Stability in the NFL has grown to be quite rare. Whether it's at the quarterback position or a person of higher power, head coach, and/or general manager, owners have seemingly grown impatient. The so-called "microwave results" have taken over. Looking for immediate success after drafting a rookie quarterback or potentially hiring a new head coach is impractical. The Seattle Seahawks have been one of the rare examples of stability in the NFL.
Even though they moved off Pete Carroll this offseason, he and John Schneider both began their journeys in Seattle in 2010. Throughout a lot of turmoil that transpired, the head coach, general manager, and quarterback were the consistent pillars of a franchise that found ways to win games. It is no surprise that the steadiness of this organization directly resulted in multiple playoff appearances, two Super Bowl field trips, and one Super Bowl victory.
Their ideology was to build within, which required them to be successful in the draft. Back in 2010, the Seahawks were sort of given an advantage when hiring Pete Carroll because of his relativeness in the field of college football recruiting. Given the dominance he established at USC, he was not only familiar with players on his roster but, of those who played at a high level with other universities.
Grading every Seattle Seahawks first-round pick dating back to 2010
As a result of that, the Seahawks were able to build a generational defense which later on claimed the name, the Legion of Boom. Many have argued that since the departure of the Legion of Boom, Pete Carroll got power-crazed, and lost his grasp on the college football landscape, resulting in poor draft-day decisions. Primarily, early on in a round where you are supposed to be drafting a certified starter at their respective position. Also, known as Day 1 of the NFL Draft.
It is befitting that the success of the Seattle Seahawks' first-round selections emulated that of a rollercoaster ride during Pete Carroll and John Schneider's 14-year tenure together. Dating back to 2010, we examine and grade every first-round selection.
Seattle Seahawks 2010 Round 1, Pick 6 - LT Russell Okung
Russell Okung was instrumental in establishing a power-run offensive line. Ironically, this was the highest the Seahawks would pick in the draft until they acquired the 5th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft thanks to the Russell Wilson trade. In his first six years with the Seahawks, Okung made one Pro Bowl and of course, was a part of the 2013 Super Bowl-winning team.
Losing Okung in free agency was a tough blow to this offensive line. But, both Pete Carroll and John Schneider made a financial decision when letting him walk, ultimately resulting in him signing a deal with the Denver Broncos where Okung represented himself. Despite the penalty issues and injury bug that just kept biting him, he was a part of a unique culture shift not only in Seattle but in the entire NFL.
Grade: A
Seattle Seahawks 2010 Round 1, Pick 14 - S Earl Thomas III
What is it with the Seahawks getting 1st round picks from the Broncos? They were able to select Early Thomas III at 14th overall thanks to a 2009 trade made with Denver. Later on in this draft, the Seahawks would select Thomas' running mate, Kam Chancellor. This was the beginning of the Legion of Boom. Although Earl had some struggles in his rookie season, under the tutelage of Pete Carroll, he became one of the best safeties in the NFL.
The ultimate eraser, a multiple-time Pro-Bowler, and member of an AP All-Pro team, Earl Thomas is arguably one of the greatest safeties in the history of the Seahawks organization. While his tenure in Seattle did not end as many would have imagined, there is no denying the impact that Earl Thomas had on how defense was played with the Seahawks.
Grade: A+
Seattle Seahawks 2011 Round 1, Pick 25 - T James Carpenter
It is quite obvious what type of team the Seahawks were trying to build early on in this era. They used back-to-back round 1 selections on offensive linemen. The emphasis on the run game was ever so important after acquiring Marshawn Lynch in 2010. However, unlike Okung, the selection of James Carpenter didn't work out for Seattle. While he dealt with injuries early on in his career, whenever he was given the chance to play, he simply looked outmatched.
As alluded to earlier, first-round selections are supposed to be locks as a starter. But, sometimes it doesn't come to fruition. Between Lynch's power running style and the eventual Houdini escape-like ability from Russell Wilson, the Seahawks were able to overcome this pick that many would agree was a bust.
Grade: D
Seattle Seahawks 2012 Round 1, Pick 15 - DE Bruce Irvin
Bruce Irvin was the young buck on the defensive line that featured Red Bryant, Cliff Avril, and Michael Bennett. Not many were high on this pick given the history of Irvin when entering the draft. But, he fit right in, dominating his rookie season with 8.0 sacks. His durability was key during his first couple of seasons with the Seahawks. Due to adjustment, Irvin was switched from a DE to OLB and shockingly, fit right into that position.
It is tough to evaluate Bruce Irvin based on numbers only. He had an aura that helped him bond with other members of this historic defense. He came up with timely plays when called upon and even though he signed his first big contract with another team, he found his way back to Seattle not once, but twice, later on in his career.
Grade: B
Seattle Seahawks 2016 Round 1, Pick 31 - G Germain Ifedi
While the Seahawks had the right intention of selecting Ifedi, trying to rework a new offensive line, similar to that of James Carpenter, he struggled mightily. I certainly understand how hard the transition is from college to NFL. But, the idea of being a first-round pick, especially as an offensive lineman, is that your game is strong enough for you to survive while still learning on your toes.
Whether it was penalties or technique, Ifedi just wasn't living up to the expectations that the Seahawks had in mind. After declining his fifth-year option, Ifedi hit the open market and has played for a couple of different teams since. To his credit, he has improved his craft and has become a better player. It just didn't work out for him and the Seahawks.
Grade: D
Seattle Seahawks 2018 Round 1, Pick 27 - HB Rashaad Penny
On the surface, this pick made a bunch of sense. The Seattle Seahawks had a difficult time replacing Marshawn Lynch. It's also been frustrating to hear this pick be categorized as a bust. I understand the frustration from fans, but it wasn't that Rashaad Penny was a bust. He just simply couldn't stay healthy. When healthy, he was a great complement to Chris Carson.
In fact, when watching Penny at full strength, you would say to yourself, wow that guy is a first-round talent. As a running back, he had a mixture of everything. He was elusive enough to make someone miss. He was agile enough to find the holes in between tackles. He was powerful enough to lower his shoulder and do what it took to gain that additional yard. Most importantly, he had the home run-hitting speed that resulted in a lot of touchdowns. Unfortunately, his injuries continually held him back.
Grade: C
Seattle Seahawks 2019 Round 1, Pick 29 - DE L.J. Collier
At this point in time, many were beginning to question the power Pete Carroll had in the decision-making process. Although Penny had the talent, he never had the consistency in play to prove his coach right for selecting him. The Ifedi blunder combined with the poor play of L.J. Collier seemed to be the beginning of the end in the Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson era.
Wilson's frustration stemmed from the fact he wasn't being given adequate protection. This, in part, is due to the distribution of picks in the drafts. The idea of L.J. Collier made sense for this team. They were struggling in generating pressure defensively and Pete Carroll loved the idea of building a team within the trenches. The superpowers of Russell Wilson masked the poor offensive line play, so Seattle turned to the defensive line in the draft. Just like the previous two first-round picks, it didn't work out.
Grade: D
Seattle Seahawks 2020 Round 1, Pick 27 - LB Jordyn Brooks
I never quite understood the bust label on Jordyn Brooks. Certainly, he dealt with injuries early on in his career. But, a violent game like football is going to result in injury, especially at the linebacker position. Unlike the previous three first-round draft picks, Jordyn Brooks was able to etch his imprint on this team. Year after year, he improved.
Whether it was in the run game or getting better in coverage, Brooks was elevating his game next to Bobby Wagner. Unfortunately, he signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins this off-season. It wasn't that the Seahawks didn't want to re-sign him. The Dolphins offered a contract that Seattle could not match due to their cap issues at that selective time. Nonetheless, I believe that Brooks lived up to the production of a first-round pick with the Seahawks.
Grade: B+
Seattle Seahawks 2022 Round 1, Pick 9 - LT Charles Cross
The 2022 NFL Draft was a pivotal turning point for the Seattle Seahawks. Moving off Russell Wilson, which is why the Seahawks had the 9th overall pick in this draft, it seemed as if they were on their way to a rebuild. However, the selection of Charles Cross along with the remainder of this draft class allowed Seattle to turn things around rather quickly. For the first time picking in the top 10 since 2010, the Seahawks followed suit in selecting a tackle.
Like Russell Okung, Charles Cross was inserted into the anchor position of this offensive line immediately, and delivered. Injury concerns popped up early on in his sophomore season, but upon returning, he picked up where he left off. Entering his third year in the NFL, Cross has shown promise and I expect him to continually get better.
Grade: A
Seattle Seahawks 2023 Round 1, Pick 5 - CB Devon Witherspoon
This was an unorthodox pick in the Pete Carroll and John Schneider era. But, I am sure happy they selected Devon Witherspoon, also known as Spoon. Making the Pro Bowl in his rookie season, Spoon was one of the bright spots on an otherwise struggling defense. Coming out of Illinois, Spoon was primarily known as a boundary cornerback. Meaning, he played the outside, like a true CB1.
Due to the depth of this secondary, Spoon started off the season at the nickelback position and seemed to have found his true calling. I think it has been massively understated how hard that transition was. It's possible that it got overlooked because of how smoothly he played. Nonetheless, the Seahawks found a true cornerstone of this defense in Devon Witherspoon.
Grade: A+
Seattle Seahawks 2023 Round 1, Pick 20 - WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Just looking at the names of the last three first-round selections for the Seattle Seahawks, you can see why many are excited about the future of this franchise. In another surprising first-round pick, the Seahawks completed their three-headed dragon wide receiver room with the addition of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. On the surface, the pick made perfect sense. Njigba added a layer of route running and expertise in the short to intermediate passing game that was missing in this offense.
Although he got off to a slow start, it felt as if the Seahawks discovered how to use him later on in the season. Of course, the highlight of his rookie campaign is the walk-off touchdown against the Eagles. More importantly, though, Njigba answered a lot of questions about whether his route running and ability to get open would work against NFL defenses. A reliable target on 3rd down, I expect Njigba to take a big leap under Ryan Grubb in year two.