from #9 and taking Penning to fill a hole and create extra stock to manufacture a move up for Ridder would be an extremely tough pill to swallow. Just start Drew Lock. Don’t force a pick in the worst QB class in years.
Being able to get a top-four pass rusher in round one, then bolstering your offensive line in round two (Tyler Linderbaum? Cam Jurgens? Cole Strange? Abraham Lucas?) and then adding the best talent available at #41 (or after a small move down) would be a true foundation-building plan. That, to me, would be exciting. That is what I am hoping for tomorrow and Friday.
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On today’s episode of PFN’s ‘Draft Insiders’ (click here to watch it), Tony Pauline produced a series of reports that included:
— Deebo Samuel to the Jets is 70/30 likely to happen
— Ikem Ekwonu is Doug Pederson’s preferred choice at #1 overall and Tony made that projection in his mock draft (published tomorrow)
— There’s a distinct possibility the Texans take Derek Stingley Jr at #3
— The Packers really like Treylon Burks and the Chiefs like Kyler Gordon
He also produced some crucial information on the Seahawks and it couldn’t be more dismaying, in my opinion.
Obviously this is just a report. It might not come true. I just want to give some thoughts on what the #1 draft insider has been saying about the Seahawks.
Tony claims the Saints have contacted Seattle about moving up to #9 to acquire a receiver in the top-10. He also says the Eagles are interested in moving up and indeed, in his mock tomorrow, he has Philadelphia trading up to #9 to select Jameson Williams.
He then says the Seahawks will draft Trevor Penning in the mid-first round before trading back into the first frame in a deal with the Packers to select Desmond Ridder.
This was quite a firm report from Pauline. He didn’t qualify it with any doubt or base-covering. It was delivered almost statement-like — presumably because he’s hearing this from numerous sources.
I wouldn’t be a fan of this. At all.
We’ve been talking about Penning and Seattle for a long time. He was the first player I wrote about last year at the start of the new draft cycle. He’s an explosive tester, a great athlete and he has identical size to the two tackles who’ve been starting in LA.
He is, quite clearly, ‘a Seahawk’.
The two gaping holes at tackle on the roster are a massive tell going into the draft. They are going to draft at least one tackle with one of their first three picks.
Personally I would prefer it to be Abraham Lucas — who is a terrific run blocker. People assume he isn’t because he played for Washington State. Yet they’ve not been running the Mike Leach offense for some time now and the Cougs have been running the ball in the 42-45% range the last couple of seasons.
According to PFF, Lucas’ run-blocking grade in 2021 was a 91.0 — his highest mark.
Yet Penning has felt destined for Seattle for some time. So why the concern?
It’s a mix of technical flaws that I’ve talked about and his playing style. At the Senior Bowl he got beat, quite a lot. He’s very upright in his stance and opponents are able to get into his big frame and drive him backwards. He kept giving up the inside counter in 1v1’s so he over-compensated. Opponents realised this, feigned inside and then converted speed-to-power to drive into his chest and push him backwards.
He needs a lot of work and I’m not sure he’ll ever be left tackle material because he needs to be the type of player who comes off the ball and attacks. I wouldn’t ever want to rely on him, based on what we’ve seen so far, to protect a quarterback’s blind side.
Then there’s all the judo-tossing opponents after the whistle which was evident on tape and at the Senior Bowl. It bothers me. I think he’s trying to prove he’s a tough-guy. Some of those moves happened after he got beat, badly. It’s not just the fear of a Breno Giacomini-style flag fest at the next level. Why does he need to do it?
I don’t want players feeling like they have to prove how ‘tough’ they are. Kam Chancellor never had to. Jason Kelce doesn’t do any of this. Be tough by playing sound, fundamental football and burying opponents because you’re 6-7, 325lbs and an explosive athlete. Not by getting beat off the edge, throwing them down and then getting a little cheap-shot in like he did on Tyreke Smith in Mobile.
When I spoke with Jake Heaps yesterday he voiced concerns because Germain Ifedi did similar things in Seattle. He tried too hard to prove his toughness.
It all feels so familiar.
As badly as tackle is a need, I just don’t want to go in this direction. Yet this is exactly the type of move they tend to make.
In 2-3 years time some TV broadcaster is going to post a graphic. On one side of the screen it’ll say ‘Russell Wilson’. On the other side will be the list of players Seattle selected with the picks they got for Wilson.
I don’t want the top name on the list to be Trevor Penning, a player who is so boom or bust. The idea of launching this whole next phase with Penning is troublesome — even after trading down.
It feels like a shot the LA Chargers can make. They have an almost complete roster. They can plug Penning in and roll the dice, knowing the consequences are limited if the bust is bigger than the boom. If he’s only OK or plays erratic or out of control, well they have enough talent elsewhere to live with it.
The Seahawks are in no fit shape to do that. They have to get this pick right and it has to be a consistent, quality performer.
However, the ‘oh no’ rating of this pick will pale into significance if they trade back into round one to take Desmond Ridder.
I can’t express enough how much I would be against this.
Ridder is an extremely likeable person. You can’t help but respect what he achieved at Cincinnati. He’s very athletic and he’s what some people refer to as ‘a winner’.
But let’s just be right here — his tape is bang average at best. In what world can you justify taking a player in round one with such erratic accuracy?
Yes there are flashes of brilliance. He has two throws against Notre Dame that were as good as anything you’ll see — one to the left sideline and a great seam throw on a second-half drive. Yet this all followed a stuttering, stalling first half where he couldn’t make easy completions and needed the defense to bail him out after a rough couple of quarters, gifting short-fields to put points on the board.
Watch the Navy game. He’s absolutely dreadful in it. The misses are cringe-inducing.
And then there’s the Alabama game where he looked overwhelmed and out of ideas. A truly limited player facing a pro-caliber defense.
He doesn’t have an amazing arm and he’s not consistent with his accuracy. He has robotic mechanics that create their own problems and as soon as he feels pressure he squares to the line and it’s game over.
This can’t be the future of the franchise. Surely not?
They resisted Andy Dalton in 2011 but Desmond Ridder is now so irresistible?
I fear they’ll just put themselves in a position of QB purgatory, wasting a couple of years (or more) on Ridder trying to take a leap that never comes.
This needs to be a draft where the Seahawks set the foundations. Forget what might be the biggest needs. You need to add talent in key areas.
I would much rather trade down from #9 and up from #40 and come out with Zion Johnson and Tyler Linderbaum. Two players who are easily projectable as really good long term starters with a shot to be among the best at their positions.
You could then create a proper running game to support your chosen identity.
Then just go and re-sign Duane Brown. You’ve overpaid for others so just do what it takes to get Brown back.
With your other high pick, target a dynamic front-seven defender.
It doesn’t have to be Zion Johnson in round one either. Select Jordan Davis or Devonte Wyatt if you prefer. Or one of the other pass rushers.
Heck — if you’re going to waste stock trading up for Ridder anyway, why not just give it to Carolina and get up to #6 for one of the top pass rushers? After all, you said at the start of the off-season that improving the pass rush was a big priority.
A few weeks ago it was reported that Ridder had been presenting teams with a plan to show how he would beat out a veteran starter in camp. I really hope they haven’t been sold on this plan, with the idea that he’ll be able to come in and be the answer in 2022 — not just beyond.
But really, would it be a huge surprise?
They’ve done nothing at tackle so they’ll draft a tackle. They’ve done nothing at linebacker so they’ll probably draft a linebacker. They’ve only added Drew Lock and retained Geno Smith. Trying to recreate the 2012 competition at quarterback is something I can imagine them doing.
Because after all, Pete Carroll thought this team was ‘close’ at the end of the 2021 season. He probably still believes that.
The reality is — they aren’t close. They are not close. Wins against Detroit and a slumping, miserable Arizona are not indicative of anything. Especially after chastening losses to the Rams and Bears preceded those wins.
This should be a golden opportunity to build a foundation in a deep draft, not force needs or rush the quarterback situation.
Beginning this rebuild with Trevor Penning and Desmond Ridder would be scary.
Yet the two picks projected by Tony Pauline scream Seahawks, sadly.
I hope he’s wrong. I really do.
On a happier note, Albert Breer’s mock draft had Derek Stingley Jr and Jermaine Johnson available at #9.
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I’ve come to loathe mock drafts. There are too many. And a lot of draft ‘analysts’ these days have stopped talking about players and prefer to spend their time checking-in with their agenda-driven league sources.
However — in the days leading up to a draft a mock published by a well known reporter is the fix you need. You know you’re clicking on that link. And you’re going to enjoy reading the mock, however accurate it ends up being.
I don’t think this top-10 is going to be as unpredictable as people think. The order that the players go in might be a bit of a jumble but by now we know what this class is. It lacks great quarterback talent. It lacks obvious ‘blue chip’ top-10 picks. We’re likely to see teams fall back on the premium positions (trenches) and seek to make the best of a bad situation by getting a good offensive or defensive lineman.
King has Jermaine Johnson dropping to #23 overall to Arizona. I would suggest this is practically impossible. When you run a 1.55 10-yard split at his size, dominate the Senior Bowl, do everything to show you’re an alpha at the combine and showcase a complete defensive end skillset on tape — you will be drafted early.
His floor is probably Atlanta at #8 but he could easily go in the top-five. I wouldn’t get your hopes up that he’ll be there for Seattle. Tony Pauline has been discussing how he’s an option for the Jets at #4.
My league source felt he deserved an #11-20 grade but that was mentioned some time ago. I’m noting it because I wouldn’t completely rule out Johnson still going in that range. But his stock has just risen and risen and there’s been nothing to suggest it’s stalling on the home straight.
It feels inevitable that Travon Walker, Aidan Hutchinson, Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal will go very early short of any unknown injury flags. There has been a bit of talk around Neal, who hasn’t done any testing pre-draft.
It feels somewhat safe to project Sauce Gardner will also go in the top-10 one way or another. The other two spots in the top-eight could easily be made up by Kayvon Thibodeaux and Charles Cross (who I maintain is overrated).
There’s also a chance a receiver is taken.
If it plays out like that — regardless of the order, it won’t really be that unpredictable.
King’s projection though has some significant shocks.
Kyle Hamilton is taken at #7 to the Giants and Drake London goes #8 overall to Atlanta. I wouldn’t expect either to happen.
I don’t think Sauce Gardner will be drafted at #4 overall either. For me it’s pretty clear that will be a pass rusher or offensive lineman.
I do think there’s a chance we see an early run on receivers though (especially given the price-tag of the position these days).
King’s suggestion for the Seahawks is practically too good to be true.
He has Seattle moving down from #9 to #13 with Houston, so the Texans can jump in front of the Jets for a receiver. I’ve been saying the #9 pick is a great position for the Seahawks and that’ll stay the case provided the Jets keep the pick. Teams will be wary of New York selecting a receiver or lineman.
The Seahawks acquire the #68 pick for moving down — which would be an early Christmas present. Then at #13 both Thibodeaux and Johnson are still available.
That would be a miracle. They’d probably need to give Kevin Costner a ring about making ‘Draft Day 2: Electric Boogaloo’ if they pulled that off.
Reading King’s scenario for the Seahawks gave me the best dopamine hit I’ve had in months. Then reality kicked in and I realised this was about as likely as Italy agreeing to replay the final of Euro 2020.
Here’s King’s blurb:
Perfect Pete Carroll pick. Thibodeaux’s an LA kid, he’ll be supremely ticked off at not being the first edge off the board and falling this far, and Carroll knows how to feed into the mental game that fuels players. That, plus Thibodeaux would be the kind of top talent that the Seahawks never get to pick in the draft because they’re always picking at the bottom of the round, or later. Thibodeaux, if he works out, would be a good pick for a team devoid of a top-end pass-rusher, in a division with some serious passing games.
I’d like this pick, in this spot, for Seattle. I’m not alone. “Thibodeaux at 13 would be a coup for Seattle,” one GM told me Sunday when I apprised him of my diabolical plan to send the Oregon edge down the draft board.
It would be perfect. So would the chance to pick Johnson in the same slot.
But the likelihood remains that both will probably be gone by #9 and the Seahawks will face the scenario we’ve been discussing for some time. Do you take a chance on talent and select Derek Stingley Jr, do they try and fill a hole by just selecting Trevor Penning or can they trade down?
If, by chance, King’s scenario comes true (even if it’s only one of Thibodeaux or Johnson) — it’d be party time.
I’m hearing a lot of noise about the Seahawks taking a hard look at Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis here. The massive run-stopper had a legendary combine workout, and he has been sneaking up boards ever since — and Seattle could take him in the top 10.
I’m also told that Seattle really likes Stingley. The talented cornerback has been mocked all over the place. Some teams love the ceiling, best displayed by a six-interception freshman season. Others are hesitant to use an early pick on a player limited to 10 uneven games over the past two seasons. But he is getting more love than previously thought, and he might not make it out of the top 10 after all. And there’s even a chance he goes before Gardner.
If not Davis or Stingley, the Seahawks could fall back on offensive tackle. They have a hole on the left side right now — but there’s also a good chance Ekwonu, Neal and Cross are all off the board by the time Seattle is picking.
A lot of the themes we’ve been discussing seem to be coming to fruition — no quarterbacks in the top-10, Carolina taking a tackle, Stingley better than Sauce.
In the final days leading up to the draft I might post multiple articles per day. Keep scrolling down from the homepage so you don’t miss anything — I won’t necessarily be tweeting a link to every article.
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Malik Willis (Liberty)
He has incredible arm strength, his running ability is a major plus and he has the potential to make magic happen on the move. However — he struggles to throw over the middle and flat-out rejects way too many easy completions, he too often refuses to take what’s on offer and he has a painful number of self-inflicted sacks.
Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh)
There are things to like — he’s a better athlete than people recognise and he really elevated Pittsburgh. Nothing gets you that excited though (apart from the fake-slide, that was exciting).
Matt Corrall (Ole Miss)
He basically needs a ground-zero introduction to a pro-style offense and how teams think he can handle that will determine his stock because there are certainly things to like. He has a terrific whip-like motion that generates great torque and velocity but there are misses on tape that are head-scratching too.
Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati)
His erratic accuracy is a major problem (watch the Navy game, the first half of the Notre Dame game and see how he struggled against Alabama). The Seahawks will probably like his hand size, winning habit, personality and plus athleticism but he misses way too many easy layups and it feels like you could easily waste three years giving him a chance to take a leap forward and it never happening, leaving you in quarterback purgatory.
Sam Howell (North Carolina)
I just don’t get it and every time I watch his tape I think ‘meh’. A poor man’s Baker.
Carson Strong (Nevada)
He has genuine, legit arm talent. Yet he can barely move, the knee is a huge concern and he disappointed at the Senior Bowl.
Jack Coan (Notre Dame)
His arm is decent, he can go through reads, he can make plays downfield and he has something about him. I like Coan.
Kaleb Eleby (Western Michigan)
Completely lacks any kind of athletic upside but he loves to take shots downfield. They clearly liked Dee Eskridge a year ago so the Seahawks might have a soft spot for the man who threw him the ball.
Running back
Breece Hall (Iowa State)
His testing profile is incredible and he does a good job being shifty to capitalise on opportunities to burst through open lanes to gain yardage. I wasn’t that excited watching him though.
Kenneth Walker (Michigan State)
The testing surprised me because he doesn’t actually look like a blazing runner. He’s patient though, has home-run hitting ability and he carried Michigan State in 2021.
Dameon Pierce (Florida)
He’s an animal who runs through contact like it’s his oxygen. He is a Seahawks running back.
Zamir White (Georgia)
I love the way he accelerates through gaps and always falls forward on contact. An underrated, gritty tone-setter for Georgia who did as much as the defense to connect everything up.
Tyrion Davis-Price (LSU)
Big, athletic and explosive. He has great feet to shimmy away from tackles and the power to burst through opponents.
Rachaad White (Arizona State)
Productive with the occasional flash of brilliance. Doesn’t have an orthodox body type for the position.
Isaiah Spiller (Texas A&M)
I don’t see anything to get excited about. What am I missing?
James Cook (Georgia)
If his name was James Smith I’m not sure we’d be talking about him as much. He is what he is — a small running back best used as a creative pass catcher.
Isaih Pacheco (Rutgers)
He has a harrowing backstory and plays every game with an emotional passion to succeed and make people proud. He’s shifty and quick and if he plays on a better team, he might just be really good.
Max Borghi (Washington State)
He’s ended up being quite underrated. On tape he does everything well and provides a mix of elusiveness to dodge tackles, the ability to be a X-factor in the passing game and he’s a home-run threat.
Kevin Harris (South Carolina)
Harris isn’t going to offer you anything in the passing game but as a brutal, hammering, physical running back he has BAMF potential. He loves to run through contact and finish.
Zonovan Knight (NC State)
There’s a reason why his nickname is ‘Bam’ but he’s not just a power merchant who runs through tackles. His footwork is fantastic — as he showed in the pad drills at the combine.
Brian Robinson (Alabama)
Slightly high-cut and offers very little in pass-pro. However, he bulldozed his way to providing a needed running element to Alabama’s Playoff run.
Wide receiver
Jameson Williams (Alabama)
Breakaway speed is reminiscent of Desean Jackson. Tearing his ACL at the end of the season might prevent him from being WR1.
Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)
Great testing and very productive. He gets his body into weird, contorted positions though when catching the ball and it bothers me.
Chris Olave (Ohio State)
Silky smooth with better-than-expected speed. In the right offense he could be Mr. Reliable.
Drake London (USC)
There are plenty of ‘wow’ moments on tape. However, with a receiver this size I want to know the testing numbers and he’s refused to run a forty.
Treylon Burks (Arkansas)
Loved his tape, hated his combine and pro-day testing. Is he someone who outperforms his athletic profile or just a good college receiver who doesn’t have the upside to excel in the NFL?
Kevin Austin Jr (Notre Dame)
Underrated and jumped off the screen as a dynamic downfield playmaker. He’s extremely exciting to watch and he could be one of the best receivers from this deep class.
Christian Watson (North Dakota State)
Very quick, very tough, capable of receiving the ball around the LOS to grab YAC but can also get downfield. Praised for his leadership qualities.
Alec Pierce (Cincinatti)
All-world testing profile (size/speed) but everything is a contested catch. Is that the QB’s fault or can’t he separate?
Jahan Dotson (Penn State)
He’s pretty good at most things but not really great at anything. A decent prospect.
George Pickens (Georgia)
Not sure where all this sudden hype has come from (Greg Cosell bizarrely called him the best receiver in the draft, or something like that). He’s alright.
Wan’Dale Robinson (Kentucky)
Love his consistency, the way he led Kentucky’s offense with Will Levis and his willingness to hang in there to make difficult plays. His frame reminds me of Golden Tate.
Calvin Austin (Memphis)
A dynamic, diminutive receiver who was incredibly exciting to watch. He’d be a great fit for the Chiefs.
Jalen Tolbert (South Alabama)
He made probably the best catch in college football in 2021. Smooth, silky runner who should be a consistent ‘right place at the right time’ type.
John Metchie (Alabama)
The more I watched on tape the more I thought, ‘you’re not actually that fast’. Then he had the injury.
Skyy Moore (Western Michigan)
He didn’t excite me in the way Dee Eskridge did at all. He’s a warrior and will make extremely difficult catches in tough situations but he lacks a ‘wow’ factor for me.
Velus Jones Jr (Tennessee)
Love his special teams want and desire. He runs a 4.31 so he has some athletic talent but just watch what he does as a returner and as a blocker because it’s about as good as it gets.
Khalil Shakir (Boise State)
Extremely competitive prospect who offers so much variety to an offense. Creative minds will love him — as will his team mates.
David Bell (Purdue)
After watching his tape I thought second round. How can you have any faith in him though after running a 4.74 forty at 209lbs?
Tight end
Trey McBride (Colorado State)
Loves a block, loves a scrap and makes plays in the passing game. He’ll do for me.
Greg Dulcich (TE, UCLA)
A terrific athlete who looks the part. Would be a great fit for a creative offense that loves to feature a move-TE.
Jelani Woods (Virginia)
You put on the tape and think, ‘oh, he’s interesting’. Then you see the testing numbers and think, ‘very, very interesting’.
Cade Otton (Washington)
A typical Washington tight end who does everything well. Can he stay healthy though?
Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State)
Someone could get a steal if he falls due to the injury. He has a lot of really good traits and shines in the key areas.
Charlie Kolar (Iowa State)
A really, really interesting prospect. His testing profile matches up with some of the best TE’s in the league and he could soon join them.
Jake Ferguson (Wisconsin)
I like him — he can do a bit of everything. And his agility testing is in Seattle’s ballpark.
Daniel Bellinger (San Diego State)
If you can give him a jolt and make him more consistent as a blocker and pass catcher the sky’s the limit for Bellinger. He tested brilliantly in everything you look for in a tight end so the upside is clear.
Cole Turner (Nevada)
Another player who tested well in the short shuttle and three cone and that matters at tight end. Watching Carson Strong tape — Turner won so many jump-balls for him by boxing out and gaining position.
Tackle
Abraham Lucas (Washington State)
Brilliant run blocker with perfect size and testing. The top performer during on-field drills at the combine — it’s a disgrace how little he’s been talked about pre-draft.
Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa)
His testing profile is akin to the top tackles in the league. The concerns are, though, whether his technique (plays too high, susceptible to inside counter, can be bull-rushed) will ever be good enough and is he a genuine tough-guy or is he trying too hard to come across as one?
Charles Cross (Mississippi State)
One of the most overrated players in the draft for me. His narrow base is crying out to be relentlessly bull-rushed at the next level, he didn’t run-block in the air-raid and his testing profile is ‘meh’.
Tyler Smith (Tulsa)
He’s got ‘tackle who shifts inside to guard’ written all over him. He plays with an aggressive mindset but he’s nothing special as an edge protector.
Rasheed Walker (Penn State)
He plays like he needs a rocket up his arse. Yet there are flashes on tape where you think, ‘this guy has something’.
Daniel Faalele (T, Minnesota)
Too big. Why does anyone have him going on day two?
Nicholas Petit-Frere (Ohio State)
I thought he’d test better than he did. On tape he looked athletic with a need to find an edge but now you have to question his upside.
Thayer Munford (Ohio State)
Another Ohio State lineman whose tape is better than his testing (and his testing was absolutely rubbish). Still, as a day three option to have a look to see if he can make it at right tackle, I think he’s worth a shot.
Obinna Eze (Memphis)
I really like him. He has great size and length plus he knows how to use his frame to play inside/out and protect the edge.
Matt Waletzko (North Dakota State)
He’s really explosive with a fantastic tackle frame. At the Senior Bowl he stood out and made you take notice in the 1v1 reps.
Max Mitchell (Louisiana)
I really liked his tape against Texas but he was really poor at the Senior Bowl and then his testing was hugely underwhelming. Undersized, too.
Guard
Evan Neal (Alabama)
The man who drafted Brandon Scherff told me Neal reminds him of Scherff. He’s best suited to playing inside and being a top-tier guard.
Ikem Ekwonu (NC State)
I know he’ll get tried at tackle in all likelihood. For me Ekownu’s best bet is to kick inside to guard ala Zack Martin.
Zion Johnson (G, Boston College)
He has everything — length, explosive testing, agility, intelligence, an aggressive nature. Don’t be surprised if he goes as early as Alijah Vera-Tucker did.
Bernhard Raimann (G, Central Michigan)
Short arms and age (25) work against him but Raimann’s testing profile is remarkable. He could be a truly excellent guard but he lacks the technical refinement to play tackle early in his career, which is a problem when you’re already in your mid-20’s.
Kenyon Green (Texas A&M)
Another player where I just don’t get it. His testing profile is really, really bad.
Logan Bruss (Wisconsin)
An explosive linemen with experience at guard or tackle (best suited to guard at the next level). He has massive hands that are like clamps and he has a shot to be sneakily really good in the NFL.
Luke Goedeke (Central Michigan)
He lacks Raimann’s upside but he’s unsurprisingly more refined. Short arms are again a concern and likely mean a kick inside to guard.
Sean Rhyan (UCLA)
And another linemen with short arms. He played tackle at UCLA but his body type and playing style scream guard.
Center
Cam Jurgens (Nebraska)
The perfect package of angry grit, explosive traits, length and agility. What a player.
Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa)
The size concerns mean he won’t fit every team. However, the Seahawks have already stated they are looking for someone with Linderbaum’s profile so they should try and leave the draft with him because in the right scheme he’s going to be awesome.
Cole Strange (Chattanooga)
Good senior bowl, great size and length, amazing explosive traits. Strange could be really, really good.
Zach Tom (Wake Forest)
He’s so good on tape you want to almost consider keeping him at left tackle. Yet his size says center — and a really good one given his combination of length and explosive testing ability.
Dylan Parham (Memphis)
Good size and length but lacks ideal explosive traits or agility results. He does well to play with leverage but he might have a limited ceiling.
EDGE
Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon)
There’s no getting away from the fact when Thibodeaux starts talking you kind of want him to, well, stop. But he ran a 1.5 10-yard split and he does what every team wants — win off the edge with absolute dynamism.
Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan)
He has great potential to be something a bit special. The lack of length is worrisome but the worst case scenario for Hutchinson is still a really good football player.
Travon Walker (Georgia)
There aren’t many people with his level of athleticism at his size. That’s why he’s being talked about as a potential #1 pick — his upside is through the roof.
Jermaine Johnson (Florida State)
Not only does he have the 1.5 10-yard split in his locker, he’s also superb with his hands. If you draft Johnson you’ll get a complete edge defender who’ll be a good pass rusher, strong run defender and an even better heart-and-soul leader.
George Karlaftis (Purdue)
He’s basically a lower-shelf Aidan Hutchinson. His run-defending is surprisingly poor but he flies off the edge to make plays as a pass rusher.
Boye Mafe (Minnesota)
At the Senior Bowl he won reps with natural, almost effortless brilliance. He’s an amazing athlete who can also win with power — he just needs to continue developing to find a new level of dominance/consistency.
David Ojabo (Michigan)
You were always going to get a raw player who needed development time. Now with the injury ruling him out until 2023, how much harder will it be for him to get that development?
Arnold Ebiketie (Penn State)
He has some really nice wins on tape and he’s certainly explosive. However — he didn’t run at the combine and then ran a really slow 1.69 10-yard split at his Pro-Day, which is a concern.
Sam Williams (Ole Miss)
When you run a 4.46 at his size and can get after the quarterback, that will appeal to teams. The character concerns will have been investigated fully by interested parties.
Nik Bonitto (Oklahoma)
I’m having a really hard time working him out because the size is better than expected, the length is a concern, the production amazing and the testing good. But he wins by starting in a very wide position then racing to the QB — thus he never really engages and at the next level you wonder if he’ll just be absorbed given he’ll need to make contact a lot more often than he did in college.
Drake Jackson (USC)
His weight has been up and down. On tape he has some amazing wins and you need to determine whether he can reach a level of consistency we simply didn’t see in college.
Michael Clemons (Texas A&M)
He doesn’t have the best testing profile but he’s built like a Greek God and has wins in the same way Darrell Taylor won at Tennessee. He’s also a clear BAMF.
DeAngelo Malone (Western Kentucky)
He’s had a really impressive draft season. He performed extremely well at the Senior Bowl, then gained weight, then tested well at the new weight and you feel like he has a lot to offer in the middle rounds as a rotational rusher.
Dominique Robinson (Miami-Ohio)
A converted receiver who has all the testing qualities and has some flashes on tape. He needs further development but the traits are there to be a useful rotational pass rusher.
Amare Barno (Virginia Tech)
He ran brilliantly in the 4.3’s at the combine but his tape is just rubbish for the most part. So can he make the most of that speed and become stronger, tougher and more impactful?
Defensive tackle
Jordan Davis (Georgia)
He’s basically Thanos but can you trust him to stay at 340lbs? He could be Haloti Ngata or Vita Vea if he stays in his combine shape, otherwise he could be a disappointing, small-percentage snap, two-down nose tackle.
Devonte Wyatt (Georgia)
He looks like he could be another Geno Atkins. However, there are rumblings of some lingering character concerns.
Travis Jones (Connecticut)
Stunning player with an outstanding testing profile and incredible upside. He dominated the Senior Bowl and deserves to go in round one.
Perrion Winfrey (Oklahoma)
His tape is crap so you have to work out how much that’s on him and how much is on the slanting scheme that basically didn’t seem to suit anyone at Oklahoma. He’s a fire-and-brimstone on-field personality and he’s a terrific athlete.
Matthew Butler (Tennessee)
A really interesting player who has the length and skill of a good pro-DT. He could be a useful three-technique in the NFL.
Phidarian Mathis (Alabama)
Tough, physical, long, passionate and productive (in 2021) but his testing profile is nothing special. If nothing else he’ll give you everything.
Inside-out rusher
Logan Hall (Houston)
He plays too upright and he needs a better plan to his rushes. However — he’s quick and physical and you can’t sniff at a 4.44 short shuttle at his size.
Joshua Paschal (Kentucky)
He’s a Minotaur when it comes to defending the run — setting the edge beautifully and playing with a style that makes you want to start shouting and beating your chest. He has limitations as a pass rusher, though.
DeMarvin Leal (Texas A&M)
The idea of Leal is better than the reality of Leal. I watched one game where I thought — this is really good and he’s dominating — and a few other games where I thought, is he playing?
Linebacker
Devin Lloyd (Houston)
I’ve gone back-and-forth with Lloyd because you can see the intensity and the havoc-wreaking plays. Yet his technique is a bit too unorthodox at times and his testing results were nothing special.
Channing Tindall (Georgia)
He has a wonderful personality, he’s incredibly explosive, he’s a Ferrari in pursuit and he’s just getting started. Draft him.
Quay Walker (Georgia)
Walker is a dude. A physical, athletic, well-sized dude.
Leo Chenal (Wisconsin)
If you want a player with amazing size, incredible agility for that size and someone who can play downfield and just attack, attack, attack — Chenal’s your man. He might have some limitations trying to drop in coverage though.
Damone Clark (LSU)
If it wasn’t for his serious injury he could be a first round pick. He has everything.
Troy Andersen (Montana State)
One of the most fun players to watch in college football. Andersen is one of the best testers ever and has limitless upside if he can put it all together.
Nakobe Dean (Georgia)
I don’t know with Dean — he’s undersized, he’s done no testing and his best work comes as a blitzer for me. Is he a better college player than pro?
Christian Harris (Alabama)
Love the speed he showed at the combine. However, his tape just leaves you wanting more.
Chad Muma (Wyoming)
Very explosive and it shows up on tape (his attitude and aggression jump off the screen). His short shuttle is good not great though (an important test at LB).
Brian Asamoah (Oklahoma)
His testing performance was a bit underwhelming. On tape he flies to the ball-carrier better than any linebacker not named Channing Tindall so it was surprising.
Darrian Beavers (Cincinnati)
Explosive and agile — that’s what you need at the position. He will threaten as a blitzer and could end up being a very solid starter at the next level.
Cornerback
Derek Stingley Jr (LSU)
The most exciting cornerback to enter the league in years. The best corner in the draft with immense potential.
Sauce Gardner (Cincinnati)
I think he’s become a bit overrated, even if I like him as a player. I’m calling him ‘secret Sauce’ after his decision not to do any testing other than a forty run at the combine.
Andrew Booth (Clemson)
No testing makes it hard to get a read on Booth. I know some people in the league still believe he’s CB3 though.
Trent McDuffie (Washington)
Good player but I think he’s a Byron Murphy type. I’m not sold on this top-15 talk.
Kyler Gordon (Washington)
On tape there’s a lot to like but he shocked everyone with a mediocre combine. How do you judge him after that?
Kaiir Elam (Florida)
I thought he’d test worse than he did so kudos there. I think on tape he showed you can get him to bite and he does get beat but his frame and athleticism is attractive.
Roger McLeary (Auburn)
He’s massively competitive and does a good job to stick or recover and make last-minute breakups. He’s tiny with short-arms though and he didn’t run that well.
Jalyn Armour-Davis (Alabama)
A Rolls Royce who oozes class. He could end up being really good.
MJ Emerson (Mississippi State)
Purely from the eye-test, he’s a classic Seahawks corner. It won’t be a shock if they really like him.
Cam Taylor-Britt (Nebraska)
Extremely physical cornerback who loves a tackle. He also has the recovery speed and attitude this team needs.
Tariq Woolen (UTSA)
He has a physical profile to drool over. However, he’s unquestionably tight in his hips and the high-upside athleticism needs to be harnessed to make a better football player.
Demarri Mathis (Pittsburgh)
I’m a huge fan. His testing is through the roof and he just loves to stick a helmet in there and rough people up.
Jaylen Watson (Washington State)
He shows subtle technique wins to stick in coverage and I like that. He has a shot to make it at the next level due to his savviness.
Montaric Brown (Arkansas)
He had a ton of production in 2021 and is flying under the radar. He can bite on double moves and needs coaching there but otherwise I thought he had a really good final season in college.
Safety
Lewis Cine (Georgia)
His field-reading ability is extraordinary, as is his read-and-react. He also runs a 4.37 and hits like a hammer.
Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame)
A big safety but his best trait was always his gliding running style to chase down ball-carriers. Then he tested poorly as a runner so what gives?
Nick Cross (Maryland)
Fantastic player who flies to the ball, can cover ground quickly and packs a punch as a hitter. Underrated.
Bryan Cook (Cincinnati)
If you need someone who can just come in, hold down his job and keep things organised — Cook’s your man. No testing makes it hard to assess his upside.
Daxton Hill (Michigan)
After expecting a headline-making combine he only did so-so. I was banking on that because he’s mostly an upside prospect who needs his true role defining.
Jalen Pitre (Baylor)
I’m having a hard time working him out. He’s a tough assessment for me.
Kerby Joseph (Illinois)
There’s something here. He’s rangy enough to cover ground, he has size to hit and he is a magnet to the ball.
Jaquan Brisker (Penn State)
I was always left wanting more from him. Show me something to get excited about.
Percy Butler (Louisana)
Electrifying special teams ace who deserves a shot to be more. An energy-creating player who provides day-one value as a gunner.
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