An early look at who the Seahawks should draft in 2022
By Andy Excell
Linebackers/defensive ends
I have paired these together given their interchangeability between being drafted and deployed in the NFL. Seventy eight of these have been selected over the course of the last ten drafts, with a high of eleven in a single year.
I have selected nine for my top prospects list in the 2022 NFL draft.
1. Kayvon Thibodeaux – DE – Oregon
2. Drake Jackson – DE – USC
3. Christian Harris – LB – Alabama
4. George Karlaftis – DE – Purdue
5. Zach Harrison – DE – Ohio State
6. Brenton Cox – DE – Florida
7. Ventrel Miller – LB – Florida
8. Aidan Hutchinson – DE – Michigan
9. Kingsley Enagbare – DE – South Carolina
Thibodeaux looks to be one of the candidates for first overall pick in 2022, Jackson looks a candidate for a top ten overall pick, Harris and Karlaftis are possible top half of round one picks at this time, Harrison is a fairly sold round one selection currently and the others are possible rather probable first rounders going into the 2021 college season.
The Seahawks are well stocked in this department currently, so I suspect they will not be looking to spend a first round pick in this area unless an outstanding prospect becomes available to them.
Defensive tackles
25 DTs have been selected in the past ten first rounds of the draft, with no more than four in any one year.
Four DTs make my top 55 for the 2022 draft.
1. DeMarvin Leal (Texas A&M)
2. Perrion Winfrey (Oklahoma)
3. Tyler Davis (Clemson)
4. Jordan Davis (Georgia)
Unless one of the current backups to Al Woods steps up in 2021, the Seahawks may well be looking got a replacement for the 34-year-old Woods who will be out of contract at the end of 2021.
Leal looks to be an outstanding prospect who could be a top 5 overall pick. Winfrey would also look to be a first round pick currently, whereas the Davis’ as possible rather than probable first rounders at this time.