The Seahawks may have matched their amazing 2022 draft with this group. When you get the leading rusher of the NCAA national champion with your 10th and final pick, you're living right. Kenny McIntosh can contribute from day one.
I have to think we're all feeling pretty giddy after the 2023 draft, amiright, 12s? Seattle came into this draft needing help at stopping the run, a pass rush, interior O-line, a solid third wideout, and depth at running back. I'd say the Hawks checked off every single box with authority, as the great Marv Albert would say. They capped their brilliant draft with running back Kenny McIntosh, at that point the tenth Georgia player taken in this draft. I think half of them went to Philly.
As for McIntosh, he's far better than his seventh-round selection indicates. As mentioned above, he led the Bulldogs in rushing last season with 829 yards and 10 touchdowns. The yardage total isn't that impressive, but he did average 5.9 per carry. More impressive is his skill as a receiver out of the backfield. McIntosh caught 43 passes for 505 yards and a pair of scores. He'd clearly a character guy too, as he was a team captain for the national champs.
Seahawks can rely on Kenny McIntosh at crunch time
McIntosh proved his value to the Bulldogs all season long, but he truly stood out in their game at Missouri. With the Bulldogs down 10 points in the fourth quarter, it was McIntosh who carried the team to victory with a brilliant fourth-down run. It wasn't exactly a Beastquake, but without that run, Georgia most likely isn't celebrating back-to-back titles. He may not be spectacular, but he's had spectacular games. He caught nine balls for 117 yards in the season opener vs Oregon, and piled up 143 yards on the ground at Kentucky.
So why did he drop all the way down to the 237th overall pick? His 4.62 40 time at the combine doomed him. Still, as the league's own draft guru Lance Zierlein wrote, McIntosh has the receiving skill to earn a gig as a third-down specialist. As an anonymous scout was quoted in the same article, “I see him shining as a third-down back who can hit a chunk play here or there as a runner.” I can't see how you could ask for more from a seventh-round pick.
Could he be another Chris Carson? To be honest, I hope not. Carson only got his opportunity to shine because the Seahawks running back room was... let's say tragically underperforming his rookie season. With the true offensive rookie of the year last season, K-9, already established, and fellow 2023 draftee Zach Charbonnet on the squad, let's hope McIntosh sees his chances to be a third-down monster and occasional fill-in. He's a great fit for the Seahawks and a great final pick for 2023..