Seahawks Draft Prospect Profile, OT Joe Haeg

A small school stud just might be what the Seattle Seahawks need to help rebuild their depleted offensive line.

Let’s cut to the chase; the Seahawks face two problems as they head into the draft looking to rebuild their previously crappy and now-depleted offensive line:

They need to not only draft at least two O-linemen in this draft, but they need to NAIL those picks. These players need to be capable of starting at some point during their rookie season, and proving to be long term answers at their positions.
In this context, where the Seahawks sit in the draft (#26 in the first round) absolutely stinks. It’s likely too high to draft a center or guard, and the four most highly-regarded tackles (Tunsil, Stanley, Conklin and Decker) are expected to be long gone by then.

And so it comes down to this; can the Seahawks find an offensive tackle from the 2nd or even 3rd tier of prospects at that position who can fit their system, succeed as a rookie, and be a part of the successful reconstruction of this line that’s necessary if they want to continue contending for Super Bowls over the next couple seasons?

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So over the next couple of weeks we will continue diving into the potentially available offensive linemen who could fit the Seahawks needs. Today we focus on a small school standout who impressed scouts and analysts at his pro day today.

JOE HAEG, OFFENSIVE TACKLE, North Dakota State

Haeg is about as decorated an FCS talent as you’ll see, starting for four years and earning All-American honors his final two seasons. And all he knows is winning, as the Bison won the National Championship all four years he was there.

SPECS:

Height: 6’6″
Weight: 304 lbs
Arm Length: 33 3/4″
40 yard dash time: 5.16 (10th among OT’s at the scouting combine)

STRENGTHS:

Excellent size, length and athleticism for either tackle spot. Experienced four year starter. Good balance in pass protection and enough agility to get to the second level. Should be an ideal fit for Seahawks zone blocking system, in fact one scouting report refers to him as a “zone scheme only lineman.”

WEAKNESSES:

Some scouts feel like he has some core strength shortcomings and can grow into his body a bit more. Not known as a power player and hasn’t faced top competition coming from the FCS level.

SUMMARY:

Coming from a lower level of competition, Haeg will no doubt be compared to his former Bison teammate Billy Turner, who was drafted in the 3rd round in 2014 and mostly sat on the bench in Miami for a year before winning a starting guard spot in 2015. Some feel Haeg will end up inside as well, but he’s more polished than Turner and could contribute more as a rookie.

Here’s what Tony Pauline, publisher of DraftInsider.net, had to say about Haeg’s pro day workout today:

“Offensive lineman Joe Haeg also helped himself today. He looked terrific in drills, and most feels he’s sealed himself as a Top-100 pick. Teams love Haeg’s versatility, and though most have penciled him in as a right tackle or guard, the consensus opinion is other than center, Haeg can line up at any spot on the offensive line.”

So to recap, scouts feel he’s definitely a Top-100 pick, projects as a “zone scheme player only,” and can play any position on the line other than center? Sounds like a guy who could compete with J’Marcus Webb at the right tackle spot, possibly as a rookie, but could help all along the line as he develops.

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If the Seahawks are commited to taking an OT with their first pick, the top options after the top four guys are likely Shon Coleman or Germain Ifedi. But if they choose to use their first round pick on another position group, or trade down, Haeg could come into play if he’s still available at Seattle’s second round pick, the 56th overall, or either or their two third round picks, 91 and 97.

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