Seahawks Draft Prospect Profile, OT La’Raven Clark
By Dan Viens
With the NFL Draft less than a month away, we take an up-close look at some prospects who might fit well with the Seattle Seahawks.
The NFL Draft is fast approaching and teams all around the NFL are working furiously to put together their draft boards. For the Seahawks, this is a crucial year for GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll. The last couple of drafts have produced more depth than superstars, but with their high-priced young core now causing annual salary cap constraints, they find themselves needing to hit on a couple starter-quality players this time around.
So let’s take a look at some players who may appear to be a fit in Seattle, regardless of round.
LE’RAVEN CLARK, OT, Texas Tech
SPECS:
- Height – 6’5″
- Weight – 316 lbs
- Arms – 36 1/8″
- 40 yard dash – 5.16
STRENGTHS:
Clark is a physical specimen, with a thick lower body and incredibly long arms. He started 51 straight games at Tech so he’s seen it all. He’s considered an elite level pass protector, but potentially solid in the run game as well.
WEAKNESSES:
Playing in Texas Tech’s Air Raid passing system developed by Mike Leach, Clark is almost always in a two point stance and taught to retreat on the snap. So, while he’s outstanding in pass protection, it’s difficult to project him firing out of a three-point stance in a power running game.
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HOW HE WOULD FIT WITH THE SEAHAWKS:
Clark’s name often seems like an after thought when it comes to the upper-tier OT’s in this draft. He’s consistently dropping to the second round in most mock drafts, after the Seahawks first round pick but usually before their second. Is he good enough to be worthy of pick #26? Well, according to one anonymous NFC personnel director, that’s a no-brainer. He says…. “He’s going to end up being big time in our league. He’s got elite foot quickness, he’s long and he’s smart. He’ll keep getting better once he gets to a pro offense and away from that stuff Texas Tech does and he’ll become one of the top five tackles in our league.”
While there are questions about whether some of the other OT’s in the late first/early second round range can stick at left tackle, most scouting reports peg Clark as a keeper on that side. With his size, however, he could play RT and in fact he started there his freshman year.
Next: Seahawks Pre Draft Depth Chart
Clark would be a huge upgrade at either spot as the Seahawks look to improve their ability to protect QB Russell Wilson. He might be right there with Indiana’s Jason Spriggs in terms of his ability to do that, and both players have the necessary skills to succeed in the zone blocking system. But Clark comes with more size, and may also have a bit more upside, than Spriggs.