Best Options at Defensive End in This Year’s Draft for the Seahawks
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks are still loaded on defense. Except for that nasty question mark at the corner opposite Richard Sherman, Seattle is fairly set for starts in 2017. Even 2018 looks alright. One position that Seattle may want to address sooner rather than later, though, is defensive end.
Cliff Avril will be 31 years old the entire 2017 schedule. Michael Bennett will become 32 halfway through the season. Frank Clark will only be 24 this year, but it takes more than one good defensive end to be successful. Seattle’s defense overall needs to get younger. Otherwise, the clichéd window of opportunity is closing quite quickly.
Should the Seahawks eschew drafting an offensive lineman early in the draft, they could choose a defensive end. While many fans want the Seahawks to take an offensive lineman first, the bigger need is probably cornerback. That may be followed by defensive end. The offensive line is still young enough to potentially develop into a solid group. Seattle must be hoping for that based on the moves they made last season.
If the Seahawks do go with an end in their first five picks, these may be the best options
Solomon Thomas, University of Stanford
The hope for the Seahawks here is that Thomas fits much better in a 4-3 base than a 3-4 in the minds of NFL decision makers. While it is doubtful that the Seahawks would take an end with the first pick, Thomas could be the guy if they do. Thomas ran a 4.69 40 at the combine, so he has the quickness the Seahawks like.
Demarcus Walker, University of Florida State
Walker is bigger than Thomas and might be a more natural fit in Seattle. Walker could lose weight and be an outside linebacker, but likely Seattle would want him to maintain his weight or even get bigger. Walker is 6’4” and 280 pounds. Seattle needs more depth with the edge rush; Walker fits that model. Seattle will not take him in round one, but if he falls to round two Walker is definitely a possibility.
Tanoh Kpassagnon, Villanova University
Kpassagnon is around the same size as Walker, but less proven. He does have the raw skills that Seattle could take a chance on. He does not need to play much in year one. Who best to learn from as a rookie than Bennett and Avril? In his week against bigger competition at the Senior Bowl, Kpassagnon was among the best. Seattle does not mind taking chances. This is a pretty safe chance. A year of seasoning in Seattle and in four years Clark and Kpassagnon could be the Avril and Bennett we talk about now.
The potential wildcard pick
Trey Hendrickson, Florida Atlantic University
Hendrickson is projected to be a mid-round pick. Whether Seattle chooses to go with an offensive lineman, cornerback, safety or whatever early, Hendrickson could still be available. He ran a 4.65 40 and still has a bit of size at 6’4” and 266 pounds. He had a great week at the East-West Shrine Bowl. He also had 23 sacks combined his last two years in college. If he is still available in round six, the Seahawks will grab him.