By Jared Stanger
Welcome to 2022! For so many obvious and unobvious reasons I never wrote any Seahawk mock drafts in 2021. Not for the 2022 Draft, anyways. You’d have to go back to April for mocks for the 2021 draft. But it’s a new year…it’s time for some new thoughts, and practices, and vibes, and some new blood. So let’s see what we can do.
The Seahawks currently sit with 6 picks for this spring. They have no 1st as the last payment of the Jamal Adams trade, but the Jets gave us their 4th rounder this year as part of the deal. That 4th rounder is gonna be an early pick (roughly 5th in the round), so that’s decent. And they have no 6th as the payment for Sidney Jones trade. I’m putting their overall slate at roughly #40, #71, #106, #108, #149, #224. I’m not gonna mock any trades within the draft, as they really need to stop overvaluing a volume of picks over drafting good players with the picks they have. Let’s begin.
I have like four players on my shortlist for Seattle to target in the 2nd. Some are what I’d consider them forcing a “need” pick. Some are what I consider just taking BPA.
I don’t think they think they need a tight end. They haven’t shown themselves to be valuing the TE they have on the roster this year, or really for a few years going back through Greg Olsen and Jimmy Graham, etc. Don’t know why. A lot of really good teams across the league are the teams with the upper echelon TE. But if they, for some surprising reason, decide to do it…Trey McBride is a special talent. It might take him 2 years…as TE’s frequently do…but he’s gonna be in that Kelce/Kittle/Andrews group pretty quick.
#2.40 – Boston College OL, Zion Johnson
My pick for the Seahawks in the 2nd is the sort of makeup for not picking Creed Humphrey last year. Zion Johnson is a jacked 6’3″/316lb’er that has started years at both LT and LG for Boston College. I have a clear preference for his tape inside at guard. As I previously noted; Seattle is only retaining their starting 2021 guards for 2022. So what is the plan drafting a guard? Three options: 1) move Zion back to LT where he played in 2020, 2) move Zion to center where he doesn’t have experience, but I think he has the mind to learn it, or 3) move Damien Lewis to center where he played for that game or two in 2020. I kind of prefer the 2nd option. And there is some precedent for it as Justin Britt had college experience at guard and both tackle spots, before being drafted in the 2nd round, and eventually making his way to center.
Seattle’s RB situation has been a mess this year and next year is all question marks with Chris Carson’s health a big question mark, Rashaad Penny off his rookie contract, and none of the other roster RB showing the ability or faith from the coaches to step up into a bellcow role. The 3rd round is sort of written in ink for me as the spot you draft a running back. It’s just a question of which one. I like this RB class overall. I like the 3rd round as the sweet spot where the depth and value will click. With names like Jerome Ford, Dameon Pierce, Tyler Allgeier, possibly Isaiah Spiller still on the board.
#3.71 – UCLA Running Back, Zach Charbonnet
For the value of the pick, Charbonnet feels like the guy I’ve watched that ticks the most boxes. All the guys are big enough, so that’s not gonna be a problem. I don’t worry too much about speed from a RB, so that’s a push on the group. You’re just trying to nitpick things like passcatching, passpro, durability, maybe redzone. I come up with Charbonnet.
#4.106 – Alabama Defensive Tackle, Phil Mathis
I’d kinda like to find a replacement for Rasheem Green, but that would probably need to be done in the 3rd. Edge is a little thinned out by now. Defensive Tackle could still have some names. I like Matthew Butler out of Tennessee. If he declares, you could replace the ex-LSU Tiger nose tackle Al Woods with the ex-LSU Tiger, current Baylor Bear nose tackle Siaki Ika. Or, if you’re lucky, a member of the Natty-playing Crimson Tide is still there. Mathis brings some position versatility where he can rush the passer but he’s also stout enough in the run-game to play some nose.
#4.108 – Cincinnati Cornerback, Coby Bryant
Bryant was one of the most consistent corners I watched this year. Maybe never hit the highest upside plays that some other guys hit, but never had the double negative plays that those same upside guys had. Is he Richard Sherman? Probably not. But could he be Shaq Griffin? I definitely think so. Might actually have more leadership than Shaq, too.
#5.149 – Baylor Safety, JT Woods
I don’t know what happens with Diggs, but I’m drafting a guy I think could start if he had to. Woods was already an ascending player in my mind, from a team that I’ve really liked watching this year, and then he went and posted that impressive performance in the New Year’s bowl game where he intercepted two balls and had another that looked like a forced fumble but ruled a PBU. He’s a high school track guy that could probably play single-high if Seattle went back to that. And sidenote; with a 6’2″/193lb frame, you might be able to cross-train him at corner.
I don’t know if this is more a replacement for Ryan Neal leaving, or hedge for Jamal Adams’ health; I just know I want the player. Cook is listed 6’1″/210lbs and if that’s his legit size, I want him as a box safety. I really like how much he contributes on a pretty loaded, playoff Bearcat team: 93 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 2 INT, and 9 PBU. He’s a very disciplined player. He has great fundamentals. Floor could be Bradley McDougald.
Final count:
2.40 OG Zion Johnson
3.71 RB Zach Charbonnet
4.106 DT Phil Mathis
4.108 CB Coby Bryant
5.149 FS JT Woods
7.224 SS Bryan Cook
Seattle Seamocks 