Seahawks Draft Pair of Elite Defenders in Latest NFL Mock
While the Seattle Seahawks took the NFL world by storm this season, they ultimately came up well short in the NFC Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Now, though, they approach the offseason with franchise cornerstones in place as well as areas of improvement. One area in particular that needs to be addressed is a defense that gave up 23.6 points per game on 361.7 yards of total offense.
Luckily for the Seahawks, they own two first-round picks, which CBS Sports believes will both be used on defensive help in its latest mock draft.
No. 5 - Tyree Wilson - EDGE (Texas Tech)
The more you watch of Wilson the more you love his game. Not only what he put on tape at Texas Tech but his upside 2-3 years down the road. He's long, has the frame to add weight if needed, and he's a dominant, high-motor pass rusher who can take over games.
Wilson was considered by many a potential riser prior to the 2022 season and his play certainly cemented that status. In his final season at Texas Tech he recorded 61 total tackles, including 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Adding Wilson to the Seahawks' defensive front would certainly help a team looking for improvement in the pass rush. After going to the defensive front with their first pick, the Seahawks added to the secondary with their second pick.
No. 20 - Brian Branch - Safety (Alabama)
Branch isn't the first name you hear about when the conversation turns to Alabama's defense, but maybe he should be. He's a sure tackler, can blitz off the edge, and is solid in coverage, and if Nick Saban trusts him, that's all you need to know about his NFL prospects.
Seattle certainly isn't lacking talent in its secondary, with safeties Quandre Diggs and Ryan Neal locking it down with rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen. Branch, though, could be a solid addition.
The Alabama safety recorded 90 total tackles in his junior season, with 14 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also showed an ability to play the ball with two interceptions and seven pass deflections.
Things are certainly looking up in Seattle and if the Seahawks land both Wilson and Branch come April, their defense could be vastly improved once the season starts.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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