With the draft finally around the corner, the Seattle Seahawks are slated to be one of the most active teams during the draft process. Seattle currently beholds the 5th and 20th overall selections in the first round. The first-round draft choices, if made correctly, can make Seattle into a contender soon. O break the franchise.
Seattle will have to do their in-depth insight on all the prospects. As the Seahawks' front office prepares for the wild ride the NFL draft always turns out to be, let us do our due diligence and look at potential selections for Seattle on draft night.
Due to the Russel Wilson trade last offseason, the Seahawks find themselves with the highest draft pick they’ve ever possessed. Even though this is Seattle’s highest draft pick in the John Schnieder era, Schnieder has made a reputation for trading back in the draft, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Seahawks get a deal they can’t refuse on draft night.
First-round targets for the Seattle Seahawks in the 2023 NFL draft
Undoubtedly, the Seahawks are positioned to come away from the draft significantly younger and more talented. As fans, all we can do is prepare for the rollercoaster that is the annual NFL draft. As Seahawks fans, it's increasingly difficult to do that.
The good news is, with the pool of talent in this year's draft, the Seahawks and the fanbase will have a remarkable Thursday night. With that being said, let us break down potential targets at number 5 and potential prospects if Seattle trades down.
Seahawks targets at pick 5 overall
Will Anderson, Jr. - Edge rusher, Alabama
Pros: Production, versatility, high football IQ
Cons: Lacks elite bend in pass rush, struggles with double teams
Conclusion: I believe Will Anderson Jr. is the most complete defensive prospect in the draft. Anderson regularly exhibits good first-step quickness and high motor to pair with disciplined play and excellent instincts. Where Will Anderson could improve at the next level is his versatility between different pass-rushing techniques pre-snap. After a stellar 2021 season, Will Anderson’s production did slow slightly after he attracted more offensive focus. However, that's to be expected, and he still showed great play and proved to be a vital piece to an outstanding Alabama defense. Ultimately the Seahawks should consider themselves fortunate to find a player like Anderson at pick #5, but it's more likely he will be taken before then.
Jalen Carter - Defensive tackle, Georgia
Pros: Size, game tape, potential
Cons: pro-day results, recent off-field tabulation
Conclusion: At the end of February, Jalen Carter might have been the consensus number 1 pick in this year's draft. Watching Carter on film, it is easy to see why his potential is as high as anyone in this year's draft. He posted a 90.0 pass-rush grade by Pro Football Focus last year, and his size at 6-3 320 pounds allows him to not only pressure up the middle but also disengage and tackle ballcarriers for a loss. Recently Carter has slipped due to a down pro day performance and his involvement in a car crash that resulted in the death of his former college teammate. Jalen Carter has pleaded “no-contest” and is not slated to have his NFL career affected by the incident. Due to that, it is widely believed around the league that the Seahawks will take him at pick #5 to fill a significant team need.
Anthony Richardson - Quarterback, Florida
Pros: Athleticism, potential, arm accuracy
Cons: Footwork, pass accuracy, consistency
Conclusion: Anthony Richardson is the perfect “what if” prospect. At 6-4 230 pounds, Richardson showed up to the NFL combine and posted astronomical numbers in athletic measurements and physical measures, highlighted by a 4.44-second 40-yard dash. Richardson is a raw prospect who has a lot of work to do still, in my opinion, to be a starting NFL QB. The good news for the Seahawks is they have a QB on the squad and signed for years to come. With the top two Quarterbacks in CJ Stroud and Bryce Young highly likely to be off the board, Seattle might be the best spot for Richardson to land, and reportedly he had a great draft interview with the Seahawks Staff and Pete Carroll.
Tyree Wilson - Defensive end, Texas Tech
Pros: Strength, potential
Cons: Lack of pass-rush moves
Conclusion: With the right coaching and development, Tyree Wilson has the size and strength to play like a prime Khalil Mack. Unfortunately, at times, it seems like Wilson is a one-trick pony as he relies on his bull rush move in almost every play. With the highest athletic potential out of all edge rushers, NFL scouts have reportedly been eyeing Wilson in the top 5.
Devon Witherspoon - Cornerback, Illinois
Pros: Strength, potential
Cons: Lack of pass-rush moves
Conclusion: With the right coaching and development, Tyree Wilson has the size and strength to play like a prime Khalil Mack. Unfortunately, at times, it seems like Wilson is a one-trick pony as he relies on his bull rush move in almost every play. With the highest athletic potential out of all edge rushers, NFL scouts have reportedly been eyeing Wilson in the top 5.
Christian Gonzalez - Cornerback, Oregon
Pros: Size and athleticism, discipline
Cons: Aggesiveness, experience
Conclusion: Christian Gonzalez rarely allows chunk passing plays, partly due to his elite speed, athletics, and being highly conservative in coverage. Because of that cautious play, the Oregon corner also lacks big plays and interceptions. Nonetheless, Gonzalez primarily played a deep cover three scheme in college and would fit perfectly into a Pete Carroll defense alongside Tariq Woolen. This scenario for Gonzalez to end up in Seattle depends on the trade down for the Seahawks and where Devon Witherspoon ranks for other teams and Seattle.
Seahawks targets at pick 20 overall
Jaxon Smith-Njigba - Wide Receiver, Ohio State
Pros: Footwork, fluidity in and out of cuts
Cons: unproven contested catcher, top-end speed
Conclusion: Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the most coveted prospects. He regularly makes defenders miss missed after the catch and shows elite fluidity in his hips. Some scouts have concerns about measurables and speed with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He continually sets up his defender to look foolish on the top of routes and shows historic production while at Ohio State. The Seahawks would be lucky to find a third wide receiver such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Bijan Robinson - Running back, Texas
Pros: Potential, versatility, well-rounded game
Cons: Decisiveness
Conclusion: Whenever evaluating Bijon Robinson, It’s hard to find any significant flaws in his game tape. The Texas running back shows speed, acceleration, power, good vision, and pass-catching ability. He has proven capable in pass protection, and whoever drafts him will be able to use him as an every-down back from day 1. The only flaw would be his decisiveness in reading running lanes, It's not a significant flaw, but scouts believe at the next level, he will need to plant his foot in the ground and burst through a hole more often. If Bijon is available, he would be a challenging prospect for the Seahawks to pass up.
Myles Murphy - Edge rusher, Clemson
Pros: Elite length, good hands
Cons: Lacks explosiveness
Conclusion: Myles Murphy has slid down the boards since March. Just a month ago, some had Myles Murphy slated to the Seahawks at pick #5. His ability to land the first punch on offensive linemen has kept him graded as a first-round prospect. However, if the Seahawks Draft Jalen Carter at #5, Murphy could be a significant edge to solidify the Seattle defensive line.
O'Cyrus Torrence - Guard, Florida
Pros: Discipline, size, strength
Cons: Instincts when pressured by blitz
Conclusion: This draft has very few starting-caliber interior offensive linemen, and Torrence may be the only elite guard prospect. O’cyrus Torrence shows few flaws on tape, and his measurables were just as impressive to NFL scouts. At 6-5 330 pounds, Torrence should possess the size to handle the best bull rushes from even the strongest NFL defenders. With the departure of Gabe Jackson, the Seahawks could target Torrence later in the first, whether they stay at pick #20 or trade down in the draft.
Zay Flowers - Wide receiver, Boston College
Pros: Route running, short area quickness
Cons: Size
Conclusion: Flowers may be the closest prospect comparison to Antonio Brown I’ve ever seen. I do not say that lightly. Flowers shows the ability to climb the ladder and make contested catches, and he also rarely has to do so due to his route-running savvy. Steve Smith has Zay Flowers rated as his top Wide receiver in the draft, and the game tape for Flowers justifies his claim. NFL scouts have been concerned about his slight frame, short arms, and little hands, but he has drawn significant interest from NFL teams. Under potential Tyler Lockett tutelage, Flowers could thrive if he lands within the Seahawk's grasp in the late first round.