How the Seattle Seahawks are getting close to contending again
Seahawks back to back home run drafts
The Seahawks 2022 draft brought hope and four foundational pieces (Cross, Woolen, Lucas, Walker) to Seattle. The franchise was beginning a fresh start, but that doesn't mean it was in a great spot. A roster lacking talent was able to lock up cheap high-level talent, with Cross and Woolen at premium positions.
The 2023 draft brought more than just hope. Now Seattle has some elite position groups, roster stability, and depth at positions that are crucial to Seahawks' philosophy.
Devon Witherspoon is now just the 6th cornerback to be drafted in the top 5 of the NFL draft ever, joining the likes of Sauce Gardner, Jalen Ramsey, and Denzel Ward. While this draft slot is technically rare, it should be noted that all six DBs have been drafted since 2016. The NFL has changed its view on the value of an elite DB, and there's some good history of these guys working out. The Seahawks adding a potential superstar corner to pair with emerging superstar DB Tariq Woolen is exciting for the Seahawks and terrifying for the rest of the league. The Seahawks should have a top 3 cornerback duo heading into the season.
The same can be said for the wide receivers' room with the addition of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The star receiver out of Ohio State should instantly become one of the best slot targets in the league. With a young and talented offensive line, Geno's mobility, and desire to attack the middle of the field, JSN should either feast or make it impossible for the opposing defenses to focus on just DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Seattle was overly reliant on their top two WRs in 2022, and yet finished #9 in scoring offense. This wide receiver group is battling the Eagles and Bengals for the best unit in the NFL.
In the final two days of the draft, the Seahawks focused on getting back to their core philosophy, defense and running the football. The Seahawks drafted Derrick Hall at number 37 to be a potential star edge rusher out of Auburn. He adds to a nice trio of QB hunters in Uchenna Nwosu and Darrell Taylor and has received some comparisons to Steelers legend James Harrison.
The Seahawks then selected RB Zach Charbonnett to be the perfect complement to Kenneth Walker III, creating a thunder and lightning dynamic duo. Charbonnett has received comparisons to Arian Foster and is an excellent pass blocker. While fans may be frustrated by the two straight years of the Seahawks taking a running back high, I'm ok with the pick. Charbonnett would have likely been the #1 guy somewhere else and now Seattle has two legitimate #1 young backs to work with (and don't forget Kenny McIntosh as well). I feel strongly that Seattle has the best running back room in the NFL now.
While the draft didn't bring home the Jalen Carter or John Michael Schmitz everyone was dreaming of, I do believe the selections in the trenches on Day 3 were really solid adds. Olusegun Oluwatimi, Mike Morris, and Cam Young are all high floor guys that were really good in college, and should get a chance to be starters at some point in the next two seasons. Specifically with Oluwatimi and Morris, they were dominant players at Michigan. With better combine performances, they'd be potential Day 2 picks that Seattle got great value on.
The Seahawks were one of a few teams that look like clear winners from the draft. It may not have been the path many had envisioned, but the Seahawks now have a legitimate claim to the best position groups at CB, WR, and RB. These are signs of a team ascending.