Seattle Seahawks 2015 Draft Re-Grade: preseason edition

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FOURTH ROUND: Selected OT Terry Poole, San Diego State with pick #130

GRADE: C+

Selected OG Mark Glowinski, West Virginia with pick #134

GRADE: C-

Glowinski had higher praise on draft day, with NFL Network Analyst Mike Mayock calling him a “plug and play 10 year starter in this league,” but he hasn’t shown much. He may be facing an uphill battle to make the 53 man roster, and the Seahawks would likely lose him if he’s waived.

Poole, meanwhile, looks like a Tom Cable mainstay, playing all over the line. He was in the mix for the starting LG spot but is reportedly having some trouble mastering Cable’s zone blocking scheme. He’s more comfortable at tackle, where he’s currently working as the backup RT behind Garry Gilliam.

His upside and versatility has almost assured him of a spot on the final roster.

FIFTH ROUND: Selected CB Tye Smith from Towson State with pick #170

GRADE: B

Smith has experienced some struggles, but almost all rookie CB’s do in this league. In games, he looks like a keeper, tracking receivers deep and batting away a couple of passes against Denver and looking like a willing tackler in the run game. He played the whole game in KC because of injuries and help up well. He can also play nickle, but looks like a potential future starter at outside CB opposite Richard Sherman.

SIXTH ROUND: Selected DE Obum Gwacham from Oregon State with pick #209.

Grade: D

Maybe the grade should be a tad higher because the converted TE wasn’t expected to do much, and he hasn’t. But athletic projects can be had as UDFA’s, and that’s what Gwacham looks like, a project. He’s been dinged up and mostly invisible. Maybe that will help the Hawks slide him through waivers and keep him on the practice squad while they try and develop him. He’s an athlete, but so far he doesn’t look like much of a player.

Selected OL Kristjan Sokoli from Buffalo with pick #214.

GRADE: B+

Another position convert, Sokoli might be ticketed for the practice squad too (if he can clear waivers), but as Keith Myers wrote, Sokoli gives you a lot to be excited about. Rated as the top SPARQ athlete in the draft he’s certainly shown that as he tries to make the transition from college Nose Tackle to NFL OL. At first the team gave him a shot at Center, and that may be where he ultimately lines up. He’s currently working at LG. He has a lot to learn but his upside is out of this world. It would be a shame to lose him but with the issues up front on offense, using a 53-man roster spot on him may be a luxury Seattle can’t afford.

SEVENTH ROUND: Selected Safety Ryan Murphy from Oregon State with pick #248.

GRADE: Incomplete

Murphy is built like a prototype NFL safety, but he’s been hurt all of training camp and hasn’t been able to make an impression. Practice squad or season-ending IR may be options.

OVERALL GRADE: B+

As we continue to get deeper into the Pete Carroll/John Schneider regime, this becomes a much harder team for a player to make. We might not see any more epic drafts like 2012 anymore, but back then we needed help at just about every position. There were tons of opportunities for rookies to make a quick impression. Now, this is arguably the most talented roster in the league. What Carroll and Schneider do so well, however, is stockpile extra draft picks and use many of them on high-ceiling players. Sometimes this involves risk, as was the case with Clark. If the Hawks can get 3 or 4 outstanding starters out of each draft they can continue to keep this roster at the elite level.

You MUST include Graham as a member of this “draft class” because it took significant draft capital to acquire him. He’s an elite tight end who looks capable of transforming this team on offense. Clark and Lockett look like stars and Tye Smith has the potantial of a long-term starting CB.

The Seahawks invested heavily on the offensive line in this draft, in a year where clearly this is the position group that needs the most work. The inability of any of the three players selected to step up and figure into the starting lineup is a sore spot of this draft, and the only thing keeping this overall grade from being higher.

Next: Samson Satele to visit Seahawks

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