Ready For The Draft

I’m officially ready to start thinking about the NFL Draft. I’m done searching for some sort of emotional connection to this year’s playoffs; I’ve had fun watching the games and rooting for certain teams to win or lose, but it just isn’t the same without Seattle involved.

Even though I’ll watch the Super Bowl and probably share my thoughts about the game at some point, I’m ready for the offseason to begin. Moving forward, the next steps for the Seattle Seahawks are free agency and the NFL Draft.

The NFL Draft is always fun to discuss; it is an annual opportunity to obtain future playmakers and offers hope to unsuccessful franchises. This year will be especially interesting for Seahawks fans since Seattle holds three selections in the top forty.

After nine wins in two seasons, the Seahawks are obviously in desperate need of help. There are several needs – offensive line, defensive line, safety, and running back, to name a few – and the Seahawks must find ways to address most of them this offseason. In my opinion, the Seahawks are still at least a couple years away from competing, but this offseason offers a great opportunity to add a few missing pieces.

Several fans want Seattle to draft a quarterback of the future; this year’s class headlines players such as Jimmy Clausen, Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, and several other big-name collegiate quarterbacks. With the conclusion of Matt Hasselbeck’s career in Seattle looming, Seattle needs to find a player who can take over in the near future.

Others want the Seahawks to address a glaring need for an offensive playmaker. C.J. Spiller is an electric player – think about a poor man’s Chris Johnson – with blazing speed and playmaking ability who could develop into a star in the National Football League. Seattle would be foolish to pass up on this year’s Percy Harvin, wouldn’t they?

In my opinion, the Seahawks have more pressing needs to address before they acquire a “quarterback of the future” or a sexy offensive player.  I’ve never been a proponent for drafting by need, but the Seahawks have to get better in the trenches. The development of a young quarterback or running back would be delayed without at least a competent offensive line up front.

With quarterbacks, confidence is huge. Despite obvious physical talent, a young signal-caller may never develop into anything more than a marginal starter without a good foundation around him. There are always exceptions to any rule, but I’m not ready to splurge for the next Mark Sanchez or Matt Ryan with our current roster.

Running backs are a luxury in the National Football League. They have a short shelf life; typically, a running back will wear down after excessive carries. Think about the 300-plus-carries rule or how many running backs flop after their 30^th birthday. Youth is wasted on the young, and a lot of running backs in the NFL wear down before they’re even able to get started. And more so than quarterbacks, running backs are a product of the offensive line blocking for them. Even the most talented back will have trouble running where there aren’t any holes to run through.

To summarize everything, my preference would be for Seattle to focus on the offensive and defensive lines before committing millions to a skill position. Of course, if C.J. Spiller becomes the next great running back and we pass on him I’ll be sick to my stomach, but every situation is different. Just like Mark Sanchez, who wouldn’t have been nearly successful if the Seahawks drafted him instead of the New York Jets.

Looking forward, this offseason should be interesting. I’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts on the upcoming draft and free agency; what direction would you like the Seahawks to go?