Seahawks 2021 draft target: Guard Trey Smith

The Seattle Seahawks need to get better along their offensive line. Russell Wilson knows it and so do 12s. University of Tennessee guard Trey Smith could help. There should be absolutely no doubt about the talent of Smith. He is a freakish player with strength, size and athleticism. But he has one flaw that will drop him in the draft and I will get to that in a bit.

Smith was a highly ranked tackle coming out of high school and during his freshman season at the University of Tennessee, and starting as a true freshman in the SEC at left tackle, Smith earned second-team All-SEC honors. This against SEC pass rushers that are born to be productive NFL pass rushers and Smith was 18 years old and having success.

Seahawks would need to take a chance on Trey Smith

Then his health issues happened in 2018. In February before his sophomore season, Smith was diagnosed with blood clots. He was given clearance to start the season, however, but had to miss the rest of the year after playing seven games when the issue occurred again. Many doubted he would – maybe even should – play football again. But Smith had good medical help and was able to come back in 2019 and moved to guard and earned First-Team All-SEC honors. He did so again in 2020.

Smith is a massive human at 6’6″ and 330 pounds and already big enough to play guard in the NFL. He also has incredible hand-strength and is able to push defenders off him and move them to his willing. His technique needs to improve but he was under-coached in college and will get better coaching in the NFL.

Any team that drafts Smith isn’t taking a chance on his ability and talent, they are taking a chance on a long-term investment into his health. Smith will need to be constantly supervised for the blood clots recurring. There is no telling if and when they will ever happen again and NFL teams tend to be a conservative bunch when it comes to risking high-round draft picks on the iffy health of players.

That said, the Seahawks could be the lucky team that gets to choose Smith. Most pundits seem to have Smith being taken between picks 40 and 45. The Seahawks pick 56th. Smith could fall that far. If so, Smith needs to be the pick and replace Mike Iupati at left guard. A guard combo of Trey Smith and Damien Lewis could be a solid duo for the next 10 seasons in Seattle.