With rare top-10 pick, Seahawks can speed up rebuild, improve spotty first-round record

RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks’ annual pre-draft press convention revealed little about who they plan to take however loads in regards to the vibe contained in the Virginia Mason Athletic Middle heading into Thursday’s first spherical of the NFL draft (8 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN, ESPN app).

“I am unable to put my finger on it, however there is a sure vitality on this constructing proper now,” normal supervisor John Schneider, seated subsequent to educate Pete Carroll, advised reporters final week. “There is a sure refreshness and juice … It is simply very onerous to explain.”

That feeling is smart given the current adjustments to the roster and training employees in addition to the chance that lies forward on this draft.

The Russell Wilson commerce left the Seahawks with a significant long-term query at quarterback however has additionally ended years of pressure that hung over the group, Schneider specifically. And it places them in prime place to expedite their post-Wilson rebuild.

After making a franchise-low three choices final 12 months, the Seahawks are as stocked with draft capital as they have been shortly. 4 of their eight picks are within the high 72, together with the No. 9 general choose that was acquired from the Denver Broncos within the Wilson commerce.

The very first choose of the Schneider/Carroll period — left deal with Russell Okung at No. 6 general in 2010 — marks the one time they’ve picked inside the highest 10. In keeping with ESPN Stats & Data, just one different workforce (the New England Patriots) has not picked inside the highest 10 at the very least as soon as since then.

That makes this a uncommon alternative for the Seahawks to draft top-end expertise they might land solely of their goals — or by way of a commerce for 2 first-rounders — once they have been deciding on within the 20s as a perennial playoff workforce.

“There’s positively an pleasure about this as a result of there’s solely so many issues that may occur,” Carroll mentioned. “Once you’re selecting twenty fifth and twenty eighth and down there, there’s one million situations. This isn’t like that. It is a bit of totally different.”

Nonetheless, there are many situations that would play out, due to the thriller of what number of quarterbacks — if any — will go earlier than the Seahawks’ choose. And there are sufficient wants on a workforce that completed 7-10 final season to convey a number of positions into play.

Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II was the choose for Seattle in NFL Nation’s mock draft, although LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and Mississippi State offensive deal with Charles Cross have been sturdy issues. Quarterback was not, as all indications counsel that the Seahawks are excessive sufficient on Drew Lock’s potential and never bought sufficient on anybody on this 12 months’s crop of QBs to take one at No. 9.

And whereas trades weren’t allowed in NFL Nation’s mock draft, they’ll very a lot be in play on Thursday. In keeping with Schneider, the ultimate few days of draft prep embody speaking with different groups about attainable trades.

“Folks know that we’re very open to transferring round,” he mentioned. “We’re pliable.”

The Seahawks’ 21 draft-day trades since 2016 are third most within the NFL, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Data. In that span, they’ve entered the draft with six first-round picks and have stayed put solely twice, transferring again 4 different instances.

Then once more, that pattern was largely a perform of the drop-off in expertise that normally happens within the second half of the primary spherical.

“You get all the way down to … that decrease a part of the spherical, in the event you get to love 18 or 20, proper in there, relying on the 12 months, you are principally drafting within the second spherical,” Schneider mentioned on the house owners’ conferences. “That is why you guys have seen us return, as a result of from, name it, 20 to 45, you are principally getting the identical high quality participant.”

The dynamic is far totally different this 12 months, with the Seahawks within the unfamiliar place of touchdown one of many draft’s top-rated prospects.

And with that comes a chance to scrub up a spotty observe report with current first-round picks.

Proper deal with Germain Ifedi (thirty first general in 2016) was not as unhealthy as his harshest critics steered however did not play nicely sufficient to get a second contract from Seattle. That choice was closely influenced by then-offensive line coach Tom Cable, who had extra say in personnel selections than a mean place coach.

Working again Rashaad Penny (twenty seventh, 2018) simply acquired a second contract from Seattle after ending final 12 months on a tear, however Nick Chubb, who was chosen by the Cleveland Browns within the second spherical, has vastly outperformed him over 4 seasons. A lot of the group favored Chubb in 2018. Maybe the loudest dissenting voice was then-offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who coached Chubb for one season at Georgia and had reservations about him as a pass-catcher.

Defensive finish L.J. Collier (twenty ninth, 2019) has produced sparingly in three seasons and was a wholesome scratch for a lot of 2021. The Seahawks settled on Collier after lacking out on defensive deal with Dexter Lawrence and tight finish Noah Fant (whom they acquired within the Wilson commerce). They felt they badly wanted an edge rusher and noticed a steep drop-off, in order that they took Collier above the place they’d him rated.

Linebacker Jordyn Brooks (twenty seventh, 2020) has been their greatest first-rounder in at the very least a decade. He appears to be like like a cornerstone participant with Professional Bowls in his future.

The widespread thread with the three misses earlier than him have been their choice close to the tip of the primary spherical. The Seahawks have hit on all three of their earlier first-rounders since 2010 (Okung and Earl Thomas in 2010, and Bruce Irvin in 2012). Within the case of Thomas — a possible Corridor of Fame security they took at No. 14 — they hit large. Okung made a Professional Bowl and later turned the NFL’s highest-paid left deal with. Irvin, who was picked No. 15, has had a pleasant profession, with 52 sacks in 10 seasons.

So no surprise the Seahawks are excited to be again inside the highest 10, at the very least for now.

“There is a totally different degree of pleasure in regards to the alternative,” Carroll mentioned. “After which, as John mentioned, we’ll have an interest to see how different folks see it, and are they keen to come back chasing that spot too. Simply all the pieces about it is more difficult, extra thrilling, and we’re trying ahead to it.”