A Brief History of John Schneider and 1st Round Picks
By Jacob Sosler
2011
In 2011, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll’s offseason goal was to boost the struggling running game. He accomplished this by selecting James Carpenter, the best run blocking tackle in the draft.
Carpenter was considered a reach, but his run blocking prowess, nastiness and raw tools made him an attractive option at 25. Carpenter started nine games at right tackle in 2011 before tearing his ACL. After another injury, he made his debut at left guard, splitting time with Paul McQuistan during Seattle’s 2013 Super Bowl run.
After McQuistan’s departure, Carpenter vastly improved, paving the way for Marshawn Lynch to run for 1300 yards in 2014. He parlayed his stellar season into a lucrative contract with the New York Jets, giving Seattle a 5th round compensatory selection in this year’s draft.
The Carpenter selection hasn’t been a sexy one, but it gave them a reliable option at LG for several years. While he may not have been worth a 1st round pick, his value to the Seahawks was proven after the offensive line’s considerable drop off in performance last season.
Next: The pass rusher