NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Seattle Seahawks.
Now through the NFL draft on April 29, Pacific Northwest Sports will compile data from mock drafts across the internet. Our readers don’t have to scramble all over the web to find out who the Seattle Seahawks will select.
These compilation mocks run semi-monthly to take advantage of trends, prospect news, and team needs. The sources may change from edition to edition, but they are reliable. This time we used 28 different mock drafts from sources such as ESPN, Pro Football Focus, CBS, NFL, Walter Football, Sports Illustrated, and more.
The Seattle Seahawks aren’t on the clock until Day 2 when they make the 56th overall selection.
Last year, General Manager John Schneider traded away the team’s first and third-round picks in 2021 to the New York Jets as part of the package to acquire safety Jamal Adams. When he was healthy, Adams was well worth it. Seattle’s seventh-rounder went to Cincinnati for Carlos Dunlap.
After those trades, Seattle only has four draft picks this year. The margin for error is razor-thin.
There are several areas where the Seattle Seahawks need help. Among the most critical positions that need reinforcing are:
These needs may change after free agency. Fortunately, the draft is deep at several positions Seattle is looking to fill.
Out of the 28 mock drafts audited, only 14 went into the second round. The further along a mock draft goes, the more of a guessing game it becomes. Different mock drafters may have great sources, but every team evaluates talent differently. There is a myriad of variables in play that make predictions very difficult. Consequently, no individual player appeared twice.
With all that could happen in the 55 selections before the Seattle Seahawks make their pick, Schneider needs to be diligent about who he selects. There are three schools of thought among the mock drafts, offensive line, defensive line, and cornerback.
There is no favorite but the players listed are very interesting. Three linemen from the SEC stand out, tackle Alex Leatherwood from Alabama, as well as tackle Cade Mays, and guard Trey Smith, both from Tennessee.
It’s unlikely that Leatherwood falls this far in the draft. If he does, it’s a huge pick up for Seattle. Mays is a great college player, but Smith could be something special.
He’s huge at 6-5, 320-pounds, and may be the strongest man in this draft. His pass blocking is very good, and his run blocking is elite. One of the best things about Smith is his intelligence. Last year, the Seahawks fell victim to creative stunts by defensive fronts. Smith is the kind of player who can recognize and adapt to those types of dynamic situations.
“Trey Smith might be the most powerful guard in his class, and he also has decent straight-line explosiveness to match. But blockers can’t win on physical traits alone in the NFL. That’s where the mental part of Smith’s game comes in. Smith started 40 games over the course of his Tennessee career, and he clearly has not only the awareness that comes with experience but also the instincts to always actively look for work.” – Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network
The other three linemen are tackle Teven Jenkins (Oklahoma State), Dillon Radunz (North Dakota State), and Walker Little (Stanford).
A pair of local college players picked up support to stick around the Emerald City a little longer. Drafttek.com has versatile cornerback Elijah Molden, and Tankathon projects defensive lineman Joe Tryon as headed to the Seahawks in Round 2.
Other defensive players mocked to Seattle include Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa; Payton Turner, DE, Houston; Patrick Jones II, DE, Pittsburgh; Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse; and Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford.
It was hard enough to find mock drafts that went through two rounds. Going further than that is almost impossible this far from draft day. Still, our research department found four mock drafts that do.
When teams get to day three of the draft, they are usually looking to fill holes or select players they think will develop into useful parts. There are certainly some developmental and depth players the Seattle Seahawks can get at this point.
As unusual as it may seem, two of the four mocks have Seattle selecting the same man, running back Demetric Felton from UCLA. Considering the Seahawks took running back Deejay Dallas in the fourth round last year, it might seem odd to take another one this time around.
Felton is a different type of player, however. He’s a multi-purpose threat who can beat a defense as a pass-catcher just as well as he can taking handoffs.
Other players who showed up on mocks include safety Divine Deablo (Virginia Tech) and guard Jack Anderson (Texas Tech).
Some intriguing players could be available in the fifth round. Interestingly enough, one of the players projected to go to the Seahawks in the fourth round is also projected as a Seattle selection in the fifth.
Tackle Jack Anderson would be a nice choice at 168.
He’s a scheme-versatile blocker that’s experienced success with various types of concepts. He’s a slightly below-average athlete, but he’s often successful with executing short pulls on power running concepts and disguise play-action play designs. – The Draft Network
Guard Sadarius Hutcherson (South Carolina), cornerback Olaijah Griffin (USC), and cornerback Marco Wilson (Florida) also showed up in fifth-round mocks.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.