This draft is the most interesting for me since 2012.
1. If you're a defense and special teams fan, you're probably quite intrigued, if not THAT effusive, about this draft. What gets me the most is that each guy, while flawed and saddled with at least one distinct downside, also has an eye-opening upside/endorsement/accolade about him. Sure, some scout or coach from a remote division is always raving about each sixth-rounder, but the ravings on these guys seem to pop, to come from respectable sources, ones that really grab my attention. That's unlike the last four drafts, which seemed disproportionately full of JAGs. This also feels like a more thoroughly Seahawky draft - lots of toughness, lots of chips on shoulders, again more so than previous drafts. Instead of ho-hum bodies, this year's haul feels full of attitude-driven contributors with an asterisk to overcome.
2. I also sense an eye towards the future with this draft. The Seahawks grabbed enough DB potential to almost completely replace the current Legion of Boom if coaching goes well. This gives them flexibility in contract negotiations for the Legion. It also seems to further the notion that Schneider is keeping his options open regarding trading Richard Sherman, should a team be dumb enough to meet Seattle's stratospheric price tag.
Between that and the defensive tackle talent we picked up, this year's team could mount enough defensive and ST depth to rival the 2013 team. The ST part was a hugely underrated piece of that year's success. This is why I'm excited. Going defense could pay off.
3. If you're an offensive line guy, there's no helping you. This just wasn't the year for the Hawks to scratch that itch. In a typical year, all your favorite linemen from this draft - Robinson, Ramcyzyk, Lamp - would have been drafted in the third round at best, where Rees Odhiambo was. That's 70 picks lower than where Russell Okung was taken. You didn't like Okung. Let all that sink in.
4. The trade-downs were fun. Everyone Seattle wanted was still on the board and still would be after eight more picks, so yeah. It didn't bug me that the 49ers got Foster. What were we supposed to do, replace Bobby Wagner with him? The 49ers were going to get better regardless of what we did. They've finally got a clue in that front office.
5. Malik McDowell, DT: A-. When this pick was announced, I pumped my fist and hollered. That's exactly who I wanted Seattle to take. If you're concerned about the perceived "decline" of Seattle's defense, McDowell is a solution. Interior pass rush has long been our biggest, and yet quietest, problem. Atyha Rubin and Tony McDaniel are good rotational hustle guys with a splash play or two each month, but as starters, they just aren't difference makers. We badly need someone coring out the middle of the pocket and flushing quarterbacks. It hasn't happened in a long time.
McDowell has been called Michael Bennett 2.0. His frame is actually closer to Calais Campbell, and that's his upside. With Clint Hurtt (an enormous pickup) coaching our defensive line, McDowell reaching that potential is not out of the question. Pete and John's comments about his ability to play all along the line suggest to me that they're still yearning for a Red Bryant 2.0. Well, Malik isn't quite that big, but he has the versatility.
I do feel a little awkward justifying the motor concerns. There's a reason he fell to the second round. But between Malik and Clark, and with steps forward from Jarran Reed (already solid) and perhaps Quinton Jefferson, this line could have our secondary feasting on turnovers again. Nobody's looking forward to playing our division next year, that's for sure.
6. Ethan Pocic, T: B. This guy actually fascinates me. The reason being, he's much more polished than almost anyone Tom Cable has drafted. He's got some technique to him. Our previous "versatile" OL guys haven't failed because they're jacks of all trades but masters of none; they've failed because they just don't break into the lineup anywhere. I have a hunch that Pocic just might. Especially if our tackle positions are the howling vortices of negative matter that everyone assumes they are (which they aren't necessarily). That's why I don't assume Britt is on his way out. Pocic might not necessarily be destined for his position.
I trust Rob Staton when he says that rumors of Pocic's epic fail against LSU have been a bit exaggerated. He's got the motor and the play-past-the-whistle tenacity. He didn't give up a sack or hit in 2016. Up-and-coming Youtube scout Coleman Crawford likes him. I'd say, give him a chance.
7. Shaquill Griffin, CB: C+. Badly needed competition for CB2 against Jeremy Lane, though not a lock. Athletic freak, combine darling, great cover corner with the pass-defensed stats to prove it. UCF fans are telling us we've got a gem on our hands, mentally tough but a big team guy. There seems to be a weird...meh...feeling about the guy...like everyone's calling it a solid pick in the most generic way. Whatever. We're all happy.
8. Delano Hill, S: A-. I was meh on him when I started writing this, but as I researched...well, let's just say "tackling" is this guy's calling card. Our safety depth, again, could now rival 2013's between this guy and Bradley McDougald. Hill is a coverage-experienced big nickel guy with a nose for the ball who stood out even amongst Michigan's secondary. The "screen killer" designations I've seen in some places make him sound like the KJ Wright of the secondary. That's Hill's "pop" for me. Lance Zierlein's report on him, OTOH, sounded eerily like Kam, as did the fact that the rest of the experts hated the pick. Screw 'em. Hill's going to be very nice on special teams at the very least - fast and wood-laying, if not hugely athletic. Frank Clark is sure excited to have him.
9. Nazair Jones, DT: C. Tar Heel fans are saying good things about this one. Seattle is gambling against chronic injury here. Conflicting reports on whether he'll provide any pass rush, but does provide depth and signing flexibility. If I had to pick a guy (above the 7th) to get snatched trying to reach the practice squad, it might be this one.
10. Amara Darboh, WR: B+. I'm a sucker for second-tier WRs, so forgive me if I drool a little. But Darboh's size, wingspan, run-blocking, route running and catching skills are bringing him flattering comparisons. One was Mohamed Sanu. We badly needed a 6'0"+ guy to open up the playbook - way too many go routes with all the small guys we have. He's burned Shaquill Griffin once or twice too, LOL.
But what really probably got Pete and John's attention is Darboh's clutch gene. Go read Hawkscanner's description of his game-winning play against Ohio State in the pinned post on him. Darboh became known for those plays. That's a great mentality at high competition that really separates him from Lawler, Norwood, Harper, all that crowd in my mind. Bet he immediately pushes McEvoy for playing time. If he does, I see him validating a few redline throws from Wilson.
11. Tedric Thompson, CB: B+. This guy is actually a threat to nab the CB2 job from both Lane and Griffin. He's a ballhawk standout from a good secondary. Getting named college football's best coverage defender by PFF is an eye-opening thing (yes, I know it's PFF). Again, there's injury history to consider here, and lack of athleticism, which is probably why he lasted into the fourth. Coug_Hawk08, of course, has been crapping on pretty much all our DB picks, and he hates this guy. But Seattle has certainly loaded up on instinct in its DB haul this year. Bye, Steven Terrell.
I'm having a hard time verifying the 4-concussion thing. I think it was 4 games missed because of 1 concussion, from bad tackling that's since been corrected.
12. Mike Tyson, CB: C+. something's got to give with the logjam at DB. This might be it. But he's a comparable slot tackler to Hill and some production not too far behind Thompson, so who knows. Certainly versatile. He's also noted as a capable press corner. That keeps him in the mix at least for a little while. What's really going to be insufferable are months of fake lisps and ear jokes on this board.
13. Justin Senior, T: D-. This is my bet to get cut straight-up. Most interesting aspects are his name and getting announced by Marcus Trufant. A stretch even for a developmental guy. Improved during Senior Bowl, he's got the measurables, and PC/JS want him at tackle, but his technique blows chunks. I don't have the sense that he'll leapfrog Fant, Odhiambo, or even Pocic for any playing time. I imagine Cable tries him out at kicker.
14. David Moore, WR: C-. The "who?" pick of the draft. Should have been a priority UDFA. Physically close to Darboh, owned at a tiny school nobody's heard of. It's not crazy for starters to come out of small schools, and I'm impressed that Seattle's draft eyes did such good diligence, which raises the grade just a bit. But I can't imagine him bringing anything to the rotation that isn't already there. Practice squad. He's not slow, though.
15. Chris Carson, RB: B+. I know we're crammed to the gills at RB, but...pay attention to this guy. There are a couple nuggets in his scouting reports (see his pinned thread), right down to his running gait, that sound chillingly like a former starting Seahawks RB you may have heard of, one who was just traded to Oakland. Maybe it's too much to hope for. But attitude makes a difference in our team's RB competitions. Carson loves contact, breaks tackles, and trucks defenders. He can also catch. Don't be surprised if he leapfrogs a few guys and becomes 2017's massively overrated preseason darling (Rawls held that honor, too).
His downsides were a hand injury and a lack of production and big runs. Still, it seems he could have gone higher than the 7th. Also did a FB drill.
16. UDFAs. Jordan Roos, T (UDFA) - a "most improved" type with some eye-opening workout stats. A long-term starter at Purdue. Camp body, but a fun one. Darreus Rogers, WR (UDFA) - I've seen a couple of people raving about this guy. His big ding is a 4.9 40 time. He has solid, solid hands and terrific blocking. Amazing high-pointer. Pete and John probably looked at him and went "ohh, redline guy". Maybe even "redzone guy". What? Hey, we love our UDFA receivers, right? Algernon Brown, FB (UDFA) - hey, a fullback. I wonder what all the fuss is about, but vin.couver12 likes him, and I want to have vin.couver12's babies, so CHAMPIONSHIP. I need to go to bed.
17. Anyone else get annoyed by Twitter leaking the picks long before the draft coverage did? That needs to change somehow. Threaten lynchings or something.
Thank you for your attention. Flame away.
