CenturyLink Field / Lumen Field panorama. (Photo by kallerna, via Wikimedia) (1)
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 41 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 fifth-rounder is now Las Vegas Raiders property after the Gabe Jackson trade. Last season, the Seahawks sent a seventh-rounder 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:
Fortunately, the draft is deep at several positions Seattle needs to fill.
Out of the 43 mock drafts audited, 27 of them 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. For example, the Seattle Seahawks likely remain in this spot; however, if someone they like falls far enough, don’t rule out a trade-up. Also, with such a limited number of picks, Schneider could trade down to acquire more.
There are three main schools of thought among the mock drafts about which position the Seahawks will select in Round 2, cornerback, offensive line, and interior defensive line.
In the last mock compilation, we included cornerbacks in the overall defense. After free agency, the position emerged as the most popular choice among mock drafters. The leader among CBs is Ifeatu Melifonwu from Syracuse (three selections).
Melifonwu has elite potential. A great athlete; he’s an aggressive tackler and does a nice job covering receivers in close quarters. However, Melifonwu too often defends with a big cushion. He’ll drive his NFL coaches nuts as he learns to play receivers at the next level. Once he does, his career will take off.
“If you were to craft a Pete Carroll/Seattle Seahawks cornerback in a lab, Ifeatu Melifonwu might be the end result. Long and rangy, Melifonwu fits the mold of a Seahawks CB almost to a T. He has solid change-of-direction skills and plays tough at the catch point.
Seattle did add Ahkello Witherspoon during free agency, but Melifonwu’s size and versatility gives Seattle a lot of options in the secondary.” – Mark Schofield USA Today
Other cornerbacks predicted to Seattle in the draft are Paulson Adebo, Stanford (2); Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky; Eric Stokes, Georgia; Tyson Campbell, Georgia; and Aaron Robinson, Central Florida.
Out of nine O-line selections, four were tackles, and the other five play the interior. The only offensive lineman to get selected more than once was center Landon Dickerson from Alabama. He’d be a solid choice, but it will take some work to beat out the incumbent, Pocic.
There were also a few tackles that are frankly longshots to fall to the Seattle Seahawks. If either Alex Leatherwood, Alabama or Samuel Cosmi, Texas are available at 56, Schneider and Carroll might do cartwheels in the office.
Other offensive linemen in consideration include Creed Humphrey, G, Alabama; Liam Eichenberg; Payton Turner; OT, Houston; Quinn Meinerz, G, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa.
Tied for the overall lead in selections is Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon. He received 60 percent of the votes at this position. Other DTs listed include Alim McNeill, North Carolina State, and Levi Onwuzurike, Washington. Any of these three defensive tackles work well for Seattle.
The rest of the second-round mock draft sections are Kyle Trask, QB, Florida; Chazz Surratt, Edge, UNC; Joe Tryon, Edge, Washington; and Ronnie Perkins, Edge, Oklahoma.
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 seven mock drafts that do.
When teams get to Day 3 of the draft, they are usually looking to fill holes or select players they think will develop into useful parts. There are certainly some quality developmental and depth players the Seattle Seahawks can get at this point.
Last time out running back, Demetric Felton from UCLA was the clear favorite. Now that the Seahawks re-signed Chris Carson, none of the mock drafts have Seattle taking a running back. In this set of mocks, there are some interesting prospects. Two that stand out are linebacker Pete Werner from Penn State and Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond.
Werner probably gets picked before 120. On the other hand, Mond has a good shot to be available and would do well learning behind Russell Wilson. A great athlete with a rocket arm, Mond put up big numbers for the Aggies. A four-year starter, he threw 71 touchdown passes to 27 picks.
There are reasons why Monds is a Day 3 pick. Among the negatives, he tends to stare down his receivers and slow in his progressions. Also, Monds can get caught holding the ball too long. With faster pass rushers in the NFL, it’s a habit he’ll have to break.
“From the perspective of physical skills, Mond has the tools to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. He is tall enough and has a strong arm capable of making all the throws required. To go along with arm talent, Mond is a good athlete who has running ability to avoid pressure and can create some positive plays for his offense using his feet.
He is a threat in short-yardage situations and is a dual-threat quarterback who can hurt defenses on read-option plays. However, Mond seems to run only when all other options are exhausted, and he is not a dynamic or aggressive runner like a Lamar Jackson or a Deshaun Watson.” – Charlie Campbell, Walter Football.
Others predicted for the Seattle Seahawks in Round 4 are Alaric Johnson, OT, – Iowa; David Moore, G, Grambling State; Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson; Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest; and Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.