Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft.
We are just two days away from the NFL Draft. War Rooms around the league are buzzing as teams finalize their draft boards.
Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider is formulating his 2023 NFL Draft plans with Head Coach Pete Carroll. Although they made the playoffs last season, this team is far from a finished product. Fortunately, they are in a position to build on 2022’s 9-8 record.
There are certain positions the Seahawks must fill. Off the top, they need a defensive lineman who can consistently get in the opponent’s backfield. This is a good draft class for that skill set.
Next, Seattle needs two interior linemen. They released right guard Gabe Jackson and signed Evan Brown from Detroit to play center. Brown is on a team-friendly one-year contract. So the team has no long-term plans for him at this time.
A third receiver to take some heat off of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. An ability to go over the middle is a plus.
A backup running back to give Kenneth Walker a breather.
Another linebacker. Jordyn Brooks had a serious knee injury at the end of last season. To replace him and Cody Barton (signed with Washington), the Seattle Seahawks signed the duo of Bobby Wagner and Devin Bush to one-year contracts. Someone has to play next to Brooks in 2024.
Depth at safety/cornerback.
Finding a developmental quarterback who Pete Carroll can groom to take over the offense within the next two years.
In 2023, the Seattle Seahawks own 9 draft packs. They are:
Round 1 – 5, 20
Round 2 – 37, 52
Round 3 – 70
Round 5 – 151, 154
Round 6 – 197
Round 7 – 237
This is how it looks if all the cards fall the Seattle Seahawks’ way. It is realistic; for example, Bijan Robinson isn’t falling into the third round for them to select at 70.
The first four picks go to script. Will Anderson and three quarterbacks get selected. With only one of the top QBs left, Schneider will be fielding plenty of calls.
The goal is to land defensive tackle Jalen Carter. To do that, they can fall no lower than 8th. Las Vegas signed Jimmy Garoppolo as their new quarterback in the offseason but aren’t overly attached. He’s 32 with a long injury history, which is why the Raiders gave him a two-year deal.
It won’t be cheap for Vegas but they are ready to deal.
Seattle Seahawks trade 2023 picks 5, 83, and 154 overall, a conditional 2024 7th round pick, and tight end Colby Parkinson to Las Vegas for 2023 picks 7, 38 (2nd round), 70, and 100.
In effect, the teams swapped firsts and thirds. The Seahawks also got a second and supplemental third for a 5th, conditional future 7th, and Parkinson.
Detroit most likely isn’t picking Carter and even if they do, Tyree Robinson is available. Seattle takes Carter 7th overall.
With a destructive inside force in hand, it’s time to supplement him with an edge. It’s worth mentioning that none of the interior offensive linemen are worth a top-20 pick.
At number 20, the Seahawks take Carter’s Georgia Bulldogs teammate Nolan Smith or Myles Murphy from Clemson. With either man, they get quality on the edge
Picking back-to-back at 37 and 38 plus another selection at 52 makes, Schneider can take a flier on quarterback Hendon Hooker. If he hadn’t been injured in Tennessee’s second to last game, Hooker would be a top-10 pick. Seattle has Geno Smith and Drew Lock, so their newest signal-caller can recover, rehabilitate and learn the system while he’s on injured reserve.
The Seattle Seahawks follow that up by selecting wide receiver Josh Downs from North Carolina. He may be small at 5’9”, 170 pounds, but Downs is fearless across the middle and has an array of moves that can break a defensive back’s ankles.
For their final Round 2 pick, it would be too much to hope that Minnesota center John-Michael Schmitz is still on the board. It’s possible but highly unlikely.
Instead, the Seattle Seahawks select Steve Avila. The big guard from TCU is as close to plug-and-play for the offensive line as Seattle will find. Additionally, he can play center.
With pick 70, we hope center Joe Tippman is available; if so, he’s headed to the Emerald City. If not, with Avila’s ability to play center, Seattle takes guard Chandler Zavalla from North Carolina State.
For their final Day 2 pick, Seattle replaces Parkinson with Luke Schoomaker from Michigan.
Most of the major needs are filled except one. With pick number 123, Seattle takes running back Kendre Miller from TCU.
It’s time to get that linebacker. At 151, the Seahawks add Henry To’o To’o Alabama. He may not be spectacular, but To’o To’o is steady and gets the job done.
To end the draft, Schneider gets defensive backs coach Karl Scott a few reinforcements. Stanford cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (197) and safety Gervarious Owens (237) are now Seattle Seahawks.
Some of the above picks might be stretches, but there are built-in contingencies.
In the good draft scenario, Schneider might make some minor deals but for these purposes, they aren’t included.
The Seattle Seahawks still get Carter and Smith/Murphy in the first round. They won’t get those extra 2nd and 3rd rounders.
Without the additional picks, Schneider plays it conservatively at 37, taking his long-term center Schmitz.
Still in need of a receiver at 52; it’s either Tank Dell of Houston or Tennessee’s Cedric Tillman. Carrol loves receivers that can block, so Tillman is the choice.
They stick with Zavalla in the 3rd round to play right guard.
Schneider doesn’t have the luxury of waiting another round to see if a good linebacker shakes loose. With pick number 123, the Seattle Seahawks select MLB Noah Sewell from Oregon.
This one might be a shocker but with the first of their two 5th round picks, Seattle takes running back Deuce Vaughn at 151. He’s small at 5’5”, 179 pounds, but he has the talent to be Darren Sproles 2.0.
Three picks later, Seattle adds a defensive back. If they go safety, it will be either Anthony Johnson Jr. from Iowa State or Ronnie Hickman from Ohio State. If it’s a cornerback, then Sterling Thomas V is their man.
One of the top remaining players on their board is available at pick 197. The Seattle Seahawks may not have their long-term quarterback of the future, but they do get someone who can be a long-term backup, Houston’s Clayton Tune.
With their final pick (237), Seattle takes the best player available, defensive tackle Jonah Tavai from San Diego State.
The best-laid plans always have a chance to go south. Even if that’s the case, some good football players will be headed to Seattle.
Either by trade or surprise pick, both Anderson and Carter are gone by pick 5. The next best players are two quarterbacks, a cornerback, and an offensive tackle who may be better at guard. With Levis and Richardson both on the board, Las Vegas can wait it out.
Enter Atlanta, making lemonade from lemons; the teams make a trade.
Seattle Seahawks trade 2023 picks 5, 83, 151, and 154 overall to Atlanta for picks 8, 44, 75, and 113.
That leaves edge rusher Tyree Robinson still available. Seattle takes the athletic freak from Texas Tech with the 8th overall pick.
At pick 20, the second-best defensive tackle, Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey, is gone. Taking the next man up, Brian Breese, seems like a stretch here. Murphy is still available, but the Seahawks used their first pick on an edge player.
Schneider decides on the best playmaker available, wide receiver Jordan Addison of USC. He is a terrific player, but how will his selection go over with Metcalf and Lockett?
By pick 37, Schmitz is gone, as is Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders. At least Breese is still available. The Seahawks get their DT, just not one of their top choices.
Moving on to 44, Avila is the choice, but it feels like a slight reach. With their third pick of the round, it’s tempting to take tight end Sam LaPorta (Iowa) or RB Zach Charbonnet (UCLA). Instead. They take the next best player at a position of need, middle linebacker Daiyan Henley from nearby Washington State University.
That was a big surprise; Zavala went early. That’s a problem because there is a big gap between him and the next-best interior offensive lineman.
In need of a running back, the Seattle Seahawks take Tank Bigsby at 75. A very inconsistent back, but when he’s on, Bigsby makes cuts and changes speeds at an elite level.
With the first of Seattle’s three 4th round picks, they select versatile offensive lineman Braeden Daniels from Utah at 110. He has some tools but will need to bulk up to succeed at the next level.
Picking again at 113, the Seahawks draft safety Anthony Johnson Jr. Ten picks later, they followed with Alabama cornerback Eli Ricks. He’s not fast, but has good size and can press.
After the trade, the Seattle Seahawks have no 5th round picks.
These are the same as in the “Good Draft” section, Tune in Round 6 and Tavai in Round 7.
What do think the Seattle Seahawks best and worst scenarios are in this year’s draft?