Seahawks Draft Walter Thurmond
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It always hurts to see the Seahawks draft players from Oregon.
But if you can’t beat them, join them.
After watching Walter Thurmond play very well at the University of Oregon for four seasons, it will be a relief to finally have him on our side. If he can stay healthy, the Seahawks probably found themselves a nice, capable cornerback in the fourth round of the NFL draft.
Thurmond is nearly 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds, so he breaks the mold of “small” cornerbacks – despite a thin frame, his physical attributes aren’t bad – that dominated Tim Ruskell’s tenure. He has long arms, great ball skills for a defender, and natural cover skills. Physically, his loose hips and fluidity is exactly what you like to see in a cornerbacker.
When healthy, Thurmond is a great player. Unfortunately, durability is a concern.
He was limited to only four games last season after suffering a knee injury and there is no guarantee he’ll return to top physical form. But even with the injury concerns, Thurmond is a risk worth taking. If he can stay healthy, he is a first- or second-round pick selected near the top of the fourth round. Quite a bargain if he can return from a knee injury and stay on the field.
Thurmond should be a solid special teams contributor his first season and could develop into a solid number-two cornerback in Seattle’s defense if he stays healthy. His natural ability and man-cover skills are definitely worth the risk in the fourth round.
Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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