Seattle Seahawks 'Choose Wisely' in Latest NFL Mock Draft

The Seattle Seahawks have several roster needs as the NFL Draft approaches, and in the latest mock from NFL.com, the franchise grabs a top-10 pass rusher.

Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider. / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has been tasked with getting the franchise back to the playoffs after missing out last season, and part of that is improving the defense.

Last season, the Seahawks finished 25th for points allowed (23.6 per game) and six times the unit conceded 30+ points. But with Macdonald and his impressive resume coming to Seattle, there is hope that improvement is on the way.

That started with free agency, and Seattle signed Jerome Baker, Tyrel Dodson, Rayshawn Jenkins, and Johnathan Hankins to bolster its defense. The Seahawks also re-signed Leonard Williams and Artie Burns. Now comes the draft, where the Seahawks hold the No.16 overall pick.

With so much unknown about which way Seattle could go, the latest mock draft for NFL.com lists what every team "should" do when the time comes to pick in the first round.

Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Jared Verse (5). / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

For Seattle, Rank has Florida State's Jared Verse coming to the NFC West.

"Choose wisely, Seahawks," Rank writes. "You next pick doesn't come until Pick No. 81. You folks could use an offensive lineman, sure, but if you get a chance to land a top-10 talent like Verse in this spot, I don't see how you pass that up. I mean, I could see it, but I wouldn't advise it."

In his two seasons for Florida State, Verse has been a beacon of consistently high production. A combined 29.5 tackles for loss and 18 sacks in just 25 games shows the level of his talent.

The athletic and explosive defensive end has all the tools to come into Macdonald's defense from Day 1 and create havoc. His quickness off the line allows him to get into the offensive backfield in a flash, and if the quarterback does escape, Verse has the speed (4.58 40-yard dash) to hunt them down.

While Seattle could easily look for an offensive lineman due to several starters leaving in free agency, if Verse is still on the board at No. 16, adding him to a defensive line that consists of Williams, Jarran Reed, Dre'Mont Jones, and even Boye Mafe makes the pick an interesting one.

Verse is considered by many to be one of, if not the best pass rusher in the draft, and with Macdonald's work with the Ravens last season, translating that to Seattle with Verse a big part of it looms as a fascinating watch.