After a franchise-altering week that noticed the mass exodus of among the most recognizable Seattle Seahawks, John Schneider went to work and has begun the method of reloading (or rebuilding) this crew in his and Mike Macdonald’s picture.
With the acquisitions of Sam Darnold, Marques Valdez-Scantling, DeMarcus Lawrence and a sure hometown hero, Seattle has made it clear that they intend to compete for the division within the large open NFC West. A lot to the reduction of so many Seahawks followers, it seems that gifted offensive lineman Teven Jenkins will even be in Seattle on Monday for a free agent go to.
Whereas there ought to nonetheless be a bit of cap house out there after a possible Jenkins signing, I might count on many of the roster constructing to be full in the case of the free company entrance. The draft is the place we’ll see the subsequent important stage in a crossroads season for Schneider. With 10 picks and 5 within the prime 100, John could have as a lot of a possibility as anybody so as to add each actual expertise and depth to a roster that merely wants extra blue chip gamers.
Whereas this will not be the deepest draft for projected stars, there’s a deep wave of able to play guys alongside the trenches. That is the kind of draft that the Seahawks wanted, and so they have the ammo to make some noise. So with out additional ado, right here is my Seattle seven spherical mock draft after the primary week of free company.
Spherical 1, decide 18 – Kenneth Grant, defensive sort out, Michigan
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I can already hear you yelling at me, “Where’s the offensive linemen!” I promise you, we’ll get there. I mentioned this was a deep class within the trenches, and which means the Seahawks can get day one starters alongside the trenches not simply on day one of many draft, however days two and the early a part of day three.
With Grant, Seattle is including one of the gifted athletic freaks within the draft. Grant, a Michigan man, might be a possible goal by his former coach in LA’s John Harbaugh, however the former Wolverines DC steals the gifted defensive sort out earlier than the Chargers decide at No. 22.
The draft isn’t nearly making an attempt to repair your weaknesses, but additionally creating overwhelming strengths that can provide you an elite unit. Including Kenneth to an inside line of defense unit that already has Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed and Byron Murphy could appear to be overkill, however in the event you watched the Philadelphia Eagles within the Tremendous Bowl, you noticed what a constant overwhelming go rush up the center can do.
Grant is among the most gifted gamers on this draft, and will give the Seahawks one of many two or three finest defensive traces within the NFL. Macdonald will get him man.
Spherical 2, decide 50 – Tate Ratledge, guard, Georgia
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There you go! With decide No. 50, Seattle will get one other faculty soccer champion with the Bulldogs captain. Ratledge, who missed time this 12 months attributable to harm, was nonetheless spectacular sufficient to be named a 3rd crew all-American. Now absolutely wholesome, Tate was arguably the largest winner on the NFL Mix.
A dominant mix efficiency, highlighted by a 4.97 40 yard sprint time, led to Ratledge posting a 9.97 RAS rating, which is the fifth-best rating from an offensive guard since 1987. On prime of his bodily efficiency and manufacturing in faculty, Tate additionally confirmed some potential versatility when he carried out some drills on the heart place in Indianapolis.
His finest place is RG, and a spot that I feel he’d instantly be the day one starter, if chosen by Seattle. With Jenkins a potential addition at LG, Ratledge can are available in along with his majestic mullet and add expertise and an angle that this offensive line desperately wants.
Spherical 2, decide 52 – Elic Ayomanor, large receiver, Stanford
I’ve been circling decide No. 52 as a logical spot to discover a large out or tight finish to exchange among the DK Metcalf manufacturing. Jack Bech is a reputation I’d have a really exhausting time passing on, however with the addition of Cooper Kupp, I feel the Seahawks want somebody that may be an actual risk on the surface. Enter Ayomanor.
You could not have heard a lot of Ayomanor, as Stanford has fully fallen off the map of faculty soccer up to now decade. Regardless of an absence of expertise round him, Ayomanor was the lone brilliant spot on a Cardinal crew that went 6-18 the previous two seasons. Throughout his time in Palo Alto, Elic averaged over 62 catches for 922 yards and 6 scores.
Within the one sport the place he had an opportunity to shine, boy did he ever. Towards Colorado in the course of the apex of the Prime Mania, Ayomanor single handedly surprised the Buffaloes on the highway, posting an insane 13 catches for 294 yards and three scores in an OT victory. Towards future prime decide Travis Hunter, Elic had seven catches for 133 yards and two of his touchdowns.
It is a man who simply wants some expertise round him, as we’ve seen what he can do towards actual NFL expertise. At 6-1 206 lbs, Ayomanor has arguably the most effective arms on this draft class and is a go up and get sort of large out that Seattle has lacked for a lot too lengthy.
Spherical 3, decide 82 – Quinn Ewers, quarterback, Texas
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Arguably probably the most polarizing participant of this draft class, it is sensible to have him be a part of the Seahawks. Regardless of individuals’s sturdy opinions about Ewers, I merely see a participant that performed by a really distinctive and critical indirect tear and ankle harm, impacting his plus mobility and arm energy.
His incapacity to play a full faculty season provides me pause about asking him to finally play 19-20 video games. I additionally know that this former prime prospect seems to be like a borderline first spherical decide when wholesome, and had been the unquestioned chief at Texas, regardless of all of the stress that got here from that fanbase and the Archie Manning cloud.
I feel Quinn may actually profit from a redshirt 12 months. Get his physique absolutely wholesome, and get his thoughts wrapped across the Kubiak scheme. Doubtlessly, there will not be a greater scheme/QB match than the model of Ewers we all know Schneider likes. He makes a number of sense to arrange behind Sam Darnold.
Spherical 3, decide 92 – Terrance Ferguson, tight finish, Oregon
Sticking within the Pacific Northwest, Seattle will get a chunk of a really deep and gifted tight finish group, with Ferguson hopping on over to Seattle.
On a particularly stacked Geese squad, Ferguson discovered a strategy to profit from his alternatives, catching 43 passes for 591 yards and three touchdowns. He’s an above common blocker and at 6-5 255 lbs, gives good measurement as a goal within the center. When watching the beat down that the Geese took from Ohio State within the Rose Bowl, Terrance was one of many few gamers who seemed like they belonged on the sector.
The tight finish place is significant to the success of the Kubiak scheme, and a younger duo of Barner and Ferguson for the long run has the potential to be a really nasty partnership in 12 personnel.
Spherical 4, decide 137 – Seth McLaughlin, heart, Ohio State
I feel Seattle is getting a possible starter right here at heart within the fourth spherical, so long as the medicals take a look at on McLaughlin. Earlier than a torn Achilles tendon, Seth was among the best facilities in faculty soccer, serving to lead the Buckeyes to a 10-1 begin earlier than his harm. Referred to as a gentle blocker with a excessive flooring and the intelligence to make the required calls within the Kubiak scheme, McLaughlin might be a possible steal right here.
He additionally could also be one other purple shirt sort of draft decide, however with the considerably protected flooring of Olu Oluwatimi and Jalen Sundell, it is sensible to have a long-term funding in a participant like McLaughlin.
Spherical 5, decide 172 – Teddye Buchanan, linebacker, California
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If Ratledge doesn’t have the most effective hair within the draft, Teddye Buchanan could also be proper there. Buchanan was an all Huge Sky linebacker for UC Davis earlier than transferring to California this season and being one of the underrated linebackers in faculty soccer.
The 6-2 234 lbs San Francisco native totaled 114 tackles with 5 sacks and two compelled fumbles whereas main among the best defenses in all of faculty soccer final 12 months.
I consider that Buchanan can play on Sundays as a contemporary linebacker, being an athletic spell to Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight, however I additionally consider he has the potential to be a plus participant on particular groups.
Spherical 5, decide 175 – Kitan Crawford, security, Nevada
A pleasing shock final 12 months was the play of Julian Love and Coby Bryant on the security spots. With Bryant a possible free agent after the season, it is sensible so as to add some depth to the group, and Crawford is an fascinating prospect.
After primarily getting pushed out at Texas, Crawford landed in Reno and had his finest 12 months but. Kitan had 76 mixed tackles, seven passes damaged up and two INT’s, together with a decide six. On the mix, Crawford had the second finest athleticism rating, persistently proper behind Nick Emmanwori.
I like Emmanwori, however Kitan could be chosen 100+ picks later and will not be too far off of a participant.
Spherical 7, decide 223 – Jackson Hawes, tight finish, Georgia Tech
Welcome Will Dissly 2.0, because the Seahawks add a man that I feel might be Kubiak’s potential fullback reply. The unquestioned finest blocker on this draft, Hawes doesn’t undertaking a lot as a receiver, however he may discover himself as an actual asset to the roster at a number of positions and formations.
If Seattle does certainly discover a fullback in free company, I nonetheless like Hayes as a TE3 man, as we could not see Noah Fant make the roster on his present contract.
Spherical 7, decide 234 – Efton Chism, large receiver, Japanese Washington
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What’s higher than one Japanese Washington Eagle? How about two! With Cooper Kupp’s addition, it makes all of the sense on the earth to draft the man who simply did his finest Kupp impersonation on the purple turf out in Cheney.
Chism had a powerful 2024, main the FCS with 120 receptions, over 1,300 receiving yards and 13 scores. The 2 time all-American additionally has over 900 profession return yards. The receiving potential of him is fascinating, as he primarily profiles as a poor man’s Kupp, so let him study from the most effective.
His true worth is as a returner. The Seahawks desperately want some stability at an underrated place on their particular groups. Possibly the native product can present that.