How the Seahawks won the draft among NFC West teams

How the Seahawks won the NFC West in the 2021 NFL draft

So how can a team with only 3 draft picks have had a better draft than teams with more selections added. Putting it simply, the Seahawks addressed their main needs, and in the right order too.

Seahawks draft needs

1. Slot receiver
2. Cornerback
3. Offensive tackle
4. Wide receiver
5. Defensive end/linebacker
6. Center
7. Guard
8. Safety

In Round 2, the Seahawks dealt with need number 1 by drafting D’Wayne Eskridge. Many, including myself, would have chosen other slot receivers before Eskridge, but who am I to question the people that have scouted all the options thoroughly in the months leading up to the draft. Only time and D’Wayne Eskridge will give us the answer to that question.

Then in round 4, the Seahawks trade down, picking up a sixth round pick rather than a seventh and still taking the corner they needed in Tre Brown. Thus ticking off need number 2.

And having astutely moved up from round 7 to 6, they cross off need number 3 by taking the man-mountain that is Stone Forsythe at OT. On top of that, they then swoop on three UDFA wide receivers to tie off need number 4.

One of them being Tamorrion Terry. How Terry was not drafted is beyond belief to me. The other two wide receivers, Cade Johnson and Connor Wedington, may be seen primarily on special teams, certainly initially. But they still add value and depth at WR.

No other NFC West team nailed their primary needs. Yes, I have advocated taking a center and a full back to help the red zone running game in the past. But Josh Myers, who would have been my choice at center. went off the board earlier than expected and as it turns out the FB I had in mind (Ben Mason), also got picked earlier than I thought he would.

So my plan would have gone awry, whereas the Seahawks seem to have nailed their plan. John Schneider and co may still find a way to add a pass rusher/linebacker and/or a center via free agency too.

But they could not have done more via the draft, hence why they move up two places in my ranking list and I am declaring them the winners of the NFC West draft.