6 perfect Day 2 targets for the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL draft
By Boade Rowe
With the Seahawks holding nine draft picks currently, general manager John Schnieder and head coach Pete Carroll’s draft strategy will likely rely on how things shake out in free agency. That is especially true with whatever happens at quarterback. If Seattle re-signs Geno Smith, you can bet that Seattle isn’t going to take a QB with the number 5 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
That means Seattle will probably take a defensive player with their first pick in round one or trade back and pick up other choices. This is the Seahawks, after all, so that would not be surprising. But on Day 2 of the draft – rounds 2 and 3 – is where Seattle will make its bones on how good the draft will be.
Let’s look at potential Day 2 prospects based on premature early draft projections and break down what they bring to the Seahawks. This, of course, will be a fluid list as the draft approaches and how players do on their pro days and at the combine. But as things stand right now, the following options could be gems for Seattle on Day 2.
Seahawks Day 2 pick: Round 2, Pick 37
Potential options: Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (Baylor) and Edge rusher Andre Carter (Army)
Siaki Ika is a 360-pound behemoth in the interior of the defensive line. Ika shows extremely impressive quickness for someone his size and repeatedly disrupted opposing backfields during his time at Baylor. As I mentioned, Seattle has a glaring need for interior run-stoppers. If Siaka Ika is available in the second round, he will provide much-needed help in a glaring position of need.
Andre Carter has as much upside and potential as any prospect in the draft. Carter is 6’7″ and 260 pounds. He might be one NFL weight room away from becoming an absolute game-wrecking pass rusher. In the 2021 season, Carter amassed a whopping 60 total pressures over the season. That prompted college teams to focus on Carter more frequently in 2022, which might help the Seahawks snag the rare prospect with their first pick in the second round.