A year ago, not too many were sure what the landscape of this Seattle Seahawks franchise was moving forward. Well, it seems as if the Seahawks made the right move when they traded Russell Wilson to the Broncos. And this will have a long-term effect on Seattle.
While we still have three weeks left to play in the 2022 regular season, it has become more and more obvious that this Seahawks team is not quite ready to win yet. The good news, they had a stellar 2022 NFL Draft, hitting on multiple of their picks. They found their starting tackles, a home run-hitting running back, and a true number-one cornerback.
Yet, the biggest question that remains is one similar to last year. Then, it was about how do you replace Russell Wilson; do you do it through the draft or sign a veteran quarterback? The Seahawks did indeed resign veteran Geno Smith and just as he is yet to write back, he is not ready to lose his starting position after patiently waiting 10 years to get another shot.
Of course, it is up to the Seahawks of whether or not they bring him back as he is going to be a free agent. When evaluating this roster, they need to ask themselves what their plan of attack will be in the offseason. In other words, how can we improve this team in taking the next step toward winning another Super Bowl? The answer to me is on the defensive side.
Seattle Seahawks Mock Draft: Fixing the defense
The draft position for the Seahawks is going to change over the next month as their first pick depends upon how the Broncos finish. The good news is that it appears it will be in the top 5. Regardless of where they end up, the most important thing is they will have two picks in each of the first two rounds.
This is where they can try and fix this defense that has gotten exposed over the 2nd half of this season. Opposing teams’ rushing attack has been too physically imposing on a Seattle defensive front that just simply doesn’t have enough playmakers. To be frank, one of their best interior linemen is Al Woods, who is 35 years old. Even on the edges, they are not getting consistent pressure and it is allowing opposing offenses to stay on the field and tread the tires of the Seahawks’ defense.
With multiple picks early on in this draft, here is my first mock for the Seattle Seahawks 2023 draft.
Round 1, Seahawks Pick 3 (via DEN)
I think we can all agree that the Seahawks’ rush defense has been the downfall of this season. Teams are having their way up front staying committed to the run game. Assuming the Bears take Will Anderson, Jalen Carter will fall to number 3. Not only is he a brick wall, but he’s a magic eraser. He will be the right first step in addressing the lack of rush defense for the Seahawks. He moves extremely quickly for someone who is 300 pounds.
The moment 12s fell in love with him was in the SEC Championship game, where he picks up LSU QB Jayden Daniels. He sheds blocks so effortlessly in his run pursuit. Not to mention his sheer power when rushing. The clips of his power are endless. Perhaps, my favorite highlight is the one below, which doesn’t seem explainable.
Jalen Carter should not be able to move this FAST 😳 pic.twitter.com/HDU8E6rAXl
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) December 15, 2022
It is really impressive to see someone that size move that fast. I think this is a no-brainer for the Seattle Seahawks. He will be a difference-maker from day 1.
Round 1, Pick 15
Pairing Tyree Wilson with Jalen Carter should fix the defensive line problems for the Seahawks. Not only has the rush defense been horrendous for the majority part of this season, but they haven’t been able to generate consistent pass rush pressure on opposing quarterbacks. An evolving problem for this team over the last couple of years. Tyree Wilson is an athletic freak. With Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, and Boye Mafe under contract, bringing in Wilson will solidify this line.
In 2022, Wilson was first-team All-Big 12, led the Big 12 in tackles for loss, and finished 2nd in sacks. Entering the season, his biggest weakness was a plan of attack when rushing. While that can be polished by coaching, his power jumps off the screen. He has had some mean bull rushes where he just puts his head down and drives an offensive lineman backward. At 6-6, 275 pounds, he is a lengthy prospect that can give life to what feels like a juiceless defensive front at times.
Round 2, Seahawks Pick 34 (via DEN)
Mike Jackson Sr. has had a nice season, but he is not the answer at CB2. Christian Gonzalez is the prototypical Seattle Seahawks corner. At 6-2, 201 pounds, he’s lengthy, physical, and has great instincts. Christian Gonzalez opposite Tariq Woolen with Tre Brown and Coby Bryant battling it out for the slot would develop into one of the better secondaries in the NFL. In the Legion of Boom era, Seattle had lengthy physical corners that could get handsy at the line of scrimmage, but also make play balls on the ball.
Christian Gonzalez finds someway to stand out each week. ++ instincts here. https://t.co/M5xR5DjDuS
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) November 26, 2022
The tape on Gonzalez shows his ball skills. His press-bail technique will transition well into this Seattle defensive scheme. What impresses me most about him, however, is his tackling ability. There is a reason he is one of the top DBs in this draft. One could argue he is the most athletic CB in this class.
Round 2, Pick 46
Ohio State is known to produce NFL-ready centers. Nick Mangold, Billy Price, and Corey Lindsay just to name a few. Hopefully, Luke Wypler will join those list of names and have a nice NFL career. The Seahawks are in need of center and Wypler can fill that role. He is predominantly known for his athleticism, which is an important attribute for a center. He is good in the run game as he gets uphill quickly and can move off one blocker to another. At 6-3, 300 pounds, Wypler can come in and fill an immediate hole for this Seahawks’ offensive line.
Round 3, Pick 78
The All-American, Captain Jack Campbell is an impressive prospect. He is a tackling machine, tallying 100+ tackles in his last 2 seasons with the Hawkeyes. On tape, his instincts jump out. He uses his senses well and gains leverage on most offensive linemen when attacking gaps. His eye discipline allows him to play solid coverage, which will transition well into the NFL. Campbell was announced as the recipient of the 2022 Dick Butkus award, acknowledging him as the best LB in the nation. He and Jordyn Brooks as the middle linebackers in this new 3-4 scheme would be a sight to see.
Round 4, Seahawks Pick 110
Watching the film on Zay Flowers, you can see he is a dynamic player. For reference on his ability to blow up games, look up his highlights against Louisville back in October. In this WR deep class, rather than drafting a wideout high, the Seahawks can potentially find a gem here at pick 110. Flowers can line up as the X Y or Z, is a vertical threat, and has great athleticism. One of his greatest abilities is making something happen after the catch. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him climb up boards as the draft gets closer.
Round 5, Pick 141 (via PIT)
Given the injury history of this position for the Seattle Seahawks over the years, taking a safety certainly makes sense. One could argue they should draft one earlier, but with the evolvement of Ryan Neal, I think it would be wise to wait and select one later on. Akeem Dent would fit this Seahawks’ defense like a glove. He is a missile in the open field, is a physical hitter, has solid coverage skills, and has been used as a blitzer in this Florida State defense. It is also worth noting he was a former 5-star cornerback.
Round 5, Pick 142
Over the years, we’ve seen how vulnerable this Seattle backfield is due to injuries. Although Kenneth Walker III is going to be the lead horse for the Seahawks, it would be smart to take a flyer on an HB this late in the draft. Chase Brown is coming off a career year at Illinois, earning himself 3rd team All-American. His running style fits this Seahawks’ scheme. Despite the fact that he struggles in pass protection, he does nearly everything else well. He has great bursts and can make defenders miss when hitting top speed. More importantly, he likes to initiate contact and make something happen after the contact.
Round 6, Pick 174
With Gabe Jackson under contract for one more year, I see the Seahawks using their last pick on a potential replacement. Coming from the SEC, Layden Robinson has gone against NFL-ready pass rushers. Robinson is truly a unique prospect. He certainly has aspects he needs to improve upon. But, his length and strength allow him to push off defenders in the passing game without needing help and more importantly, without being flagged. Even if he were to sit his rookie year, I think Robinson would have a legit chance of earning the starting RG position at some point.