Seattle Seahawks post Combine mock draft

108: Drew Sample TE, Washington

On the surface, tight end may not seem like a big need. But Ed Dickson is a potential cap casualty. Will Dissly has a long road ahead in his recovery from his torn patella tendon. And Nick Vannett hasn’t developed into much more than a 3rd TE. Enter Drew Sample.

Like Dissly, Sample was an underutilized receiver who was valuable in the run game. Also, like Dissly, Sample had more to offer the Huskies than just setting the edge. At 6’5″, 255 lbs, Sample has prototypical size for an NFL tight end.

He ran well at the combine, posting a 4.71 forty, and finished in the 62 percentile in the 20-yard shuttle and the 68th percentile in the 60-yard shuttle. Sample is a good but not great athlete. But with mockdraftable comps to Todd Heaps and Travis Kelce, he is more than athletic enough to be a threat in the passing game. He also has strong hands.

Sample’s skill set is still valued more as a blocker, where PFF had him as the best blocking TE in college football. Sample has a lot of work to do to create separation against man coverage, but still has a solid upside of a #2 TE, similar to Ed Dickson, just at a drastically decreased price.

The Seahawks are going to run the ball, whether we like it or not. If they are serious about committing to the run, their off-season moves should focus on that. Seahawks fans scoff at adding another “run-blocking” TE but should remember how valuable Dissly was in the passing game before his injury.

Russell Wilson loves to utilize his TE’s from Zach Miller to Jimmy Graham to the group of the TE’s in 2018 who still produced 600 yards and 8 TDs. Drew Sample is a good player and adding one is never a bad thing.