Despite the significant free agency signing of DT Dre’Mont Jones, Seattle still has the most needs in the defensive front seven. DT Jalen Carter’s legal and weight issues, along with QB Anthony Richardson seeming to have less issues during the combine have shaken up the value of Seattle’s draft. Seattle currently holds these draft picks: 5, 20, 37, 52, 83, 123, 151, 154, 198 and 237. But they most likely will draft down from any of them to get more.

QB:

The Cardinals are the key with their #3 pick. It is at least in the realm of reason that 4 quarterbacks would be selected in the top 5 this year and even more likely if Arizona trades out of their slot. Seattle now has QB Geno Smith and QB Drew Lock under contract which is a solid place to be for the next year or two. There is no discussion of taking a quarterback at #5 if DE Will Anderson is still on the board. But if he is not then QB Anthony Richardson likely will be. Richardson has accuracy issues, but otherwise is exactly what is needed for a franchise quarterback and when will Seattle be in the position to draft one again? DT Jalen Carter is likely available too and would have been a sure pick without the issues of the past month. He may still be, but that is known only within Seattle’s draft room windows. If Seattle does not take Richardson, they may gamble on QB Tanner McKee or QB Hendon Hooker if they fall in the right place of round 2 and if Seattle trades back to have the draft capital to gamble on them with.

The offensive line improved in free agency as well with the addition of OC Evan Brown, but his arrival does not rule out taking OC John Michael Schmitz with their early second round pick. I still like pairing him with a late first round pick of OG O’Cyrus Torrence to combine with existing players LT Charles Cross, RT Abe Lucas and LG Damien Lewis. Then Brown could compete for guard or center and play where he fits best. In this scenario Seattle might actually have an offensive line that is not their weakest unit for the first time in more years than I care to remember.

RB:

Seattle is set with star RB Ken Walker but depth is not great. It would not really make any sense to take someone like RB Bijan Robinson at #20, but he would be a tremendous value there and he and Walker would be deadly together. I like Walker behind the line that I imagined in the prior section better, but with a late round pick up or another free agent to provide depth in case of the injury that always seems to come to Seahawk running backs.

WR:

Number 20 is also a good spot to look for an heir for WR Tyler Lockett. WR DK Metcalf is getting killed with double teams when Lockett is banged up, so having another big threat like WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the field would be nice. I think that only happens if Seattle trades down out of #5 and picks up more late first or early second round picks. Otherwise they will be looking for another fifth round or later diamond in the rough.

TE:

Or… instead of a wide receiver with extra picks from trading down, Seattle could nab TE Michael Mayer late first or early second. TE Noah Fant and TE Colby Parkinson are fine but will not be the same threat that Mayer could be.

K:

No picks or action here. PK Jason Myers is the man.

D:

The best thing that could happen would be for Anderson to fall to the ‘Hawks (or for Carter to be a successful roll of the dice). The next best thing would be for them to be able to trade down and get a couple more first and second round picks to fill out their offensive line and defensive front seven with potential pro bowlers. LB Drew Sanders is probably not there at 52 and probably not the right pick at 37. And LB Trenton Simpson is probably not the right pick at 20 and probably not there at 37. But add a pick or two in that ballpark and one of them is a possibility. Otherwise I like LB Jack Campbell at 52, or in addition to one of the other two for that matter. Other than the offensive line and maybe a new target for Smith the best available defensive front seven guy should be picked each time. Could DT Jalen Carter fall to 20? Probably not, but there are less risky (and lower ceiling) guys to be had like DT Bryan Bresee who is another guy that will likely be drafted before Seattle picks at 20 but should not be picked at 5. Trading back for Bresee and gaining enough capital to get a top linebacker, center, and guard then loading up the D – that would not be a bad draft at all. But I am a trenches kind of fan. Richardson could be the #5 pick that would bring the most excitement to the Northwest. Or the most disappointment. Also watch the top corners on the board. Seattle could value that position higher than expected in the draft too.

Go ‘Hawks!

End.