Seattle Seahawks: 2022 Draft, what good, bad, and great looks like
Bad Scenario
We examined what the Seahawks draft looks like in the best of scenarios. But what if the opposite happens?
1st Round
There is one huge nightmare scenario that could play out. The Seattle Seahawks pick ninth, the first eight players selected are some combination of Aidan Hutchinson, Evan Neal, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Kyle Hamilton, Ikem Ekwonu, Ahmad Gardner, Charles Cross, and Travon Walker. They can still get a high-quality talent, just not one that fills an immediate need or has a value in the top 10.
At that point, the best players on the board are Malik Willis and Jermaine Johnson. Teams will be calling to trade with the Seahawks for Willis. Unfortunately, the most likely candidates are New Orleans at 16 and Pittsburgh at 20. Schneider won’t trade down that far unless he gets multiple number ones, which is unlikely.
For those 12s thinking, wow, we got Willis, they should pump the breaks. First, don’t rule out a Baker Mayfield trade because the Seahawks should be able to get a good deal the closer the draft gets. Also, how much value does Seattle put on Willis? Aside from their due diligence, Seattle hasn’t shown a high level of interest.
That leaves Northern Idaho tackle as the next best option to fill the holes. He’s a first-round quality pick but a step down from Neal, Ekwonu, and Cross. Maybe they take defensive tackle Jordan Davis, but the Seahawks have a nice rotation already on the D-line.
2nd Round
In an “it all goes wrong” scenario, the top cornerbacks are all off the board. So are the next level of offensive tackles, Bernhard Raimann, Trey Smith, and Abe Lucas. For good measure, the best players available are running backs, receivers, and a tight end. Three positions the Seattle Seahawks don’t need.
Do they reach for positions of need such as cornerback Martin Emmerson, edge rushers Drake Jackson or Sam Williams, or tackle Daniel Faalele? Again, they could trade down, but two trade downs might cause Seahawks fans to storm the team’s offices with torches and pitchforks.
Maybe they take a shot on a linebacker to replace Bobby Wagner. That leaves them choosing between Chad Muma and Bradon Smith. Two players with good upsides but also big question marks.
3rd Round
When pick 72 comes around, the Seattle Seahawks will have to get a corner or OT if they don’t have one by now. If they have both, Schneider can look elsewhere. The top options will be receivers and tight ends again. The risk of boosting their strong positions is that it leaves big holes in other areas. Schneider might not have a choice.
4th – 7th Rounds
If the Seattle Seahawks can’t fill their positions of need in the first two days, they’ll have to do on Day 3. The tackles and cornerbacks available will be projects. Look for trades to happen. Schneider could deal for some veteran placeholders. But this is the deepest draft that will happen for a long time. They won’t be better off with future capital.
There is a bigger issue here. Counting on third-day players to help the team immediately is a long shot at best. It will be a very long season if the draft goes this way.