10 worst Seattle Seahawks draft picks of the Pete Carroll era
By Luke Allen
No. 3 - Germain Ifedi - Seahawks offensive line (2016)
The 2016 draft class was pretty loaded. I remember that class very fondly, as it was my first time delving deep into the prospects via film and even attending the NFL Combine. The Seahawks held the 26th pick in the draft, which should've been a position in which loads of talent was still available. However, Pete Carroll and John Schneider felt like wheelin' and dealin' that night.
Frequent trade partner and target of Seattle fleecing, the Denver Broncos called and inquired about their 26th pick following their Super Bowl win and the subsequent retirement of quarterback Peyton Manning. Seattle obliged and sent the 26th pick to Denver in exchange for the 31st pick. Denver hilariously selected quarterback Paxton Lynch, who, funnily enough, had a stint on Seattle's preseason roster years later. Seattle was primed to choose from several first-round talents as the board fell to the 31st pick.
Seattle selected Germain Ifedi. Yes, Seattle needed offensive line help, but in a draft class loaded with defensive talent, this was not the year to draft an offensive lineman in the first round. Ifedi, a Texas A&M product, played offensive tackle in an Air Raid offense. He had essentially zero experience playing in a pro offense, let alone a run-heavy offense. The pick was criticized immediately, and the public perception never wavered.
Ifedi was plugged in at guard in Week 4 of his rookie season after an ankle injury sidelined him for the first three weeks of his career. Ifedi was, at best, a mediocre offensive lineman in his rookie season. He seemed out-of-place at guard, trying to pick up inside stunts, as his rookie season was marred by blown assignments and penalties. In 2017, Seattle moved Ifedi back to his native tackle position, hoping to get more out of him on the outside. That was not the case.
Ifedi led the league in penalties in 2017 and was constantly beaten in almost every way possible. Bigger edge rushers were bull-rushing right through him while smaller, faster edge rushers blew right past him. Russell Wilson was constantly under pressure from his right side as Ifedi served as a large turnstile for opposing pass rushers. Ifedi lasted four seasons in Seattle before the team declined his fifth-year option and let him walk in free agency.
Who did they miss?
After Seattle selected a project offensive tackle with the 31st overall pick, the following players were drafted: Chris Jones, Xavien Howard, Derrick Henry, Michael Thomas, and James Bradberry.