Seahawks looking to trade down again?
By Dan Viens
After three straight drafts without a first round draft pick, the Seattle Seahawks may be looking to trade down on day one……again.
As Seahawk fans, we had something to get excited about in preparation for this years NFL draft. FINALLY we would get to see the Hawks use their first round pick, number 26 overall……right?
Perhaps not.
Based on the way the talent seems to be stacked in this year’s draft, the Seahawks might just be sitting smack dab in the middle of no man’s land; where the player they pick at #26 may be no better than the 15-20 players selected right behind him.
Sports Illustrated’s Peter King spoke to ten anonymous “team officials” over the weekend about this year’s draft class, and got some remarkably consistent opinions on the depth and parity of this years pool of players.
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Source #1: “Twenty-five to 55 is the same player, to me.”
Source #2: “Eleven to 40 is the same guy.”
Source #3: “To us, 18 to 48 you can get the same player.”
Source #4: “Load me up with twos and threes in this draft. That’s where I’d want a lot of picks.”
Former Dallas Cowboys GM Gil Brandy DID go on record and mostly mirrored the above sentiments: “It’s the kind of draft where the 50th player on some team’s board will be the 17th player on another team, and the 17th player on the first team could be the 50th on that other team,” Brandt remarked.
“Load me up with twos and threes in this draft” – Anonymous NFL Team Official
We know how much Seahawks GM John Schneider tries to stay true his staff’s own rankings, as he was adamant last year that they only had 16 first round grades assigned on their 2015 draft board. That’s why he didn’t hesitate to peddle the 31st pick to New Orleans to get back an elite talent like Jimmy Graham. Parsing the above comments, it seems there’s a consensus that the talent level plateaus this year anywhere from #11 to as deep as #50. Sitting at #26, the Seahawks appear to be in a sort of NFL Draft Purgatory. Do you stay put and pick the best player left on your board, even though you may only have a second round grade on him? Or, do you trade back and pick up extra selections in the 3rd round, or possibly even the 2nd?
The trick, of course, if finding a trade partner willing to move up to that spot. Which is why Seahawk fans should be paying particular attention to what happens with the quarterbacks on April 28th. If one of the more decorated prospects, say….Memphis QB Paxton Lynch, slides down the draft board, it could work in Seattle’s favor. Or if a particular team at the end of the first round, or early in the second, falls in love with one of the next-tier signal-callers such as Connor Cook or Christian Hackenburg. Teams place higher values on potential franchise QB’s, and could be willing to deal up into that spot for a player they believe will have a long-term impact.
Next: Seahawks 7 round mock draft, with trade down
Regardless, two things appear clear:
- There’s almost no chance the Hawks will trade up, given that most believe the 2nd and 3rd rounds are the strength of this year’s class.
- As we get closer to the draft don’t be surprised if the Seahawks once again choose to move down a few spots in the first round, or possibly out of it altogether.
Keep those Thursday night draft party plans on hold. This is becoming an annual Seahawks tradition.