2017 NFL Draft: Grading Every Seahawks Day Two Pick
By Lee Vowell
The Seattle Seahawks have had six picks in 2017 NFL draft so far, how good can these players be?
Malik McDowell, Defensive Tackle, Second Round, Pick 35
The short of it: McDowell is a first-round talent who just needs to learn to be more consistent. He is still a very young human being as McDowell will turn 21 years old in June. McDowell is athletic and strong. He fits the Seahawks system really well. Plus, he will be mentored by Michael Bennett. With all that, if McDowell fails as a pro, it is because he chose to.
Grade: A-
Other Grades: Sports Illustrated, B; Bleacher Report, C-
Ethan Pocic, Center/Guard, Second Round, Pick 58
The short of it: Pocic was the first sign that this Seahawks draft class was going to be very-John Schneider/Pete Carroll-esque. Pocic was not one of the most talked about offensive lineman potentially ended up in Seattle. Still, Pocic is the perfect example of what the Seahawks want in a lineman. He is versatile and good at run-blocking. If Seattle is looking to become less zone-blocking and more straight-ahead, Pocic will help them do it. Pocic mostly played center in college. What Seattle does with him is anyone’s guess.
Grade: B+
Other Grades: SI, B; BR, B
Shaquill Griffin, Cornerback, Third Round, Pick 90
The short of it: Griffin is pure Seahawk. He has decent size at 6’1″. He is fast; Griffin has run a 4.37 40. But really is brings a level of physicality to his position that Seattle loves. Griffin is not afraid to hit you and hit you hard. Plus, Griffin is fairly raw. The Seahawks can mold him into the type of corner they want.
Grade: B
Other Grades: SI, B; BR, C+
Delano Hill, Safety, Third Round, Pick 95
The short of it: Hill is the excellent counterpart at his position to Griffin at his. He likes to punish people. He is very Legion of Boom. Hill will be expected to play special teams as well. He will only play a supporting role to leads Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas next year, if not beyond, but he may see some time cover slot receivers. Hill needs to work on his deep-coverage technique but Thomas may be able to teach him a thing or two. But Hill better learn because once Thomas went down last year, the Seahawks were not the same. Also, Hill is more Kam and a little less Earl.
Grade: B-
Other Grades: SI, B+
Nazair Jones, Defensive Tackle, Third Round, Pick 102
The short of it: Jones is not McDowell. Jones will not get after the quarterback in the same fashion. Jones is a huge man, though. He is 6’5″ and 305 pounds. He will eat up space in the middle of the line. Jones is athletic enough to still make a great play in the backfield, but really should be expected to be a solid pro for eight years. If he and McDowell learn to work together, they will form the foundation of Seattle’s d-line for years to come.
Grade: A-
Other Grades: SI, A-
Amara Darboh, Wide Receiver, Third Round, Pick 106
The short of it: Seattle loves players that have had to overcome personal traumas. Darboh was a refugee from civil war-torn Sierra Leone at an early age. He has had to deal with more in his relatively short life than most of us should ever have to be. On the field, Darboh was underused at Michigan. He has good size at 6’2″. Darboh has great hands. He is not an elite receiver, but he is a good number two. The good thing for Darboh in Seattle is he will only have the expectations of being a good number three or four to begin his career. Darboh can also block well, which is something every Seattle receiver will be asked to do.
Grade: A
Other Grades: SI, B+