Compensatory picks will be announced by the NFL tomorrow. Brandon Adams quotes ESPN’s John Clayton who believes Seattle could receive an extra fourth round pick.

Walter Cherepinsky has an updated 2012 mock draft. Unsurprisingly, Andrew Luck is going first overall.

Mel Kiper’s updated big board has Patrick Peterson at #1.

Mike Mayock discusses the qualities of Blaine Gabbert and Cameron Newton.

KC Joyner continues to praise Ryan Mallett: “Got him rated as the best on-field QB talent in this draft. If his off-field issues aren’t as bad as advertised (and it is likely too much attention is being given to that), he’s a pro-ready prospect pretty much from day one.”

Todd McShay runs through the top ten of his mock draft:

Don’t forget to check the latest Seahawks Draft Blog mock draft (which now features round two) or vote in our poll

To see the latest projection click here.

We’re just over a month away from the draft and still there’s so many questions to be answered.

Who’s going first overall? Will a new CBA be agreed before the draft, opening up free agency? What are the Seahawks going to do at #25?

We’ve all seen rumours linking Seattle with Carson Palmer and Kevin Kolb. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen this week said he’d be ‘shocked’ if the Seahawks didn’t draft a quarterback early.

With Matt Hasselbeck unsigned and possibly moving on, the position has taken on an even greater importance. Something needs to be done one way or another.

Yet when I sit down to compile a mock draft, I just cannot see how any of the top four prospects fall into the 20’s. Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert will be top five picks. I still think Jake Locker is a shoe-in for Washington and Mike Shanahan. Even with character concerns Ryan Mallett has too much talent to get past teams like Miami and Jacksonville.

The idea of an unclear situation beyond the draft somehow appears unfathomable when in fact it’s probably a much greater reality than you’d hope. Not finding a QB in round one won’t necessarily mean the team spends the #57 pick on a QB. Christian Ponder and Andy Dalton are not the answer. Colin Kaepernick? That’s a big project. Ricky Stanzi? Perhaps, but not in round two and Seattle will need to get some playmakers. Do they trade up in round one?

April 6th is a huge day for the NFL but perhaps more so for Seattle than most other teams. That is the day the players and owners head to court to discover whether an injuction will be placed on the lockout, allowing free agency to begin. Having that opportunity to bring some one in possibly using the #25 pick can shape the team for years to come. Whether you agree with a potential Kevin Kolb trade or not (I have mixed feelings) if the Seahawks cannot get at the top QB prospects this year something needs to happen.

People will say wait – but this is a QB driven league and you have to be proactive not reactive.

So while I have the Seahawks taking a defensive lineman in round one this week, it somehow feels like this story will have a few more chapters before we get to the twist.

A loose second round projection:

#33 New England – Leonard Hankerson (WR, Miami)
#34 Buffalo – Phil Taylor (DT, Baylor)
#35 Cincinnati – Justin Houston (DE, Georgia)
#36 Denver – Akeem Ayers (LB, UCLA)
#37 Cleveland – Christian Ponder (QB, Florida State)
#38 Arizona – Kyle Rudolph (TE, Notre Dame)
#39 Tennessee – Curtis Brown (CB, Texas)
#40 Dallas – Brandon Harris (CB, Miami)
#41 Washington – Jonathan Baldwin (WR, Pittsburgh)
#42 Houston – Rodney Hudson (OG/C, Florida State)
#43 Minnesota – Edmund Gates (WR, Abilene Christian)
#44 Detroit – Martez Wilson (LB, Illinois)
#45 San Francisco – Ryan Williams (RB, Virginia Tech)
#46 Denver – Marvin Austin (DT, North Carolina)
#47 St. Louis – Danny Watkins (OG, Baylor)
#48 Oakland – Chimdi Chekwa (CB, Ohio State)
#49 Jacksonville – Mikel Leshoure (RB, Illinois)
#50 San Diego – Quinton Carter (S, Oklahoma)
#51 Tampa Bay – Cameron Heyward (DE, Ohio State)
#52 New York Giants – Terrell McClain (DT, USF)
#53 Indianapolis – Drake Nevis (DT, LSU)
#54 Philadelphia – Ben Ijalana (OT, Villanova)
#55 Kansas City – Tandon Doss (WR, Indiana)
#56 New Orleans – Jarvis Jenkins (DT, Clemson)
#57 Seattle – Orlando Franklin (OG, Miami)
#58 Baltimore – Lance Kendricks (TE, Wisconsin)
#59 Atlanta – Torrey Smith (WR, Maryland)
#60 New England – Jordan Todman (RB, Connecticut)
#61 San Diego – Marcus Cannon (OG, TCU)
#62 Chicago – James Carpenter (OT, Alabama)
#63 Pittsburgh – Randall Cobb (WR, Kentucky)
#64 Green Bay – Aaron Williams (FS, Texas)

Notes: I don’t like Christian Ponder that high but Cleveland stopped Colt McCoy falling into round four and may make another gaffe by drafting Ponder this early. If Denver draft Bowers, Ayers and Austin in rounds 1&2, John Fox can be satisfied the league’s worst defense will be improved. I suspect out of the group Jordan Todman may be the one that sticks in the mind long term.

Seattle takes the best available interior lineman. There wasn’t a multitude of options here. People will ask about the quarterbacks but the two realistic options were Colin Kaepernick and Ricky Stanzi – both significant reaches for me. Seattle has the second pick in round four courtesy of the Deion Branch trade and can easily move up using their two 5th round picks to target this pair in round three if they wished. While I rate both quarterbacks ahead of Andy Dalton, I still wouldn’t invest the team’s future in either. This, to me, stresses the difficult situation the Seahawks find themselves in. Upgrading and sorting the quarterback position long term must be the priority.

Mike Mayock was at the Georgia pro-day and has this report for the NFL Network. Chaos reigned supreme as the lockout continues to hamper prospects working out for scouts. Mayock wasn’t impressed with Justin Houston, “He’s not a first round prospect.”

Walter Cherepinsky has a six-round mock draft available. The Seahawks go defense with their first two picks, selecting Jimmy Smith and Marvin Austin.

Rich Cirminiello from collegefootballnews.com has a top-ten video mock. He has Blaine Gabbert going first overall.

Ryan McCrystal at Draft Ace also has an updated mock draft. The Seahawks take Ryan Mallett at #25 and Demarco Murray at #57.

Brandon Adams at 17 Power is forecasting an early run on quarterbacks next month. This blog is a daily feature for me, this is a great article and kudos for a graphic tagging which teams will be thinking QB ahead of Seattle.

Former Seahawks scout Bucky Brooks has a piece on the risk/reward nature of Ryan Mallett and Jimmy Smith.

The latest ESPN ‘First Draft’ podcast is available, with Todd McShay and Mel Kiper discussing picks 6-12 and other draft matters.

Merril Hoge breaks down the tape on Blaine Gabbert for ESPN:

Don’t forget to vote in the Seahawks Draft Blog poll asking ‘what is Seattle’s greatest need?’ (click here to vote). I’ll have an updated mock draft on the blog tomorrow including (for the first time this year) a second round projection.

Tony Pauline is reporting interest from the Seahawks in talented Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith:

“Last week we posted that sources had told us several teams removed Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith from their draft boards due to character concerns.  Over the weekend separate, independent sources again confirmed this.  That said we’ve also been alerted that the Seattle Seahawks still highly rate the cornerback and would consider taking him in round one.”

Smith is a top ten talent on the field, yet talk of character concerns continue to linger. The Seahawks would be wise to roll the dice on his huge talent if he makes it to #25. In my last mock draft I looked at the possibility that Smith could still be an early draft pick – Tennessee have ignored character concerns in the past when drafting in round one and they’re in desperate need of a corner. While some may assume the #8 overall pick is too early (especially with the Titans need at quarterback) I still think it’s a potential landing spot. There’s a papers width between Patrick Peterson and Jimmy Smith as this year’s top cornerback, even though Peterson has received a much greater press. Both are incredibly talented players.

It would be an upset if the character concerns dropped Smith to #25 even despite all the negative publicity. If it was to happen, only one of the top quarterbacks remaining on the board should prevent the Colorado prospect landing in Seattle.

The main talking point from the clip above? Chris Mortensen: “I’ll almost be shocked if they (Seattle) don’t draft a quarterback.”

Adam Schefter name checks the Seahawks among those who could show interest in Nnamdi Asomugha. The Texans and Redskins are also candidates for the elite corner’s signature.

Peter King quotes an unnamed source suggesting Philadelphia have received an offer of a first round pick for quarterback Kevin Kolb. The Eagles are waiting to see if they’ll get an improved offer. Any potential trade is dependant on a new CBA or the players forcing an injuction to block the lockout in court on April 6th. Could Seattle be the interested party?

Dan Kadar thinks so: “That quote would lead me to believe that it may be the Seattle Seahawks, if an offer has actually been sent. Of the teams in the draft after pick 18, Seattle is the only one that really needs a quarterback.”

It’s a logical link to make, considering the Seahawks pick late at #25. I presume Philly would jump at the chance to add another first round pick and possibly some 2012 draft stock too. Arizona, San Francisco, Cleveland – these teams aren’t going to give up top-ten picks for Kolb.

Matt Maiocco agrees that the 49ers won’t be willing to use the #7 overall pick to acquire Kolb.

I doubt Miami and Jacksonville will bite at #15 or #16. Getting a pick in the 20’s is Philadelphia’s likely best offer. The sticking point would be obviously the lack of a CBA or that crucial injunction. If Seattle is determined to bring in a quarterback regardless, it lends credence to Chris Mortensen’s opinion that the Seahawks are favored to draft a QB.

Rob Rang says Ryan Mallett is a surprise contender to go first overall, but also quotes sources claiming he’s fighting to stay in round one. The truth is possible somewhere in the middle (Miami? Jacksonville?).

Legendary journalist John McClain has Seattle drafting Mallett at #25 in his second mock draft.

Todd McShay believes Seattle’s biggest need is offensive tackle. Say what you want about the Seahawks offensive line, but the reason Seattle went 7-9 wasn’t mainly because of the play of Sean Locklear.

Scott Wright claims Michael Floyd has played his last game for Notre Dame after an arrest over the weekend for drink driving. Receiver Floyd started the 2010 college season a reasonable bet to be a first round draft pick next month. He didn’t declare after a season of mixed fortunes and now it appears his career is in jeopardy. He could enter the supplemental draft – if such a thing exists in this post-CBA world.

Don’t forget to vote in the Seahawks Draft Blog poll. We’re asking – what is the team’s greatest need? Vote here.

The 12th man could feature on the cover of Madden 12. You can vote here.

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Evan Silva has news of another prospect set to visit Seattle in the upcoming weeks: “The Seahawks will host Utah State safety Rajric Coleman for an official pre-draft visit on April 4th.”

Rob Rang has an updated mock draft and continues to pair the Seahawks with quarterback Ryan Mallett: “The Seahawks appear to be very intrigued with the Razorback’s strong arm. GM John Schneider was on hand for Mallett’s pro day.”

Steve Wyche believes the lack of need at running back will hurt the position early this year: “As I was posing questions to an NFL general manager about the value of running backs prospects and the overall draft class at the position, I got a question boomeranged back toward me: How many teams, right now, really need a running back?”

Adam Schefter doesn’t believe Jake Locker will stick around long enough for the Seahawks to select at #25: “I don’t get the sense that Locker will be around at No. 25. There are just so many teams that need quarterbacks — Carolina, Buffalo, Arizona, San Francisco, Tennessee, Washington, Minnesota and Miami, to name some — and his upside is too high.”

Jesse Bartolis has an interview with promising Lehigh offensive lineman Will Rackley.

Dan Kelly’s Seahock Blog is a brilliant new site that’s become a must read. His latest piece breaks down the Seahawks’ receivers, particularly Deon Butler. Alongside Brandon Adams’ 17 Power these are two high quality ‘Hawks blogs that I’d recommend highly.

Greg Cox has a short scouting report on Florida State guard Rodney Hudson: “Rodney Hudson brings a lot to the table. Right now his skills are perfect for a zone blocking scheme. He spent four years starting in the ACC, including some work at center and tackle.”

Mark Ingram speaks to ESPN about his draft preparations:

When people criticise the play of Ryan Mallett, they often point to his footwork under pressure and how it affects his ability to make plays. ‘Universal Draft’ has compiled a 12-minute video of plays where  the Arkansas QB is under duress:

It makes for interesting viewing and certainly highlights some of the issues people have raised. It also proves that Mallett isn’t a complete lost cause when facing a pass rush – as witnessed at the 5:34 point when he sidesteps an Alabama defensive lineman to make a good completion. Generally though it is a legitimate concern regarding his footwork and mobility and it’s something a team will have to live with and work around at the next level.

There’s also a section on play action and roll outs nine minutes in. As much as Mallett’s footwork (and therefore accuracy) is impacted by pressure, he’s adept at play action. Despite not being the most agile athlete, he’s also very good on roll outs and creating that extra time and space to diagnose the field and progress through his reads.

Shawn Zobel is tweeting that Carson Palmer wants to play in Seattle and that such a move is a possibility. There’s been a lot of speculation linking the Bengals QB with a move to the North West since Palmer made it clear he would retire rather than remain in Cincinnati. The lack of a CBA restricts such a move taking place, but teams can still talk.

Mike Mayock reports from Blaine Gabbert’s pro-day. Is it possible for a quarterback to have a bad pro-day? I don’t think I’ve ever heard a negative report on a top prospect throwing in shorts. Mayock has some views on Aldon Smith and makes a great point on his potential fit in a 4-3 scheme.

Gabbert speaks to Todd McShay after his work out:

KC Joyner’s draft lab series was essential reading last year. It’s great to see Joyner delving back into the draft analysis and he has an interesting piece on the quarterback class: “(Ryan) Mallett has shown that he is capable of operating a vertical-based NFL offense right out of the gate. His combination of size, long pass ability and a willingness to take chances in the vertical game are very reminiscent of Ben Roethlisberger. That Day 1 readiness is why Mallett should be considered a better pro prospect than (Blaine) Gabbert.”

Joseph Barksdale is a later round option if the Seahawks are looking for a right tackle.

If you haven’t had a chance to get a good look at USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith, here’s his tape against Virginia from 2010:

Today is Blaine Gabbert’s pro-day. Mel Kiper and Todd McShay discuss what Gabbert has to prove today (see video above).Gregg Rosenthal at ProFootball Talk believes the Panthers prefer Cam Newton over Gabbert with the #1 overall pick.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen has the wonderlic scores for this year’s QB class. Blaine Gabbert (42) and Christian Ponder (35) scored highly. Ryan Mallett (26) and Cam Newton (21) will both improve their stock based on their scores, but Jake Locker’s 20 was probably lower than expected.

Mortensen also points out that Peyton Manning and Drew Brees both scored a 28.

Mike Sando uses the 26-27-60 rule to compare the quarterbacks now that the wonderlic scores are common knowledge. The formula is explained here.

Mike Mayock has a positive report from Christian Ponder’s pro-day.

If you want a definitive scouting report on Ponder you can’t beat Kyle Rota.

Rob Rang has news from the Illinois pro-day. Corey Liuget may be solidifying a place in the top-15 picks, but it wasn’t such good news for speedy linebacker Martez Wilson.

Don Banks at Sports Illustrated has the Seahawks taking Ryan Mallett in his latest mock draft.

Brandon Adams at 17 Power looks at the recent increase in mock drafts projecting Mallett to the Seahawks at #25.

Dan Kelly at ‘the Seahock blog’ has the second part of his look at potential defensive tackle prospects for Seattle.

Michael Lombardi discusses how teams may approach the draft during the lockout. He also speaks very highly about Ryan Mallett’s on field character, but admits homework will be crucial.

Steve Wyche and Charles Davis argue draft ‘fact or fiction’ on a number of topics – including the pro-potential of Cam Newton and Ryan Mallett.

Bucky Brooks thinks the Seahawks would consider Miss. State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod at #25.

Meet Florida guard Mike Pouncey.

James Carpenter is a player who stood out in 2010 on a talented Alabama team. He’s a player I’d personally consider drafting as high as the late second round.

The Seahawks spoke to Lehigh offensive tackle Will Rackley at the combine – here’s his work out.

Don’t forget to check the latest Seahawks Draft Blog mock draft, which you can discuss here.