I hope all the 12s out there had an amazing Thanksgiving Day with their families, but I know you all had a horrible night once the Seattle Seahawks and San Fransisco 49ers kicked off. What was billed as a massive Turkey Day battle with division title implications, quickly became an embarrassing moment on national television. In about 15 real-time minutes, it was clear for the fourth straight time that Seattle is not even in the same zip code when it comes to competing with the highest tier of talent in the NFL.
For a team that believed a special season was upon them, and valuable capital like it believed, they are 6-5 and staring down a gauntlet that will likely leave them 6-8. Seattle could go from division title dreams to missing the playoffs entirely.
Questions and heat will continue to grow at key positions (Geno Smith and Quandre Diggs) and positions of leadership in the organization. The stunning success of last year set this franchise down a path it was not ready to go down.
Who the Seattle Seahawks should choose in the 2024 NFL Draft
It's a painful clarity no doubt, but through the ashes of what likely awaits the Seahawks is an opportunity. The Seahawks took advantage of their last two draft classes, and have raised their team’s floor.
This upcoming 2024 NFL draft presents the Seahawks a chance to be aggressive and chase ceiling raisers. This roster is full of good players, but it craves 2 or 3 blue chip talents. Adding true cornerstone players is what could spark Seattle to that next tier where they believe Super Bowls are not just a dream, but a realistic goal.
With that said, here's my first Seahawks mock draft for the 2024 NFL draft.
Round 1 Pick 22: Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, Louisiana State
If Oregon’s Bo Nix defeats Washington on Friday in Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Championship, he'll not only punch a playoff ticket but also the Heisman trophy. While he absolutely deserves the award, the best player in college football in 2023 is LSU’s Jayden Daniels. Daniels has put together one of the most jaw-dropping statistical seasons we've ever seen in college football, let alone the SEC.
The 6'4" and 210 lbs senior transfer from Arizona State to LSU has lit up scoreboards under Brian Kelly like few others ever had. Through 12 games, Daniels is completing 72.2 percent of his passes for 3,812 yards and a ridiculous 40:4 TD:INT ratio. While those video game numbers are wild, his rushing is equally eye-popping. Daniels has rushed 135 times for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 12 games, Daniels has put up numbers that are in the same realm as Joe Burrow, who put together the greatest season by a college quarterback ever.
In many years, Daniels would go in the top 10, or may even threaten to be the top overall pick, but this is not a unique year. In a draft class loaded with 1st round picks, including Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, who both are considered generational talents, guys like Daniels, Nix, and Penix may slip a little more than usual.
Given Daniel’s record this season (9-3, lost all three biggest games), his slight frame (210 lbs is probably generous), and previous struggles at ASU, he's not a perfect prospect, but I believe there's a ceiling with Daniels that is generational.
The best pro comp I can put together in the early stages of scouting is a slightly less explosive, but much more polished passing Lamar Jackson. There's some major variance on potential here, but if Seattle can pair Daniels with the right offensive coordinator (sorry Waldron), we could see a unique offensive explosion that hasn't been seen in Seattle for over a decade.
Round 3 Pick 80: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
This pick may surprise some people, and no, I don't think Abraham Lucas is finished. His knee issues are concerning, and while I'd prefer he rest the rest of the season, I understand him returning to play. When healthy, he was an above-average right tackle that played a key role in Seattle having a top 9 offense in football in 2022.
With his knee issue potentially being something that follows him forever, I'd love the idea of moving him to right guard and creating potentially one of the largest and most dominant right sides of an offensive line in football, with the addition of Tyler Guyton.
Guyton is 6'7" and 325 lbs and transferred to Oklahoma in 2022 from TCU. He has experience playing at left tackle but has stood out as an all-around right tackle. With excellent athleticism for his size, he'd be adept at taking the tackle spot, while Lucas can become a true mauler at the guard spot.
If Seattle were to draft Michael Penix Jr, Guyton would become essentially the new left tackle of the offense and would ease any concerns long-term about a right tackle's newly immense importance to Seattle’s success.
Round 3 Pick 84: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
Each year around draft time, I always advocate adding talent from any team with historic talent. The Georgia, Alabama, and Clemson defenses of the past decade are full of modern-day superstars on Sundays, and the 2023 Michigan Wolverines are that next defense. The undefeated and soon-to-be Big Ten Champs are loaded with talent and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins is one of the linchpins of a dominant defense.
The son of Carolina Panthers legend with the name, the 6-3 305 lbs senior has the Wolverines on the cusp of their first national championship since the '90s. Jenkins will likely never be the all-pro that his father was, but he's a people eater who brings all-world energy and is an underrated pass rusher.
With a year to develop, Jenkins could become a younger, cheaper version of Jarran Reed. Maybe some of that bloodline oozes out a blue chip player, but Jenkins is a strong bet to be a good player on a team with playoff aspirations like Seattle.
Round 4 Pick 118: Junior Colson, linebacker, Michigan
Did I say that I like this Michigan defense? I really like this defense, and Junior Colson is the quarterback of this high-level unit.
An incredible story of heartbreak and perseverance, Colson was once an orphan due to the destruction of the Haiti earthquake in 2010 before being adopted and growing up in the United States. Now, Colson is one of the most talented linebackers in college.
The 6'2" and 225 lbs junior could potentially return to Michigan next year, but with a successful playoff run, I expect him to declare. Colson is a hard-hitting tackler who needs to improve on actually finishing the tackles, but the potential is all there. A ceiling pro comparison I have for Colson is New Orleans LB Demario Davis.
Round 5 Pick 149: Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
Whether we're in a rebuild, or still trying to be contenders with a rookie quarterback, I'd like to see the Seahawks get younger and cheaper in certain positions, with tight end being one of them.
Cade Stover is a reliable pass catcher and a good to great blocker who could be a valuable safety net for a young quarterback in Jayden Daniels. Stover can get lost in the shuffle of all the talent that is around Columbus, Ohio, but he could have a stronger career in the NFL.
Round 6 Pick 180: Dallin Holker, TE, Colorado State
Continuing the reimagining of the TE position, Seattle adds a sneaky talent TE who could be a new and improved version of Jacob Hollister. For the Rams at Colorado State, Holker caught 64 receptions for 767 yards and six touchdowns on a bad Rams team.
He's not a big-time blocker, but at 6'5" and 225 lbs, he's the type of TE that could stretch the middle of the field and be a valuable role player.
Round 7 Pick 214: Patrick McMorris, safety, California
While I'd love to see Seattle explore opportunities to save money at the safety position, I don't see this as a strong safety draft. Patrick McMorris may not be an immediate starter, but he profiles as an intriguing prospect.
At 6'1" and 210 lbs, McMorris has had a strong year for the Golden Bears, totaling 77 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles. As a bigger safety, I love the idea of him as a special teams star, - much in the same way that Jerrick Reed II was very good on special teams in 2023 before being injured, that could maybe fill in and play some safety down the road.