Why Seahawks should take cornerback Kyler Gordon in 2022 NFL draft

The Seattle Seahawks need to find a good long-term cornerback. University of Washington product Kyler Gordon’s skill and versatility might be just what Seattle needs.

The funny thing is that while Seattle was successful with U-Dub products in the early 2010s, like Jermaine Kearse, they have whiffed recently by not taking safety Budda Baker and cornerback Marcus Peters when they had the chance. This needs to change with Gordon.

Gordon is currently projected to be a second round choice and to land around where the Seahawks get their first choice at number 41. He has the versatility at corner that not only Pete Carroll likes but what the team needs.

Kyler Gordon would be a great choice for the Seahawks in 2022 NFL draft

D.J. Reed is a good corner (though he is a free agent Seattle needs to re-sign) but there are question marks beside him. Ugo Amadi was basically awful this year at nickel and the corner opposite Reed was a revolving door.

Gordon has the ability to be very good at outside corner and inside. He could immediately come in next year and start at nickel and replace Amadi and be an upgrade. This is while learning the ropes of what it takes to be a great outside corner in the NFL and Gordon could make that leap in 2023.

Gordon isn’t a huge corner but he is definitely bigger than Reed or rookie Tre Brown. Gordon is 6′ and 200 pounds with long arms. He does have long legs which can make his quickness in stride a bit slow but with proper technique, this would be overcome. There is no doubt, however, that Gordon has great speed on deep routes and quickness to cover the slot.

Those are just the negatives. Otherwise, Gordon is a nearly ideal Seahawks corner. He is ultra-aggressive in run support and not afraid to take on running backs and once he meets someone with the ball in their hands, that person goes down.

Seattle misses the kind of corner Richard Sherman was because he was a force against both the pass and the run. Tre Brown showed flashes of being great in run support as a rookie in 2021 before being injured, but Gordon would step in immediately and be a good run defender.

The only other thing Gordon might need to be better in is at taking away the ball. He had two interceptions in his career at Washington. But with better technique and a better defense overall, Gordon can learn that. The Seahawks need not pass on this Seattle product and simply need to move him from Montlake to Lumen Field.