When the calendar hit December this season, Seahawks fans realized that the dream of having a top-ten pick was not just real, but becoming an expectation. Thanks to the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson being a massive disappointment, the Seahawks have an opportunity to add a blue-chip talent on a cheap salary at a draft pick slot they haven’t seen in over a decade. So naturally, we’re gonna mock up some drafts!
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be talking about potential mock drafts that could enhance, or completely reshape this roster. For drafting purposes, I used Pro Football Network’s rankings and mock simulator. Unlike PFF, PFN’s big board falls in line with the majority of the draft rankings you can find out there.
With yesterday’s massive news about Geno Smith signing a three-year extension to stay with the Seahawks, it brings the potential of clarity and stability to the franchise with such valuable picks coming in this draft. While they could still select a quarterback that they love at pick 5, they now are in a fantastic position. If the QB run happens early, then Seattle should have the opportunity to select one of the three elite defensive prospects in this draft.
Seattle Seahawks 3-round mock draft: Building around Geno
There is also an opportunity to take advantage of a QB-desperate team and collect more assets. In this week’s mock, we look at combining those two scenarios, creating a fantastic scenario for the official Geno Smith-led Seahawks to make a Super Bowl run.
Seahawks trade back to pick 7
TRADE: Seahawks trade pick 5 to Raiders for picks 7, 70, and a 2024 2nd-round pick
Round 1 pick 7: Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
Much like last week’s mock, the Seahawks take advantage of a team desperate for a new face of the franchise. In this case, it is Will Levis for Las Vegas. With the trade, Seattle moves back only slightly while picking up an early third-round pick as well as more ammo for a 2024 draft that is overflowing with talent, specifically at the quarterback position. Make no mistake, the Seahawks may have locked up Geno, but they will not stop looking for a replacement to be ready within the next 24 months.
With all the quarterbacks falling off the board, the Seahawks are still able to select a blue-chip defensive talent in the monstrous edge defender out of Texas Tech, Tyree Wilson. Wilson, the number 4 overall prospect on my big board, is a perfect fit for what Seattle needs. Standing at 6’6″ and 275 pounds with massive arms (36” long), Wilson is capable of playing DE, edge, and even some linebacker for the Seahawks.
An excellent run defender who also can get after the passer, Wilson’s tape brings me back to prime Michael Bennett. Bennett was a player single-handedly capable of wrecking an opponent’s game plan. Wilson was a 1st-team All-Big 12 this season.
He replicated most of his 2021 stats in 2022 but played three fewer games. If he had played a full 12-13 games, I think Wilson probably threatens Will Anderson, Jr. for the first edge defender to be selected. The Seahawks needed another premier edge to pair with Uchenna Nwosu, and they got one in Wilson.
Seahawks choose Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State in round 1 at pick 20
If you are going to commit to Geno Smith and believe that he can lead you to a championship in the final years of Pete Carroll’s career, then the Seahawks need to not only commit to improving the defense but also putting the most dominant offense on the field as possible. The game is changing. While a great defense is massively important to succeeding, the Super Bowl showed us the level of offense needed to win it all. Seattle’s offensive line needs a new center to quarterback the O-line calls (we’ll get there), but they also need to overwhelm Geno with passing options. Enter Smith-Njigba.
Smith-Njigba was the best receiver in college football in 2021, the greatest performance in Rose Bowl history, and clearly the most polished route runner in this draft. He may not be the fastest receiver in this class, but that doesn’t matter when his instincts, footwork and initial bursts helped him to reach 95 catches, 1,600 yards, and 9 touchdowns in 13 games his sophomore season. While I’d still like to see a 40 time at his pro day, Smith-Njigba put on an incredible performance at the combine, putting up some of the best numbers ever in the 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone drill.
This guy literally changes directions on a dime. The selection of Smith-Njigba should help bring some youth to a receiving core that is lacking in that area minus DK and the ghost of D’Wayne Eskridge. A receiving group of DK, Lockett, and Smith-Njigba, paired with potential free agent veterans like Marquise Goodwin or Robert Woods, would give Seattle a top 5 WR group in the league.
Seahawks 2nd round picks
Round 2 pick 37: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
We talked about the Seahawks building a Super Bowl-worthy offense, Luke Musgrave is another massive weapon for Geno Smith. Musgrave is one of the “core four” tight ends in this draft, a truly special class for the position. The Seahawks, who already have Will Dissly and Noah Fant under contract for 2023, bring in a unique weapon from Oregon State in Musgrave. At 6’6″ and 249 lbs, Musgrave brings massive size and near-wide receiver speed to the tight end position.
The biggest knock on Musgrave is more of a lack of time on the field than anything. Musgrave played in only two games in 2022 before a knee injury ended his season. In those two games, however, Musgrave was a beast with 11 receptions, 169 yards, and a touchdown. When healthy, it is clear to see a tight end that is a good enough blocker, but has Jimmy Graham-type potential as a receiver, but with better speed.
Pick 52: Joe Tippmann, Center, Wisconsin
The offensive focus with picks 20, 37, and 52 is now complete as the Seahawks bring in the center from Wisconsin. With the retirement of Austin Blythe, Seattle has an opportunity to draft their best center since Max Unger, and nail it with the 6’6″ and 312-pound Badger. While Tippmann displays some of the classic Big Ten mauling interior offensive linemen, he also shows off some exceptional quickness to go with his strength. With Shane Waldron still scheming up the zone-blocking offense, Tippmann’s experience in this style makes him a solid selection at pick 52.
Seahawks round 3 picks
Pick 70: Keanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
To everyone screaming at me, yes, we are going back to defense! I am stoked about selecting Benton with pick #70 from the Raiders trade. Benton is a massive defensive tackle that uses surprising quickness to go with his immense power to be a dominant run defender. This is the type of defensive tackle that immediately improves that horrendous run defense from last season. Benton also has some really nice counter moves, even playing a few snaps at DE for Wisconsin, and proved capable of getting after the quarterback.
Pick 83: Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
Fans of Pacific Northwest football probably liked the Musgrave pick and will love the selection of WSU Cougar all-American Daiyan Henley. Henley, a transfer from Nevada, was an absolute stud in his lone season on the Palouse. In his past two seasons, Henley has produced 200 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 4 sacks. He has the ability to play MLB, OLB, rush the QB, and has the athleticism to be really good in coverage. I watched George Kittle roast the Seahawks linebackers all season, and finding a guy like Henley to run with him successfully would be massive in Seattle’s quest to overtake San Francisco.
Day 1 and 2 review
7- Tyree Wilson
20- Jaxon Smith-Njigba
37- Luke Musgrave
52- Joe Tippmann
70- Keanu Benton
83- Daiyan Henley
With Geno on board, we went out and greatly improved both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The Seahawks get their premier edge rusher on defense, as well as improved two of their weakest spots at defensive tackle and linebacker. There’s no excuse for Geno, he will have the most talent the Seahawks have had on offense in years.
We’ve greatly improved the interior offensive line while adding two incredible receiving threats at both the wideout spot as well as the tight end. Don’t forget the value of an extra second-round pick in 2024 from a historically bad franchise in Las Vegas. Geno got the bag, and now we gave him the toys, go win!