With the 2022 NFL season officially over, the Seattle Seahawks and every other team now turn their attention to improving in the offseason. First on the agenda is the NFL combine. This is typically the time of year when the chess game begins for NFL general managers.
We’ve already seen some stories get leaked that could alter the draft order. Most notably, the report coming out of Chicago claiming Justin Fields could be traded. Regarding our beloved Seattle Seahawks, there is still no news on the Geno Smith front. But, I am confident he will be resigned and the Seahawks can use their first couple of draft picks on other skill players.
Building through the draft seems to be how Seattle is approaching building a championship roster. In a year that shocked most, the Seahawks appear to be ahead of schedule. Having the majority of pieces in place makes this draft that much more critical if Seattle wants to take the next step.
Seattle Seahawks Mock Draft: Addressing each position
The Seattle Seahawks struck gold in their 2022 NFL Draft. They found the 2 pillars of their offensive line in Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. HB Kenneth Walker III was nominated for offensive rookie of the year. CB Tariq Woolen solidified his position as CB1 on this roster while also being nominated for defensive rookie of the year. Not to mention ED Boye Mafe, CB Cody Bryant, and WR Dareke Young, who are all poised to get better in year 2.
Seattle’s plan of attack last year was to address the trenches while sprinkling in other picks for other positions of need. This year, I feel the game plan should remain the same. Their biggest focal point should be to address the defensive line, both interior and exterior. That was the weak link of this team last year. In order to take the next step in the right direction, the defense must turn things around.
But, in doing so, Seattle can acquire more draft capital through a trade to take care of other areas of need on this roster. In this mock draft, I have the Seattle Seahawks addressing each position on this roster in succeeding order.
Round 1, Seahawks Pick 5 (via DEN)
Fit: Day 1 starter
Strength: Disruptor
What’s not to love about Jalen Carter? Everything outside of the fact that he might go top 4 in this draft. But, I do believe the Seahawks have a legitimate shot of landing him at 5, as teams will trade up to select quarterbacks. Jalen Carter is exactly what this Seattle’s defense is missing. He is an athletic freak. For someone who is 310 pounds, he is uniquely fast. He has dominated while at Georgia and will make an immediate impact on the Seahawks’ defense.
Carter is a 2-time national champion, 2022 first-team All-SEC, and 2022 first-team All-American. His hand usage is second to none in this draft class. In fact, many argued that he was the best defensive player on the 2021 Bulldogs, which ended up having 5 first-round draft picks. His sack numbers do not jump off the stat sheet, but he has a knack for ending up in the backfield. His ability to stop the run will instantly make this Seahawks’ defense better.
Round 1, Pick 26 (via DAL)
Fit: Day 1 starter
Strength: Discipline
The Seattle Seahawks have done a tremendous job of rebuilding their offensive line. However, they are still missing a guard and center to go along with Charles Cross, Damien Lewis, and Abe Lucas. That is why they solidify the guard position in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys. Needing a wide receiver, Dallas moves from pick 26 to pick 20, while Seattle falls down 6 spots and earns an extra 3rd and 4th round draft pick.
Using pick 26 to select the number 1 ranked interior offensive lineman out of Florida, O’Cyrus Torrence. Torrence has good hands and a thick lower body to remain steady in pass protection. He put together a nice performance when going up against Jalen Carter in the regular season. Torrence will need to grow in run blocking, but he certainly possesses all the intangibles to be a solid starter in the NFL. Most impressively, in the 2022 season, he didn’t allow a single sack or get penalized once.
Round 2, Seahawks Pick 37 (via DEN)
Fit: Day 1 starter
Strength: Athleticism + Hustle
Seattle’s run defense wasn’t the only problem in 2022. Despite Uchenna Nwosu and Darrell Taylor finishing with 9.5 sacks each, they weren’t able to generate consistent pressure. The inconsistency up front allowed opposing teams to move the ball at will. To go along with Jalen Carter in the 1st round, Keion White out of Georgia Tech can help solidify this Seahawks’ defensive line. White was one of the primary stars to emerge from the Senior Bowl.
He has soared up in the rankings. He jumps off the screen when watching film. At 6’5″ tall, and 286 pounds, White has the ability to use his length in pass pursuit. Combine that with his speed and you get the high-motor player that he is. He fits a 3-4 scheme nicely as he can play both edge rusher and defensive end. He is a freak athlete that has unlimited potential. Seems to me that he has Seattle Seahawk written all over his name.
Round 2, Pick 51
Fit: Day 1 starter
Strength: Athleticism + Ability to communicate
To cap off the rebuild of this offensive line, the Seattle Seahawks select C Luke Wypler out of Ohio State. In many eyes, Wypler is the best center of this draft class. The good news is that Ohio State is known to produce good NFL centers — Billy Price, Corey Lindsay, Nick Mangold just to name a few. More importantly, the Seahawks are in need of a center. With Austin Blythe set to be an unrestricted free agent, Seattle is going to need a starter.
One of Blythe’s greatest strengths was his ability to communicate at the line of scrimmage. An attribute that is already attached to the name of Luke Wypler. At 300 pounds, some feel Wypler is undersized to be an NFL center. But, his athleticism makes up for it. He is a good puller and does a good job of getting to the second level in the run game. Wypler is also known to be very steady in his pass protection.
Round 3, Pick 83
Fit: WR3
Strength: Catching radius + YAC
The Seahawks had one of the better offenses in 2022. Yet, they have one recurring issue in their wide receiver room. Over the years, Seattle hasn’t been able to find a WR3. The hope was that Dee Eskridge would settle into that role. But, injuries have derailed him in his NFL career. Rashee Rice out of SMU has the potential to fill that void for the Seahawks.
One of the concerns around his game is inconsistency. But, put him in a room with Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf for the offseason and I would guess his work ethic changes. That is an intangible that can be attained and improved upon over time. At 6’2″, and 203 pounds, Rice presents a nice catching radius. He has shown the ability to go up in traffic and come down with the ball. Arguably, his most impressive skillset is what he can do after the catch.
Round 3, Pick 90 (via DAL)
Fit: CB2 Potential
Strength: Physicality and Size
In last year’s draft, the Seahawks were able to address the cornerback position on day 3. Drafting both Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen has helped turn around this secondary. With no CB2 currently on the roster, a potential day 2 selection in Jaylon Jones might help solve that problem. This class is deep at the cornerback position. They could certainly select a corner earlier in the draft. I am really high on Christian Gonzalez out of Oregon.
But, I think addressing the trenches early on in the draft is the wise thing to do. Plus, Jaylon Jones fits the mold of a Seattle corner and he should be there toward the end of round 3. He is 6’2″ tall, and 205 pounds. While his stats barely show for anything during his time at Texas A&M, he is a high-ceiling prospect. He possesses the adequate arm length to be a disruptor in the passing game and plays with a physical aggression that will blend in well with this Seahawks secondary.
Round 4, Seahawks Pick 122
Fit: Rotational rusher
Strength: Ability to disrupt
After selecting Jalen Carter in the 1st and Keion White in the 2nd round, the Seahawks add more depth to their defensive line by selecting K.J. Henry out of Clemson with the 122nd pick. His athleticism jumps off the film. We know Pete Carroll loves having dynamic players on the edge. Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu are just some of the names of players who had an impact on last year’s Seattle defense.
Henry’s greatest ability is disrupting plays. He wasn’t a sack machine at Clemson, but he applied pressure on opposing quarterbacks. His get-off at the line of scrimmage combined with his good hands’ usage allows him to quickly get into the backfield. It was on constant display at the Senior Bowl earlier this month. If he is able to couple that with a strong combine, he might not be available in the 4th round. Although, for the Seahawks’ sake, I hope he is.
Round 4, Pick 129 (via DAL)
Fit: Potential starting LB
Strength: Bruising play-style and intelligence
Entering the 2023 draft, the Seahawks linebacker group is a mystery. With Cody Barton an unrestricted free agent and Jordyn Brooks rehabbing a torn ACL, Owen Pappoe can come in and fill in an immediate void. Even if Cody Barton were to be re-signed, Pappoe is talented enough to earn himself a starting role for this Seahawks’ defense.
The biggest knock is that he’s undersized. Which, honestly doesn’t mean much in today’s NFL. My guess is his stock will rise as he is expected to have an impressive 40 time at the combine due to his blazing speed. His physical play style will transition nicely into the NFL. Most importantly, his football IQ allows him to sniff things out. He has good awareness in zone coverage and when he sees a run, he has the ability to shed blockers and make the play. Pappoe could be a hidden gem in this draft class.
Round 5, Pick 153 (via PIT)
Fit: Insurance Policy
Strength: Versatility and Physicality
Most are uncertain about how the Seattle Seahawks are going to address the safety position in the draft. Some mocks have them taking a safety early on in the 2nd round or 3rd round. I think they should wait till day 3 to select a safety. Let’s be honest about this. I know the Seahawks’ safeties have dealt with injuries consistently over the last couple of seasons. But, they have invested a lot of money into that particular position.
Trey Dean III out of Florida fits this Seattle defense. He started off his collegiate career as a cornerback, which explains one of his greatest strengths, man coverage ability. After transitioning to safety, he gained experience as a box safety. Most importantly, Dean plays with a tremendous amount of intensity. However, he does struggle in zone coverage, allowing his eye discipline to mislead him. At pick 153, I think he can come into Seattle to learn and develop from two of the better safeties in the league. Given the right circumstances and coaching, Dean can blossom into a starter.
Round 5, Seahawks Pick 156
Fit: Rotational HB
Strength: Home-Run hitter + Receiving ability
It is easy to overlook Deuce Vaughn as a prospect as he is only 5’6″ tall. But, man, he has the potential to be one of the better running backs in this draft class. His NFL comparison is Darren Sproles, who ironically, also went to Kansas State. Like Sproles, Vaughn has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Over the last 3 years in college football, Vaughn lead all running backs in receiving 1st downs.
Most impressively, he has elite speed and playmaking ability. Not knowing the future of Rashaad Penny, it would be wise for the Seahawks to select an insurance policy in Deuce Vaughn. To be quite frank, getting him at pick 156 would be a steal. Regardless, he fits the Seahawks’ style of play and I believe he would earn himself an increased percentage of touches as the season progresses based on his work ethic that his coaches rave about.
Round 6, Pick 197
Fit: Backup TE
Strength: Good size
It’s interesting to see what many think the Seahawks are going to do at the tight end position in the draft. Some have them selecting Michael Mayer in the 1st round. Others project a Tucker Kraft or Darnell Washington pick. I think Seattle should select Will Mallory in the 6th round. I thought the Seahawks’ tight end group had a fantastic 2022 season. Yes, Noah Fant is coming up on his contract year, but I can see Mallory playing a similar role to that of Colby Parkinson when he was drafted.
Coming out of Stanford, Parkinson was 6’7″ tall, and 252 pounds. He had to pay his dues and work his way into more snaps. Mallory presents a similar frame at 6-feet-5-inches tall, 245 pounds. Given his size, he presents quarterbacks with a nice catching radius. He also has the ability to be an effective blocker in the open field. He can be an asset in outside zone running and screen passes.
Round 7, Pick 239
Fit: Backup QB
Strength: Arm + Athleticism
There seems to be some confusion regarding the Seahawks and whether or not they have a 7th-round pick. In 2021, the Seahawks made a trade with the Texans, sending a conditional 2023 7th-round pick for CB John Reid. As it turns out, they didn’t have to give that 7th-round pick and that is why they end up with UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson with pick 239.
Assuming Geno Smith re-signs, I see them taking a flyer on Thompson-Robinson with their last pick. He is an accurate thrower of the football, has good arm strength, and can make plays happen with his legs. He is going to have to become a more steady pocket passer. Oftentimes, his eyes are in the pocket rather than down the field going through progression. But, his style of play fits what the Seahawks want to do offensively.