When the calendar hit December this season, Seahawks fans realized that the dream of having a top-ten pick was not just real, but becoming an expectation. Thanks to the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson being a massive disappointment, the Seahawks have an opportunity to add a blue-chip talent on a cheap salary at a draft pick slot they haven’t seen in over a decade. So naturally, we’re gonna mock up some drafts!
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be talking about potential mock drafts that could enhance, or completely reshape this roster. For drafting purposes, I used Pro Football Network’s rankings and mock simulator. Unlike PFF, PFN’s big board falls in line with the majority of the draft rankings you can find out there.
Recent reports came out stating that Georgia’s Jalen Carter, unquestionably the most polarizing player in this year’s draft, was going to be visiting the Seattle Seahawks. As the first 4 picks remain a complete mystery to most on what QBs or defensive players will be selected before the Seahawks are on the clock at pick 5, there does appear to be a strong chance Carter will be available at that pick. If you were to rewind back to December 3rd, 2022, Jalen Carter had just finished destroying LSU to win the SEC championship, and it was expected he would easily go within the first two picks. A poor CFP showing, a tragic car racing accident that cost people their lives, and a terrible pro day performance now has Jalen Carter in the potential free fall zone.
When he’s on, Carter is the best defensive player in his class, a truly generational defensive tackle that can do it all, like Tennessee’s Jeffrey Simmons who just got paid. If Seattle can get that type of player, there’s no doubt he’s the pick at number 5, but what about when he isn't? His highlight videos make you drool, but when watching his full tape, there are times when he clearly is taking plays off. Add that to some of the character concerns, and it’s fair to wonder if he’s worth the risk. The success or failure of this pick will play a major role in whether Seattle is a Super Bowl contender, or sends them into a true rebuild.
Seahawks taking the appropriate chance on Jalen Carter?
With today’s mock draft, we’re going to believe that John Schneider and Pete Carroll have a great meeting with Carter, and get positive clarity on not just his physical ability, but between his ears as well. We’re going to do a mock draft where we are selecting Jalen Carter, but we’re going to look to trade back a couple of picks. I still believe that Carter will be available a few picks after number 5, and if I’m taking the Jalen Carter risk, I want a top 70 pick as well for a little protection.
TRADE: Seahawks trade pick #5 to Raiders for pick 7, 70 and a 2024 3rd round pick
Round 1 Pick 7: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
I really like this trade for Seattle and for Las Vegas. It's an overpay according to the Rich Hill Trade Value chart, but that’s to be expected when you trade up for a potential franchise quarterback. Vegas has Jimmy Garoppolo for this season, but by selecting Will Levis, they are in the Alex Smith/Pat Mahomes path of QB development. There’s no doubting Levis’ talent, but he needs time to develop in Josh McDaniels’ scheme.
For Seattle, they’re taking the home run swing. If they’re right about Carter, then they will have a defensive tackle duo of Carter and Dre’ Jones, arguably the most talented duo at the position in the league. Whether they stay in the 3-4, go 4-3, or run with multiple alignments, Carter can potentially be a destroyer of offensive game plans in any front. Seattle also adds a second 3rd round pick in both 2023 and 2024, a year that may have 12-15 draftable QBs.
The second gamble for the Seahawks
TRADE: Seahawks trade pick #20 and a 2024 6th round pick to Minnesota for pick #23 and #87
Round 1 Pick 23: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
At least give me a second to defend the pick before you exit this article!
Let me start by saying I am historically in the camp of never drafting a running back with a first-round pick. I do not believe it is the best use of such a valuable asset, but this is a unique situation. Bijan is arguably one of the best running back prospects to enter the draft in a long time, ranked higher than even Saquan Barkley and Leonard Fournette. He is basically a combination of a supercharged version of Josh Jacobs as a running back and a B+ version of Christian McCaffrey as a receiving option. At 6 ft and 215 lbs, Robinson is a similar size as those two (taller than both, 5 pounds heavier than CMC, and 5 pounds lighter than Jacobs) while having stronger combine and pro days numbers. He’s an elite blue-chip prospect that’s available at pick 23.
He fits the culture, the scheme and the identity of what Pete Carroll wants the Seahawks to become. With Bijan on board, Seattle has undoubtedly the best 1-2 punch at running back in the league. Between Kenneth Walker and Bijan Robinson, there’s no reason to think Seattle can’t put together the best running offense in the league, but I think there’s even more value to Bijan that makes this pick work.
While he wasn’t asked to do it frequently, Bijan was a tremendous receiving threat at Texas. In his three-year career, Robinson caught 60 receptions for 805 yards (13.4 avg) and 8 TDs. Seattle has a current void at the slot wide receiver position with Marquise Goodwin gone and Dee Eskridge a big question mark at best. While we will add at the WR position in this draft, using a talent like Robinson in a Christian McCaffrey-like weapon role could unlock this offense to a whole other stratosphere.
Imagine an offense with DK and Lockett, but you also are giving Kenneth Walker 15-16 carries a game, and giving Bijan Robinson 12 carries in the backfield, as well as 6-7 receiving or sweep opportunities. If the offensive line holds, you’re talking about 4 elite options for Shane Waldron to play with, and they can all be on the field at the same time.
I believe in Bijan as a blue chip weapon. I truly think there’s a path where we see him ascend to a Marshall Faulk level of domination, and it’s worth the risk after a minor trade back to pick 23. Seattle nabs two top 5 potential talents in the first round of the draft.
Seahawks 2nd Round Picks
Round 2 Pick 37: Keion White, Edge, Georgia Tech
Keion White has quite the range amongst NFL draft gurus. Some rank him in the 50s, while Daniel Jeremiah once had him ranked number 8 in this class. I believe the Seahawks strike gold by nabbing White at pick 37. The 6-5 and 285 lbs redshirt senior out of Georgia Tech is an immediate plug-and-play 3-4 defensive end in Seattle’s system. As PFN notes in his player profile, White "can set the edge and rush at 5-tech, or move inside to 3-tech and 2i, and blast open lanes with his traits."
White was the lone bright spot in an otherwise terrible season for Georgia Tech. Against Clemson and North Carolina, the two best teams in the ACC, White showed out with 12 tackles, 6 for a loss and 5 sacks. White finished the season with 14 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks.
He's already 24, but he still can use some refinement that could lead to a 10+ sack potential. He's a Senior Bowl stand out, which is always a John Schneider hint, but this guy brings a potential talent that we just haven't seen at the DE position in Seattle since Frank Clark.
Round 2 Pick 52: Cody Mauch, IOL, North Dakota State
Speaking of Senior Bowl stars, Cody Mauch is another gem from the Jim Nagy factory in Mobile. I have long desired to see the Seahawks get tougher and nastier in the trenches, and Mauch is the physical embodiment of that.
A former TE walk-on at the Alabama of the FCS, Mauch built his body and skillet up to the point where he became a 2 time All-American left tackle and a 2-time national champion at NDSU.
Mauch has the ability to play both guard or center in the NFL, with a slightly above-average pass protection potential to go with star-level run blocking. I love the free agent addition of Evan Brown at center for the Seahawks, and I would slot Mauch at the RG spot and expect him to beat out Phil Haynes for the starting RG spot in week one. With Brown and Mauch inside and Cross and Lucas as the tackles, this may be one of the best offensive lines in the league.
Seahawks Round 3 Picks
Round 3 Pick 70: Daiyan Henley, LB, WSU
Fans of Pacific Northwest football probably liked the Musgrave pick and will love the selection of WSU Cougar All-American Daiyan Henley. Henley, a transfer from Nevada, was an absolute stud in his lone season on the Palouse. In his past two seasons, Henley has produced 200 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 4 sacks. He has the ability to play MLB, OLB, rush the QB, and has the athleticism to be really good in coverage. I watched George Kittle roast the Seahawks linebackers all season, and finding a guy like Henley to run with him successfully would be massive in Seattle’s quest to overtake San Francisco.
Round 3 Pick 83: Sam Laporta, TE, Iowa
The 2023 draft is arguably one of the best ever for the Tight End position group. You have your typical TEs like Michael Mayer and Dalton Kincaid. You have the ultimate athletic and blocking weapon in Darnell Washington, and you have a potential Travis Kelce clone in Luke Musgrave. I expect all 4 of those tight ends to go in the first 50 picks, but there’s another stud TE that has gone under the radar, Sam Laporta.
Another product from TE University at Iowa, Laporta was literally the only offensive weapon for an Iowa offense that ranked 123 out of 131 schools. With so few opportunities to get touchdowns, Laporta only saw the goal line once in 2022. While that is disappointing, his 58 receptions and 657 yards in 12 games are really exciting. Laporta may not be the star potential that the previous 4 TEs show, but he’s an immediate day 1 starter that will help in both the passing game, as well as the run blocking.
Seahawks Day 3 Picks Pt. I
Round 4 Pick 123: Parker Washington, WR, Penn State
While I'd love to see Bijan in a major receiving role in 2024, we still need to build depth at the WR position, and Parker Washington is a great slot WR option.
Washington likely would have gone higher than 123, but a disappointing 2022 season leaves him in danger of slipping. As a sophomore in 2021, Washington was phenomenal catching 64 passes for over 800 yards and 4 TDs. The 2022 Penn State team was much better than the 2021 squad, but the team was built on running the ball and playing exceptional defense. While this style, along with missing three games to injuries hurt Washington's stats, his team did win 10 games and won the 2023 Rose Bowl.
In a pro system that saw Marquise Goodwin have a really strong season as the number 3 target, I’m fascinated to see what Washington could do in this role while putting the heat on Dee Eskridge.
Round 5 Pick 151: Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
We drafted an extremely athletic linebacker at pick 70, and we’re grabbing another one here at pick 151. Dorian was the best defensive player on a Tulane squad that earned the Group of Five NY6 berth and pulled off an epic upset over USC to win the Cotton Bowl. At 6-1 and 220, Williams makes up for his lack of size with incredible speed and instincts. The All-American finished with 132 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 7 passes deflected. One of the best linebackers in the game had his best performance in the Cotton Bowl, accumulating 17 tackles to win the game’s MVP.
Seahawks Day 3 Picks Pt. II - The TCU Run
Round 5 Pick 151: Max Duggan, QB, TCU
While the Seahawks extended Geno Smith and brought back Drew Lock for one more season, there’s still a potential opportunity to select and develop a young QB. I have Seattle taking a chance on a really fun young QB in TCU’s Max Duggan. Somewhere between Tim Tebow and Andy Dalton, Duggan finished 2nd in the Heisman voting and helped carry his Horned Frogs to the CFP championship game. His arm is average, but his mobility, toughness, and character make him a great late-round project.
Round 6 Pick 198: Dylan Horton, DE, TCU
A name that many didn’t know before the college football playoff, Dylan Horton is a DE that has played interior defensive line and linebacker during his career at New Mexico and TCU.
Considered a tweener, Horton is likely going to make his mark as depth on the front seven while being a physical and athletic force in special teams. In the Horned Frogs Fiesta Bowl upset over Michigan, Horton was the best player on the field, accumulating 4 sacks in the win. He’s got the motor that can keep you in the league for a decade, and he brings an athleticism and physicality that this team needs if it wants to challenge the Eagles and 49ers next season. Horton is a name I've added on a few of my mocks, and I believe he'll make it.
Round 7 Pick 198: Derius Davis, WR, TCU
I have long believed that it is crucial to a team’s success that they are good to great on special teams. We’ve seen this come back to bite teams, keeping them from making the playoffs, or like Green Bay in 2021, knocking out a Super Bowl-heavy favorite early. When you start drafting in the fifth round or later, I believe it is important to look for guys that can help but could also be special team stars. TCU’s Derius Davis can be that guy.
Davis has a solid season as a receiver for Max Duggan and TCU, compiling over 40 catches for 561 yards and 6 scores on offense. On special teams, however, Davis was electric. In the past two seasons, Davis has averaged around 25 yards per return on kickoffs, and nearly 14 yards on punt returns to go with 6 career return touchdowns. Give me Davis and his 4.36 speed as a returner, and let's flip the field for our offense.