We’ve talked a lot about non O-line picks for the Seahawks at #18. It’s possible, depending on how the board shapes out. An early run on linemen won’t send Seattle into desperation mode. They’ll be forced to play the hand they are dealt.
Some fans will react badly to this suggestion, just as the foaming of the mouth started during free agency. Team building isn’t easy. ‘Just get it done’ sounds good in a tweet. It’s harder to apply in the business of signing and drafting players.
I wanted the Seahawks to sign Will Fries but not at any cost. Ditto Drew Dalman. I don’t blame them for not signing Fries given the contract he signed in Minnesota, without a medical. It seems like Dalman had his heart set on the Bears early in the process. I never once petitioned the Seahawks to pivot aggressively to what was left in free agency and I won’t take that position in the draft either.
I didn’t want them to sign Teven Jenkins or Mekhi Becton after studying them closely. They were not going to be part of a future great offensive line in Seattle. The aim is to build a top-10 line, however difficult that may be. Not sign the O-line version of Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker.
Daniel Jeremiah’s new mock draft had Grey Zabel going 16th overall to Arizona. He had Tyler Booker falling out of round one, presumably because of his testing. If Zabel isn’t available and if the Seahawks don’t see Booker as a fit, the odds increase that the 18th pick won’t be a lineman. For what it’s worth, Mel Kiper and Todd McShay also didn’t include Booker in their updated first round projections.
Jeremiah had Seattle taking Colston Loveland. I’d be stunned if he lasts to #18 and don’t anticipate any chance of that happening. Tyler Warren won’t last to #14 and the Colts in that slot feel like Loveland’s floor. Both tight ends are among the tiny pool of legit first round talents this year and will likely be taken before any of the receivers. If Loveland did last to #18 they should probably run to the podium.
We’ve discussed Donovan Ezeiruaku as a possibility for Seattle. His production, character, agility testing and length all fit the Seahawks perfectly. However, signing DeMarcus Lawrence and re-working Uchenna Nwosu’s deal means they’d probably have to ‘love’ Ezeiruaku to take him at #18.
I do think there’s a very real chance they select Malaki Starks. McShay paired Seattle with Nick Emmanwori, an increasingly popular pick in mocks. They’re having Emmanwori in for an official 30 visit too. I suspect this will be an important ‘getting to know you’ meeting. I think the testing numbers are turning too many heads at the moment though.
That isn’t to say Emmanwori is bad. Far from it. I do think the Kyle Hamilton comparisons are a bit much. He might be able to positionally operate in the same role but he lacks Hamilton’s physical playing style. Watching South Carolina, I thought there were four other players on their defense who set the tone and impacted games more than Emmanwori.
Starks is a very talented player. He can hit, he can cover. He’s not as versatile as perhaps some think — but as a deep cover safety I think he’s completely at home. His personality and character are elite level and teams will love him. Listen to my segment on Seattle Sports yesterday with Bump & Stacy (click here) for a story reflecting Starks’ professionalism and application. With the right guidance (eg Mike Macdonald) he has a chance to be an exceptional safety.
I also think Maxwell Hairston could be a sleeper option. I thought initially he wouldn’t be based on sloppy 2024 tape especially when it came to tackling. He had a 27.3% missed tackle rate, 20th worst in the NCAA. On run plays alone he had a 44.4% missed tackle rate.
However, I did a bit more digging. He only played seven games due to a nagging injury. He basically had three bad games against Georgia, Texas and Louisville and all of his missed tackles occurred in those games.
The year before when he played a full season his missed tackle rate was only 8.2%. It would’ve been even better but for two bad games at the end of the season where he missed a third of his tackles vs Louisville and a quarter against Clemson.
If that 8.2% rate over a healthy full season is a better reflection of who he is, it compares favourably. Devon Witherspoon had an 11.4% missed tackle rate in his final year at Illinois. Denzel Ward, who he mirrors physically (more on that in a second) had a 16.7% missed tackle rate in his final year at Ohio State. Quinyon Mitchell’s 2023 rate was 11.8%. Terrion Arnold’s was 3.6%.
Ward and Hairston are physical replicas. They are both 5-11 and both weighed 183lbs at their combines, Ward’s arms are a quarter of an inch longer and Hairston edged Ward in the forty (4.28 vs 4.32) and vertical (39.5 vs 39).
We know the Seahawks had interest in the cornerback position a year ago if Byron Murphy wasn’t available. Hairston could be a player to monitor. Character wise he ticks that box — he’s a great talker and full of energy. His production is excellent with six interceptions and three pick-sixes in 20 games. He’s fluid in transition, has long limbs, his backpedal is smooth and he plants his foot to accelerate quickly. All his body movements are controlled. He has excellent instinct to read the quarterback and act on telegraphed throws. He can climb the ladder to bat away lofted passes. He’s a very capable blitzer. He had one of the best box drills you’ll ever see at the combine and his change of direction is electric.
If they did end up taking one of Starks or Hairston — and they’re yet to make any significant additions at either position in free agency — they’d have to look at day two and three for offensive linemen as discussed.
Jeff Simmons made a good point to me this week. He noted the importance of aesthetics for John Schneider and needing to be seen to be actively fixing the O-line. They can justify Zabel at #18 and if he’s not there, maybe they just pivot to Kelvin Banks Jr — who won’t have a dramatically lower grade, if at all. That would make some sense, even if I’m not 100% sure on Banks’ fit inside.
It’d be hard to wait on the O-line but the coaching staff might be pointing to the best zone blockers in this draft not being early round picks.
For example, as bad as Wyatt Milum was at the Senior Bowl, he was the top graded zone blocker per PFF (90.3) in this class. They might feel they can develop him as a third round pick to work within their system. I watched all of his drills at the BIG-12 pro-day yesterday and thought he looked far more sharp and athletic than he did in Mobile.
Armand Membou had the second best zone blocking grade and sadly he won’t be available. After that, it was Jack Nelson (86.4) and Logan Brown (85.2). I really like both players and am intrigued by their ability to kick inside. I’d happily take either in rounds 3/4. Marcus Mbow (81.3) also graded well in zone and he’s slated to go in the late second round.
If you can’t get to Membou or Zabel, there would be some method to this approach. As I keep saying, it’s not really what anyone wants. The accusation will be this is what the Seahawks always do and it never works. In reality — the problem is nothing has worked. The higher picks — James Carpenter, Germain Ifedi, Ethan Pocic — haven’t been roaring successes. Russell Okung didn’t get a second contract. Charles Cross has only been OK so far. Even Justin Britt, who did get a second contract, was hardly a champagne pick.
I’d suggest the success or failure of Seattle’s line going forwards will be on development as much as drafting. That’s been badly lacking. They now have a very experienced staff. If they think they can draft and develop the likes of Milum, Nelson, Brown or Mbow — you might have to trust them. It’d be a better plan than forcing anything in round one.
I suspect it’ll be a moot point and they may well just draft Zabel at #18 and address their biggest need with their top pick. If he’s gone, as Jeremiah suggests, you might have to resort to Plan B. Or let’s be right — if you give Starks a 6.50 grade and Zabel’s a 6.38 — I’m not sure you can turn down Starks. Ditto if it’s Hairston instead (although I think his grade will be closer to Zabel’s).
Ideal world’s don’t exist in the NFL. Look at the New York Giants and their situation at quarterback, both in terms of the veteran market and the draft. I hope over the next few weeks that as a fan base we can learn to accept the following:
1. ‘Best player available’ over ‘need’ matters if the grading difference is significant between prospects
2. There will be O-line options on day two, where Seattle has four picks
3. Ideally they address their biggest need at #18 but if they don’t, a meltdown isn’t necessary
4. Only five of the top-15 guards in the NFL in 2024 per PFF were taken in round one and only three of the top-15 centers
Meanwhile, there are now four confirmed official-30 visits to Seattle. Nick Emmanwori, Tyler Shough and Savion Williams were previously reported. Today, Tony Pauline revealed Bryce Cabeldue is visiting the Seahawks.
He’s a tackle who projects to guard. He ran a 4.94 forty at 6-5 and 306lbs. He added a 30-inch vertical, a 9-6 broad jump and a 4.60 short shuttle. He managed 30 reps on the bench. His TEF score is a 3.25. That’s a very interesting physical profile so he’s one to keep an eye on.
