Seahawks Get Premier Pass Rusher In Bruce Irvin

This pick wont be a popular one. You’re going to hear the word “reach” a lot when looking for analysis of it. Arrogant talking heads like Mel Kiper are going to use up a lot of oxygen telling why it was such a bad pick. Let me tell you though, they’re wrong.

Irvin might be the best pass rusher in this year’s draft. He’s better then Nick Perry, and certainly better than Mevin Ingram, Quintin Coples  and Courtney Upshaw, who this site has advocated taking. Those 3 are al more complete players who offer some help on rushing downs, but none of them can get after the QB like Irvin can.

Pete Carroll compared Irvin to Chicago’s Von Miller. On passing downs that’s certainly a good comparison, but Miller offers run support that Irvin simply doesn’t. A better comparison is San Francisco’s Aldon Smith, though Irvin might have more upside than Smith does because Irvin is both quicker and faster.

Smith made a huge impact a year ago, even as a part time player, and that is exactly what the Seahawks are hoping to get out of Irvin.

After moving down and getting 3 additional late round picks, the Seahawks “didn’t want to get cute” and try and trade down again and then not let him be available after the trade. Irvin was the guy they wanted, and they knew he wouldn’t be there in round 2. So they made the pick. They knew it was a bit early but they didn’t care. He was the player they wanted so they picked him. It was as simple as that.