Seattle Seahawks General Manager John Schneider.
Now through the NFL draft on April 28, Pacific Northwest Sports will compile data from mock drafts across the internet. Our readers won’t have to search 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. Our sources may change from edition to edition, but they are reliable. We used 16 different mock drafts that went as far as the second round for this issue. Sources include ESPN, Pro Football Focus, NFLcom, Walter Football, The Athletic, and more.
This is the second straight year that the Seattle Seahawks don’t have a pick in Round 1. Seattle doesn’t get on the clock until Day 2, when they make the 41st overall selection. Last year they took receiver Dee Eskridge 56th overall in the second round. When he wasn’t out with an injury, Eskridge showed flashes of a bright future.
In 2020, General Manager John Schneider traded away the team’s first round pick to the New York Jets as part of the package to acquire safety Jamal Adams. When he was healthy, Adams was well worth it. Another part of that trade brings Seattle an extra fourth round pick this year (107th overall). The Seahawks also sent their sixth round pick to Jacksonville for cornerback Sidney Jones.
After those trades, Seattle has six draft picks this year. To climb back in the NFC West Division-title picture, there isn’t much room for error. Schneider and Head Coach Pete Carroll need to choose wisely.
There are several areas where the Seattle Seahawks need help. Among the most critical positions that need reinforcing are:
The O-line continued to be an issue in 2021. Now both starting tackles, Duane Brown and Brandon Shell, are free agents. Additionally, Ethan Pocic isn’t exactly an All-Pro center, so they can upgrade that position as well.
Seattle went from Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar in 2020 to DJ Reed and a revolving door opposite him. Now Reed is a free agent. Tre’ Brown played well enough to make Brandon Flowers expendable. That is until Brown suffered a season-ending injury in Game 10. Sidney Jones took over for him and played well. Still, the position is thin, and no starting spots are guaranteed.
Chris Carson signed a big contract in the offseason, but he only made it to Week 4 before a neck injury put him on the sidelines for the remainder of 2021. Rashaad Penny came off IR for Game 10 and ended the season with 671 rushing yards in the final five games. In between Carson’s opening and Penny’s close, Alex Collins did a solid job as the Seattle Seahawks lead back.
It’s unknown when or even if Carson will return. Penny and Collins are free agents, which leaves the Seattle Seahawks with DJ Dallas and Travis Homer.
Russell Wilson‘s backup for the last few seasons, Geno Smith, is a free agent. The Seahawks found out the hard way in 2021 that Smith is unreliable, so it’s unlikely they re-sign him. Even if Schneider finds a backup in the free agent market, it’s time to start developing someone else.
It wasn’t until late in the season that Seattle showed anything close to a consistent pass rush. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they drafted an edge rusher. There could also be a spot open for an interior lineman.
These needs may change after free agency. Fortunately, the draft is deep at several positions Seattle is looking to fill.
We audited 16 mock drafts that went into the second round. So much can happen between pick 1 and 41, making it difficult to be accurate. 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, it’s a bit surprising three different players appeared twice. 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.
Two of the three players that received multiple selections played locally. Cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon played for the Washington Huskies. Either one could give a nice boost to a position the Seattle Seahawks desperately need to improve.
The biggest thing holding McDuffie back from being a consensus top 20 pick is his 5-11 height. He’s got everything else a team could want in a cornerback, such as speed, athleticism, intelligence, and instinct. He will test well at the combine, and likely won’t last 41 picks into the draft. But if he does, Schneider has to pull the trigger on him.
Seattle does have a better shot at picking up Gordon. He isn’t for everyone’s tastes. Some mock drafts list him as a late first round pick, while others see Gordon falling to the third round. However, most have him pegged to go in the second round.
Gordon has outstanding athleticism to go with good size (6’0”, 200-pounds) and strength; he will wow scouts at the combine with his measurables. Those tools are an excellent base to start from as well as Gordon’s ability to stay “close to” or “close on” his man in coverage.
His strengths are somewhat like DJ Reed. He can play outside but does his best work defending the slot. In either role, Gordon made it difficult for opposing receivers in college.
Others receiving votes include Cameron Thomas, Edge, San Diego State (2); Arnold Ebiketie, Edge, Penn State; Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota; Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky; Josh Paschal, Edge, Kentucky; Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati; Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma; Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn; Sam Howell, QB, UNC; Sean Rhyan, OT, UCLA; and, Trevor Penning, OT Northern Iowa.
It was difficult to find mock drafts that went through two rounds. At this stage in the process, finding mocks that go further is a chore. Fortunately, our research department found 11 mock drafts that go through at least the third round.
Seattle didn’t have a third last year, but it looks like they found a keeper in Round 4 with Tre’ Brown. This year the Seahawks have another second-day pick at 72. They can certainly add someone who can help the team this year and develop into a starter not too far down the road.
No single player came up more than once. Dre Harris from The Draft Network had the Seattle Seahawks selecting Kyler Gordon here. If he’s available, that would be a great choice; however, it would also be a huge risk for Schneider to pass on him in the second and expect he’ll still be available with the 72nd pick. Two additional players that appeared as second round choices earlier came up as third rounders in other mocks. Coincidently, they are both edge rushers, Cameron Thomas from San Diego State and Arnold Ebiketie from Penn State.
USA Today Draftwire (Luke Easterling) came up with an intriguing option, offensive tackle Abe Lucas from Washington State. Lucas has a steady all-around game; he did a great job at WSU protecting the passer, especially without a tight end to help. He’s strong and aggressive enough to make the other guy notice but knows himself well enough to play within his own abilities. At 6’7”, he also has those long arms Pete Carroll loves.
He takes a patient approach with his punch in both the run and pass game while displaying good timing of when to pull the trigger. While he may not jar his opponent as you’d think from a player his size, Lucas does show accurate placement with his punch and locks on well with his massive hands. Once locked on, it’s rare for a defender to get loose of his grasp. – 2022 Sports Illustrated Draft Bible
Other players mock drafts had Seattle selecting the following players: Jalen Pitre, Safety, Baylor; Phidarian Mathis DL, Alabama; Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State; Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia; Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa; Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Penn State; and Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana-Lafayette.
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