The Seahawks are probably going to add to their pass rush in the draft. I don’t think the visit with Dante Fowler is indicative of a plan to bypass a deep EDGE class. I think that’s covering your bases or possibly even an additional option.

They lack speed up front. While it’s not exclusively what they’re looking for, I think there’s data to suggest it’s very much part of their thinking.

Here’s the max-speed GPS scores (mph) for several potential options from the 2025 season. This is speed testing in pads during games, not at a pro-day or combine:

Keyshawn James-Newby — 20.6
R Mason Thomas — 19.6
Malachi Lawrence — 18.8
Keyron Crawford — 18.6
Dani Dennis-Sutton — 18.6
Joshua Josephs — 18.4
Cashius Howell — 18.3
Romello Height — 18.1
Keldric Faulk — 18.1
Wesley Williams — 17.8
Zion Young — 17.8
TJ Parker — 17.4
Gabe Jacas — 16.6

The top-four players on the list above all took an official visit to Seattle.

I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

So why does the title of this article focus on Auburn’s Keyron Crawford? There are other factors playing into his candidacy to be Seattle’s second round pick at #64.

Not only is he listed near the top of the list for max-speed, he’s right at the top for max speed over 0-10 yards:

Keyron Crawford — 16.4
Keldric Faulk — 16.3
Malachi Lawrence — 16.1
Cashius Howell — 16.0
Gabe Jacas — 15.6
Romello Height — 15.5
Keyshawn James-Newby — 15.3
Joshua Josephs — 15.2
TJ Parker — 15.2
Zion Young — 15.1
Wesley Williams — 14.8
Dani Dennis-Sutton — 14.8
R Mason Thomas — 14.4

This is important information. Crawford didn’t run a forty at the combine or pro-day due to a lingering quad injury. Therefore, we don’t have a 10-yard split for him. Reaching 16.4mph over the first 10-yards shows he has burst and can quickly accelerate during games. He’s the fastest in the class.

You’ll also note above how well Keldric Faulk ran. If he goes a lot earlier than expected (say, 12th to the Cowboys) this will probably be one of the reasons why.

Now let’s look at high speed plays during the 2025 college season, considered any play where a player reaches 16mph:

Keyron Crawford — 19
Malachi Lawrence — 17
Keyshawn James-Newby — 15
Wesley Williams — 10
Dani Dennis-Sutton — 10
Romello Height — 9
TJ Parker — 9
Keldric Faulk — 7
Cashius Howell — 6
R Mason Thomas — 6
Joshua Josephs — 5
Keyron Crawford — 4
Gabe Jacas — 4
Zion Young — 3

If the Seahawks are looking to add speed to their pass-rush, Crawford has it.

He’s relatively new to football. He only started playing during his Senior year at High School, having previously focused on basketball. Despite this, he was relatively productive in college.

Let’s look at pass-rush win percentages for 2025:

Nadame Tucker — 28.4
Rueben Bain Jr — 23.5
Romello Height — 21.8
David Bailey — 21.6
Joshua Josephs — 21.2
Akheem Mesidor — 20.8
R Mason Thomas — 20.3
Cashius Howell — 19.9
Derrick Moore — 19.8
Malachi Lawrence — 19.2
Keyron Crawford — 18.3
Zion Young — 17.4
Max Llewellyn — 17.2
Mason Reiger — 15.9
Dani Dennis-Sutton — 15.8
Logan Fano — 15.6
TJ Parker — 15.4
Gabe Jacas — 15.2
Caden Curry — 13.6
Jaishawn Barham — 13.1
Wesley Williams — 12.9
Anthony Lucas — 12.4
Keldric Faulk — 11.6
LT Overton 8.8

He’s not at the top of the list but he’s well placed between Malachi Lawrence and Zion Young. He’s not too far behind Cashius Howell.

He had 43 pressures in 2025. Here’s how that compares to the rest of the class:

David Bailey — 73
Rueben Bain Jr — 67
Keyshawn James-Newby — 66
Romello Height — 56
Akheem Mesidor — 55
Zion Young — 53
Nadame Tucker — 51
Dani Dennis-Sutton — 45
Mason Reiger — 45
Keyron Crawford — 43
TJ Parker — 41
Derrick Moore — 41
Gabe Jacas — 41
Cashius Howell — 41
Max Llewellyn — 40
Malachi Lawrence — 40
Wesley Williams — 38
Caden Curry — 38
Logan Fano — 34
Joshua Josephs — 32

Again, it’s not at the top level. Yet after just two years at Auburn after transferring from Arkansas State, and being relatively new to the sport, this is encouraging.

His run defense grade is 73.9. There’s plenty to work with here.

On tape you see a player who is more of a block-evader than a take-on specialist as a pass rusher. He tries to work around contact and shows enough quickness to do so — either working inside or to the outside shoulder.

If you can get into him you can stop him — the key is not give him the time and space to make a play. At the moment he doesn’t have the speed-to-power moves or a great bull-rush. You’re not going to see a ton of engage/disengage from Crawford and he has a limited pass-rushing repertoire.

However, you have to be on your game as a blocker all of the time because he’s such an opportunist. He will attack your outside shoulder and use his speed. You better be ready.

He looks very comfortable in space to stretch out runs. He will easily dodge tight end blocks with quickness (not power though).

His take on ability in the running game was better than expected. It shows he’s game for the fight even if he’s not yet consistently good at setting the edge.

He had his moments at the Senior Bowl including a sack in the game on an inside move:

He also won 1v1 vs Jude Bowry with a spin move. Bowry had a rep where he ragged him to the ground and Crawford had no control, to highlight some of the work needed here.

The #64 pick is going to be a tricky one to find value. The chances are you will end up selecting someone with a third round grade — and possibly not a high third rounder either.

We often hear John Schneider talk about grading for the Seahawks, not the league. I suspect they might grade Crawford higher than some others as a traits/upside prospect they can work with. The GPS speed measurements show there is a player here. In a draft where so few ran a 10-yard split in the 1.5’s, this could be someone they genuinely have interest in.

Character plays into this. According to Dane Brugler:

(His) motor is always revving, (he) describes his play(ing) style as a ‘Rottweiler or bulldog — something that is going to bite you.'”

“High-character person and player (NFL scout: “You always see him working, but the coaches say he does even more when people aren’t watching.”)

Compare him to some of the alternative options. Zion Young lacks speed and there are character question marks (Brady Henderson told us yesterday he doesn’t think the Seahawks will select Young). Malachi Lawrence’s run-defense is questionable. R Mason Thomas has a frame that is not common for edge rushers in the NFL. There are question marks about the personalities of Dani Dennis-Sutton and Joshua Josephs. Cashius Howell has very short arms.

Crawford is far from a sure thing. He’s not going to walk into the league and suddenly be stacking +10-sack seasons. However, it’s very possible Seattle’s talented defensive staff see a combination of speed, professionalism and upside they can work with to develop him into a contributor.

This kind of player works well with the signing of a Dante Fowler too. That way, you’re not requiring immediate impact from a player who might need some time.

We’re four days away from the draft. I think there’s a good chance the Seahawks will go with a defensive back with their top pick (Treydan Stukes, Chris Johnson, one of the other cornerbacks) and then take Crawford at #64. From there, they might be sniffing around the mid-round running backs, including Jonah Coleman, Mike Washington Jr and Emmett Johnson.

That would mean three positions addressed where you lost players in the off-season. You could even argue you’ve filled four spots, if you consider that Stukes can play both cornerback and safety.

I also wouldn’t rule out picks on the offensive line — and the official visits with Kayden McDonald and Josiah Trotter suggest they’ll look beyond perceived needs. Here’s your daily reminder that some people really like Jadarian Price too, as a high second round prospect who could justifiably be taken at #32.

Trading down will open far more opportunities and shift things significantly too.