The last few drafts for the Seattle Seahawks have been especially brilliant. The bones of the team's Super Bowl-winning run this past season were made from what general manager John Schneider chose to do. In this year's draft, though, the team has just four selections.
One of those is seemingly trending toward not being San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson. Johnson had been mocked to Seattle by quite a few people, but a recent meeting between the team and the player didn't happen. The reason for this is not known.
Each team can visit with as many as 30 prospects before any given draft. Johnson was apparently on the Seahawks list, but according to draft analyst Tony Pauline, something happened and the cornerback never "made the trip" to Seattle. Maybe the player chose not to come, or maybe the Seahawks made a change to their visitation list.
Chris Johnson might no longer be part of the Seattle Seahawks' draft plans
None of that means for sure that the 6-foot and 195-pound cornerback who has been timed at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash definitely won't be taken by Seattle, but that seems unlikely. The issue could come down to John Schneider simply believing Johnson won't be available at pick 32, when the team is set to make its first selection.
Still, Seattle does need to address the loss of Riq Woolen eventually. He left in free agency and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. While Woolen's attitude was as mercurial as his coverage ability, he was capable of elite play at times. He was also a key part of the cornerback rotation.
The Seahawks did re-sign Josh Jobe, and Devon Witherspoon will be a part of the roster for a long time to come. Nick Emmanwori can probably play cornerback if needed as well, but Witherspoon and Emmanwori are not pure outside corners, or their skill sets would be too limited by playing that spot most of the time.
The Seattle Seahawks will also probably have many other options if they choose to either take a cornerback in the first round or if the team trades back into the early part of the second round. Some names linked to Seattle in mock drafts include South Carolina's Brandon Cisse, Tennessee's Colton Hood, and Arizona State's Keith Abney II.
None of those players is guaranteed to be available when John Schneider wants to make a draft pick, though. Or maybe Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald are just fine with their cornerback group as it is. Maybe the team wants to take an edge rusher first instead. What seems clear is Chris Johnson isn't part of the team's plans anymore.