An early look at who the Seahawks should draft in 2022
By Andy Excell
Running backs
Only 16 RBs have been first round picks in the last ten years of the NFL draft, and no more than 3 in any one draft.
The three I see as most likely to be first round picks in 2022 are
1. Isaiah Spiller (Texas A&M)
2. Breece Hall (Iowa State)
3. Ty Chandler (North Carolina)
If these three are to make themselves first round picks, it currently looks like that they would be mid to late first round picks as it stands. With Chris Carson only under contract through 2023 and the Seahawks declining to pick up Rashaad Penny’s fifth year option, they could well be looking for an RB in the 2022 draft.
Spiller will go into the season as the number 1 rated back in this class, but Hall has more potential in my opinion and is the one I would most like to see the Seahawks draft. Chandler has transferred from Tennessee to the Tar Heels and will have the opportunity to have a big year in 2021 and is the only senior of the three backs I have listed.
Wide receivers
39 WRs have been drafted in the first round since 2012, with 6 being the highest.
The seven most likely in this pretty strong class are
1. Chris Olave (Ohio State)
2. Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)
3. Justyn Ross (Clemson)
4. George Pickens (Georgia)
5. Treylon Burks (Arkansas)
6. Jahan Dotson (Penn State)
7. Khalil Shakir (Boise State)
The Seahawks are unlikely to be targeting a WR in the 2022 draft. Tyler Lockett is under contract through 202 and D.K.Metcalf’s rookie contract expires at the end of 2022 and it is unimaginable that the Seahawks will not retain him beyond that.
With 2021 2nd round pick D’Wayne Eskridge, 2nd-year man Freddie Swain, and talented UDFA’s Tamorrion Terry, Connor Wedington and Cade Johnson all having the chance to grab the WR3 spot on the depth chart it will be disappointing if the Seahawks need to draft another WR in 2022.
As it stands I do not see Olave or Ross as elite WR’s in the NFL, Also Olave and Wilson will have a new QB in place post-Justin Fields, so that has to put a question mark next to their draft stock ahead of the 2022 draft.
I can see Pickens, Burks, Dotson and Shakir all rising up the draft charts in the coming season and they all have a chance to be great in the coming season and ultimately in the NFL.