This is a draft of maybes. Maybe a 5'9" CB really can cover 6'4" NFL veterans. Maybe a short-armed edge really can get to the QB on Sundays. Maybe a RB with 10 fumbles in the last two years can be cured of that bad habit.
In a draft of maybes, I want as many chances as possible to get...something. Because some of the players drafted in a few weeks will be all-pros, and some of them will go to the Hall of Fame, even if nobody watching has any certainty at this point.
I am a synthesist. I listen, read, watch, pull together threads. This year...not so much.
Here's what I'm tolerably sure of, tonight:
(1) If we stick and pick at 32, I won't be surprised if we choose a player on the consensus boards as low as, say, 46. I'm not sure there are any players likely to fall to us from above 32 who we really want.
(2) The pick that is most troubling is 64. If we were to move up, I would move up from 64. Or down. Either way, but there are good players (like Jacas) who we might go up to get.
(3) I'd love to have a lot more chances on day three. That, for me, is where the most interesting players fall. Just for fun, here's my Day 3 list. (I don't build a spreadsheet, just a word document. Spreadsheets are for people who watch film.) The numbers are PFF rankings, fwiw.
101-181 Fourth and Fifth Round Hopefuls:
104 S Zakee Wheatley
107 DI Dante Corleone
109 ED Anthony Lucas
115 G Billy Schrauth, injury flag, but team captain
123 CB Tacario Davis 9.73 RAS
128 CB/S Jalon Kilgore 30 VISIT
135 LB Bryce Boettcher, also gold glove center fielder
137 RB Emmett Johnson
152 ED Max Llewellyn
162 CB Ephesians Prysock
165 DI Albert Regis
172 CB Julian Neal
179 CB Hezekiah Masses
182-257 You Cannot Win if You Do Not Play:
194 TE John Michael Gyllenborg
200 S Cole Wizniewski
223 CB Jadon Canody
225 CB Andre Fuller 30 VISIT
226 C Parker Brailsford
250 LB Eric Gentry
260 T-G Keagen Trost
283 RB Chip Trayanum 30 VISIT
326 RB Adam Randall, the converted
UDFA? RB Coleman Bennett, Kennesaw State 30 VISIT
(4) The Bootleg guys noted that IOL picked in the first round has a far higher success rate than WRs do. That may well be because IOL prospects have to be stunningly good to be picked that high, and WRs are held to a lower standard. Regardless, we build from the trenches, right? So here are my top for candidates for 32.
36 G2 Emmanuel Pregnon
28 DI1 Kayden McDonald
22 ED4 Keldric Faulk
46 CB7 Chris Johnson 30 VISIT
That will all change, for me, the next time I stumble on a new insight that makes sense to me.
Not a fan of mocks where we take a RB in the first 3 rounds. In my opinion, the meat of this drafts RB pool is day 3. Both IU RBs (Hemby, Black) are good players. Both PSU RBs (Allen, Singleton) are good players.
While it is great to have a “star” rb that can tilt the field every snap, those are few and far between. Even Walker has had modest production in his career for a 2nd rd pick. His best production may lie ahead, but I am confident that he received the attention he did this offseason solely due to having fresh legs from splitting snaps all season. This is the way of the modern NFL.
Yeah. Every time I take a RB at 64 it goes badly. Better at 96, but my best guess is we have a raft of UDFAs who try their luck and one sticks. If we only draft the four picks we now have, that's how it makes the most sense to me.
Curious if anyone has looked into S Cole Wisniewski of Texas Tech? Has incredible size at S (listed 6’4” 220lbs) and looks to have tremendous insticts on film. Could be a late round gem as he currently maintains a day 3 projection. Had respectable numbers at his pro day (wasnt invited to combine) w 20reps, 36.5” vert, 10-2 broad.
Taking an OLineman earlier than he expects gets us a ton of excited appreciation, as we saw happen with Zabel. Many of the "skills" guys can come to resent not being taken earlier, effecting the exact opposite when we should feel "lucky" to have them. I like Connor Lew. Snap him up early and it'll pay bigger dividends than the All Star players will deliver.
OK I like to use buckets of data to grade and rate players. I then use my eyes to try to reconcile all of it. I'm having a hard time this year. I get lists with guys that grade well compared to their peers in this particular draft, but overall grades feel down compared to other draft years. If we stay with the mantra of 'stack the trenches' then we are looking at short lists on the defensive side of the ball but on the offensive side it looks like a bunch of those hogs will be gone fast. By 32 you might have just a few choices. O line players might include Miller, Pregnon, Slaughter. D line might include Woods, Jacas, and Dennis-Sutton. I'd personally take Woods. This draft will be interesting to see how it unfolds. I think there will be big differences from the expected.
I'm probably the odd one out, in that I've seen Up In The Air at least six times. I love that film, it's just such great watch with everyone involved operating at 100% of their skills. Hell of a soundtrack too, to supplement top notch performances.
As usual i'm not talking about football. I've been mentioning Hecht for months. Rate him significantly higher than Lew, who's 2025 tape was a notable regression and who's reputation seems built around one game against Georgia. But it's more than fair to say Hecht is not overly athletic and at the next level you question if that will become an issue. If the 'Hawks value a Centre it'll be Slaughter who should be there at 32 or early on Day 2 if we expect a trade down. A later round option i like is Bryce Foster (somehow I often seem to like Kansas players on Day 3), who is athletic, one of the most experiences players in the entire draft and feels like a scheme fit. Time with Benton could unearth a gem there!
Rutledge is very much in play at RG. I've talked about RG's a few times. I think Bisontis is in play as an early 'Hawks pick, with Rutledge right there as well. Benton would salivate over the potential, but it is potential and not a finished product at all. I like Schrauth a ton, but his run game is weak. But i'd take any of those three to provide a challenge to Bradford and could feasibly be Day 2 picks.
How about Jacob Rodriguez? Probably gone by 64, right? He looked really good in their bowl game and put up good numbers at the combine. Seems to do everything well. Was also was the green dot on D so has good football IQ and seems to be a good character guy. A perfect Seahawk.
In my latest mock draft (using pro football network’s simulator) I traded back from 32 with Miami. I got Miami’s 2nd round pick (43) and 3rd round pick (75) I had to give up pick 32 and a 2027 5th round pick. (We have 12 picks next year) I looked specifically for 30 visits players in this draft. Then I picked as follows:
If Brandon Cisse is still available at 64 I’ll be the most surprised person in the world. Hell if he might be an option at 32. Especially in your “trade Spoon” scenario (OMG though would that be painful — spiritual leader of the team beyond his formidable on-field impact).
Thanks for the plug on Jacas, but as you know, I am a fan and not an expert. I still like him and I think he would be a steal at 64, and he could even be a reasonable option with a trade back from 32 if they do find a dance partner and don’t feel good about anyone at 32 who isn’t a reach. My comment on Jacas was directed at an expert stating emphatically that “the Seahawks don’t need another run stopping edge, they’ve got enough of them. They need a Mafe replacement who can rush the passer” I feel just as emphatically (as a fan) that you don’t draft a 1st or second round player as a situational pass rusher who can’t play all three downs. Add to that rreasoning MM wants to live in nickel as his base defense which requires his 4 linemen (4-2-5 alignment) to be solid against the run and set a hard edge. You mention Jacas high character and his athleticism. (Top 3 edge) He’s not slow and with coaching he could learn to be a better and more varied pass rusher. The Seahawks have great coaches.
I still see Edge and CB as top needs in a strong class for CB and edge. I like those positions for the first two picks, but I think the Seahawks will also consider Safety, IOL (as you mention) and RB. Even WR could be a possibility at 96 or later. I missed predicting every pick in last year’s draft, so I don’t expect to be right this year. The Arkansas RB Washington is coming in for a 30 visit and I like his traits. He has issues, but I also think we have the best RB coaches in the NFL. The former Northern Illinois head coach is now our RB coach, and we saw what Outten was able to do with K9 when he took over this past year.
Others on your list who have been on 30 visits are S Haulcey and Kilgore, and OG Keylan Rutledge. They’ve seen quite a few RBs for 30 visits, Coleman, Washington and Price if you consider the Seahawks presence at his Pro Day.
30 visits so far...CB Chris Johnson (San Diego State), CB Andre Fuller (Toledo), S Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina), CB Daylen Everette (Georgia), RB Coleman Bennett (Kennesaw State), RB Chip Trayanum (Toledo), S AJ Haulcy (LSU), Edge Zion Young (Missouri), RB Mike Washington (Arkansas), RB Jonah Coleman (UW). Per Corbin Smith.
If the Hawks are savvy enough to draft Zion Young, Cage Casey, Bryce Lance, and Mike Washington they have done well.
This is a draft of maybes. Maybe a 5'9" CB really can cover 6'4" NFL veterans. Maybe a short-armed edge really can get to the QB on Sundays. Maybe a RB with 10 fumbles in the last two years can be cured of that bad habit.
In a draft of maybes, I want as many chances as possible to get...something. Because some of the players drafted in a few weeks will be all-pros, and some of them will go to the Hall of Fame, even if nobody watching has any certainty at this point.
I am a synthesist. I listen, read, watch, pull together threads. This year...not so much.
Here's what I'm tolerably sure of, tonight:
(1) If we stick and pick at 32, I won't be surprised if we choose a player on the consensus boards as low as, say, 46. I'm not sure there are any players likely to fall to us from above 32 who we really want.
(2) The pick that is most troubling is 64. If we were to move up, I would move up from 64. Or down. Either way, but there are good players (like Jacas) who we might go up to get.
(3) I'd love to have a lot more chances on day three. That, for me, is where the most interesting players fall. Just for fun, here's my Day 3 list. (I don't build a spreadsheet, just a word document. Spreadsheets are for people who watch film.) The numbers are PFF rankings, fwiw.
101-181 Fourth and Fifth Round Hopefuls:
104 S Zakee Wheatley
107 DI Dante Corleone
109 ED Anthony Lucas
115 G Billy Schrauth, injury flag, but team captain
123 CB Tacario Davis 9.73 RAS
128 CB/S Jalon Kilgore 30 VISIT
135 LB Bryce Boettcher, also gold glove center fielder
137 RB Emmett Johnson
152 ED Max Llewellyn
162 CB Ephesians Prysock
165 DI Albert Regis
172 CB Julian Neal
179 CB Hezekiah Masses
182-257 You Cannot Win if You Do Not Play:
194 TE John Michael Gyllenborg
200 S Cole Wizniewski
223 CB Jadon Canody
225 CB Andre Fuller 30 VISIT
226 C Parker Brailsford
250 LB Eric Gentry
260 T-G Keagen Trost
283 RB Chip Trayanum 30 VISIT
326 RB Adam Randall, the converted
UDFA? RB Coleman Bennett, Kennesaw State 30 VISIT
(4) The Bootleg guys noted that IOL picked in the first round has a far higher success rate than WRs do. That may well be because IOL prospects have to be stunningly good to be picked that high, and WRs are held to a lower standard. Regardless, we build from the trenches, right? So here are my top for candidates for 32.
36 G2 Emmanuel Pregnon
28 DI1 Kayden McDonald
22 ED4 Keldric Faulk
46 CB7 Chris Johnson 30 VISIT
That will all change, for me, the next time I stumble on a new insight that makes sense to me.
Coleman as an UDFA would be a great lotto play and fit into JS's RB "you can kinda find those guys" paradigm.
Not a fan of mocks where we take a RB in the first 3 rounds. In my opinion, the meat of this drafts RB pool is day 3. Both IU RBs (Hemby, Black) are good players. Both PSU RBs (Allen, Singleton) are good players.
While it is great to have a “star” rb that can tilt the field every snap, those are few and far between. Even Walker has had modest production in his career for a 2nd rd pick. His best production may lie ahead, but I am confident that he received the attention he did this offseason solely due to having fresh legs from splitting snaps all season. This is the way of the modern NFL.
Yeah. Every time I take a RB at 64 it goes badly. Better at 96, but my best guess is we have a raft of UDFAs who try their luck and one sticks. If we only draft the four picks we now have, that's how it makes the most sense to me.
Curious if anyone has looked into S Cole Wisniewski of Texas Tech? Has incredible size at S (listed 6’4” 220lbs) and looks to have tremendous insticts on film. Could be a late round gem as he currently maintains a day 3 projection. Had respectable numbers at his pro day (wasnt invited to combine) w 20reps, 36.5” vert, 10-2 broad.
What does everyone think about edge TJ Parker? He’s hovering around 32
Seems to be some dispute about where he'd actually play (edge or further inside). Either way I'd trust the pick if that's who we end up with.
Taking an OLineman earlier than he expects gets us a ton of excited appreciation, as we saw happen with Zabel. Many of the "skills" guys can come to resent not being taken earlier, effecting the exact opposite when we should feel "lucky" to have them. I like Connor Lew. Snap him up early and it'll pay bigger dividends than the All Star players will deliver.
OK I like to use buckets of data to grade and rate players. I then use my eyes to try to reconcile all of it. I'm having a hard time this year. I get lists with guys that grade well compared to their peers in this particular draft, but overall grades feel down compared to other draft years. If we stay with the mantra of 'stack the trenches' then we are looking at short lists on the defensive side of the ball but on the offensive side it looks like a bunch of those hogs will be gone fast. By 32 you might have just a few choices. O line players might include Miller, Pregnon, Slaughter. D line might include Woods, Jacas, and Dennis-Sutton. I'd personally take Woods. This draft will be interesting to see how it unfolds. I think there will be big differences from the expected.
Funny. I took Woods off my list after listening to the NFLSE guys talk about him, again.
"This little shanty, sandy town of bird watchers."
Great quote!
I've been looking for Seattle monikers that don't include salmon, lumber, planes, or tech.
Thanks, Ken
I'm probably the odd one out, in that I've seen Up In The Air at least six times. I love that film, it's just such great watch with everyone involved operating at 100% of their skills. Hell of a soundtrack too, to supplement top notch performances.
As usual i'm not talking about football. I've been mentioning Hecht for months. Rate him significantly higher than Lew, who's 2025 tape was a notable regression and who's reputation seems built around one game against Georgia. But it's more than fair to say Hecht is not overly athletic and at the next level you question if that will become an issue. If the 'Hawks value a Centre it'll be Slaughter who should be there at 32 or early on Day 2 if we expect a trade down. A later round option i like is Bryce Foster (somehow I often seem to like Kansas players on Day 3), who is athletic, one of the most experiences players in the entire draft and feels like a scheme fit. Time with Benton could unearth a gem there!
Rutledge is very much in play at RG. I've talked about RG's a few times. I think Bisontis is in play as an early 'Hawks pick, with Rutledge right there as well. Benton would salivate over the potential, but it is potential and not a finished product at all. I like Schrauth a ton, but his run game is weak. But i'd take any of those three to provide a challenge to Bradford and could feasibly be Day 2 picks.
Slaughter is the center in keeping an eye on too.
How about Jacob Rodriguez? Probably gone by 64, right? He looked really good in their bowl game and put up good numbers at the combine. Seems to do everything well. Was also was the green dot on D so has good football IQ and seems to be a good character guy. A perfect Seahawk.
Rodriguez is one of my top favorites this year....I just don't know how he fits this team at this time.
If they find him available at the right spot and get him. I trust the brain trust to find the best way to deploy him.
Typo correction: Seahawks OL coach John BENTON, not Bennett.
In my latest mock draft (using pro football network’s simulator) I traded back from 32 with Miami. I got Miami’s 2nd round pick (43) and 3rd round pick (75) I had to give up pick 32 and a 2027 5th round pick. (We have 12 picks next year) I looked specifically for 30 visits players in this draft. Then I picked as follows:
43 CB Chris Johnson
64 EDGE Gabe Jacas
75 RB Mike Washington
96 S Jalen Kilgore
If Brandon Cisse is still available at 64 I’ll be the most surprised person in the world. Hell if he might be an option at 32. Especially in your “trade Spoon” scenario (OMG though would that be painful — spiritual leader of the team beyond his formidable on-field impact).
Agree on Cisse. But if he’s there, he would be difficult to pass up a second time, right?
Yeah if he’s there at 64 I think you run to the podium.
Thanks for the plug on Jacas, but as you know, I am a fan and not an expert. I still like him and I think he would be a steal at 64, and he could even be a reasonable option with a trade back from 32 if they do find a dance partner and don’t feel good about anyone at 32 who isn’t a reach. My comment on Jacas was directed at an expert stating emphatically that “the Seahawks don’t need another run stopping edge, they’ve got enough of them. They need a Mafe replacement who can rush the passer” I feel just as emphatically (as a fan) that you don’t draft a 1st or second round player as a situational pass rusher who can’t play all three downs. Add to that rreasoning MM wants to live in nickel as his base defense which requires his 4 linemen (4-2-5 alignment) to be solid against the run and set a hard edge. You mention Jacas high character and his athleticism. (Top 3 edge) He’s not slow and with coaching he could learn to be a better and more varied pass rusher. The Seahawks have great coaches.
I still see Edge and CB as top needs in a strong class for CB and edge. I like those positions for the first two picks, but I think the Seahawks will also consider Safety, IOL (as you mention) and RB. Even WR could be a possibility at 96 or later. I missed predicting every pick in last year’s draft, so I don’t expect to be right this year. The Arkansas RB Washington is coming in for a 30 visit and I like his traits. He has issues, but I also think we have the best RB coaches in the NFL. The former Northern Illinois head coach is now our RB coach, and we saw what Outten was able to do with K9 when he took over this past year.
Others on your list who have been on 30 visits are S Haulcey and Kilgore, and OG Keylan Rutledge. They’ve seen quite a few RBs for 30 visits, Coleman, Washington and Price if you consider the Seahawks presence at his Pro Day.
I love Haulcy. Rutledge has sweet highlights, if we could get him to play that way every play...move over AB. Kilgore looks solid.
30 visits so far...CB Chris Johnson (San Diego State), CB Andre Fuller (Toledo), S Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina), CB Daylen Everette (Georgia), RB Coleman Bennett (Kennesaw State), RB Chip Trayanum (Toledo), S AJ Haulcy (LSU), Edge Zion Young (Missouri), RB Mike Washington (Arkansas), RB Jonah Coleman (UW). Per Corbin Smith.
Sign me up for Haulcy, Everette, Young, and Coleman....they all got tools I could work with.
Yep, fieldGulls updates every time someone visits or they learn of someone scheduled as well.