TJ Lang was the #1 free agent priority. They obviously vetted his experience, leadership, versatility, and technique a great fit.
The more I learn of Procic, the more I think he resembles Lang in a lot of ways.
And it make sense, the team obviously spent some time exploring free agent OL, and felt Lang was the one they wanted. So to me its no surprise they'd look for a similar player and similar function in the draft.
The initial backlash on Pocic was that he was a OC and not named Ramcyk, Lamp, or Robinson. Not many knew about this guy.
However, if you asked anyone before the draft if there was a prospect that had:
-Size, length, average athleticism
- Intangibles: leadership, grit, toughness, determination
- Intelligence not only to play multiple positions, but to understand and execute technique.
- more refined skillset than any OL drafted by the Seahawks since maybe Okung.
- Hardened and Battle tested with ample experience against SEC D-Lines, where outside of USC many of the highly recruited interior D-linemen in college reside.
- ZBS ready
- Experience blocking for a big, powerful, physically dominant RB, knowing not only to match that physicality/intensity but the math of knowing what it takes to open enough of a hole or crease.
I doubt anybody would have denied having that type of prospect on the team.
And that's what Procic brings... he isn't the biggest or baddest, the most athletic, or most physically dominant guy in the draft but he's far from a project and has possibly the smallest learning curve from a scheme stand-point and what the Seahawks want from thier linemen to bring to the running game.