Seahawks NFL Mock Draft Analysis: Best and Worst Round 1 Fits According to Needs

Oct 19, 2013; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive end Stephon Tuitt (7) celebrates after sacking USC Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler (6) in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 14-10. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Worst Fits

Notre Dame NT/DT Stephon Tuitt – Remember this is worst fits according to the needs of Seattle. Tuitt is a valuable player and perhaps a steal of a first round talent at 32, no doubt, but he doesn’t fit a critical “need” at this juncture of the draft. Yes Red Bryant is gone and yes the Seahawks will probably look into some more size for run-stuffing in the draft but this is not the place to get it this year. Tony McDaniel is back while 2013 draft picks Jordan Hill (Penn State) and Jesse Williams (Alabama) provide as much or better size and should be healthy and ready to contribute this year. Another humongous rookie Dewayne Cherrington (6’3, 335 from Mississippi State) is also on the roster and could well be a better fit as a 3-tech DE in Seattle’s scheme. 

Notre Dame NT/DT Louis Nix III – Everything I just mentioned about Tuitt holds true with Nix III. Adding either of these guys to the mix just generally doesn’t make sense for a team with more needs on the offensive side of the ball and three rookies already on board from 2013’s class. It’s not that either Tuitt or Nix wouldn’t be an upgrade from the guys I mentioned, they seemingly would. The Hawks just can’t afford to miss out on the offensive talent available to upgrade their defensive line a miniscule amount right now.

TE’s Jace Amaro (Texas Tech) and Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Washington) – After the failed physical from Jermichael Finley, I mentioned that the Hawks were in a tough position and could use either of these guys to make sure they get a play-maker at tight end. After learning shortly thereafter that Pete and John are willing to wait as long as it takes on Finley, there’s no way either of these two gets picked at 32. Remember the Seahawks already have three reliable TE’s on the roster in Willson, McCoy and Miller with three other backups. Carrying four during the season isn’t out of the question, but picking up Finley and another in the draft would just be wasted money.

Penn State WR Allen Robinson – The worst thing about this particular pick to me was that Morgan Moses was still on the guy’s board at this selection, which may have hardened me against this pick. Regardless, Robinson would be a major reach at 32, though he does present an awesome second round value for the Seahawks at 64. There are at least a couple other receivers that make sense for Seattle that are very much in the same mold as Robinson and at least one of them should be available in round two if they are still looking to fill that spot.