Change your heart or die: Evaluating Seahawks 2023 draft class
By Matthew Holm
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Seahawks 2nd round, pick 37: OLB Derick Hall, Auburn
Another pick where Seattle drafted a really good player at a position they could use more upside at. Most draft scouts have very little to critique with Hall. At 6'3" and just north of 250 lbs, he has prototypical size for a 3-4 edge rusher, as well as the Bruce Irvin LEO position. With a recorded 40-yard dash of 4.55, his speed is on par with Cliff Avril, one of the most notoriously quick pass rushers of all time.
His power for his size is even more notable. He converts speed to power on a level that brings to mind some very prominent names in the pass-rushing landscape. He will collapse the edge of the pocket as quickly and effectively as anyone in this class short of Will Anderson.
Furthermore, Hall gives Seattle another option on the edge. Darrell Taylor put the league on notice to close out last season, but he'll need to prove he can do what he did consistently. Boye Mafe is of similar traits as Hall, but didn't see the field as much as some expected last season, myself included. Uchenna Nwosu was a revelation in the pass rush last season, but he can't be the only one.
It's not all sunshine and lollipops with Hall, though. There is a universal concern that he's not as bendy as a lot of the edge defenders he's often compared to. He is also not as sound a tackler as some would like.
All in all, though, there's DeMarcus Lawrence upside here with the right coaching. The only other names worth considering at this pick were offensive linemen, and this was without a doubt the pick with the most upside left on the board at the time.
Grade: A-