Again in April, when preliminary grades have been being issued within the wake of the 2022 NFL draft, there wasn’t sufficient noise being made concerning the Seattle Seahawks’ class.
NFL.com gave them a C+, Sports activities Illustrated gave them the identical, they usually earned a C from USA TODAY Sports activities.
Landing Wire gave them an A, they usually acquired an A- from us right here at Draft Wire.
On the midway mark of the 2022 season, it seems to be like even these A grades may not have been excessive sufficient for the stellar crop of rookies the Seahawks simply introduced it.
First-round decide Charles Cross and third-round decide Abraham Lucas have instantly entrenched themselves as one of many NFL’s greatest offensive sort out tandems from Day 1, defending quarterback Geno Smith in his breakout marketing campaign. They’ve mixed for six sacks allowed by means of the primary half of the season, which isn’t too shabby for a pair of rookies. Each have been stellar as pass-blockers, and have helped spearhead a dominant run sport.
Talking of the run sport, second-round decide Kenneth Walker III has made positive the offense hasn’t missed a beat since Rashaad Penny went down with an damage, displaying every thing we noticed from him at Michigan State was actual. He has dominated on the bottom, averaging a ridiculous 6.1 yards per carry thus far this season, rapidly changing into one of many Seahawks’ most harmful offensive weapons.
On protection, Seattle ended up with a pair of beginning corners in Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant. Each have been big-play magnets, with Woolen tied for the league lead with 4 interceptions, and Bryant main the NFL with 4 compelled fumbles.
That is all with out mentioning the efforts of Boye Mafe, the sting rusher Seattle discovered with the decide proper earlier than Walker. The Minnesota product has proven continued progress, nabbing half-sacks in back-to-back video games, and displaying a constant effort to get into the backfield. Like others, he Mafe has proven the potential to develop right into a dependable starter not less than, and a possible star at greatest.
It’s nonetheless early, however that is trying just like the sort of draft class that would rapidly flip the Seahawks again into perennial contenders.