NFL Mock Draft Roundup: A new favorite emerges for Seahawks in first round

The Seattle Seahawks have a bunch of needs in the 2024 NFL draft. The team needs to help find quantity at tight end, linebacker, and potentially at safety. But the team needs to find quality at those positions plus the interior of the offensive line and along the defensive line.

In fact, Seattle choosing a quarterback in the first round to replace Geno Smith for the long term seems unlikely and unneeded. Seattle has too many other needs. This is especially true if the Seahawks find a way to bring back free-agent backup quarterback Drew Lock.

Guesses at who Seattle will take in the first round still have not focused on any one player. Where once many sites had Seattle choosing a quarterback, many of the same sites have non-QB guesses now. But one player is slowly beginning to emerge as more of a consensus pick in mock drafts. Here is the latest on who is picking whom.

Seattle Seahawks mock draft roundup: Jer'Zhan Newton makes a lot of sense

Charles McDonald and Nate Tice, Yahoo! Sports: Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

The 6'2" and 295-pound Newton would be a smart choice for Seattle. He is strong enough to play right away, helped slow the run, and can also supply interior pass rush. Head coach Mike Macdonald would get Newton in the best situations to succeed early in the 2024 season as well.

Chad Reuter, Around the NFL: Newton

I like that sites are thinking more logically about the Seahawks' first pick. Many early mocks had the player that follows going to Seattle. That might still happen but defensive tackle is a much bigger need than quarterback for Seattle currently.

Joel Klatt, Fox Sports: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

McCarthy would be a great pick in the second round, if Seattle still had a second-round choice, but not in the first for Seattle. He has good arm strength but he has not been forced to be overly productive to get his team wins. That will change in the NFL and there is no proof McCarthy is yet capable of winning games consistently by throwing the ball.

Garrett Podell, CBS Sports: Jackson Powers-Johnson, G, Oregon

Depending on what happens with free agent left guard Damien Lewis, Seattle might need to replace both guards and their center from 2023. That is both good and bad as the interior of the Seahawks offensive line was bad this past season. Powers-Johnson already has the size to start right away at 6'3" and 320 pounds and should be a Week 1 starter at either guard spot or center.