Seahawks quick reaction NFL Draft grades: Darrell Taylor, DE Tennessee

The Seahawks desperately needed help at the defensive end position. It appears they got the man they were after all along. Reports came out saying Darrell Taylor was their fall back option, if they traded out of the first round.

Darrell Taylor is an explosive athlete with incredibly bend. He a fierce competitor and has a hot motor. He excels in setting the edge when playing the run, despite not being the biggest guy. He is not intimidated by anyone and has a competitive fire that I’m sure Seahawks coach Pete Carroll loved. During his junior and senior seasons he accumulated 82 tackles with 21 tackles for a loss, 16.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles.

I love the pick in terms of potential. I mean that, he is the sky is the potential sort of player. However, I am slightly underwhelmed. He is very raw at this point. He has all the intangibles a team looks for in a defensive end but doesn’t quite know how to put it all together. He struggles with counters, and processing on the fly.

With the Seahawks failing to address the pass rush in free agency, and knowing a shortened off-season is likely coming. I would of rather the Seahawks have taken a player who is more polished instead of a developmental end. What I would take away from this, Seattle will likely to be aggressive in either the trade market or with the remaining free agents to grab a player who can start today while Taylor is leaning the ropes.

I have no doubt that if nurtured properly this could be the pick we look back on saying thank you Seahawks general manager John Schneider for seeing the diamond in the rough. However, for an impact today I don’t see it. Seattle clearly has a plan in mind when they drafted a developmental end.  The potential is there, it’ll just take time to get it out.

Grade: C+