Seattle Seahawks draft.
Seattle Seahawks General Manager John Schnieder and Head Coach Pete Carroll will be busy at the draft trying to rebuild the franchise. The team currently owns the 9th overall pick in the first round. They got it along with number 40 from Denver in the Russell Wilson trade. Add those selections to their other picks 41, 72, 108, 152, 153, and 227, and eight new players are headed to the Emerald City.
ESPN has Mel Kiper and Todd McShay hashing out their versions of the draft. Pacific Northwest Sports pitted two of our writers, Clint Prasky and Ed Stein, against each other to get the best Seahawks mock draft.
There are several areas where the Seattle Seahawks need help. Among the most critical positions that need reinforcing are:
The O-line struggled again in 2021. Additionally, both of last season’s starting tackles, Duane Brown and Brandon Shell, are free agents.
Russell Wilson is in Denver now, and his backup the last few seasons, Geno Smith, is a free agent. That leaves Drew Lock and Jacob Eason fighting to be the number one quarterback in camp. A situation most 12s find unacceptable.
Seattle unceremoniously dumped middle linebacker and franchise mainstay Bobby Wagner. They might move 2020 first round pick Jordyn Brooks inside and find another outside linebacker, or leave him outside and promote Cody Barton to starting MLB. Neither option is a long-term fix.
Aside from a few microbursts, the Seahawks struggle to pressure the quarterback. Even average passers can make plays when they have extra time in the pocket to pick on Seattle’s corners.
Speaking of cornerbacks, Seattle went from Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar in 2020 to DJ Reed and a revolving door opposite him last year. Now Reed starts for the New York Jets.
Last year’s fourth round pick Tre’ Brown played well until a knee injury knocked him out of action for the season in Game 10. Sidney Jones took over for Brown and did a nice job, but this team needs a shutdown corner.
As in previous Dueling Mock Drafts, Ed and Clint are using the Pro Football Network Draft Simulator. Today’s mocks cover all seven rounds; there are no trades. Also, Clint’s picks will be in blue, and Ed’s are in green.
It was a surprise when the Giants used the fifth overall pick on Charles Cross ahead of Ikem Ekwonu. Then the Seahawks had to sweat out Carolina and Atlanta to pick their cornerstone left tackle.
Ekwonu took a huge step up in 2021. He went from a raw talent with potential, to a top ten pick. A rise like that only happens through hard work. The best part about him is that he’s just now scratching the surface of that potential. The more Ekwonu plays, the better he’ll get. Seattle could plug him in at left tackle on the first day of training camp.
He’s got everything an NFL team could want in a premier tackle, size, strength, athletic ability, and explosiveness. Ekwonu pancakes defensive linemen with the ease we mortals flip pancakes. On film, he mauls defenders in a way that would be called assault if it happened off the field. Watch the videos on him and be amazed.
It won’t be easy at first, but Ekwonu will blossom quickly. His combination of size (6’4” 310-pounds), technique, athletic ability, and football IQ, with a little bit of a nasty streak for good measure, says he’ll be a dominating left tackle.
The Seahawks pick cornerback Ahmad Gardner from Cincinnati with the ninth pick of the first round, a lucky break considering many see him going in the top five. Gardner made news this week during an interview, as he proclaimed himself the best player in the draft.
He stands 6’3″ 190-pounds and runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. Sauce also has the requisite arm length head coach Pete Carroll looks for in his corners. Seattle can pencil in this playmaker from day one. 12s will love this star in the making and has the bravado one typically sees in a shutdown corner.
Gardner is a starter from the first day he shows up at camp. The Seattle Seahawks haven’t had a corner like Sauce since prime Richard Sherman.
Originally the Seahawks didn’t have Zion Johnson in their drafts plans. Surely, he would have been picked by now. But there was a quarterback frenzy in the late-first to early-second rounds, and the All- American guard from Boston College fell to them at 40.
Talk about a guy with all the tools; Johnson is strong, agile, and intelligent. He impressed several teams in one-on-one interviews at the combine. Johnson works well in tight space, and when he pops someone on the defensive line, they feel it.
There are some technical issues he has to work out. But there’s nothing serious that requires long-term development.
This is a huge pickup for Seattle. Some scouts think he’s the best interior lineman in the draft. Additionally, Johnson has experience at tackle and could play there in case of injury. He could be their starter at guard for a decade and possibly someone who can give Aaron Donald some trouble.
Clint – OT Tyler Smith, Tulsa
With pick 40, they select tackle Tyler Smith from Tulsa. Tyler is a big boy at 6’5″ and a robust 324 pounds. It says a lot about Smith’s ceiling that he’s a top-50 pick despite being so raw. He has the physical tools to handle the job now and will get better as he gains experience.
One trait that shows up when reading scouting reports on Tyler is a distinct nasty streak. Look for him to start at right tackle and if he can grow from there. By selecting Tyler, the Seahawks found a nice starting offensive lineman to plug in for the next few years.
Ed – CB Kyler Gordon
An outstanding athlete, Kyler Gordon is just now developing his immense potential. Not only does he have good size at 5′ 11 1/2” and a 75” wingspan, but his natural abilities are outstanding. Gordon runs a 4.5 with an almost 40 inch vertical.
Gordon has good footwork and body control, probably due to his background in dance and martial arts. Additionally, he’s not afraid to play his man physically or come up to the line and make a big hit on a running back.
For all the good, there is some tradeoff. Gordon still has work to do to become a reliable CB1 in the league. He needs to continue building on the mental aspects of the game, which will help him become more instinctual in coverage.
John and Pete wanted to take another tackle here, but they just selected Johnson, and time was running out to get a cornerback. They decided on Gordon but very narrowly over Auburn’s Roger McCreary.
Clint – QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Going back-to-back, the Seattle Seahawks select Cincinnati quarterback and two-time All-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Desmond Ridder. It’s an important pick because it means the team’s brain trust has chosen the next man to lead their offense.
A four-year starter, Ridder led the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff in 2021. The dual-threat quarterback has a nice arm and great leadership intangibles. Flashing 4.5 speed, he shows a good ability to get out of trouble if needed and make plays outside the pocket.
Ed – OT Daniel Faalele, Minnesota
A physical freak, Australian import Daniel Faalele is 6′ 8” tall and 390-pounds (down from 425) with 11 1/4” hands and a mega-huge 86” wingspan. That kind of overwhelming size can’t be taught. He’s a mountain who’s difficult for pass rushers to get around, and bull rushers find it hard to outmuscle him.
In the run game, Faalele is big enough and strong enough to impose his will on the defense. Part of the reason for that is his dedication to conditioning and hard work in the weight room.
Yes, he’s big, but not very fast or mobile. Speed rushers will have a chance to dip the shoulder, turn the corner, and get a step on him. He picked up 16 penalties in 31 starts. Still learning the game, complicated blitz schemes and stunts will give Faalele problems initially.
While some 12s may moan that the Seattle Seahawks drafted three offensive linemen with their first four picks, they are missing the point. Next year’s quarterback class will be much better than what’s available in 2022. Building a foundation up front will be key to making the next franchise quarterback successful.
On to Round three and pick 72. Here the Seahawks select a bit of a hometown hero. Cornerback Kyler Gordon went to Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett and the University of Washington.
Carroll can’t believe his luck. It was unexpected that Gordon fell this far, but he’s sure happy to tab the defensive back in the third round.
Gordon is hyper-athletic, and at times, that had to carry him as he is still a work in progress with route recognition. He doesn’t mind making a big hit or sitting back in coverage.
In his rookie year, look for Gordon to hold down the nickel corner spot. Then he can challenge Tre Brown for snaps as the Seahawks’ starting CB2 in the not too distant future.
Ed – EGDE Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
Seattle picks up another surprise faller, South Carolina edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare. A two-year starter in Columbia, SC, Pro Football Focus named him a third-team All-American.
The best way to describe Enagbare is steady and productive but unspectacular. He has a solid build at 6′ 3” 270-pounds with good strength and balance. Best of all for the Seahawks, he’s very coachable.
As with all third-day players, Engabare his minuses. He can be a little stiff in his movements and lacks the explosiveness of a top pass rusher.
Expect him to play LEO behind Darrell Taylor and also get snaps at the right defensive end spot as a rookie.
Clint – DT Zachary Carter, Florida
In the fourth round, Seattle selects Florida Gators defensive tackle Zachary Carter. It’s hard to believe a man of his size (6’4” 282-pounds) ran a sub-5 second 40-yard dash. He also has fast hands and long arms that help him fight off would-be blockers.
Carter is a versatile defensive lineman who the Seahawks can line up at any spot on the line. He is adept at causing havoc with a strong push from the middle. Carter finished 2020 as the Gators’ leading sack master with 5 in 12 games. And in 2021, improved that number to 8 along with two pass breakups.
Unfortunately, Carter is not as physically gifted as he needs to succeed at the next level. With more hard work in the gym and good coaching, Carter could develop into a solid rotation player.
Ed – CB Marcus Jones, Houston
Cornerback Marcus Jones is living proof that big things come in small packages. He makes up for his 5’8” height with blazing speed and athleticism. His ball instincts are top tier, and despite his size, Jones isn’t afraid to make contact.
Jones is also the most explosive kick/punt returner in the draft. Think Devin Hester 2.0.
Clint – RB Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State
With the first selection in Round 5, the Seattle Seahawks choose running back Pierre Strong Jr. A lightning-fast runner, Strong can really move his 5’11” 210-pound frame downfield in a hurry, as shown by his 4.37 40 time.
With that kind of speed, he’s a big play waiting to happen. At South Dakota State, Strong had ten career touchdowns of over 50 yards.
Last season, he led all of FCS with 1,686 rushing yards. Add in 18 touchdowns, and it’s easy to see why Strong was an FCS first-team All-American.
If there is a hole in his game, it was a lack of pass-catching opportunities. It’s an area he needs to work on at the next level, but he’ll still be a solid replacement if/when Carson and Penny go down again.
Ed – DT Haskell Garrett, Ohio State
The defensive line is an area where teams can never have enough depth. Ohio State DT Haskell Garrett can do more than just provide depth; he can make plays.
Garrett lacks the required height or length found in prototypical NFL defensive linemen. Also, his pass rush repertoire needs work. That doesn’t mean he gets pushed around. With a natural ability to plug inside gaps, Garrett’s best fit is as a three-technique defensive tackle.
Clint – Obinna Eze – OT, TCU
Next up is tackle Obinna Eze from TCU. A former basketball player Eze stands 6′ 6″ with long arms and is a decent 321- pounds. He has the foot speed to get to the second level and take on opposing linebackers and defensive backs.
Look for him to start his career as a backup. With a year or two of seasoning and weight training and Eze should push for first team reps. If all pans out, he will have a long stay in Seattle.
Ed – RB Ty Chandler, North Carolina
Ty Chandler is a steal in the seventh round. After leaving Tennessee last year, where he shared number one running back duties, for North Carolina, Chandler came into his own with 1,092 rushing yards and a career-high 15 receptions.
Can lightning strike twice? In 2017 the Seahawks picked Chris Carson in the seventh round.
Clint – G Dylan Parham, Memphis
Last but not least, the Seattle Seahawks use their final pick on Dylan Parham. The former Memphis Tigers guard is 6’3″ and weighs 311-pounds with a 4.93 40 time and a 7.78 three-cone drill. These numbers show he can be fairly quick in small spaces.
Parham has a lot of game experience as a four-year starter for the Tigers. I look for him to become the main backup at both guard spots and push for starting time, possibly towards the end of year two.
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