I will always be a bit concerned when Seattle does not pick someone bigger than me until day 3 of the draft. My inclination continues to be to trust in Pete and John, but I really wanted to see the trenches addressed earlier. Despite that Seattle definitely improved a couple of groups to what may well be elite status. The defensive front seven are just going to continue being the weak spot of the team.

QB:

All the top quarterbacks were off the board by the time Seattle was on the clock, so there should be no controversy over not reaching to fill that position this year. I am fine with QB Geno Smith and QB Drew Lock for this season. QB Holton Ahlers from East Carolina was signed as a rookie free agent, but he is not likely to make an impact.

My ideal draft was to have two offensive lineman called in the first 3 rounds, but I had to wait a bit longer for them. OG Anthony Bradford was an early round 4 pick and OC Olu Oluwatimi was the 19th pick of round 5. I just do not see OC Evan Brown or OC Joey Hunt as a viable starting center for a full season. I would have preferred an earlier pick to guarantee a new young body who could be ready for that role, but Olu may well be able to take over first team snaps at some point in the season. Bradford may also compete right away too, but I think if day 2 guys were in camp at these spots instead of day 3 guys, then Seattle would have its first shot at an elite offensive line in many, many years. Seattle will likely start out with LT Charles Cross, LG Damien Lewis, Brown, RG Phil Haynes, and RT Abe Lucas.

RB:

Is this a guilty pleasure thing? Seattle needed a body here but I did not expect them to bring in someone at RB Zach Charbonnet's level. This dude is arguably better than RB Rashaad Penny and we got him at the end of round 2. Okay, that may be where we should have gotten Penny too. I obviously wanted a big guy in round 2, not a skills guy, but here we are and I am looking forward to seeing how Charbonnet will be paired with RB Ken Walker. These guys could be a lot of fun to watch for years to come. If they both stay healthy and the line performs well in front of them, they could be elite.

WR:

Here is another spot where I expected a body to be added, but not in the first round. Guilty pleasure number 2 will be watching WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba flummox defenses when on the field with WR Tyler Lockett and WR DK Metcalf. This will be an elite unit and the WR3 question is finally resolved. Fantasy football predictions may end up being harder with three forces of nature in the game, or defenders will just have to give in to DK because they cannot double him anymore.

TE:

This spot went the other way. There was a lot of tight end talent in this draft, but Seattle took none of them. TE Noah Fant and TE Colby Parkinson will be fine and it looks like TE Will Dissly will be healthy for the start of the season too. Parkinson is the sleeper for stong fantasy football stats. He has built a good relationship with Smith and could break out this year.

K:

PK Jason Myers is the guy for another year.

D:

We can watch how it goes with DT Jalen Carter and either be relieved or angered by what we missed out on. But at least he is not somewhere where we will play him twice a year for the next decade. Arizona trading back saves us from Carter and from DE Will Anderson too. If last season ended differently, he could well have been a 'Hawk. But instead we have CB Devon Witherspoon as the #5 overall pick in the draft. Seattle's secondary should now be expected to be elite with Witherspoon joining CB Tariq Woolen and CB Coby Bryant. CB Mike Jackson has talent too. FS Quandre Diggs and SS Jamal Adams are also improved with the addition of FS Julian Love in free agency.

Then there is the front seven. Sigh. DT Cameron Young has already bulked up to 320 and I think he will eventually be seen as a steal in Round 4. DT Dre'Mont Jones, DT Jarran Reed, and DT Myles Adams round out the veteran presence and rookie DT Mike Morris, who has also gained 20 pounds to be 295, may fit in the rotation as a big end. But they are not elite and their ceiling is likely limited. If Young turns out to be the equal of DT Al Woods after a few years of experience then I am all good with this. But even this year he really has to be able to shield the linebackers so they can do their job because I do not think the veteran rotation will be enough.

In Seattle's scheme, second round pick DE Derick Hall will be an outside linebacker as an edge. DE Uchenna Nwosu and DE Darrell Taylor did reasonably well there last season. DE Boye Mafe did okay in his rookie season. But there is not much depth past these guys.

Welcome back LB Bobby Wagner! At least the middle will be secure for a season. I really, really wanted the 'Hawks to sign a rookie middle linebacker to spend a year with Bobby, but oh well. Instead we have Bobby with LB Devin Bush and LB Jordyn Brooks trying to improve upon last year's production. You would think that would be a gimme with just Bobby back, but even with Bobby this group is arguably the weakest on the team now that the offensive line no longer has that locked down year after year.

Go 'Hawks!

End.