The Seattle Seahawks need help on both sides of the ball and need to clear cap space this offseason. My first mock draft for 2025 accomplishes both and adds massive value to future drafts as well.
As of the moment I'm writing this, the Seahawks were still $7 million over the cap. This includes the increase in the cap to $279 million, just announced this past Thursday. While they have several options to clear space, some could be a bit more painful than others. My mock mimics two of those suggested moves but adds value to the team as well.
The Seahawks need reinforcements on the defensive line and at linebacker. They also need to add depth to the tight end group and the quarterback room. I think it's safe to say I speak for all 12s when I plead with John Schneider (please, for the love of all that is holy) to get some interior offensive linemen for this team. This mock draft addresses all of those needs.
The Seahawks added great draft capital for 2025 and beyond in this mock draft
First, let's talk about the methodology here. As I do every year, I used the draft simulation tool from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Virtually all the major sites that cover football have their own. I just prefer the ability to customize the draft that PFF offers.
You can adjust how teams draft for overall position value versus team needs, trade a player for draft picks or another player, and even draft for multiple teams. You do need to subscribe for those tools, but you can also run a basic draft for free, although you're limited to the first three rounds.
So, my trades. In this mock, I pulled off some of my best John Schneider swag. I moved tight end Noah Fant to the Jets, along with the Hawks first-rounder for this year, 2026, and 2027, along with Seattle's fourth-round selection, number 136. overall. Don't sweat it, 12s. Seattle got it back and then some.
The Seahawks received New York's first-round pick for this year and 2026 and 2027, along with their third-round pick this year, the 92nd selection. So for a guy they're likely going to release, Seattle moved up from the 18th pick to the 7th and from 136th to 92nd. And we all know the J-E-T-SSS will be picking a lot earlier in 2026 and 2027 than the Seahawks.
After my first selection - we'll get to him, don't worry - I stayed with New York, but came calling on their other craptastic team. This time, I traded Dre'Mont Jones - another likely cap casualty - and Seattle's 2nd round-pick this year and next. That's the overall number 50 pick for 2025. In return, the Hawks received the Giants' second-round selections for this year and next.
Not quite as tasty a deal as the Fant move, but it moves up from number 50 to number 34 this year and will certainly move Seattle up by a similar amount in 2026. Again, the Hawks gain value for a player they're likely just going to release.
I wasn't done yet. After making that second-round investment, I dealt with another moribund team, the Browns. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins isn't likely to stay in Seattle either. Instead of releasing him, I swapped the backup safety and the third-round pick this year, along with the newly acquired Giants 2026 second rounder, for Cleveland's third-round pick this year and their 2026 second-round pick.
Yeah, it's a toss-up as to who will be picking sooner next year, but again, the Hawks moved on from a cut candidate and moved up from the 82nd pick to the 67th in this draft.
Now that we know how we got there, let's review the new draft order for the Seahawks in my mock draft. Seattle's actual draft looks better now, thanks to projected compensatory picks. The Hawks started with picks 18, 50, 82, 136, 172, 184, 211, and 235. That's one selection in every round, other than 186 and 211, both sixth-round selections.
After my trades, Seattle has improved their draft capital considerably. They'd have picks 7, 34, 67, 92, 172, 184, 211, and 235. Those are higher picks in each of the first three rounds and an additional third-round selection for a fourth. According to the draft value calculator on calculatorsoup.com, that's a massive increase in draft capital of 60 percent.
For more background on draft value calculations, Over the Cap gives as good an explanation as you'll find. Intuitively, it's obvious the 7th pick is better than the 18th pick. Seattle should be drafting in the mid to high 20s - if not 32nd - in 2026 and 207, and their trade partners will likely still be mired in the top 10 at best. So, the Hawks will see even more added value in future drafts. Alright, let's move on to this year's picks.
Seahawks add a beast to the O-line on day one
I know I'm not exactly following the Schneider formula here. Well, I am, in the sense that he has drafted offensive tackles before, as recently as Charles Cross three years ago. The Hawks are solid at left tackle with Cross and may be at right tackle as well, depending on the health of Abe Lucas. But the interior line is another story entirely.
So I didn't overreach Schneider's philosophy but still got the guy the Hawks need here.
Will Campbell: LSU offensive tackle, round 1, pick 7
Yes, Campbell is an offensive tackle. He took two snaps at right tackle last year. Other than that, every snap was at left tackle in the SEC - as they say, where the big boys play. He's the second-highest-rated tackle in the draft according to draftbuzz.com, and the top prospect on Pro Football Focus. The 6'6" and 319-pound Campbell is noted as a masterful technician and cited as a day 1 starter on the left side for whoever drafts him.
However, there are a couple of pressing issues with his draft status. First, his performance against the best teams rarely held up. That's true of most players, sure, but especially for Campbell. PFF gave him an overall grade of 72.2, but he only exceeded that versus UCLA, South Alabama, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt. Murderer's Row, that's not. At number 14, Ole Miss was the only top-25 team in that group.
Second, at the NFL combine, his arm length was measured at just 32 5/8". Now, that's fine for any other line of work, but for a left tackle in the NFL, it ain't great. When you have to stretch out to stop pass rushers off the edge without holding them, you need every fraction of an inch of reach possible. GMs look for a minimum of 34 inches, and that's not Campbell. So, his rank is dropping for many teams.
But as Campbell himself was quoted in the same ESPN article, "If you told me I was going to start at right guard versus be a backup at left tackle, I'm going to tell you to put me at right guard. I'll play anything I need to, to get on the field, but I feel like I can play tackle... I've been working on everything." So yes, I drafted Campbell, and he's stepping in at guard on day one for the Hawks.
A pass rush weapon, another blocking machine, and a pass-catching TE on day two
Whether Campbell slides to guard or steps in for Lucas on the right side of the line, he addresses a critical need for the Seahawks. Seattle has two dangerous rushers off the edge in Boye Mafe and Derrick Hall, but you can never have too many pass rushers. I've shipped off Dre'Mont Jones, and Uchenna Nwosu isn't exactly a sure bet anymore - and there's a very good chance he won't be on the roster, anyway. The Hawks can get one of the best edges in the draft on day two.
Shemar Stewart: Texas A&M edge rusher, round 2, pick 34
The 6'5" and 267-pound Stewart would be a perfect fit for the Hawks. PFF ranks him as the fifth edge rusher but the 23rd-highest prospect overall. He's ranked third among pass rushers and 15th overall by draftbuzz.com, while the Consensus Big Board at NFL Mock Draft Database ranks him fifth at the position and 19th overall. Drafting a consensus first-round pick in the second round is a steal, even if it's high in the second.
Stewart ran a 4.59 40 at the combine. That has NFL scouts drooling like toddlers at Baskin-Robbins. Or me, come to think of it. Yes, he only had 4.5 pressures over three seasons (PFF credits him with six). There's no doubt that's why he isn't ranked at the top of his position group. Then again, he did have 39 pressures in 2024. This guy in the second round? Yes, please.
Donovan Jackson: Ohio State offensive tackle, round 3, pick 67
Did I mention the Hawks need help on the offensive line? After nabbing Campbell on day one, I doubled down and took the 6'4", 315-pound Buckeye. Yes, he played left tackle at THE Ohio State University - you're welcome, JoAnne - but both draftbuzz.com and the NFL's own Lance Zierlein write that Jackson projects best at guard. As all of his snaps in 2023 and 2022 were at left guard, and even 35 percent of his plays in 2024, this projection makes the most sense. Especially for the Seahawks.
Harold Fannin Jr.: Bowling Green tight end, round three, pick 92
Whether Seattle releases Fant or trades him as I did, they'll need another tight end. I loved A.J. Barner coming out of the 2024 draft, and he outperformed Fant in virtually every way. Still, the Hawks need another tight end, and there is no better receiver at the position than the 6'3", 241-pound Fannin.
His passer rating when targeted was a phenomenal 126.3. It could be that's what happens when you become the first tight end in the history of the Football Bowl Subdivision to lead in both receptions (117) and yards (1,555). That's the division with all the big boys like the SEC, the Big10 - or Big27, however many schools they have now. Fannin averaged 141 yards per game against the AP's top 25 schools last year. In 171 career targets, he had two drops. A day-two pick? Oh yeah, I'll take him.
Hawks add defensive depth and take a flyer at QB on day three
Seattle needs depth in the defensive backfield and at linebacker. And it wouldn't exactly be a bad idea to see who's available at quarterback in the later rounds. I didn't get exactly who I wanted with every pick, but there were 31 other teams making selections, just like the real draft. Still, I'd be pretty happy if the Seahawks landed this crew.
Cody Simon: Ohio State linebacker, round 5, pick 172
The 6'2," 229-pound senior is ranked 11th by draftbuzz.com, and is the 12th-ranked LB on the Consensus Big Board. He only got 15 starts in 44 games, and at 229 pounds, he's certainly a developmental player as he enters the NFL. PFF grades him at 87.9 overall, which is pretty solid for a day-three pick. He isn't rattled on the biggest stage either; he was the Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl, with 11 tackles - three for losses - and two sacks. The Hawks could use another guided missile on special teams, and Simon will be that on the first snap.
Kyle McCord: Syracuse quarterback, round 6, pick 184
All signs point to an extension for Geno Smith, so it makes little sense for Seattle to spend valuable draft capital on a quarterback this year. That's especially true as there are only two consensus can't-miss prospects at the position this year. But a sixth-round shot, why not? The Big Board and PFF rank him ninth, while draftbuzz.com projects the 6'3" 218-pound one spot higher.
He's a classic dropback passer, but there's one PFF grade that really pops for me. He graded at 71.6 for throws under pressure. Cam Ward graded out at 56.5, while Shadeur Sanders graded at 65.2. Yes, they're both undeniably better prospects. But even with an improved offensive line, you need a QB who can deliver under pressure. Getting a player who can do that in the sixth round is a gift.
Alijah Clark: Syracuse, safety, round 6, pick 211
Yes, the Hawks have a solid duo in former Pro Bowler Julian Love and his backfield partner, Coby Bryant. But remember that Mike Macdonald intended to use three-safety formations far more than he could last season. Enter McCord's teammate, the 6'1" 188-pound senior who turned in a 4.45 40 at the combine. He projects to be a special teamer at the start and a rotational player moving forward.
Malachi Moore: Alabama safety, round 7, pick 235
The projections for the 5'11" 196-pound senior are all over the map. He's projected as the fifth-best safety by draftbuzz.com, 17th by PFF - four spots lower than they see Clark - and ninth by the Consensus Big Board. Listen, if you can get 11 starts at Tuscaloosa as a freshman, clearly, you can play football.
He's played in the slot and at both free and strong safety. He posted a passer rating allowed of just 51.0 last year. The only concern with Moore is a series of nagging injuries throughout his collegiate career. At pick 235, I'll take that chance, thanks.