3 surprising prospects who the Seahawks could reach for in the 1st round
These guys will excite you on the football field, but they might terrify you as first round picks
It was on March 12th that I first mentioned that tackle Bernhard Raimann would probably end up being the prospect who I will predict as the Seahawks’ first selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. And even before I had said it, others had made the connection between Seattle and the soon-to-be 25-year-old developmental project out of Austria, by way of Central Michigan, though most assumed he would be a late day two pick.
Now it is no longer a secret that Raimann would be an obvious “reach pick” for the Seahawks as early as the first round, it’s practically becoming hack at this point.
So I won’t do the obvious thing and name Raimann as a target for Pete Carroll in the first round. Instead, I want to highlight three more names to prepare for as possible first round picks of the Seattle Seahawks… whether they trade down or whether John Schneider continues to say, “We don’t give a fuck.”
Practically every time that Pete and John have stayed in the first round, they have picked a player who few thoughts could possibly go in the first round. From Bruce Irvin to Rashaad Penny to Jordyn Brooks, most of Seattle’s picks since James Carpenter in 2011 have been prospects expected to be taken on day two, so if the Seahawks trade down from pick nine—which I believe is inevitable—then we might be able to throw out the Russell Okung and Earl Thomas as counter-examples.
Maybe Seattle sticks-and-picks Sauce Gardner or Jermaine Johnson II (himself not a player projected to be in the top-10 until about a month ago) or they get an enormous steal like Kayvon Thibodeaux or Evan Neal. But if you want to take some of the surprise out of this year’s surprise, consider these three prospects.
Names not listed because I don’t think Seahawks are considering in the first round: Any QB, Tyler Linderbaum, Nakobe Dean, most of the cornerbacks with first and second round grades, guards, Devin Lloyd, Jordan Davis
Not reach-y enough: George Karlaftis, Treylon Burks, Trevor Penning
WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
I find Seattle’s pre-draft visit with Watson to be a curious case. It certainly has nothing to do with his athletic profile, as he’s the closest prospect to DK Metcalf since DK Metcalf. But what about…DK Metcalf?
It’s not something we talk about with Watson but as far as WHAT HE DID ON A FOOTBALL FIELD, Watson had 43 catches for 800 yards and seven touchdowns plus 15 carries for 114 yards last season. What he could do at the next level as a receiver is interesting, but how Shane Waldron could utilize Watson on the jet sweep as a “Robert Woods+5 inches in height” gadget is fascinating.
Watson was as dominant against FCS competition as you would expect a player who tested out like Calvin Johnson (6’4, 208 lbs, 4.36 40-yard dash, 1.45 10-yard split, 38.5” vertical) to be. His 10-yard split was as fast as Chris Olave as the 3rd-fastest and only 0.1 behind the 170 lb Calvin Austin III. Only Skyy Moore has bigger hands, by one-quarter of an inch. Only Treylon Burks has a longer wingspan among Dane Brugler’s top-20 WR prospects in this year’s draft.
In a wide receiver class that is loaded with names you should like, really nobody comes close to matching Watson’s physical frame or athletic traits, not even George Pickens. Maybe Alec Pierce, another receiver Seattle might be willing to draft earlier than most. Watson or Pierce?
RB Breece Hall, Iowa State
You had to know it was coming. When the Seahawks drafted Christine Michael in 2013, he had tested in the 99th percentile for vertical, 97th for three-cone, 95th ofr shuttle, and 95th for bench. When the Seahawks drafted Rashaad Penny in 2018, he was not an amazing tester, but he was a super productive running back who had a similar physical profile to Ezekiel Elliott and fit perfectly into Pete Carroll’s scheme.
No matter Pete’s tastes in 2022, whether it’s physical gifts or college production, there isn’t anyone in this class who comes close to Breece Hall in either. He’s 5’11, 217 lbs, 95th percentile in the 40, the 10-yard split, the 20-yard shuttle, the vertical, and 92nd in the broad. He’s also rushed for over 1,400 yards in each of the last two years, scored 41 rushing touchdowns, and is a receiving threat who can also pass block.
If anyone is drafting Hall in the first round this year, Carroll has his hand raised.
Here’s every play by Hall in a game against Texas last year.
He puts on display the full array of qualities that will make him a three-down back in the NFL in Week 1 of the 2022 season. If a team has an opening. In Seattle’s case, Rashaad Penny is signed to be the Week 1 starter. However, you can count on one hand the number of games that Penny has started over his four-year career (if you have an extra thumb) and the Seahawks don’t have a three-down back signed for 2023.
Hall would also give Seattle the combination runner (Penny) and receiving threat (more Chris Carson) in a single package that Pete doesn’t yet have:
The Seahawks trading down and selecting Breece Hall in the top-25 picks—or trading back into the first round for him—doesn’t sound nearly as surprising if it happens as I’m sure it does today. Many people think Hall should be the first back drafted and that it should happen late in round two—Pete and John are not just manyone.
Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, or Dameon Pierce?
DE Boye Mafe, Minnesota
Like Watson, the Seahawks have met with Mafe in the pre-draft process and he’s one of their few known visits expected to go in the top-50 picks. He’s also a representative model, like Irvin, of the type of athletic edge player who Seattle is willing to reach for if they’re afraid he won’t be available to them in the second round. Boye Mafe would be a huge reach in the top-10 and he would also be a considerable steal at 40. If the Seahawks have become enamored with Mafe, moving around the board is a prerequisite.
As a 6’3, 261 lb defensive lineman with a 4.53 40-yard dash (only Travon Walker was faster for edge rushers), a 1.56 10-yard split (only Amare Barno and Sam Williams were faster), and an unparalleled 41.5” vertical, Mafe is just the type of edge player who Pete and John would move around the board for.
Minnesota coaches call him a “determined assassin” on the field and Mafe finished with seven sacks and three additional tackles for a loss in 12 games last season. That mentality is apparent here against Georgia Tech:
The Seahawks trading back from 9 to 15 and then selecting Boye Mafe over a bunch of other more popular names would be surprising to WHO exactly? Tell me their names. They must have missed the last 12 drafts. And Mafe will not be a bad prospect for any team to add to their roster. He’s a great prospect! It’s juts that because fans have been told that he’s a day two pick that he would be labeled as a disappointing pick, which has certainly never ever resulted in the player being great and everyone forgetting that he was called the biggest reach of the first round.
I have Boye Mafe very high on my top-48 Seahawks big board right now. Read the whole board right here and please if you didn’t get a chance to comment there, shoot me your thoughts in the comments below. Not subscribed? Consider hitting that button for a free newsletter through the draft! Coverage of the 2023 NFL Draft will be starting SOON!
Not so fast... Kenneth Walker III was faster than Hall, I'd argue has a better burst, and I don't think Hall played againt the same quality of defenses that Walker did. The biggest argument for Hall is that he's a better blocker and has more tape as a pass catcher. But the "no one else comes close" hyperbole is just that. Neither is head and shoulders above like Barkley or Henry were.
Faalele is a reach I could Seattle taking in the second round. I used to always use for their pick at 40 or 41 but trading down is John Schneider and Pete Carroll. I could see the big man available until the mid 50s. He is a freak athlete, there are very few 380 lbs human beings who could be any athlete other than a small Sumo wrestler. I have read good things about him.
I have watched some of Bryce Hall and Kenneth Walker lll. As this is Seaside Joe I think I think Kenneth is the proper pick.
Keep up the good work Kenneth it is pretty easy to feel how much you enjoy the draft your prognostications are the icing on top of the cake.
During Pete and John's press confrence today, the one thing that came through loud and clear is they will be open for business on Thursday. My prognostication is there is only two things that could make them change course. Number 1, is Sauce is there at 9 and number 2 no one wants to jump up to 9. I am cheering for the first scenario.