It’s draft season and never all 24-year outdated prospects are the identical

It’s been no secret that within the years because the Malik McDowell debacle the Seattle Seahawks have constructed their draft board as a way to give attention to extra mature prospects. It’s a technique that has produced blended returns, and one may query its effectiveness on condition that a number of the highest performing draft picks in current staff historical past have been these chosen very younger.

The gamers who have been drafted younger and carried out at a really excessive degree within the NFL embody the likes of:

DK Metcalf: 22 12 months outdated rookie who has 6,324 receiving yards and 48 TD at simply 27 years of age
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 1,130 receiving yards and 6 TD as a 22 12 months outdated second 12 months participant
Ken Walker: 1,050 yards and 9 TD as a 21 12 months outdated rookie in 2022

The explanation age on the time of being drafted is as soon as once more immediately related is that on Thursday night Jared Verse of the NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams took residence Defensive Rookie of the Yr {hardware}.

Now, Verse is, in fact, not what one would describe as a younger participant who carried out at a excessive degree at a younger age for a rookie within the NFL. In reality, Verse turned 24 through the season, making him one of many older members of the 2024 rookie group. Additional, it’s virtually as if the Rams caught lightning in a bottle with their rookie class, with fellow 24 12 months outdated rookie Braden Fiske racking up 8.5 sacks and 44 tackles taking part in subsequent to Verse.

So, is there one thing particular about Verse and Fiske that would lead one to imagine they may outperform different 24 12 months outdated rookies, or is it simply randomness? Effectively, it seems Los Angeles might have focused a selected space of inefficiency in relation to drafting older gamers, however earlier than attending to that, right here’s a fast evaluation of a number of the older Seahawks drafted on Day 1 or Day 2 in current seasons:

L.J. Collier: 24 12 months outdated rookie in 2019
Dee Eskdrige: 24 12 months outdated rookie in 2021
Boye Mafe: 24 12 months outdated rookie in 2022
Abraham Lucas: 24 12 months outdated rookie in 2022
Christian Haynes: 24 12 months outdated rookie 2024

If the standards are expanded to incorporate fourth spherical picks Tyrice Knight and Phil Haynes get included as properly, and there’s a motive why it’s related to incorporate these two within the evaluation. Getting again to the listed gamers, the rundown on them is that Collier and Eskridge produced subsequent to nothing for the Seahawks, whereas Haynes could be on that path, however only a single season into his profession it’s too early to write down him off. That stated, there are actually questions after a season during which he couldn’t see the sector over the likes of Laken Tomlinson, Anthony Bradford and Sataoa Laumea.

Mafe has carried out properly, however most followers would admit that hopes have been for extra manufacturing through the 2024 season offered. Not that he’s been a disappointment in any means, simply that his 9.0 sack 2023 season doubtless drove expectations larger than they in any other case would have been.

Lastly, coming to the analysis of Lucas, he’s been good when wholesome, but it surely seems apparent he doubtless slipped within the draft as a result of a mix of age and the continual knee concern that has restricted him to only 682 offensive snaps over the previous two seasons mixed. How his troublesome knee holds up going ahead will unquestionably play a bigger function in analysis than his age.

Additionally on the offensive line is the aforementioned Haynes, who flashed at occasions, however by no means proved himself dominant and was out of the NFL in 2024 at 29. In the meantime, Knight discovered himself on the bench studying through the first half of his rookie season, earlier than taking on a beginning spot subsequent to Ernest Jones down the stretch and giving followers a motive to hope for strong play within the years to come back.

Taking a step again, right here’s a fast evaluation of the place these older draftees performed their school soccer by season:

Collier: TCU (2014-2018)
Eskridge: Western Michigan (2016-2020)
Mafe: Minnesota (2017-2021)
Lucas: Washington State (2017-2021)
Christian Haynes: UConn (2018-2023)
Phil Haynes: Wake Forest (2014-2018)
Knight: Independence CC (2018-2019) and UTEP (2020-2023)

Now, for comparative functions, here’s a take a look at the place Verse and Fiske performed their school soccer:

Verse: Albany (2019-2021) and Florida State (2022-2023)
Fiske: Western Michigan (2019-2022) and Florida State (2023)

Now, it’s actually potential that the truth that three of the highest performers in these lists are gamers who began at a smaller college earlier than transferring and the outcomes are nothing greater than randomness. After all, it’s additionally totally potential that there could possibly be one thing behind the concept a participant who’s a power to be reckoned with at a smaller college at a younger age after which goes on to right away be an influence participant on an even bigger stage could be a greater prospect than somebody the identical age who didn’t dominate till they have been older and greater than their competitors.

With all that stated, earlier than instantly dismissing the thought, it might be worthwhile to look again at whether or not the Seahawks have ever discovered success drafting an older prospect who transferred after beginning their profession taking part in JUCO ball.

Photograph by Stephen Brashear/Getty Photos