Seahawks Draft: 5 Bold Predictions For Seattle
After months of rumors and relentless speculation, the 2023 NFL Draft will finally kick off in Kansas City on Thursday night. Holding two first-round selections, including a top-five pick for the first time since 2009, the Seattle Seahawks have a chance to infuse their roster with blue chip talent as they aim to climb the NFC pecking order.
How will things play out for general manager John Schneider, coach Pete Carroll, and the Seahawks over the next three days with 10 total picks at their disposal? Entering an incredibly unpredictable draft and peering through the crystal ball, here are five predictions sure to happen over the next 72 hours:
1. Two of the top four consensus quarterbacks will be on the board when Seattle hits the clock...
Throughout the past couple of months, even while negotiating a contract extension with veteran starter Geno Smith, the Seahawks haven't been shy about their deep dive into a fun crop of quarterbacks headlined by Alabama's Bryce Young and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud. They have been most frequently been connected to Florida's Anthony Richardson, holding a formal meeting with him at the combine that the prospect openly gushed about as well as speaking with his agent after watching his pro day workout in Gainesville. They also made sure to check out Kentucky's Will Levis at his pro day as well, making sure they did their due diligence and then some.
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With Smith receiving a three-year deal worth up to $105 million shortly after the combine, many have viewed Seattle's interest in the incoming quarterback class as cursory in nature to drum up interest from other teams and allow a top defender to fall into its lap. But if Stroud somehow drops past the first four picks or Richardson remains available, which is a very real possibility with the Texans and Cardinals linked to defensive players with the second and third picks, Schneider may not be able to resist the opportunity to draft a signal caller of the future to groom behind Smith with a rare chance to pick this high.
2. The urge to draft a quarterback of the future or trade down won't be enough to bypass a shot at a potential All-Pro defensive tackle.
In terms of making a bad impression on teams, Georgia's Jalen Carter endured an awful pre-draft process, starting with his arrest at the NFL combine when he was charged with two misdemeanors for his involvement in a street racing accident that took the lives of a former teammate and Georgia staffer. Weeks later, after not working out in Indianapolis, he showed up at his pro day carrying nine pounds of extra weight and couldn't finish positional drills, casting further questions about his work ethic and character.
© Joshua L. Jones, Online Athens
Such red flags have led to several reports that the Seahawks were out on Carter, but Carroll and Schneider have long coveted a disruptive game-changing defensive tackle, emphasizing the need to become more dynamic in the trenches multiple times this offseason. Even with nightmares about the failed Malik McDowell selection in 2017 hovering over their heads like a storm cloud, after visiting with him at the team facility earlier this month, they will roll the dice on arguably the most talented player in this year's class to fill a massive hole up front, hanging their hats on the culture and veteran leadership bringing out his best while keeping him out of trouble.
3. In part due to necessity, John Schneider won't exit this weekend without making at least 12 draft picks and no fewer than four on day two.
Since his arrival in 2010, no general manager in football has been more aggressive moving up and down the draft board via trade as Schneider, who has orchestrated 33 different draft weekend deals to varying success. Interestingly, he only made one deal last year in a quiet draft by his standards, moving down in the fifth round to add a second seventh-round selection eventually used on receiver Dareke Young. Sitting pat worked out quite well for the Seahawks building a fantastic 2022 class, so one may wonder if he will try to replicate that strategy this year.
But as Schneider recently told reporters in his annual pre-draft press conference, every draft is different and circumstances certainly aren't identical to a year ago. Though Seattle already has 10 picks, due to cap-related issues, the roster currently has only 52 players under contract. Even with 10 picks made, that would leave nearly 30 roster spots still left vacant without any wiggle room financially to add veterans at the moment. That means undrafted rookies will be relied upon heavily to fill out the roster, so trading down a few times to make extra selections seems likely, if not guaranteed, especially given his track record.
4. Finally filling a gaping hole, the Seahawks will snag their starting center in their first three selections.
Along with addressing its thin defensive line, Seattle has plenty of question marks to address in the interior on the other side of the ball with starting guards Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes as well as center Evan Brown set to be free agents next March. While landing competition for Haynes on the right side could be on the table at some point, drafting a long-term starter at the pivot position should be high on Schneider's priority list with the team set to enter a fourth straight season with a new starter there.
© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Seahawks may view Brown, who they signed to a one-year deal last month, as a candidate to start beyond 2023. But rather than wait until later in the draft to pick competition for the veteran, Schneider won't miss out on a franchise center as he did skipping Creed Humphrey two years ago this time around. Though it may not be the sexiest pick, landing the likes of Minnesota's John Michael Schmitz or Wisconsin's Joe Tippmann by pick 37 would be a game changer for the team's young offensive line and set the group up to become a strength for the foreseeable future after years of poor play in the trenches.
5. Looking towards the future, Seattle will invest a pick in the first four rounds on a tight end and a safety.
As is the case in any draft, teams such as the Seahawks will be aiming to plug needs on the roster first and foremost, hoping to land players who can make an impact sooner rather than later with upside to develop. Looking at their roster as currently constructed, defensive tackle, center, and running back would stand out as positions of major need with minimal depth, the lack of a long-term starter, or both. That wouldn't be viewed as the case at tight end or safety, however, two positions with several quality veterans returning.
© Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
With that said, smart teams don't use the draft to simply draft for needs in the present. The best general managers have to have a three-year plan in mind, which is why nobody should be surprised when Seattle supplements its current tight end and safety groups with a higher than expected draft choice this weekend. With Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson scheduled to become free agents next spring and Jamal Adams coming off another severe injury coupled with the departure of steady reserve Ryan Neal, picking players at both spots would be wise investments for 2024 and beyond.
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