Weird Seahawks draft target: Wide receivers?

Adonai Mitchell's "DK Metcalf like Combine" is one of many reasons the Seahawks may do the unexpected again: Seaside Joe 1827

If I have any success in forecasting what the Seahawks are going to do in the draft, and sometimes I do, it is because I don’t start the process by asking myself what Seattle needs. I start by asking, “What’s the best OPPORTUNITY with this pick?”

Think of it this way: If you’re minding your own business and then tomorrow you find out that you’re getting a $50,000 inheritance from some distant relative you didn’t even know, just a “free” $50k, would you use that money to buy something you need right now or think of it as an opportunity to make a choice that you otherwise would never have if not for this unexpected windfall?

For example, maybe you tell yourself that buying a truck would really help you with work right now and this money could buy you a truck that you otherwise would have had to finance. But then another half of you is arguing that this is a $50,000 gift to create a college fund for your kid, an opportunity that you never imagined would have ever been available that might have a much longer-lasting impact on your family and life.

It’s not that the truck is the “wrong” decision. It’s just a battle between needs and opportunities and I feel that John Schneider’s history suggests that the Seahawks take more of an “OPPORTUNITY” approach than a “NEEDS” approach in the draft.

The Seahawks have had three top-10 picks in 14 years and twice they picked a left tackle, a position that is often only be addressed with very early draft selections. The other top-10 pick, Devon Witherspoon, possessed traits and football-related skills that you can’t find later in the draft and plays a position where he’ll regularly be playing against the opposing teams top offensive weapon.

Seattle’s other top-20 selections during this era have included another defensive back with rare traits at an important ‘centerfield’ position (Earl Thomas), a pass rusher (Bruce Irvin), and a wide receiver (Jaxon Smith-Njigba). It’s not a huge sample size, only six top-20 picks in 14 years, but there are no guards, no centers, no running backs, no tight ends, no linebackers, no defensive tackles.

Offensive tackle, edge rushers / receivers and the people who stop them.

The Seahawks recent track record shows an obvious emphasis on four positions and really they mirror each other on offense and defense. The only reason to expect Schneider to act any differently in the 2024 draft is if he gets an opportunity to pick a quarterback or if there’s a standout with elite traits at a position that could still tilt the field, specifically if there’s an “Aaron Donald-ish defensive tackle” or a “Travis Kelce-ian tight end”, something like that.

In other words, that probably won’t happen.

So my mind goes back to five positions as potential picks at #16 if the Seahawks do not trade down, which I don’t expect for the reasons given here: QB, OT, EDGE, WR, DB. Since there are no first round safeties expected this year, then “DB” really means “CB”.

Well, there are probably three special groups in the 2024 draft class right now, those being quarterback (4-6 first round picks), offensive tackle (6+ first rounders), and wide receivers (3 in the top-10 and maybe another 3+ getting into the first round); cornerbacks maybe aren’t far off, but right now they don’t have as many clear ‘blue chip’/top-10 prospects and perhaps the difference in player between the one you get at 20 and the one you get a round later isn’t that great.