Defensive tackle Jalen Carter of the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Seattle Seahawks have a golden opportunity to upgrade their team in the 2023 draft. They have nine draft picks this year, including four in the top 51.
To begin, Seattle picks twice in Rounds (1 and 2). Seattle is on the clock for pick 5 and returns for pick 20. On Day 2, they make the 37th, 52nd, and 83rd overall selections. Their other picks are:
Round 4 – 123rd. Round 5 – 153rd and 156th, Round 6 – 198th, Round 7 – 237th.
That means there are plenty of opportunities to make deals.
We used the Pro Football Focus Draft Simulator. The program doesn’t allow for sham trades, so we didn’t just make deals without oversight.
Last year the Seahawks struck gold in the draft. They picked up bookend starting offensive tackles Charles Cross (1st round, 5th overall) and Abraham Lucas (3, 72). The team also added franchise running back Kenneth Walker (2, 41) and a shutdown cornerback Tariq Woolen (5, 153), among others.
Pacific Northwest Sports will put out several mock drafts with and without trades leading up to draft day on April 27. By posting compilation mocks, we will also give Seattle Seahawks fans a look at what the sports media think the team will do.
Seattle’s offensive line is a work in progress, for lack of a better term. Last year Schneider picked up his tackles. This time around, a starting center and guard to replace Gabe Jackson, who was released, should be at the top of his list.
As the 2022 season drew to a close, the Seattle Seahawks defense gelled. Even after signing free agent defensive end Dre’Mont Jones and defensive tackle Jarran Reed, Seattle still needs to improve their run defense and pass rush.
This draft class has impact players who can bolster DC Clint Hurtt’s defensive front.
Rashaad Penny was in the midst of a great season when he went down with a gruesome injury in Game 5 at New Orleans. Second round pick Kenneth Walker stepped up to replace him, picking up 1,070 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns.
So the starting RB is set, but the Seattle Seahawks need a reliable backup. Penny is a free agent, and recent backups Deejay Dallas and Travis Homer haven’t proven reliable options.
D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are possibly the NFL’s best wide receiver duo. Still, having another legitimate threat complementing them would be nice.
Last year’s third wheel Marquise Goodwin signed with Cleveland as a free agent. The next man up, 2021 second round pick Dee Eskridge, has thus far been a bust.
Seattle needs another reliable pass catcher to keep opposing defenses from doubling Metcalf and/or Lockett.
Seattle resigned both of last season’s quarterbacks, Geno Smith and Drew Lock. As well as Smith played in 2022; he turns 33 this season. Meanwhile, Lock hasn’t proven himself to be NFL starting material.
My colleague Clint Prasky advocates the Seahawks pick up their next franchise passer in the 2024 draft. But if there is a prospect the team believes they can develop into a starter, why wait? They should take a shot if available.
Jordyn Brooks played at a Pro Bowl level as Bobby Wagner‘s heir. Unfortunately, he tore a knee ligament in the Seattle Seahawks last regular season game and will miss significant time.
General Manager John Schneider brought Wagner back to anchor the defense. He also signed Pittsburgh’s 2019 first round pick Devin Bush.
This is another area where the Seahawks can pick up a developmental prospect.
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.
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…
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.
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
As a result of yesterday’s trade, the Seattle Seahawks have three 2nd round picks 37, 38, and 52. In the third round, Seattle is on the clock for picks 70 and 100.
We’ve been working the phones all night and have some interesting things cooking. While the second round gets underway, we have a trade to announce.
The New York Jets want pick 37, but there is a deal that works better for both sides.
NYJ trades picks 42, 43, their 2024 4th round pick, and a 2025 7th round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for picks 38, 70, a 2024 3rd round pick, and a 2025 6th round pick.
That makes four 2nd round picks and a supplemental 3rd to work with today.
At 5′ 9” and 171 pounds, Josh Downs is small. Despite his diminutive size, he dominated at North Carolina.
Over the last two seasons, Downs’ production was outstanding. He caught 195 passes for 2,364 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Getting Downs with the 37th pick means the Seattle Seahawks pick up a great athlete who can compete for 50/50 balls due to his 38 1/2” vertical leap. Confident in his ability to catch passes, he also isn’t afraid to go over the middle.
Obviously, size is an issue. However, his talent is outstanding. Downs is the kind of player who can do well in the Seahawks offensive scheme.
Steve Avila is both a strong and technically sound blocker. At TCU, he rarely got beat by pass rushers. There is no reason to think that he won’t be just as effective when he acclimates to the NFL.
Avlla is a big man, which makes him hard to get around. He’s strong and can seal gaps along the line.
Like Damien Lewis in 2021, Avila should be a starter from day one. He can play both guard and center; however, the former is a better fit.
(Avila is) a power blocker, relying on his strength and leverage to dominate the trenches, which he has done throughout his college career. He has room to grow in his technique and dealing with better finesse rushers, but his power is there, and he’s athletic enough to be a week one starter.
John Vogel, NFL Draft Blitz
Hendon Hooker can make all the throws from the pocket but will also make opponents pay with his ability to run. He has an excellent feel for the pocket and when it starts to break down. While accuracy was an issue early in his college career, Hooker finished up with 58 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions.
Hooker plays with excellent poise and footwork as a pocket passer. He will make quarterback coaches and play-callers happy with his adherence to keeping plays on schedule. He’s still showing signs of improvement and growth at the position, and his ability to hurt teams with his legs creates opportunities to help his offense outside of what he does in the pocket.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
This pick is a reach. But if Hooker didn’t suffer a knee injury in Tennessee’s second-to-last game of 2022, he’d be in the top 10.
Another reason why drafting the former Vol QB is a smart move is that Lock only has a one-year contract, and the Seahawks can afford to wait on Hooker. As a matter of fact, Seattle can put him on the PUP list or Injured Reserve, and he can learn the offense while he recovers.
Depending on who’s doing the ratings, Luke Wypler is either the second or third-best center prospect in this draft class. Proponents tout his athleticism, while detractors point to his lack of size.
At 6’3” and 303 pounds with 31 5/8” arms, Wypler isn’t the biggest guy available. He makes up for it with positioning and athleticism.
A two-year starter at Ohio State, Wypler is only 21 years old. Last year he was an All-Big 10 Honorable Mention.
Solid. He won’t get outquicked, he’s strong enough to hold his own, and he’s a veteran who can be ready from Day One. No, he won’t be a dominant force, but he’s a sure-thing NFL starter who should shine next to power at guard. –
Pete Fiutek, College Football News
As mentioned above, the Seattle Seahawks need a reliable ball carrier to spell Walker in the backfield. That player could come from free agency, but even if it does, adding another running in the draft is still a good idea.
Tank Bigsby put up monster stats in his three seasons at Auburn. He had 2,903 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns on 5.4 yards per carry.
A good runner between the tackles, Bigsby has issues catching passes which limits his time on the field.
As we move into the final day of the 2023 draft, an old dilemma pops up. Do the Seahawks fills needs or take the best player available?
A former cornerback, Anthony Johnson has grown into a hard-hitting safety. He finished his college career with passes defended, which is 12th all-time in the Big XII.
Johnson has coverage skills but is also adjusting to how to cover from his new position. A willing and able tackler, he is a closer that plays with an attacking mindset.
NFL.com called Davis Allen a human vacuum when the ball comes his way. Why did he only catch 39 passes last season for the Tigers?
Two reasons, first, Allen is slow (4.28 40-yard dash) and not a downfield threat. Additionally, he isn’t a great blocker.
But he could be an excellent fit for the Seattle Seahawks if they want a reliable outlet to catch what is thrown at him.
Allen’s ability to play the ball in the air is his calling card right now. He’s far from peak Jimmy Graham, but Allen shows the skills to get vertical and comfortably find the ball in the air. Allen does well to snag the ball at its highest point, as well as come down with it through impact.
Bleacher Report
First, the downside, Starling Thomas V is short for an NFL corner at 5′ 10”. His positioning on passes also leaves something to be desired. That’s a bad combination.
Thomas makes up for his shortcomings with speed (4.28 40-yard dash) and anticipation. At UAB, the coaches were impressed by his high character and strong leadership.
As one of the final picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, Troy Brown isn’t a stud prospect. He lacks size and isn’t a scheme fit for everyone.
What the Seattle Seahawks would get from Brown is a smart player with situational awareness who is an able tackler. For a team that can use depth at linebacker, he could be a nice late pickup.
This was a very productive draft. The Seattle Seahawks picked up a few impact players and filled several holes.
Seattle picked up two additional second-round picks through trades, which yielded excellent results. Even better, it was done without sacrificing the future (the net loss was a 2025 fifth round pick).