Will the Seahawks trade up in round two?
It’s something we’ve discussed a fair bit over the last couple of weeks. I looked at an idea where they traded up for an offensive lineman. Chad Reuter posted a mock draft where the Seahawks moved up for a quarterback.
Could it be for a tight end potentially?
Tom Pelissero reports that they’re having LSU’s Mason Taylor in for an official visit. He and Elijah Arroyo are both in a tier that should see them taken anywhere between 25-45. Seattle’s new offense will only be at its absolute best with a dynamic pass-catching tight end on the roster.
Arroyo, for me, is the best fit assuming Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren don’t last to #18. If Arroyo goes earlier than expected (I don’t think the late first is out of the question) that could leave Taylor as their best bet to get an ideal tight end fit this off-season.
Noah Fant is effectively acting as a draft hedge at the moment but there’s nothing locking him on to the roster.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Seahawks are eyeing up their options at the top of the second round. Look at it this way. If they have players projected to go in the top-38 who are graded far higher than the players at #50, plus they think pick #92 comes after a significant shelf in talent, why wouldn’t they consider giving up that late third-rounder to move up?
Thanks to ‘Golden Hawk’ on Twitter for reminding me of this quote from John Schneider recently:
“Initially, you’re like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to take five really good players. But then you get in a situation where it’s like, ‘All right, that guy’s a starter, we should probably move to go get him.”
They might have a few targets in mind, including possibly Taylor.
More praise for Emeka Egbuka
Another day, another person lavishing praise on the Ohio State receiver. This time it’s Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt:
Firstly, it’s another pundit grading/ranking him as a top-20 talent in this class. It’s further evidence that he won’t be a reach if the Seahawks take him at #18.
Secondly, it’s another total validation of the argument I’ve been making about his fit in Seattle. What Klatt describes in that video is the kind of person the Seahawks want to draft. They have a Tyler Lockett sized hole on the roster — another player they felt led the way as an ideal Seahawk. Egbuka coming in and providing that same level of consistency, maturity and presence would be a big thing.
He’s not the only one who can do it. I know Malaki Starks has a similar reputation. So does Tyler Booker. Matthew Golden is well liked at Texas, as is Donovan Ezeiruaku at Boston College. These are the kind of prospects they are typically drawn to. Unless players like Colston Loveland or Jahdae Barron unexpectedly fall, it could be that they pick from the names I just listed.
Nick Emmanwori an unlikely option?
Bob McGinn’s scouting sources are regularly mocked on Twitter but as someone who has tracked his series for years, I have to say more often than not you learn a lot from what his articles say. They’re also pretty good at projecting range.
Here’s what his sources said about South Carolina safety Emmanwori:
“There’s some inconsistency and possible character issues. More like football immaturity.”
“He’s naturally contrarian to most everything. He’s got top-20 talent but there’s some bells and whistles that come with him. Just be sure you know. He can probably fray some things. You’ve got to have somebody to deal with the personality. They say this guy is so strong-willed, if you get him onto your side he’ll save the world. If he is opposed to your views he’ll burn the world down.”
This is probably why they had him in for an official-30 visit. They’re doing further background checks on Emmanwori the person, trying to learn more about him.
I’m not convinced they’re going to draft him given that second quote above. They just moved on from two headaches this off-season, do they want to dive head-first into another? Especially when there are players in this draft with similar or better grades who will provide A+ character. I can’t see it.
