Charles Cross, Seattle Seahawks.
It’s late April in 2022, General Manager John Schneider and Head Coach Pete Carroll are huddled up in the Seattle Seahawks‘ executive offices with their scouts putting the final touches on their NFL Draft game plan. The national media thinks Seattle is in a full rebuild. But Carroll said, “No, we are not in a rebuild; we are retooling.”
Nobody believed him; the consensus was the Seahawks couldn’t win with Geno Smith as their starting quarterback. And his backup, Drew Lock, is an even worse option.
Fill up an arena with 12s and ask them if they thought that after six games, the Seahawks would be 3-3. Maybe a handful would agree. More likely, 2-4 or 1-5 would receive the most support.
And Geno as a top 5 passer in the league? Crickets.
But the Seahawks brain trust had a plan. Let’s take a look at how their draft picks are doing through the first six weeks.
Round 1 was Thursday, April 28. The Seahawks owned the 9th pick, which was part of the return from Denver for Russell Wilson.
They began the post-Russell era by taking offensive tackle Charles Cross from Mississippi State. A veteran of Mike Leach‘s “Air Raid,” Cross was the highest-graded pass-blocking tackle available.
There were concerns about his run blocking because Mississippi State didn’t run much. His run blocking wasn’t a problem, as Cross was a starter from Day 1.
As it looks six games into his rookie season, this was a great pick. Cross has held his own against the best the league can throw at him. Bookend number 1 obtained.
Grade: A-, due to some holding calls, but those are rookie mistakes and will get cleaned up.
Rounds 2 and 3 took place on the second day. Seattle owned picks 40, 41, 72.
With pick 40, they selected edge rusher Boye Mafe from Minnesota. Mafe has come on the past few games, taking snaps away from Darrell Taylor. With 18 tackles and 1 sack so far in 2022, he’s starting to shine in the Seahawks’ new 3-4 alignment.
Grade: B-. The next few weeks will be important to his development.
Back on the clock at 41st overall, the Seattle Seahawks chose running back Ken Walker III from Michigan State. He was the Doak Walker Award winner as best college back last season.
The pick puzzled many analysts because Rashaad Penny finally had a breakout during the back half of last year. What the “experts” didn’t understand was that Penny never played a full season of NFL football. Seattle needed a quality number two.
As per his usual, Penny is back on injured reserve this year. KW3 replaced him during Game 5 at New Orleans and announced his presence with a 69-yard touchdown run.
Last week Walker made his first NFL start picking up 110 yards from scrimmage (97 run, 13 pass) and 1 TD. It’s safe to say that Schneider and Carroll were right to snag this Walker when and where they did. Look for him to rack up some major yards over the rest of the season.
Grade: B+ and climbing.
The Seattle Seahawks took a local kid, Abraham Lucas, with their third-round pick (70th overall). Early in training camp, the Everett, Washington native, via Washington State, beat out Jack Curhan and Stone Forsythe to become the starting right tackle.
Lucas has done an admirable job in pass blocking. Because of the offensive system he came from, there were similar concerns about his run blocking as with Cross. But he’s been better than advertised.
So by Round 3, Schneider and Carroll found their bookend tackles. Good Work.
Grade: A.
The heavy lifting begins at this stage of the draft. This is when the Seattle Seahawks try to find hidden gems among the remaining draft prospects.
It was no secret the Seahawks needed help at cornerback. In the fourth round (109th overall), Seattle selected Cincinnati Bearcats corner, Coby Bryant. While fellow corner and teammate Sauce Gardner was a Top 5 pick, it was Bryant who won the 2022 Jim Thorpe Award winner as college football’s best CB.
Bryant began the season second on the Seahawks’ depth chart at slot corner. But a combination of injuries and improved play has him on the first team.
Early in the season, he committed several penalties. Although costly at times, they weren’t unexpected. There is usually an adjustment period for cornerbacks at this level.
The rookie has also turned in some good work and caused several turnovers already this year. Bryant has 22 total tackles, 1 sack, and an amazing 4 forced fumbles already this year.
His pass coverage still needs work, but Bryant is showing that he’s a playmaker worthy of a starting role.
Grade: B.
The fifth round is where the Seahawks pulled out an ace on the river. They selected cornerback Tariq Woolen from UTSA.
A converted wide receiver that didn’t switch positions until his junior year, Woolen turned heads at the combine with a 4.26 40 time (tied for sixth-best all-time). At 6’4″, 205-pounds, he has the size and length Carroll loves from his corners.
Expected to be a project in his first season, Woolen has been anything but. Through six games, he has 22 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 4 interceptions.
Not only does he have those previously mentioned four picks, but he has them in four consecutive games! Woolen has also chipped in with a blocked FG that was returned for a touchdown.
His 40.2 passer rating allowed is fourth best in the league, and Pro Football Focus ranks Woolen 22nd at his positions.
Grade A+
Seattle’s second fifth-round pick (158 overall), Ohio State defensive end Tyreke Smith was a mild surprise. They already drafted an edge rusher, Mafe, in the second round.
A talented player, his checkered injury history dropped him down most draft boards. So far, that history has followed him to the NFL. Smith has been on injured reserve all season. 2022 will mostly be a learning experience.
The Seattle Seahawks had two picks in the seventh round and used both on wide receivers. Bo Melton (229 overall), a speedy yet undersized slot receiver and kick returner from Rutgers, is on the practice squad. He hasn’t been active in any games so far.
Dareke Young (233 overall) is from Division II Lenior-Rhyne. Although he’s big at 6’3″, 250-pounds, Young still runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. In college, he was used in a variety of roles.
A part of the Seattle Seahawks’ 53-man roster all season, Young has been active for only two games.
Grades for Smith, Melton, and Youg: Incomplete.
Of their nine total picks from the 2022 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks earn high grades on 6 of them.
Teams can usually expect to hit on their first round choice, especially when it comes within the top nine. For it to be considered a good draft, a team should find three or four starters, including maybe a pro bowler.
Of their nine total picks from the 2022 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks earn high grades on 6 of them. Five of those six are currently starters, and the other looks to be on his way to joining them.
Cross, Lucas, Bryant, and Woolen have Pro Bowl potential. Not only is Woolen looking like a legit Pro Bowler this year, but he’s also among the top choices for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
This draft class will go down as one of the best the Seattle Seahawks ever had. They proved Carroll right when he said the team was retooling. Additionally, Schneider is an early favorite for GM of the Year after the job he did with the draft, as well as navigating the Wilson trade and what came after.
What are your thoughts about the Seattle Seahawks 2022 draft class so far? Let us know in the comments section below.