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Seahawks Mock Draft Monday 4.0: Post-combine

By Colby Patnode

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: A video board displays an image as the Seattle Seahawks take the #29 overall pick during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: A video board displays an image as the Seattle Seahawks take the #29 overall pick during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Round 2 (59): Seahawks select Jonathan Taylor, RB Wisconsin

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 28: Running back Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin runs a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 28: Running back Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin runs a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Wait a minute. Calm down and take a deep breath. Yes, Seattle took Rashaad Penny in the first round two years ago. And yes, Chris Carson has posted back to back 1000 yard seasons. No, drafting a running back early isn’t typically a good idea. And yeah, there are still going to be good backs in the 3rd and 4th round. Did I acknowledge all your objections?

Now let me make my case. Jonathan Taylor has been the most productive running back in college football for the past 3 seasons. He checks off every measurement the Seahawks look for in their running backs. He is 5’10”, 225 lbs, giving him the size right in the range Seattle likes.

He is fast, running a 4.39 forty-yard dash. He is explosive, posting a 36-inch vertical leap and a 123-inch broad jump. His 3-cone ranked 4th at the combine with a 7.01 second time and his 20-yard shuttle ranked 6th with a good 4.24 seconds time.

Taylor is durable, missing just one game in three years despite carrying the football 926 times. He scores touchdowns, including 26 in 2019. Taylor quite literally is a Seahawks running back. And Seattle might think so too since they reportedly sat down and met with Taylor at the combine.

As for the current running back situation in Seattle, we need to remember that Chris Carson will be coming off a broken hip injury, while Penny is coming off a late-season, torn ACL. The latter will start the off-season on PUP and may not be ready for week 1, while the former has endured season-ending injuries in 2 of his 3 seasons, and is scheduled to hit free agency after 2020.

Seattle may need a potential bell-cow running back in 2020 and we know John Schneider isn’t afraid to draft for need a year in advance. Seattle has this bonus second-round pick, and Taylor is talented enough to warrant this selection.

Selecting Taylor is a bit of a luxury, one the Seahawks may not end up taking. But if you think there is no chance the Seahawks take a running back in the first 3-rounds this year, you need to re-evaluate what you think you know about this team.

Second Round (64): Seahawks select Lucas Niang, RT TCU

FAYETTEVILLE, AR – SEPTEMBER 9: Kyle Hicks #21 runs the ball behind the blocking of Lucas Niang #77 of the TCU Horned Frogs during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Horn Frogs defeated the Razorbacks 28-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – SEPTEMBER 9: Kyle Hicks #21 runs the ball behind the blocking of Lucas Niang #77 of the TCU Horned Frogs during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Horn Frogs defeated the Razorbacks 28-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

I think we are all under the assumption that Germaine Ifedi has played his last game with the Seahawks. But with 60% of the starting offensive line from a year ago departing (if Justin Britt is indeed a cap casualty), Seattle has to rebuild some of it this spring.

While Seattle is somewhat equipped to handle losing Mike Iupati and Germain Ifedi, they aren’t in great shape at tackle. Long-time swing tackle George Fant is also a free agent and has indicated that he will look for a starting LT job in free agency. Leaving the best in house option at RT to be Jamarco Jones, the primary candidate to replace Iupati at LG.

Lucas Niang checks a lot of boxes for the Seahawks. He is a right-tackle by nature who stands 6’6″, 315 lbs with 34.25-inch arms and 10.5-inch hands. Niang was on the verge of playing himself into first-round conversations, but a torn hip labrum pushed him down the board and the medical reports on his hips will go a long way into his draft stock.

When healthy, he showed great pass-protection instincts and even put out solid film against Nick Bosa and Chase Young in 2018. He has a strong anchor, which allows him to wall off speed-to-power rushers, and is nimble enough to recover for a misstep in his technique.

He gets to the second level with ease and can maul people at the line with good technique and length. Niang is a top-heavy tackle, which will scare off some teams, as will the serious hip injury. But if the medicals check out, Niang is an athletic tackle who could slide into the starting job in week 1 and provide solid snaps as a rookie.

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