Seattle Seahawks full 7-round mock draft: Seattle fixes the defense first
By Lee Vowell
The Seattle Seahawks are currently undertaking their most exciting offseason since 2010. Scary? Sure. Very much so. But while there is a possibility of doom with the choices that are made, at least there are choices to be made.
This will also be the first draft since 2010 where former head coach Pete Carroll does not have any input on who the Seahawks should choose. General manager John Schneider has full control. Therefore, we really have no idea what to expect from the draft.
For the picks that follow, I used Pro Football Network's draft simulator. I like this simulator because it offers trades. I took a couple and this is why I ended up with nine overall picks plus the second-round choice that the Seahawks lost in a trade to get defensive lineman Leonard Williams during the 2023 season. Seattle does not currently hold a second-round choice but they need one and when the simulator offered me a trade to move back from pick 16 to pick 18 but pick up a second-rounder, I took it.
Seattle Seahawks take defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton with first round pick
Illinois' Newton could very easily be taken in the top ten of the 2024 NFL draft and many mock drafts have him going higher than even pick 16. If the Seahawks do move back to 18 and Newton is still there, he seems like a no-brainer to choose. He still needs to add maybe 10 pounds simply to hold up to NFL punishment, but he is already strong enough and athletic enough to make an immediate impact.
Just like last offseason, the Seahawks are going to have to remake their defensive line a bunch. Jarran Reed was signed for two years and he should return. Mario Edwards, Jr., and Leonard Williams will be free agents. Dre'Mont Jones likely will be back but he is less expensive to release than to keep and he wasn't that good this year.
Newton has the ability to be versatile. He can play any spot along the defensive line. Should Seattle move on from Edwards, Jones, and Williams, Newton could play any of their spots and do well against the run and supply interior pass rush. He would need help, however. If the Seahawks were able to come up with three Newtons they might just be capable of making a deep run in the playoffs next year.