Seattle Seahawks Mock Draft 2.0
The Seattle Seahawks will be busy today, picking at numbers 5 and 20. As Seattle’s goes on the clock, two of their top targets are still on the board, defensive tackle Jalen Carter and edge rusher Tyree Wilson are still available.
But so is quarterback Anthony Richardson. That leads to a call from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Seahawks are willing to trade down, but it won’t be cheap.
Trade 1
Seattle Seahawks receive picks 7, 38,70, and 100 in 2023 plus a 2024 third round pick from Las Vegas in exchange for picks 5, 83, 198, a 2024 fourth round pick, and tight end Colby Parkinson.
Moving Parkinson is difficult because Will Dissly is coming off an injury, but some good tight ends are available in the draft.
As expected, Vegas got their quarterback. Next, Detroit took Wilson with the sixth pick, which means…
Round 1, 7th overall – Jalen Carter, Defensive Tackle, Georgia
Since the season ended, Jalen Carter has made headlines for the wrong reasons. Despite his off-field discretion, his ceiling is extremely high. Carter has a unique (almost freakish) combination of size and speed.
He can lineup in the gaps or over an offensive lineman and be equally effective. The former Georgia Bulldogs star shows outstanding footwork and has a variety of moves to get past his man.
Carter might be the best interior defensive lineman to join the NFL since Aaron Donald.
Carter has the elite first-step quickness to invade gaps just as plays materialize, eroding blocking schemes. His first step is consistently great, but he can build up even more speed in tight spaces with his foot quickness.
Beyond his burst, Carter has elite lateral agility, which he uses to create displacement and manipulate angles off the snap. He covers eye-popping amounts of ground as a lateral mover off his initial explosion.
Several calls came in for the 20th overall pick. But the upside of this selection is too good to pass up.
Round 1, 20th overall – Nolan Smith, Defensive End, Georgia
Starting off, Nolan Smith is a high-end athlete. Combined with his strength and toughness, he has the building blocks of an elite edge rusher.
At this point in his development, Smith still has more to learn. Experienced tackles will give him trouble early on.
At 237 pounds, Smith plays bigger than his weight. His grit, strength, and determination make him an outstanding run defender.
The Seattle Seahawks have a plethora of edge rushers on the roster. Smith will be an immediate part of the rotation early on but will establish himself as the starter by the season’s end.
The Georgia edge rusher developed more pass-rushing moves and became dominant against the run. We would love to see this progression continue into the NFL, as he has the physical tools to become an elite defensive player, whether he’s coming off the edge or slotted at linebacker.
Mitch Kaiser, Pro Football Focus