It's my time of year again. The downpours are slowly fading giving way to beacons of sunshine, and the Mariners demonstrating glimpses of greatness but mostly stuck in neutral. To me all this symbolizes is that we're one step closer to Seahawk football, one step closer to seeing our Roman Coliseum filled with a nation of 67,000 Twelves screaming in unison. Before we get to that I'd like to bring you back to the defining moment for the Seattle Seahawks franchise.
APRIL 27, 2012: NFL DRAFT - DAY 2
- The Seahawks, fresh of a 7-9 season are on the clock. They've already bolstered their defense with the selections of Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner. They have just signed Matt Flynn to a 3-year contract and there are questions at offensive line and wide receiver. Marine Corps Sergeant Luke Boyd steps up to the podium:
"With the 75th pick in the 2012 Draft, the Seattle Seahawks Select:"
You know how this ends.
Fast forward five years and from the outside looking in the media would have you think this era of Seahawk football is at a crossroads. Here are some notes which reaffirm that narrative:
QB
Draft Positional Strength: 2
Seahawk Need: 1
Late Round/UDFA Options:
Jerod Evans (Virginia Tech)
Sefo Liefau (Colorado)
RB
Draft Positional Strength: 3
Seahawk Need: 2
Kareem Hunt (Toledo) [Projected Round: 3] Small school back that broke more tackles than any other RB in the country (98 forced missed tackles), he also caught 41 passes displaying keen awareness in the passing game. Hunt would be a fantastic addition should the front office have any concerns about CJ Prosise's long term health.
Brian Hill (Wyoming) [Projected Round: 5] An aggressive downhill runner who fights for yards after contact, drafting Hill would be hedge to possibly replace Eddie Lacy in a years time.
Joe Williams (Utah) [Projected Round: 6] Comes with a peculiar backstory. Williams "retired" from college football a few weeks into the 2016 season due to personal reasons, after a 4-game absence he returned to face Oregon State and promptly ran for 179 yards, the following week he put up 332 yards and 4 touchdowns (seriously) against UCLA. The film shows a lightning quick back and that's backed up by his 4.41 40 yard dash, good for 2nd fastest in this years RB class. The sudden retirement will push him into the later rounds however if his heart is truly in it Williams will end up being a steal for someone.
WR
Positional Strength: 3
Seahawk Need: 2
Chris Godwin (Penn St.) [Projected Round: 2] Chris G is likely my favorite receiver of this entire class, Godwin cranked out a 4.42 in the forty-yard dash and high-points 50/50 balls as good as any other wideout. This three-play sequence highlights what makes him so special and I've broke it down below:
1st Play - Runs a delayed post pattern, ball comes out late however Godwin snatches it and gains an additional few yards
2nd Play - Shows a willingness to block in the run game, a prerequisite skill to be a starting Seattle WR
3rd Play - One of the best catches you'll see from the entire 2016 draft class coming in the biggest game of his career. Godwin works the sideline perfectly during the scramble drill, it looks eerily similar to this play from Russell Wilson's sophomore year
Carlos Henderson (Louisiana Tech) [Projected Round: 2] If you're a Twelve that's felt a void since the departure of Golden Tate than Carlos Henderson is the cure. Look no further than this two-play sequence for further proof. Henderson would instantly be an X-Factor on offense, he'd also provide some Special Teams relief while Tyler Lockett mends his broken fibula/tibia.
Zay Jones (East Carolina) [Projected Round: 3] One of the most complete WR's in the draft, Zay set an NCAA record with 399 catches in 2016 and has NFL bloodlines flowing thru him (Father won 3 Super Bowls as a LB for the Cowboys). He's got some of the best hands in this wideout class and works meticulously to perfect his craft, he's the type of guy that could thrive in our locker room.
*Late Round Special*
Mack Hollins (UNC) [Projected Round: 5] Look no further than this clip from NFL Network's Daniel Jerimiah to see why Hollins would fit in nicely with our team. He's known as a speed demon on Special Teams with the ability to lift the lid off a defense, let's call him Ricardo Lockette 2.0.
TE
Positional Strength: 5
Seahawk Need: 3
George Kittle (Iowa) [Projected Round: 4] Although this is possibly the strongest TE class to come out in the last decade I can't envision Seattle investing a Day 1/2 pick when there are more pressing needs to address. Kittle is an athletic TE who's coming from a Pro-Style offense, although Iowa didn't require him to run the full route-tree they did have him block, and boy can this kid block (he's number 46).
Cole Hikutini (Lousville) [Projected Round: 5] Hikutini has been 2016 Heisman Winner Lamar Jackson's safety valve for the past two years. While he doesn't show a penchant for blocking he's got a wide catching radius, runs crisp routes and displays above-average athleticism.
OL
Positional Strength: 1
Seahawk Need: 5
OT, Garrett Bolles (Utah) [Projected Round: 1] Seattle fans will be disappointed to hear that overall this years Offensive Line class is underwhelming, there are a few names to like at the top but very little depth once those players get snagged. Bolles is the premier LT and most years that phrase gets you into the top-10 but there's two things working against him 1) He has one year of experience at Utah as a starting LT 2) He'll be 25 years old by Training Camp and by the time he's up for his 2nd contract he'll be 30. Neither of those should scare Seattle, not when you can block like this. If Seattle miraculously gets in a position to select Bolles it would immediately fix one of the biggest issues and secure an integral piece for Russell Wilson's prime years.
OT/OG, Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky) [Projected Round: 1] A 4-year starter Forrest Lamp would be a "safe" pick at 26. Lamp has the ability to play Guard, Center or Tackle and tested as one of the most athletic offensive lineman at the Combine. His average height and arm length likely means he's better suited for Guard but his versatility is appealing.
OG, Nico Siragusa (San Diego St.) [Projected Round: 3] An ultra-athletic Guard coming out of San Diego State, Nico Siragusa is a name to remember for the later rounds. There is a very good possibility that Seattle leaves the first two rounds without an offensive lineman, Siragusa (no relation to Tony) was one of the leaders in the locker room and the film shows he has some nastiness to him. He also managed a 4.56 Short Shuttle at the combine at 319pds(!), now compare that to one of the most athletic defensive lineman Chris Wormly who ran the exact same time at 298pds. I can envision Tom Cable shouting for this guy if he's available in the later rounds.
DE
Positional Strength: 3
Seahawk Need: 2
Taco Charlton (Michigan) [Projected Round: 1] With Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril each past the 30 year-old platform this would be a advantageous year to look for their padawons. Charlton finished the year with 9.5 sacks playing for one of the grittiest defenses in America. He profiles as more of a Michael Bennett inside-out rusher, and since I see Frank Clark as more of a natural replacement for Avril, Charlton could join to provide an intimidating 3rd down NASCAR package
Takkarist Mckinley (UCLA) [Projected Round: 2] Takk McKinley gets bonus points for a fantastic football name, more importantly he's endured through unfortunate circumstances. Takk's mother walked out on him when he was just 5 and to this day he doesn't know who is father is. After his mother left his grandmother and aunt raised him in West Oakland where he said it was common to hear gunshots during the middle of track meets. He used all that negativity to fuel his efforts on the field, transferring to UCLA after a year at junior college and finished with 10 sacks and 6 pass breakups in his final year.
Takk faced off against none other than Garrett Bolles in Week 8 and put on a show, he single-handedy ended a drive with this two play sequence. Against a capable Utah line he finished with 6 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. He's one of my favorites going into the draft, no matter where he lands I wish the best for him.
DT
Positional Strength: 1
Seahawk Need: 4
Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama) [Projected Round: 3] With Tony McDaniel still a free agent Seattle doesn't have ideal depth behind Ahtyba Rubin and Jarran Reed, Tomlinson is a prototypical Bama' DT - Massive, Powerful, Awareness. Nick Saban even played him on many of their 3rd down rush packages and he shows some potential there. If Tomlinson falls to one of our (3) third round picks I'd be happy to swoop him up.
*Late Round Special*
Grover Stewart (Albany State) [Projected Round: 5]
Seattle has had a noticeable lack of interior disruption since Clinton McDonald left for the Bucs. Consider that in our 2013 Super Bowl season McDonald finished with 5.5 sacks, Jordan Hill followed that up with 5.5 in 2014. Since then the leaders have been: 2015 - 2 (Ahtyba Rubin) and 2016 - 1.5 (Jarran Reed). Seattle has played around with Mike Bennett in the interior but ideally you have a 3-Tech DT that's got a wider frame and can cause disruption in the passing game, Grover Stewart may just be that player. He finished his career with 23.5 sacks, most recently throwing down 7.5 in the 2016 season. Keep in mind that Seattle does not own a 4th or 5th round pick so when they move down (at some point they will) to acquire more picks Stewart could be a target.
LB
Positional Strength: 3
Seahawk Need :3
T.J. Watt (Wisconsin) [Projected Round: 1] Seattle hasn't had a true SAM LB since Bruce Irvin skipped town, while Watt needs to refine his cover skills he uses his elite-athleticism to his advantage when rushing. On this play he's facing up against Michigan State's LT. Watt is giving up around 30-40 pounds here, he uses his speed then converts to power and the LT ends up on the ground & Watt gets the sack.
Tyus Bowser (Houston) [Projected Round: 2] Similar to Watt, Bowser made himself some money by putting up outstanding numbers at this years combine. He also profiles as a SAM Linebacker with a penchant for sacks (8.5 in 8 games), unlike Watt he already displays an awareness when given a zone to cover. This play is simply outstanding for a College LB. While he'd be a fit for Seattle in all likelihood Bowser will be taken in the late 1st-early 2nd.
CB
Positional Strength: 5
Seahawk Need: 4
Kevin King (UW) [Projected Round: 1] The local kid and my favorite defender in this class. Look no further than this clip to see what he's capable of. Not only does Kevin fulfill the 32" arm length requirement for Seattle corners he also tested out the roof at the combine posting a 40" vertical and 4.40 40 yard dash. With King we'd have our CB of the future and allow him to learn under a few of the greatest minds in the game.
Chidobe Awuzie (Colorado) [Projected Round: 1] Awuzie is an intriguing prospect, at 6'0 with 30" arms he doesn't fit the mold of a Seahawk corner, what he possesses is tremendous football IQ and physicality. Basically he has the make up of the perfect Nickel CB. Awuzie scored a 35 on his Wonderlic, to put that in perspective our very own Jedi Russell Wilson scored a 28. Kris Richard has shown a willingness to get creative with his blitzes and while they aren't always successful I still come back to this and this and can't help but smile at the possibilities if he's wearing Blue and Green. Draft Insider Tony Pauline correctly connected Rees Odhiambo to Seattle last year and had this to say about Awuzie:
Ahkello Witherspoon (Colorado) [Projected Round: 3] Standing at 6'3 with a 33" arm length Witherspoon probably was designed in whichever laboratory produced Richard Sherman, and unlike countless other prospects he understands how to use his length in coverage. Back in November he found himself 1 v 1 with John Ross, an island that no DB in the country would like to be on. Ross set up him up for a whip-angle route and Witherspoon played it to perfection. Due to legitimate questions around his tackling Witherspoon will be a Day 2 pick, if Seattle hasn't made a defensive selection by the 3rd round he'll certainly be a target.
*Late Round Special*
Brian Allen (Utah) [Projected Round: 5] Brian Allen started his collegiate career as a Wide Receiver, Utah saw potential on defense and switched him CB and in his Senior year Allen responded with 4 interceptions. He also happens to be 6'3 with 34"(!) arm length. While there certainly are some similarities to Richard Sherman, he's quite raw and it would serve whichever team drafts him best to let him sit a year before contributing.
S
Positional Strength: 4
Seahawk Need: 3
SS, Obi Melifonwu (UConn) [Projected Round: 1] This year's athletic unicorn Melifonwu was anointed as a 3-Sigma Athlete by Zach Whitman, an honor that's only earned if a player tests three standard deviations above the NFL standard pSPARQ, in other words Melifonwu is 3x more athletic than your typical NFL Safety. If Seattle drafts Obi they'd be looking towards the future, one that may not have Kam Chancellor in it. I may not agree with this outlook however it's been reported that Seattle has had 4 visits with Melifonwu, suggesting there is mutual interest.
As far as Thursday is concerned there aren't any "can't miss" QB prospects this year however if they find themselves in the right system any one of Mitchell Trubisky, Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes could be a franchise QB. Up until these last few weeks the general consensus was that only 1-2 QB's would be taken on Day 1, however as we close in on Draft day we're seeing reports that the Browns, 49ers, Bills, Cardinals, Chargers, Texans and Chiefs all are considering taking the plunge - This is fantastic to hear and if true there are a few ways this plays out and impacts John Schneider's evening.
Scenario 1: 3-4 QB's are selected within the first 25 picks. This makes a blue chip prospect available to Seattle at 26. This is my favorite scenario. I'm hearing there is even an outside chance that if a player they love falls a trade-up would be in play. One such player to keep an eye on is Alabama Defensive Lineman Jonathan Allen.
Scenario 2: 1-2 QB's are selected within the first 25 picks. Now for most teams sitting at 26 this means their board is shaping up as they thought and for better or worse they'd look to make a selection once the clock starts, Seattle is not most teams. You have to go back to James Carpenter in 2011 as the last instance in which the Seahawks used their native 1st round pick. Now supplement that with the fact that they sit in advantageous spot right in front of the Chiefs who own the 27th pick, a team whose own starting signal caller admitted they may be headed in a new direction and you now have the perfect recipe for the trade-down. In this scenario Seattle would not be calling any names on Friday however they'd likely pick up a 2nd + 4th round pick in the process. This is the most likely scenario
Finally, this wouldn't be a Draft Preview if I didn't leave you with my mock so here it is in all it's glory:
You know how this ends.
Fast forward five years and from the outside looking in the media would have you think this era of Seahawk football is at a crossroads. Here are some notes which reaffirm that narrative:
- From 2012-2015 Seattle finished 3rd, 4th, 1st and 3rd in total team rushing yards. Last year's team came in at 25th
- In their back-to-back Super Bowl runs the Seattle defense averaged 31 turnovers/season, last year's team quietly produced 19 turnovers
- The current Seattle defense will come into the 2017 season as the 7th-oldest in the league (av age 27.2)
Let's examine this narrative further. If asked who are the two players Seattle could most ill-afford to be injured, without question I'd say: 1) Russ Wilson 2) Earl Thomas III.
When you factor in Russell's high-ankle/pectoral/MCL sprains along with a carousel of injuries to our tailbacks it's no wonder the rushing numbers declined. With an entire offseason for Thomas Rawls and CJ Prosise to heal along with an incentivized Eddie Lacy I'm confident in an improvement.
Earl's injury is a tough one to quantify; he simply eliminates throws in 1/3 of the field, the middle (a place better known as Area 29) rarely gets tested. Without him opposing QB's were able diagnose our Cover-3 defense in ways that our coaches and fans alike hadn't seen before. He's still got a long road ahead of him however a healthy ET will not only eliminate those big plays, it'll allow Sherm, Kam, K.J. and Bobby to focus on executing their roles. Once that happens it’s not a matter of ‘if,’ it's a matter of ‘when’ the turnovers will come.
Despite having an "older" defense I am not concerned with our ability to produce a top-5 defense. Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Frank Clark are as formidable of a pass rush trio as you'll find. K.J. Wright and Bobby Swagner are two of the best 4-3 LB's in the league and they'll be backed up by three of the fiercest Defensive Backs in the game. With all of that in mind the Seahawks will do well to prepare for the future by adding several young cogs, and I've got to tell you if there was ever a draft class to invest on defense it would be this one - Let's get to it.
Seattle Seahawks Draft Order
Round 1 (26)
Round 2 (58)
Round 3 (90)
Round 3 (102)
Round 3 (106)
Round 6 (210)
Round 7 (226)
*4th round pick was used to acquire Quinton Jefferson in 2016 draft and 5th round pick was forfeited due to violating the "on-field physical contact" at OTA's
Seattle Seahawks Draft Order
Round 1 (26)
Round 2 (58)
Round 3 (90)
Round 3 (102)
Round 3 (106)
Round 6 (210)
Round 7 (226)
*4th round pick was used to acquire Quinton Jefferson in 2016 draft and 5th round pick was forfeited due to violating the "on-field physical contact" at OTA's
I've reviewed tape and ranked this year's draft based on the talent at each position along with how critical a need it is for Seattle. Positional Strength and Seahawk Need will each be given a ranking from 1 (low) - 5 (high).
QB
Draft Positional Strength: 2
Seahawk Need: 1
Late Round/UDFA Options:
Jerod Evans (Virginia Tech)
Sefo Liefau (Colorado)
RB
Draft Positional Strength: 3
Seahawk Need: 2
Kareem Hunt (Toledo) [Projected Round: 3] Small school back that broke more tackles than any other RB in the country (98 forced missed tackles), he also caught 41 passes displaying keen awareness in the passing game. Hunt would be a fantastic addition should the front office have any concerns about CJ Prosise's long term health.
Brian Hill (Wyoming) [Projected Round: 5] An aggressive downhill runner who fights for yards after contact, drafting Hill would be hedge to possibly replace Eddie Lacy in a years time.
Joe Williams (Utah) [Projected Round: 6] Comes with a peculiar backstory. Williams "retired" from college football a few weeks into the 2016 season due to personal reasons, after a 4-game absence he returned to face Oregon State and promptly ran for 179 yards, the following week he put up 332 yards and 4 touchdowns (seriously) against UCLA. The film shows a lightning quick back and that's backed up by his 4.41 40 yard dash, good for 2nd fastest in this years RB class. The sudden retirement will push him into the later rounds however if his heart is truly in it Williams will end up being a steal for someone.
WR
Positional Strength: 3
Seahawk Need: 2
Chris Godwin (Penn St.) [Projected Round: 2] Chris G is likely my favorite receiver of this entire class, Godwin cranked out a 4.42 in the forty-yard dash and high-points 50/50 balls as good as any other wideout. This three-play sequence highlights what makes him so special and I've broke it down below:
1st Play - Runs a delayed post pattern, ball comes out late however Godwin snatches it and gains an additional few yards
2nd Play - Shows a willingness to block in the run game, a prerequisite skill to be a starting Seattle WR
3rd Play - One of the best catches you'll see from the entire 2016 draft class coming in the biggest game of his career. Godwin works the sideline perfectly during the scramble drill, it looks eerily similar to this play from Russell Wilson's sophomore year
Carlos Henderson (Louisiana Tech) [Projected Round: 2] If you're a Twelve that's felt a void since the departure of Golden Tate than Carlos Henderson is the cure. Look no further than this two-play sequence for further proof. Henderson would instantly be an X-Factor on offense, he'd also provide some Special Teams relief while Tyler Lockett mends his broken fibula/tibia.
Zay Jones (East Carolina) [Projected Round: 3] One of the most complete WR's in the draft, Zay set an NCAA record with 399 catches in 2016 and has NFL bloodlines flowing thru him (Father won 3 Super Bowls as a LB for the Cowboys). He's got some of the best hands in this wideout class and works meticulously to perfect his craft, he's the type of guy that could thrive in our locker room.
*Late Round Special*
Mack Hollins (UNC) [Projected Round: 5] Look no further than this clip from NFL Network's Daniel Jerimiah to see why Hollins would fit in nicely with our team. He's known as a speed demon on Special Teams with the ability to lift the lid off a defense, let's call him Ricardo Lockette 2.0.
TE
Positional Strength: 5
Seahawk Need: 3
George Kittle (Iowa) [Projected Round: 4] Although this is possibly the strongest TE class to come out in the last decade I can't envision Seattle investing a Day 1/2 pick when there are more pressing needs to address. Kittle is an athletic TE who's coming from a Pro-Style offense, although Iowa didn't require him to run the full route-tree they did have him block, and boy can this kid block (he's number 46).
Cole Hikutini (Lousville) [Projected Round: 5] Hikutini has been 2016 Heisman Winner Lamar Jackson's safety valve for the past two years. While he doesn't show a penchant for blocking he's got a wide catching radius, runs crisp routes and displays above-average athleticism.
OL
Positional Strength: 1
Seahawk Need: 5
OT, Garrett Bolles (Utah) [Projected Round: 1] Seattle fans will be disappointed to hear that overall this years Offensive Line class is underwhelming, there are a few names to like at the top but very little depth once those players get snagged. Bolles is the premier LT and most years that phrase gets you into the top-10 but there's two things working against him 1) He has one year of experience at Utah as a starting LT 2) He'll be 25 years old by Training Camp and by the time he's up for his 2nd contract he'll be 30. Neither of those should scare Seattle, not when you can block like this. If Seattle miraculously gets in a position to select Bolles it would immediately fix one of the biggest issues and secure an integral piece for Russell Wilson's prime years.
OT/OG, Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky) [Projected Round: 1] A 4-year starter Forrest Lamp would be a "safe" pick at 26. Lamp has the ability to play Guard, Center or Tackle and tested as one of the most athletic offensive lineman at the Combine. His average height and arm length likely means he's better suited for Guard but his versatility is appealing.
OG, Nico Siragusa (San Diego St.) [Projected Round: 3] An ultra-athletic Guard coming out of San Diego State, Nico Siragusa is a name to remember for the later rounds. There is a very good possibility that Seattle leaves the first two rounds without an offensive lineman, Siragusa (no relation to Tony) was one of the leaders in the locker room and the film shows he has some nastiness to him. He also managed a 4.56 Short Shuttle at the combine at 319pds(!), now compare that to one of the most athletic defensive lineman Chris Wormly who ran the exact same time at 298pds. I can envision Tom Cable shouting for this guy if he's available in the later rounds.
DE
Positional Strength: 3
Seahawk Need: 2
Taco Charlton (Michigan) [Projected Round: 1] With Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril each past the 30 year-old platform this would be a advantageous year to look for their padawons. Charlton finished the year with 9.5 sacks playing for one of the grittiest defenses in America. He profiles as more of a Michael Bennett inside-out rusher, and since I see Frank Clark as more of a natural replacement for Avril, Charlton could join to provide an intimidating 3rd down NASCAR package
Takkarist Mckinley (UCLA) [Projected Round: 2] Takk McKinley gets bonus points for a fantastic football name, more importantly he's endured through unfortunate circumstances. Takk's mother walked out on him when he was just 5 and to this day he doesn't know who is father is. After his mother left his grandmother and aunt raised him in West Oakland where he said it was common to hear gunshots during the middle of track meets. He used all that negativity to fuel his efforts on the field, transferring to UCLA after a year at junior college and finished with 10 sacks and 6 pass breakups in his final year.
Takk faced off against none other than Garrett Bolles in Week 8 and put on a show, he single-handedy ended a drive with this two play sequence. Against a capable Utah line he finished with 6 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. He's one of my favorites going into the draft, no matter where he lands I wish the best for him.
DT
Seahawk Need: 4
Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama) [Projected Round: 3] With Tony McDaniel still a free agent Seattle doesn't have ideal depth behind Ahtyba Rubin and Jarran Reed, Tomlinson is a prototypical Bama' DT - Massive, Powerful, Awareness. Nick Saban even played him on many of their 3rd down rush packages and he shows some potential there. If Tomlinson falls to one of our (3) third round picks I'd be happy to swoop him up.
*Late Round Special*
Grover Stewart (Albany State) [Projected Round: 5]
Seattle has had a noticeable lack of interior disruption since Clinton McDonald left for the Bucs. Consider that in our 2013 Super Bowl season McDonald finished with 5.5 sacks, Jordan Hill followed that up with 5.5 in 2014. Since then the leaders have been: 2015 - 2 (Ahtyba Rubin) and 2016 - 1.5 (Jarran Reed). Seattle has played around with Mike Bennett in the interior but ideally you have a 3-Tech DT that's got a wider frame and can cause disruption in the passing game, Grover Stewart may just be that player. He finished his career with 23.5 sacks, most recently throwing down 7.5 in the 2016 season. Keep in mind that Seattle does not own a 4th or 5th round pick so when they move down (at some point they will) to acquire more picks Stewart could be a target.
LB
Positional Strength: 3
Seahawk Need :3
T.J. Watt (Wisconsin) [Projected Round: 1] Seattle hasn't had a true SAM LB since Bruce Irvin skipped town, while Watt needs to refine his cover skills he uses his elite-athleticism to his advantage when rushing. On this play he's facing up against Michigan State's LT. Watt is giving up around 30-40 pounds here, he uses his speed then converts to power and the LT ends up on the ground & Watt gets the sack.
Tyus Bowser (Houston) [Projected Round: 2] Similar to Watt, Bowser made himself some money by putting up outstanding numbers at this years combine. He also profiles as a SAM Linebacker with a penchant for sacks (8.5 in 8 games), unlike Watt he already displays an awareness when given a zone to cover. This play is simply outstanding for a College LB. While he'd be a fit for Seattle in all likelihood Bowser will be taken in the late 1st-early 2nd.
CB
Positional Strength: 5
Seahawk Need: 4
Kevin King (UW) [Projected Round: 1] The local kid and my favorite defender in this class. Look no further than this clip to see what he's capable of. Not only does Kevin fulfill the 32" arm length requirement for Seattle corners he also tested out the roof at the combine posting a 40" vertical and 4.40 40 yard dash. With King we'd have our CB of the future and allow him to learn under a few of the greatest minds in the game.
Chidobe Awuzie (Colorado) [Projected Round: 1] Awuzie is an intriguing prospect, at 6'0 with 30" arms he doesn't fit the mold of a Seahawk corner, what he possesses is tremendous football IQ and physicality. Basically he has the make up of the perfect Nickel CB. Awuzie scored a 35 on his Wonderlic, to put that in perspective our very own Jedi Russell Wilson scored a 28. Kris Richard has shown a willingness to get creative with his blitzes and while they aren't always successful I still come back to this and this and can't help but smile at the possibilities if he's wearing Blue and Green. Draft Insider Tony Pauline correctly connected Rees Odhiambo to Seattle last year and had this to say about Awuzie:
Ahkello Witherspoon (Colorado) [Projected Round: 3] Standing at 6'3 with a 33" arm length Witherspoon probably was designed in whichever laboratory produced Richard Sherman, and unlike countless other prospects he understands how to use his length in coverage. Back in November he found himself 1 v 1 with John Ross, an island that no DB in the country would like to be on. Ross set up him up for a whip-angle route and Witherspoon played it to perfection. Due to legitimate questions around his tackling Witherspoon will be a Day 2 pick, if Seattle hasn't made a defensive selection by the 3rd round he'll certainly be a target.
*Late Round Special*
Brian Allen (Utah) [Projected Round: 5] Brian Allen started his collegiate career as a Wide Receiver, Utah saw potential on defense and switched him CB and in his Senior year Allen responded with 4 interceptions. He also happens to be 6'3 with 34"(!) arm length. While there certainly are some similarities to Richard Sherman, he's quite raw and it would serve whichever team drafts him best to let him sit a year before contributing.
S
Positional Strength: 4
Seahawk Need: 3
SS, Obi Melifonwu (UConn) [Projected Round: 1] This year's athletic unicorn Melifonwu was anointed as a 3-Sigma Athlete by Zach Whitman, an honor that's only earned if a player tests three standard deviations above the NFL standard pSPARQ, in other words Melifonwu is 3x more athletic than your typical NFL Safety. If Seattle drafts Obi they'd be looking towards the future, one that may not have Kam Chancellor in it. I may not agree with this outlook however it's been reported that Seattle has had 4 visits with Melifonwu, suggesting there is mutual interest.
SS, John Johnson (Boston College) [Projected Round: 4] John Johnson is one of my favorite under-the-radar prospects of this class, he's 6'0 with 32" arms and while listed at SS I'd envision Seattle using him as a Nickel-Hybrid Safety. In his Senior season Johnson put up 77 tackles, 3 interceptions and broke up 9 passes, he also has previous experience covering the slot. I'd be comfortable using one of our 3rd round selections on the BC safety.
As far as Thursday is concerned there aren't any "can't miss" QB prospects this year however if they find themselves in the right system any one of Mitchell Trubisky, Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes could be a franchise QB. Up until these last few weeks the general consensus was that only 1-2 QB's would be taken on Day 1, however as we close in on Draft day we're seeing reports that the Browns, 49ers, Bills, Cardinals, Chargers, Texans and Chiefs all are considering taking the plunge - This is fantastic to hear and if true there are a few ways this plays out and impacts John Schneider's evening.
Scenario 1: 3-4 QB's are selected within the first 25 picks. This makes a blue chip prospect available to Seattle at 26. This is my favorite scenario. I'm hearing there is even an outside chance that if a player they love falls a trade-up would be in play. One such player to keep an eye on is Alabama Defensive Lineman Jonathan Allen.
Scenario 2: 1-2 QB's are selected within the first 25 picks. Now for most teams sitting at 26 this means their board is shaping up as they thought and for better or worse they'd look to make a selection once the clock starts, Seattle is not most teams. You have to go back to James Carpenter in 2011 as the last instance in which the Seahawks used their native 1st round pick. Now supplement that with the fact that they sit in advantageous spot right in front of the Chiefs who own the 27th pick, a team whose own starting signal caller admitted they may be headed in a new direction and you now have the perfect recipe for the trade-down. In this scenario Seattle would not be calling any names on Friday however they'd likely pick up a 2nd + 4th round pick in the process. This is the most likely scenario
Finally, this wouldn't be a Draft Preview if I didn't leave you with my mock so here it is in all it's glory:
Go Hawks!
Citations:
NFL Team stats: Pro Football Reference
Snap-Weighted Age: 2016 NFL Rosters: Football Outsiders
Draft tape: Draft Breakdown
Missed Tackles: Pro Football Focus
NCAA Player Statistics: ESPN
Player Measureables: 3 Sigma Athlete
Missed Tackles: Pro Football Focus
NCAA Player Statistics: ESPN
Player Measureables: 3 Sigma Athlete
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