Seahawks quick reaction NFL Draft grades: Damien Lewis

The Seahawks shocked the world by staying in place for their initial pick. Would they repeat this heresy with their third pick of the draft?

So far in this draft, the Seahawks committed the equivalent of moving to San Francisco. Well, maybe not that crazy, but not trading up or down in the first round was startling. The selection of linebacker Jordyn Brooks was almost as big a surprise to the 12s. The Hawks stayed on the defensive side of the ball when they traded up to take defensive end Darrell Taylor. Seattle kept up their crafty trading ways, dropping down five spots to snag guard Damien Lewis of LSU.

Lewis, 6’2 and 327 pounds, played two seasons in junior college at right guard and started from day one.  He was a second-team All-American both years, then landed in Baton Rouge in 2018. He played in all 13 games as a junior, then all 15 last year. He helped anchor the nation’s best offensive line as a key piece of LSU’s national champs.

Lewis is a wide hunk of human being. He excels at drive-blocking and can open running lanes that could take Chris Carson all the way to Kirkland. His pass blocking needs some work. I’m sure that sounds like exactly what Russell Wilson was hoping for, right? It isn’t that he can’t handle a bull rush. He just needs to work on his technique against stunts and the schemes he’ll see in the NFL.

A widebody bulldozer. Wow, who does that sound like, 12s? Yeah, D.J. Fluker may have found a twin. At this spot, fifth in the third round, Lewis may be a bit of a reach. Most sites I’ve seen have him graded as a late third, early fourth-round pick. But the Seahawks clearly need help on the offensive line. Lewis absolutely fits the Hawks run-blocking scheme. He won’t fold under pressure, either. He’s a player that is always looking for the next man to hit.

Grade: B