The Seahawks Blew It – Again

Let me begin this post by making it clear that I am not condemning or criticizing either James Carpenter or John Moffitt. I hope they both become great players for the Seahawks.

However, I will condemn and criticize the process by which they became Seahawks. The front office failed to trade down when it was prudent to do so on Day 1, and they failed to trade up when they needed to on Day 2. By trading down eighteen spots and out of the second round, Seattle basically gained an extra fourth round pick. They now have two of the first ten selections on Day 3. They need to hit home runs with these two picks. The team cannot afford another E.J. Wilson.

Drafting a defensive tackle had to be the objective going into Round 2. Washington did Seattle a favor by taking Jarvis Jenkins at #41 instead of Marvin Austin or Stephen Paea, two players I wouldn’t have minded seeing the Seahawks draft at #25. The front office decided to stay at #57 and hope one or both would slide to them. It was a gamble that would soon blow up in their faces.

At first, it seemed as if it was going to go the Seahawks’ way. No DT’s were taken in the next ten picks. Then the New York Giants took Austin with pick #52. Management had a decision before them. Do they move up and get Paea, or do they stand pat and hope he falls to them? Chicago took that decision out of their hands by doing something Seattle should have done. They acted.

Once Austin was selected, the Bears immediately moved to trade up with Washington at #53 and took Paea. The Bears, who were hoping those players would continue to slide just like the Seahawks, knew that Paea wasn’t going to be available to them at #62. Chicago sent Washington picks #62 and #127. Unbelievably ironic in the fact that #127 is the pick the Seahawks probably could have gotten from the Bears if they had traded down in the first round. With both Austin AND Paea now off the board, Seattle made the move to trade down and out of the second round completely.

Is what I just wrote speculative? Yes, it is. However, it makes perfect sense given how things played out. Even if Austin and/or Paea were not the Seahawks’ target, by trading down from #57, the team made it clear that SOMEBODY they planned on drafting was selected by someone else. The front office failed to go get that player, whoever he may be.

Even if Carpenter and Moffitt become Pro Bowlers, that doesn’t excuse the front office from the mistakes they’ve made in the last two days. It would be akin to getting to the right destination in the worst possible way. For a team that needed to maximize its resources in this draft, the Seahawks have failed to do so.