NFL Draft 2017: Top 5 Defensive Backs Who Could Be Seahawks
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks have some pressing needs in the secondary and on the offensive line
So, you are a Seahawks fans. You remember 2013 and 2014 and, well…2015. Those were the years when the Legion of Boom was amazing and great and a destructive force. Then 2016 hit and Kam Chancellor missed some time and Earl Thomas missed games. The lack of quality depth in the secondary was evident. Poor Steven Terrell tried. He was not nearly good enough to replace Thomas, though. Maybe no one is.
Now 2017 brings a hole at the corner opposite Richard Sherman. DeShawn Shead was fine but ranked as the 37th best corner in 2016, per Pro Football Focus. Jeremy Lane may be forced into Shead’s role. Shead was injured in the final game last year and his return date is unknown. Lane was ranked as the 94th best corner, again according to PFF.
This means that the once impenetrable secondary is quickly crumbling and needs to be repaired. Here are the top five secondary players in this year’s NFL draft who could end up as Seahawks.
Kevin King, cornerback, University of Washington
We know what Seattle likes in their corners: length and weight with long arms. King is 6’3” and 200 pounds. His arm length is 32 inches. Sherman out of college was 6’3” and 194 pounds and the same arm length. Sherman was a bit slower. King is made for the Seahawks. King is a projected first-to-early-second-round pick.
Obi Melifonwu, safety, University of Connecticut
Seattle will really really really want to move Melifonwu to cornerback. Either way, he has the size of Chancellor and experience at safety. But if he could make the move to corner he has the size. Melifonwu is almost six-foot-four and 220 pounds. He ran a 4.4 40 at the combine. Does anyone remember his name being mentioned prior to the combine? Now that he is being talked about everywhere he probably will not be around when the Seahawks pick. Melifonwu could easily go as early as the first round now.
Ahkello Witherspoon, cornerback, University of Colorado
Another corner with size, Witherspoon fits the Pete Carroll mode. Witherspoon is 6’3” and ran a 4.45 40 at the combine. He covered John Ross in the Washington versus Colorado game in 2016. Ross, even with all his speed, had only three catches and 32 yards head-to-head versus Witherspoon. The knock on Witherspoon is he does not create turnovers. He had only one interception in 2016 and two in 2015. He did have 22 passes broken up in 2016, though, so there’s that. Walter Football has Witherspoon going in the second-to-third round.
Jabrill Peppers, safety/linebacker, University of Michigan
The problem with Peppers is that while he has exceptional ability physically, he had only one interception in his collegiate career. He only had ten passes defended as well. Someone with all his ability should have done more, right? Still, Peppers is a high-character guy and has a drive to be great. That drive to succeed sounds like a perfect Seahawk. NFL.com has Peppers projected to go in the first or second round.
Sidney Jones, cornerback, University of Washington
Jones tore his Achilles at his pro day. That is the worst thing that could have happened to a draftee. If he is still around in round two or three for Seattle, his injury is a blessing in Seattle. Will Jones play right away this season? No. Might he be a Pro Bowl player six years from now? Yes. If Jones is still available in round two, the Seahawks should take him and not think twice. Walter Football has Jones now projected to go anywhere from the second-to-fourth round.