Grading Seahawks position units prior to 2019 NFL Draft

Defense

Defensive line

State of the position: Clark was great in 2018. So was Jarran Reed. After those two players there was not much consistency. Seattle needs help both rushing the quarterback and stopping the run. Clark might be better next year. Reed getting more than his 2018 production of 10.5 sacks should not be expected. He might get there but he might not. The highest priority the Seahawks have in the 2019 draft is getting help at defensive end.

Fixed in the draft?: It better be because Seattle hasn’t done anything to help in free agency. Maybe the team is expecting Jacob Martin to be very good in 2019 but he hasn’t proven he will be. Brian Burns or someone like him needs to be the first pick Seattle takes in this month’s draft.

Grade: C+

Linebacker

State of the position: Seattle could be loaded in 2019 with Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Mychal Kendricks. Or maybe they won’t be. Wagner will be otherworldly, of course. Wright hopefully will stay healthy for the entire season. And Kendricks hopefully will not go to jail. If each player plays to their potential this is the best group in the NFL.

Fixed in the draft?: Look at the last sentence I wrote. This unit could be great. Seattle won’t be drafting any pure linebackers this year.

Grade: (potentially) A+

Secondary

State of the positions: Overall, this group is a big mystery. How do John Schneider and Pete Carroll view it? At cornerback, the Seahawks have young players Shaquill Griffin and Tre Flowers. Flowers seems to be better than expected. But Griffin might be worse. 2019 is a huge year for both. At nickel, Seattle lost Coleman so who will replace him? Maybe Seattle takes a corner higher than expected to fix the nickel issue. Or maybe Delano Hill drops down? Or possibly Akeem King is the guy?

The safety beside Bradley McDougald remains an issue too. McDougald was very good in 2018 and should be in the foreseeable future. But Hill and Tedric Thompson are iffy. There are a lot of good safeties in this draft and Seattle might make this position a priority.

Fixed in the draft?: Seattle has three big needs in the 2019 draft: Finding a pass rusher, a good receiver and a starter or depth at corner and safety. So yes, secondary is a need.

Grade: B-

Special teams

Kicker and punter

Neither of these in an issue, or shouldn’t be an issue, for the next five to ten years. Michael Dickson was a Pro Bowl punter in his rookie season last year. Jason Myers was a Pro Bowl kicker signed in free agency.

Fixed in the draft?: Um, no.

Grade: A

Returner

Lockett is still around and still very good if not seemingly as good as he used to be. He still remains one of the most dangerous return guys in the league. Possibly he will be even better next year.

Fixed in the draft?: Nope.

Grade: B+