The Seahawks entered the 2022 NFL draft with a bunch of needs for long-term fixes. On almost every level, Seattle successfully addressed those needs.
Time will tell, of course, but to me, this could be John Schneider and Pete Carroll’s best draft class since 2012. Of course, 2012 was one of the best drafts in NFL history, not just Seattle history. Both Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson came to Seattle in 2012.
It would seem as if Seattle’s offensive tackles are set for at least four years and should be a high-level combo. Charles Cross will likely end up at left tackle and Abe Lucas at right tackle. While 2022 might be an iffy season for two rookie tackles learning how to play in the league, drafts are made for long-term success and Cross and Lucas should be very good by 2023.
Seattle Seahawks 2022 draft class might be their best since 2012
Seattle also needed to find help at edge rusher and cornerback and found players who could immediately be impactful. The Seahawks didn’t reach for a defensive tackle but it would appear the roster is currently set with good and veteran run-stoppers at defensive tackle.
But the cornerbacks they were able to take in rounds four and five might just be the foundation for the next Legion of Boom, and one player physically resembles Richard Sherman quite a bit.
Here is how the Seattle Seahawks entire draft class graded and how fast they could help Seattle in the future.
First round, pick number 9: Offensive tackle Charles Cross
Cross was the third tackle off the board when Seattle took him but he might still be the best overall. The only issue, if you can call it that, with Cross is that he might have some struggles run-blocking to begin his career. But even that might not be true.
At Mississippi State, Cross was in a two-point stance a lot more than a three-point one because that is what the Bulldogs offense required. It’s not like Cross can’t grade the road for a running back; He just didn’t have to do that late in his college career.
But Cross has very good athleticism and his physical traits were almost exactly equal to Ikem Ekwonu who went a few picks before Cross. This isn’t meant to sound like I think Cross in anyway is inferior to Ekwonu. Cross proved how good he can be in the SEC which is as close to the minor leagues of the NFL as anyone can get.
Cross will likely start Week 1 in the 2022 season for the Seahawks at left tackle. Like any rookie, he is going to have his struggles at times. Even though the SEC is full of NFL-ready edge rushers, the NFL is full of grown men who have better technique. Just be patient, 12s. Cross is going to be a very good left tackle for a long time as a pro.
Grade: A
Second and third rounds
Second round, pick 40: Edge rusher Boye Mafe
Seattle seems to have nationally targeted players who might not be great against the run but have the speed and bend to beat offensive tackles and chase down quarterbacks. Mafe looks a lot like Darrell Taylor and that is a good thing. Taylor had a solid year in 2021, which was basically his rookie season.
Mafe should be able to come in as a specialist and help Seattle’s pass rush be more consistent from the beginning of the season. He won’t help much against the run but that won’t be his main job to start his career.
Grade: B+
Second round, pick 41: Running back Kenneth Walker III
Some people seemed to really not like this pick. I am not sure why. Seattle wants to run the ball more but Chris Carson might never play again and Rashaad Penny hasn’t shown he can play a full season. Walker, however, no matter if Penny and Carson weren’t already on the team might be worthy of being a Week 1 starter.
He is explosive and powerful and is likely a steal in round 2. Possibly some people thought he went too high because he is a running back but some team was going to take him and it made sense for Seattle to do so.
Grade: A
Third round, pick 72: Offensive tackle Abraham Lucas
Lucas is a pure right tackle that fits perfectly for Seattle after the Seahawks took Cross in the first round. Lucas and Cross should be the bookends on the offensive line by 2023, if not sooner. Cross will be a starter in 2022. Lucas could be one too but might need a bit more time to develop and get used to NFL speed.
Grade: B
Rounds four through seven
Fourth round, pick 109: Cornerback Coby Bryant
Before I get too deep into the Day 3 picks, let me just say I am absolutely psyched by what Seattle was able to do in rounds four through seven. They potentially found two starting cornerbacks by 2023. That starts with Bryant who has the tenaciousness, ballhawkishness and size where he should have gone in the second or third round.
That he fell to Seattle in round four? Say it with me, 12s: Steal!
Grade: A
Fifth round, pick 153: Cornerback Tariq Woolen
Back-to-back steals at CB? Heck, yes! Woolen is raw but unbelievably athletic. He ran a 4.26 40-yard dash and is 6’4″ and 210 pounds. He physically looks like Richard Sherman and we know how Sherman turned out. Woolen will be a lot better in 2023 than in 2022, probably, but that is OK as 2023 is when Seattle needs to think it has a chance at the postseason.
Grade: A
Fifth round, pick 158: Edge rusher Tyreke Smith
Like Mafe, Smith isn’t going to help much in run support and is likely only a pass rush specialist at this point. But getting Smith in the fifth round is a win for the Seahawks because his upside in chasing down quarterbacks is immense.
Grade: B
Seventh round, pick 229: Receiver Bo Melton
Melton is really fast – he ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the NFL combine – and has decent size at 5’11” and 190 pounds but it’s still difficult to know what he can bring to the Seahawks. Even with all his speed, he wasn’t much of a vertical threat at Rutgers. Then again, Rutgers’ quarterbacks were pretty terrible.
Grade: B
Seventh round, pick 233: Receiver Dareke Young
Young is the biggest unknown that Seattle chose. He hasn’t consistently stayed healthy. In high school, he broke his leg. At Lenoir-Rhyne last year, Young had an MCL sprain. But Young is a big receiver at 6’3″ and has solid speed (at his pre-draft workout he ran a 4.4 40).
Grade: C
Overall grade for Seahawks 2022 NFL draft: B+