2015 NFL Draft: Needs and Targets for the Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks Team Needs

Oct 6, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Seattle Seahawks tackle Justin Britt (68) and Seahawks guard J.R. Sweezy (64) line up against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

1. Offensive line 

The offensive line play has been horrific for most of the season. For the season, Russell Wilson has been sacked, hit or hurried at a 42.1 percent clip, which is unnervingly close to 50 percent. Although there has been some shuffling throughout the season, the Seahawks should look to bolster a unit that has struggled mightily for the past two seasons.

2. Wide receiver

We all know that the Percy Harvin experiment didn’t work out. In fact, the Seahawks offense has looked better since his departure, but that isn’t saying much. Doug Baldwin has become a reliable target for Russell Wilson, racking up 66 catches for 825 yards, but I have yet to see a real vertical threat develop in the Seahawks wide receiving corps. This is not a glaring need, as rookie Paul Richardson has shown great promise lately, but drafting a game-breaking vertical threat in this draft surely couldn’t hurt the Seahawks.

3. Running back

Sorry, but I have to put this as a need. I LOVE Marshawn Lynch, but as well as he’s playing, the shelf life of a running back in the NFL is painfully short. In fact, there have been rumors that Beast Mode will retire after this season due to some compressed disks in his lower back (if the Seahawks win the Super Bowl this year, I would fully support Lynch’s retirement, but that’s another article). While Robert Turbin and Christine Michael are two good backs, in recent years the Seahawks have relied on the greatness of Lynch. His departure would cause a significant decline in offensive production for Seattle.

Honorable Mention: Tight End, Defensive line

With the injury to Brandon Mebane, who knows how one of the Seahawks’ primary run stuffers will perform next season.

After watching Luke Willson play against the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago, I feel a lot better about the Seahawks’ tight end situation going forward. Willson may not be the greatest blocker in the world, but he has done a decent job this season and on that 79-yard touchdown reception against the Cardinals, he showed off speed that I didn’t know he had. Could he turn into a Vernon Davis-type player…?

Next: Draft Target #5: Arik Armstead