Seahawks 2022 draft: Devin Lloyd is an instant replacement for Bobby Wagner

Maybe the Seattle Seahawks had a reason for releasing Bobby Wagner. That reason is Utah’s Devin Lloyd is available in the 2022 NFL draft.

Seattle has a lot of needs, like at edge rusher, cornerback and offensive tackle. But one reason the Seahawks defense was so great in the early 2010s was that Wagner was roaming the middle of the field.

Seattle already has one very good linebacker in Jordyn Brooks and sliding him over to Wagner’s vacated inside spot might make sense. But Seattle could also choose to keep Brooks at outside linebacker, use him more creatively in 2022 and fill Wagner’s spot with Lloyd.

If Seahawks go linebacker in the first round, Devin Lloyd should be the pick

If there is a linebacker worthy of being taken early in the first round in 2022 – possibly even at number 9 overall – it is Lloyd. He is 6’3″ and 237 pounds, extremely fast for his size and very strong. At his pro day, Lloyd ran a 4.6 40-yard dash. At the NFL combine, he jumped 35 inches on his vertical attempt and repped 225 pounds on the bench press 25 times. Wagner-esque type stuff.

Per Pro Football Focus, Lloyd had the highest grade of any Pac-12 linebacker in zone coverage. So not only can Devin Lloyd attack opposing offenses in the run game, he can play the pass too.

Playing the run and pass are great but Lloyd can also put pressure on quarterbacks. Since 2019, Lloyd led all Pac-12 linebackers in sacks (14), and quarterback pressures (58).

In 2021, Lloyd was an Associated Press First-Team All-America and had 110 tackles, 22 tackles-for-loss, 8 sacks and 4 interceptions. Two of the interceptions he returned for touchdowns so not only can Lloyd cover well and has good enough hands to pick passes off but can do something with the ball when he does intercept the pass.

I am not saying that the Seahawks should stay at pick number 9 and choose Lloyd, though. He is going to be a great NFL player but Seattle needs a great player more at left tackle and cornerback.

But 12s know Seattle is going to trade down because this is the John Schneider way. If the Seahawks end up with pick 14, for instance, Lloyd could be the pick and that wouldn’t be a bad thing.