Seahawks Draft Target: Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State

Jeremy McNichols out of Boise State appears to be just the value Seattle will be looking for if the Seahawks draft a running back this season.

The Seattle Seahawks have a trio of talented young running backs. Unfortunately, all three come with serious question marks as well. That will likely lead to Seattle adding a fourth back to the mix this offseason.

It should be fairly obvious by now that an early-round draft pick won’t be used on the position. Leonard Fornette might be a fun idea in theory, but the Seahawks won’t be going down that road. Instead, they’ll be more likely to look at someone like Boise State’s Jeremy McNichols much later in the draft.

McNichols is built for running in a zone blocking scheme. His great vision for finding cut-back lanes is obvious when watching his tape. He also has good balance, agility, and quick feet. That allows him to pick his way though traffic on inside running plays.

McNichols shows incredible patience for a college runner. He knows how to set up his blocks and make things easier for the big guys in front of him.

Game tape vs Washington State:

One that that stands out in his tape is pass blocking. He was asked to pick up the blitz regularly, and did a solid job at buying his QB time. He uses cut blocks too much for my liking, but that’s coachable.

When out in pass patterns, McNichols is a capable receiver. His routes will never be confused with Doug Baldwin’s, but he has soft hands and does a good job of being a relief value when his QB gets under pressure.

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Let’s face it: McNichols just isn’t flashy. He lacks the pure speed to turn a 10-yard gain into a 60-yard TD. McNichols isn’t a guy that will get scouts excited.

What he is though is someone who will be a steady performer; someone a team can rely on to be productive in almost any role. Given Seattle’s question marks at the position, that makes McNichols a great fit for the Seahawks.