Seattle Seahawks draft.
Welcome to the 2023 NFL Draft. Pacific Northwest Sports has compiled 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.
Our sources may change from edition to edition, but they are reliable. We used 77 different mock drafts. Sources include ESPN, Pro Football Focus, CBS Sports, NFLcom, Walter Football, The Athletic, and more.
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
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.
They’ll look to repeat their success this weekend in Kansas City.
Consensus Pick – Jalen Carter, Defensive Tackle, Georgia Bulldogs – 53.94%
The Seattle Seahawks haven’t picked in the top five for quite some time. Over half the mock drafts have them taking Georgia’s enigmatic defensive lineman.
His off the field issues are a red flag but Pete Carroll and his staff do a great job of reigning in players. If the best version of Jalen Carter shows up, he’s Aaron Donald 2.0.
Runners Up
Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech – 15.79%
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida – 13.16%
Will Anderson, Edge, Georgia – 7.89%
CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State – 3.95%
By reading some of the mock drafter’s comments, Seattle would take Anderson over Carter if he was available, but it seems unlikely to happen.
By Position
Defensive Tackle – 53.94%
Edge – 25%
Quarterback – 18.42%
Cornerback – 2.63%
The path isn’t as clear here. There are plenty of rumors that the Seattle Seahawks would like to trade down from 20.
Consensus Pick – Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia Bulldogs – 13.16%
Nolan Smith is a high-end athlete. Combined with his speed and toughness, he has the building blocks of an elite edge rusher.
At 237 pounds, Smith plays bigger than his weight. His grit, strength, and determination at the point of attack also make him an outstanding run defender.
Runners Up
Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College – 10.53%
Lucas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa – 9.21%
Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson – 7.89%
Jaxon Smith-Ngiba, WR, Ohio State – 7.89%
By Position
Edge – 32.89%
Wide Receiver – 27.63
Offensive Line – 11.84%
Quarterback – 10.53%
Defensive Line – 6.58%
We audited 24 mock drafts that went into the second round. As the Seattle Seahawks found out last year with Walker, there is value to be found in this round.
By the time it comes to pick 37, it gets harder to be accurate. Just look how much opinions were split on pick 20.
Consensus Pick – Hendon Hooker, Quarterback, Tennessee Volunteers – 16.67%
Quarterback Hendon Hooker led Tennessee to its best season in over 20 years. A potential Heisman candidate, his season ended in the Vols’ second-to-last game with a torn ACL in his knee.
Hooker still threw for 3,155 yards and 27 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions. If he didn’t get hurt, Hooker was a top 10 pick. Will he last until pick 37?
Runners Up
Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College – 8.33%
Steve Avilla, Guard, TCU – 8.33%
Mazi Smith, Defensive Line, Michigan – 8.33%
By Position
Wide Receiver – 16.67%
Defensive Line – 16.67%
Quarterback – 16.67%
Offensive Line – 12.5%
Linebacker – 12.5 %
Edge – 12.5%
Consensus Pick – Steve Avilla, Guard, TCU – 17.39%
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.
Like Damien Lewis in 2021, Avila should be a starter from day one. He’s a monster who can play both guard and center.
Runners Up
Joe Tippmann, Center, Wisconsin – 13.04%
Jack Campbell, Linebacker, Iowa – 13.04%
Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, Wide Receiver, Houston – 8.7%
By Position
Offensive Line – 39.13%
Wide Receiver – 21.74%
Defensive Line – 13.04%
Edge – 13.04%
Linebacker – 13.04 %
Things get more random from here but one player had multiple selections. In general, the mock drafters begin to add depth to the Seattle Seahawks here.
Consensus Pick – Owen Pappoe, Linebacker, Auburn – 9.52%
A bit undersized for the position, but Owen Pappoe has amazing athleticism. His instincts are questionable; who better to learn from Bobby than Wagner?
By Position
Cornerback – 28.57%
Safety – 19.04%
Edge – 14.29%
Linebacker – 9.52 %
Offensive Line – 9.52%
Consensus Pick – None
By Position
Quarterback – 30%
RB, WR, OL, Edge, DL, CB, S – 10% each
We combined the position stats on these two picks because they are so close. Surprisingly, one player picked up multiple selections.
Consensus Pick – Nick Herbig, Edge/LB, Wisconsin – 9.1%
Nick Herbig fits the role of an outside linebacker in a 3-4. He comes hard off the edge but also has some cover skills.
By Position
Edge – 36.63%
Cornerback – 13.64%
Defensive Line – 13.64%
Safety – 13.64%
By Position
Offensive Line – 36.63%
Defensive Line – 27.27%
Safety – 18.18%
By Position
Running Back – 18.18%
Offensive Line – 18.18%
QB, Edge, DT, LB, CB, S, and Long Snapper – 9.09% each
It should be a fun night for Seattle Seahawks Nation as the Emerald City’s team adds more good players to a strong roster.