Players have already shown enough to confirm John Schneider can draft again

The final time the Seattle Seahawks grew to become dominant, it was on the again of three unimaginable draft years in a row.

Don’t dangle the banner, however Seattle GM John Schneider is on the verge of going 2.5 for his final 2.5.

On Saturday in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Seahawks noticed main contributions from Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, Boye Mafe, Kenneth Walker III, Tariq Woolen Coby Bryant, and even seventh spherical receivers Bo Melton and Dareke Younger.

Although it’s Preseason Week 1, that’s important for Seattle followers for a number of causes. Right here they’re.

1 – The One seemed like a One, and that’s a Win

Lately, followers would possibly keep in mind the staff buying and selling away their first choose, or they may keep in mind who was ultimately chosen with the primary Seattle choose, be it the unique spot or 45 picks later. Those self same followers may additionally do not forget that participant instantly vanishing into the void with no hint or proof of life.

L.J. Collier. Malik McDowell. Not a lot Germain Ifedi, as a lot as some folks wished for him to vanish.

Charles Cross and Jordyn Brooks are each actual soccer gamers. In reality, Boye Mafe seemed frankly unimaginable, which implies we get to say that Cross, Brooks, Mafe, and Darrell Taylor are all actual soccer gamers.

GM’s don’t must hit each choose to maintain their job; no one does. But it surely sucks a lot to constantly whiff on the primary and second choice. These are speculated to be the nice guys. In 2020 and 2022, Schneider obtained good guys. Hopefully, actually good ones.

2 – That’s a number of starters

Or potential therein. Once more, each NFL roster already has extremely gifted gamers, even often the Chicago Bears have one or two. However Seattle has proper now guys which are competing to indicate they belong, day-after-day. Not competing to belong on the roster, competing to belong as a priceless contributor.

From 2013-2019, Schneider averaged two strong starters and one fringe participant. Assume Shaquill Griffin and Chris Carson in 2017, with Ethan Pocic form of thrown in there. Or suppose Luke Willson and, um, different people, from 2013. Even DK Metcalf doesn’t salvage the remainder of the ‘19 class.

2020 provides you Brooks, Taylor, Damien Lewis, plus a ceaselessly efficient Alton Robinson and the potential contributions from DeeJay Dallas or Freddie Swain.

The primary 4 picks of 2022 look to be practically NFL prepared, two of them are for positive in Walker and Cross.

Instantly Schneider has basically tripled the common “can this man contribute” dialog in two drafts over and in opposition to his earlier six. That qualification is completely different, and allowable at this level within the preseason, than whether or not Boye Mafe is a strong NFL starter, for instance. At this level in lots of summers we already had Gary Jennings…Demarcus Christmas…Rasheem Inexperienced…Amara Darboh….disappear into that failed draft choose void.

Sure, meaning it was dangerous for some time. But in addition sure, meaning it’s a lot improved, even good.

3- Deep hits within the secondary

And that is the place Schneider will get half credit score for locating the outstanding issues we noticed in Tre Brown in 2021, although it was short-lived. Expectations are moderately restricted in a three-pick draft.

Upon the conclusion of Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell in 2011 (and let’s imagine Jeremy Lane in 2012), Seattle drafted the next DBs:

• Tharold Simon
• Eric Pinkins
• Tye Smith
• Tedric Thompson
• Mike Tyson
• Lano Hill
• Shaquill Griffin

All between rounds 3-7. Solely Griffin performed effectively.

That is clearly the Seahawks M.O., whether or not simply Schneider, or Pete Carroll’s on board as effectively. But when the plan is to take mid-round safeties and make ‘em corners, effectively, you higher be actually freaking good at doing that as a result of it’s dangerous and unpredictable.

They weren’t good at it.

Now, the staff’s taking a look at two 4s and a 5 that appear to flash critical potential. Once more, it’s Preseason Week 1 positive however at this level in 2017 we had legitimately [don’t lie] forgotten that Mike Tyson was on the roster. There weren’t stories of “maintaining with Metcalf” kind performs.