Why the Seahawks should choose Tyler Linderbaum at pick number 9
The Seattle Seahawks possess a very valuable asset in the upcoming NFL Draft: the 9th overall selection. There are so many different scenarios that could play out on the first night of the draft, from trading up to trading down to staying put and picking a player at that 9th spot.
In this draft profile, I’ll be examining a player the Seahawks will almost certainly have the freedom to choose at 9, and may be able to grab even if they do trade down to the mid-teens level of picks in the first round.
Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa’s center, is as clean as a center prospect could be. The Seahawks have struggled for consistency at the center spot since they traded Max Unger to the Saints, and it may be time to make a return to having a solid center for years to come.
Why Tyler Linderbaum would be an excellent addition to Seahawks
Linderbaum would be a great selection for Seattle, especially if the team is capable of trading down with, for example, the Minnesota Vikings (who hold the number 12 pick) and grabbing Linderbaum at 12. I would go to bed happy on April 28 if the Seahawks walk away from night one of the Draft with Linderbaum and an extra third-round pick.
The beauty of Tyler Linderbaum’s game is his excellence in a zone-based running scheme. Like it or not, Drew Lock is the current signal-caller for the team, which tells me that Pete Carroll wants to get back to playing stingy defense and running the ball for 200 yards each game.
In Shane Waldron’s offense, you could not ask for a better prospect than Linderbaum when it comes to the run game. He is excellent at blocking downfield and is able to hold his own at the line against pass-rushers. He’s not overly heavy but plays strong like the collegiate wrestler he was at Iowa.
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If the Seahawks front office and coaching staff truly want to build up a solid offensive line before they go after the quarterback of the future, picking Tyler Linderbaum in the first round of the Draft would be an excellent way to begin that mission. He has the potential to be a rock-solid player for the better part of a decade on this offensive line.