I posted a group of players last year that fit into 3 buckets(athleticism/production/intangibles). There were like 20-25 players I think. We drafted 4 of those players with our first 4 picks. So here's the list this year. I hope you like centers and guards...
OT:Proctor, Feeling, Lomu, Miller
G:Fano,Pregnon,Farmer,Roberts,Carmona Jr, Morris
C:Lew, Hecht, Zuhn III, Parker II, Jones, Coogan, Gulbin, Slaughter, Burton
TE: Sadiq, Stowers, Endies, Bentley
WR: although the most important trait seems to be production- if looking at all three buckets...Lance, Heidenreich
RB: Love, Price, Singleton, McGowen, Reid
QB: Mendoza, Green, Allar
DT: Woods, Halton, Proctor, Gill-Howard
Edge: Reese, Bailey, Jacas, Dennis-Sutton
LB: Styles, Hill, Rodriguez, Golday, Louis
S: Thieneman, Stukes, Ramsey
CB : Hood, Demmings
If we look at likely draft position we could rule out a ton in the first round....the likely left over undrafted at 32 might be Thieneman, Woods, Hood, or Hill. Don't be surprised if Jacas or Price or Pregnon get bumped up...Miller could be out there which is why I ask about taking OT? Anyways just my two cents and research from last year?...we'll see.
There are a few that are close....honorable mentions...Rutledge guard, Washington RB, Lemon WR, and more so don't get mad at me....I'll miss a few probably.
Sorry forget to mention this year's third bucket was hard to get to since senior bowl and all the trading schools stuff is happening...so the group got bigger.. If you've heard anything bad about any of these players I would reduce their chances of being on the Seahawks.
I'm not sure if this is the right thread to include this thought, but I've been thinking about the Seahawks running back position as a whole recently. How will they approach it in the draft?
This is really John and Mike's first chance at building out the RB room. Both Ken and Zach were selected with Pete heavily influencing the decisions. What is Mike's vision for the position? I tend to agree with Seaside Joe, that I don't expect significant draft investment at the position. I think the people influencing the decision this time are of the mindset that you can find good RBs anywhere and here's why:
1. The Seahawks new RBs coach is the old Raven's coach before they got Derrick Henry. In that time he coached Alex Collins (a cheap FA acquisition cut by the Hawks) and a 29/30 year old Justin Forsett (Another cheap FA) to a career year.
2. The Shanahan system has historically elevated undrafted/late round draft picks to high end talents. Before CMC, the 49ers Raheem Mostert (UDFA), Jeff Wilson (UDFA), and Matt Breida (UDFA) where all major contributors. When CMC was injured, Jordan Mason (UDFA) played phenomenally. Go further back to Arian Foster (UDFA) with Gary Kubiak or Alfred Morris (6th Rnd) with Mike Shanahan. Even some of the 'newer' coaches have been successful like Aaron Jones (5th Rnd) with Matt Lafleur.
3. I don't think Emmanuel Wilson was signed to eventually be shoved into an RB3/RB4 role once Charbs comes back healthy. The dude played 30% of the snaps behind Josh Jacobs, and showed out in the one game Jacobs was out. I think they want a legit RB2 competition heading into fall camp, and selecting an RB in the first couple rounds skews that competition. Grab someone in the 6th, and you can survive the first few weeks of the season with Charbs on the PUP.
I could be incredibly wrong as I've been before, and I really do love Jadarian Price as a prospect. But I'd much prefer they invest more in the O-line at earlier rounds than select an RB.
I’m BPA, hoping that this player is a CB or a safety.
Whether the Hawks can get away with lesser talent at CB depends, I think, on one’s view of Woolen. If you like him warts and all, Seattle had an enviably deep CB room last year. You question whether Josh Jobe can handle playing 95% of snaps or how effective he’d be with Nehemiah Pritchett playing 3rd CB. It wouldn’t bother you to draft a CB at #32, especially if he were the BPA.
Same at safety, where you have similar concerns about Ty Okada. While Coby Bryant may not be a Pro Bowler, he has greater range and better ball skills than Okada. It niggles at you that Okada had two defensive snaps in the conference championship and none in the Super Bowl. While MM might well in effect replace many of Bryant’s snaps with Nick Emmanwori, you can still see using any of the first three picks on a safety.
******
Speaking of BPAs, Robert Turbin and Corbin Smith had a hilarious exchange on a recent Locked On Seahawks. Turbo said somewhat grouchily that BPA doesn’t always work out, and he could think of an unnamed one that blew up in Schneider’s face. Smith laughed and added that he was thinking of the number “2013.”
“Corbin, you know too g*****n much.”
Turbo comes across as pretty relaxed. In this case, his voice dripped with genuine dislike.
Whether we trade back or not, no one should be surprised if our first picks are DB and/or pass-rusher. There seems to be decent depth, but a lack of high-end talent, in the draft at these positions and they fill a need. The question is will anyone at those positions actually be worth the pick? I doubt it. Just based on the number of high-upside prospects, I think there is a higher likelihood that the best player available will be an offensive lineman at #32.
I keep screwing with mock-draft engines online, creating various scenarios of ranked positional values and drafting for (perceived) need. Clearly it’s impossible to get inside JS’s head and he is VERY adept at keeping his cards close to his vest… So here’s my best shot at predicting the Hawk’s first round draft:
#32 - Best player available with emphasis on ED, DB, or plug-and-play IOL (either an experienced OG or an OT capable of transitioning to OG. Even though the OL really jelled by the end of last season, I’m still a bit anxious about RG).
ED - Keldric Faulk, Akheem Messidor; DB - Jermod McCoy, Avieon Terrell, Dillon Thieneman, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren; IOL - Vega Ioane, Monroe Freeling; essentially players that SHOULD have been drafted in the teens and twenties but slipped to the end of the round.
In the event that one of these (or another) freak athlete does NOT fall to 32, trade back to R2 for additional R3/4/5 capital. The overall draft does seem relatively deep for both ED and DB, so JS should still be able to get value at key positions on days two and three.
If John Schneider doesn’t see a great edge or cornerback, I would say trade pick 32.
I like how the pundits kept using “several” when we only lost two in the defensive backfield that I remember and only a few on defense totally. Several sounds like the backfield was decimated. While we are on that subject I like Seaside Joe’s headlines. Some of the headlines of the sportswriters’ seem to be written by AI.
I really don’t want to predict a player or position at 32. Last year, with the Hawks missing the playoffs, I was into the draft (and free agency) right after week 18. I watched tons of film, did dozens of mocks, built my own big board with the big boards of J Foster (incredible interactive big board with so much info on each player) and Brugler’s The beast when that finally came out. I didn’t do as well with my predicted players as I hoped, and I was plenty pleased with how well JS did.
So this year I’m relaxed, watching film, getting to know the players, coming up with players I like, but I’m not predicting anything. I will make some observations. Last year a player with a first round grade was available in the 2nd round at pick 35. The year before I liked Byron Murphy, but people were convinced he was a top ten pick and would be long gone at 16. Anything is possible for us at 32.
Prediction 1: The Seahawks will stay and pick at 32 for one of two reasons. There’s a player who falls to 32 who they feel is a 1st round player (hopefully at a position of need as well). They may also stay and pick at 32 even if there is no player with a 1st round grade if they can’t find a trade back partner. If they stay and pick at 32, let’s hope the reason is the first one.
Prediction 2: Chenna, Hall and D-Law could all be gone after this season. They will use one of their 1st three picks on an Edge, most likely one of their first two picks.
Prediction 3: One of their 1st three picks will be a CB. (This is far from great insight. But I’ll put it here anyway)
Prediction 4: If they do trade back from 32 and get a 4th round or perhaps another 3rd round pick depending on how far they trade back, I think they will use the extra pick on an IOL. I think they would be prepared to roll it back this year with Bradford, but there is nothing wrong adding a 3rd or 4th round pick to compete and push for the job.
Prediction 5: Christian Haynes gets traded for a late day three pick.
I’m still looking at the draft candidates for each pick, we have 26 days to go! Don’t fret the draft. JS has it under full control. Keep your eye on the 30 visits. There have been a couple of RBs come in that look like day three possibilities. Maybe that means an RB is not a sure thing in rounds 1,2 and 3.
I’m with you—I feel way more relaxed this offseason. No mocks, no hours of research… just spending time with the fam. Part of me thinks this is healthy, the other part is like “what kind of fan have I become?” 😂l
A fan with one of the best GMs and one of the best head coaches in the league. I even feel good about our new first time OC. Who has yet to call a play in the NFL. Go figure.
We’re the ones sitting on the top of the hill. Someone else has to arm up and try to push us off. With all the work I put in last year, I’m pretty sure they would have won the Super Bowl without me. If we don’t get there next year, you’ll see me jump back into the fray.
Sneaky 1st round option would be an athletic DT that might be an eventual Big Cat and JReed replacement (3tech rather than nose). The DLine is so important to McDonalds defense stopping the run while still in nickel packages, and can be hard to find good players later in the draft.
If the Seahawks draft a CB high, there is only one question: which player is the most likely to be successful going up against Puka Nacua?
The ideal player to me would be the equivalent of a DK Metcalf. Fast, big and very strong. Last season, we saw both Jobe and Woolen get their hands between the ball and the body of a strong receiver, and they didn’t have the power to rip the ball from their hands. An undersized CB isn’t the player we need, unless that’s all we can find in later rounds.
Trade out of first round and pick up an extra pick unless their top rated players drop down to them.
I posted a group of players last year that fit into 3 buckets(athleticism/production/intangibles). There were like 20-25 players I think. We drafted 4 of those players with our first 4 picks. So here's the list this year. I hope you like centers and guards...
OT:Proctor, Feeling, Lomu, Miller
G:Fano,Pregnon,Farmer,Roberts,Carmona Jr, Morris
C:Lew, Hecht, Zuhn III, Parker II, Jones, Coogan, Gulbin, Slaughter, Burton
TE: Sadiq, Stowers, Endies, Bentley
WR: although the most important trait seems to be production- if looking at all three buckets...Lance, Heidenreich
RB: Love, Price, Singleton, McGowen, Reid
QB: Mendoza, Green, Allar
DT: Woods, Halton, Proctor, Gill-Howard
Edge: Reese, Bailey, Jacas, Dennis-Sutton
LB: Styles, Hill, Rodriguez, Golday, Louis
S: Thieneman, Stukes, Ramsey
CB : Hood, Demmings
If we look at likely draft position we could rule out a ton in the first round....the likely left over undrafted at 32 might be Thieneman, Woods, Hood, or Hill. Don't be surprised if Jacas or Price or Pregnon get bumped up...Miller could be out there which is why I ask about taking OT? Anyways just my two cents and research from last year?...we'll see.
There are a few that are close....honorable mentions...Rutledge guard, Washington RB, Lemon WR, and more so don't get mad at me....I'll miss a few probably.
Sorry forget to mention this year's third bucket was hard to get to since senior bowl and all the trading schools stuff is happening...so the group got bigger.. If you've heard anything bad about any of these players I would reduce their chances of being on the Seahawks.
I'm not sure if this is the right thread to include this thought, but I've been thinking about the Seahawks running back position as a whole recently. How will they approach it in the draft?
This is really John and Mike's first chance at building out the RB room. Both Ken and Zach were selected with Pete heavily influencing the decisions. What is Mike's vision for the position? I tend to agree with Seaside Joe, that I don't expect significant draft investment at the position. I think the people influencing the decision this time are of the mindset that you can find good RBs anywhere and here's why:
1. The Seahawks new RBs coach is the old Raven's coach before they got Derrick Henry. In that time he coached Alex Collins (a cheap FA acquisition cut by the Hawks) and a 29/30 year old Justin Forsett (Another cheap FA) to a career year.
2. The Shanahan system has historically elevated undrafted/late round draft picks to high end talents. Before CMC, the 49ers Raheem Mostert (UDFA), Jeff Wilson (UDFA), and Matt Breida (UDFA) where all major contributors. When CMC was injured, Jordan Mason (UDFA) played phenomenally. Go further back to Arian Foster (UDFA) with Gary Kubiak or Alfred Morris (6th Rnd) with Mike Shanahan. Even some of the 'newer' coaches have been successful like Aaron Jones (5th Rnd) with Matt Lafleur.
3. I don't think Emmanuel Wilson was signed to eventually be shoved into an RB3/RB4 role once Charbs comes back healthy. The dude played 30% of the snaps behind Josh Jacobs, and showed out in the one game Jacobs was out. I think they want a legit RB2 competition heading into fall camp, and selecting an RB in the first couple rounds skews that competition. Grab someone in the 6th, and you can survive the first few weeks of the season with Charbs on the PUP.
I could be incredibly wrong as I've been before, and I really do love Jadarian Price as a prospect. But I'd much prefer they invest more in the O-line at earlier rounds than select an RB.
I’m BPA, hoping that this player is a CB or a safety.
Whether the Hawks can get away with lesser talent at CB depends, I think, on one’s view of Woolen. If you like him warts and all, Seattle had an enviably deep CB room last year. You question whether Josh Jobe can handle playing 95% of snaps or how effective he’d be with Nehemiah Pritchett playing 3rd CB. It wouldn’t bother you to draft a CB at #32, especially if he were the BPA.
Same at safety, where you have similar concerns about Ty Okada. While Coby Bryant may not be a Pro Bowler, he has greater range and better ball skills than Okada. It niggles at you that Okada had two defensive snaps in the conference championship and none in the Super Bowl. While MM might well in effect replace many of Bryant’s snaps with Nick Emmanwori, you can still see using any of the first three picks on a safety.
******
Speaking of BPAs, Robert Turbin and Corbin Smith had a hilarious exchange on a recent Locked On Seahawks. Turbo said somewhat grouchily that BPA doesn’t always work out, and he could think of an unnamed one that blew up in Schneider’s face. Smith laughed and added that he was thinking of the number “2013.”
“Corbin, you know too g*****n much.”
Turbo comes across as pretty relaxed. In this case, his voice dripped with genuine dislike.
Whether we trade back or not, no one should be surprised if our first picks are DB and/or pass-rusher. There seems to be decent depth, but a lack of high-end talent, in the draft at these positions and they fill a need. The question is will anyone at those positions actually be worth the pick? I doubt it. Just based on the number of high-upside prospects, I think there is a higher likelihood that the best player available will be an offensive lineman at #32.
I keep screwing with mock-draft engines online, creating various scenarios of ranked positional values and drafting for (perceived) need. Clearly it’s impossible to get inside JS’s head and he is VERY adept at keeping his cards close to his vest… So here’s my best shot at predicting the Hawk’s first round draft:
#32 - Best player available with emphasis on ED, DB, or plug-and-play IOL (either an experienced OG or an OT capable of transitioning to OG. Even though the OL really jelled by the end of last season, I’m still a bit anxious about RG).
ED - Keldric Faulk, Akheem Messidor; DB - Jermod McCoy, Avieon Terrell, Dillon Thieneman, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren; IOL - Vega Ioane, Monroe Freeling; essentially players that SHOULD have been drafted in the teens and twenties but slipped to the end of the round.
In the event that one of these (or another) freak athlete does NOT fall to 32, trade back to R2 for additional R3/4/5 capital. The overall draft does seem relatively deep for both ED and DB, so JS should still be able to get value at key positions on days two and three.
Thank you for attending my TED talk.
If John Schneider doesn’t see a great edge or cornerback, I would say trade pick 32.
I like how the pundits kept using “several” when we only lost two in the defensive backfield that I remember and only a few on defense totally. Several sounds like the backfield was decimated. While we are on that subject I like Seaside Joe’s headlines. Some of the headlines of the sportswriters’ seem to be written by AI.
May the 12’s be with you and Go Seahawks!
I really don’t want to predict a player or position at 32. Last year, with the Hawks missing the playoffs, I was into the draft (and free agency) right after week 18. I watched tons of film, did dozens of mocks, built my own big board with the big boards of J Foster (incredible interactive big board with so much info on each player) and Brugler’s The beast when that finally came out. I didn’t do as well with my predicted players as I hoped, and I was plenty pleased with how well JS did.
So this year I’m relaxed, watching film, getting to know the players, coming up with players I like, but I’m not predicting anything. I will make some observations. Last year a player with a first round grade was available in the 2nd round at pick 35. The year before I liked Byron Murphy, but people were convinced he was a top ten pick and would be long gone at 16. Anything is possible for us at 32.
Prediction 1: The Seahawks will stay and pick at 32 for one of two reasons. There’s a player who falls to 32 who they feel is a 1st round player (hopefully at a position of need as well). They may also stay and pick at 32 even if there is no player with a 1st round grade if they can’t find a trade back partner. If they stay and pick at 32, let’s hope the reason is the first one.
Prediction 2: Chenna, Hall and D-Law could all be gone after this season. They will use one of their 1st three picks on an Edge, most likely one of their first two picks.
Prediction 3: One of their 1st three picks will be a CB. (This is far from great insight. But I’ll put it here anyway)
Prediction 4: If they do trade back from 32 and get a 4th round or perhaps another 3rd round pick depending on how far they trade back, I think they will use the extra pick on an IOL. I think they would be prepared to roll it back this year with Bradford, but there is nothing wrong adding a 3rd or 4th round pick to compete and push for the job.
Prediction 5: Christian Haynes gets traded for a late day three pick.
I’m still looking at the draft candidates for each pick, we have 26 days to go! Don’t fret the draft. JS has it under full control. Keep your eye on the 30 visits. There have been a couple of RBs come in that look like day three possibilities. Maybe that means an RB is not a sure thing in rounds 1,2 and 3.
I’m with you—I feel way more relaxed this offseason. No mocks, no hours of research… just spending time with the fam. Part of me thinks this is healthy, the other part is like “what kind of fan have I become?” 😂l
A fan with one of the best GMs and one of the best head coaches in the league. I even feel good about our new first time OC. Who has yet to call a play in the NFL. Go figure.
Danno as cool as a cucumber. 😎
We’re the ones sitting on the top of the hill. Someone else has to arm up and try to push us off. With all the work I put in last year, I’m pretty sure they would have won the Super Bowl without me. If we don’t get there next year, you’ll see me jump back into the fray.
Sneaky 1st round option would be an athletic DT that might be an eventual Big Cat and JReed replacement (3tech rather than nose). The DLine is so important to McDonalds defense stopping the run while still in nickel packages, and can be hard to find good players later in the draft.
If the Seahawks draft a CB high, there is only one question: which player is the most likely to be successful going up against Puka Nacua?
The ideal player to me would be the equivalent of a DK Metcalf. Fast, big and very strong. Last season, we saw both Jobe and Woolen get their hands between the ball and the body of a strong receiver, and they didn’t have the power to rip the ball from their hands. An undersized CB isn’t the player we need, unless that’s all we can find in later rounds.
Based on the Seahawks top 30 visits, it looks like JS agrees with you. All the DBs so far are around 6 feet and 200 pounds.
Need to be cautious as Puka bites (apparently…).
Trade down to LV, ask for a 4 n 5 (maybe a 7) to make up the difference…LVa gets a 5th year option