Seattle Seahawks post Combine mock draft

Pick 37: Taylor Rapp, Safety, University of Washington

Seahawks fans may be familiar with Taylor Rapp, who spent the past 3 seasons propelling the University of Washington Huskies into the national spotlight. Rapp finished his college career with 168 tackles, 7 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries, and 2 forced fumbles.

The 2018 All-American is a solid, all-around safety, but is a bit difficult to peg whether he fits better at strong or free. He has a strong presence in the run game and can deliver major hits. He also shows good range over the middle of the field and has the ball skills to generate turnovers.

While not possessing overwhelming tools, Rapp has a high football IQ and understands complex schemes. He seems to know his limits and understands how to work around them, making him an intriguing option for any team in the early second round.

Some scouts wish Rapp would be more aggressive on playing the ball in the air, believing he may have left some interceptions on the table. If the Seahawks can flip that switch, Rapp could be a game changer.

With Bradley McDougald‘s versatility to handle strong or free, there is little pressure on Rapp to develop one way or the other. Rapp is an all-around good player in both the run and pass and is likely an instant upgrade over Tedric Thompson.

The Seattle Times has reported that the Seahawks did have an interview with the former Husky, suggesting their interest is real. Rapp makes a lot of sense for a team looking to improve its defense with the permanent departure of Earl Thomas.