By Jared Stanger
We’re coming down to the wire. Draft “intel” is coming fast and furious. Filtering down to the intel that I believe feels credible, likely even, the top of the draft really starts looking like 1- Bryce Young to Carolina, 2 and 3 are the DE’s in some order and I’m leaning toward the Texas Tech Red Raider staying in Texas and Will Anderson getting scooped by Arizona, and 4 has felt like an obvious landing spot for Will Levis.
So then Seattle sits at #5 with a couple quarterbacks and the big redflag DT sitting on the board, but I think they really wanted one of the DE’s. So they trade back. I like the fit of trading with the Raiders. A) the Raiders are likely in the market for a QB and in this scenario they find themselves in reach of CJ Stroud, B) the Raiders have a ton of draft capital starting the draft with 12 picks, C) I like Seattle only dropping a couple spots to #7, and in exchange they get back #70 in the early 3rd round.
#1.7 – QB Hendon Hooker
For most of this draft cycle most in the media have been tagging Hendon as QB5 and a guy that will be there in the 2nd, maybe 3rd round. I’ve consistently found way to take him in the 1st after trading back the #20 pick. Recently I had a different draft of this mock where I was like, “screw it, I’m taking him at #20 straight up.” My thought today is: “I don’t like risking Hendon going through Atlanta, Tennessee, a Houston team that took a DE at #2, New England where Bill Belichick is a wildcard, Washington, and Tampa. And I DEFINITELY can’t let Minnesota get anywhere near him.”
I really just can’t come out of this draft missing on both Tyree Wilson and Hendon Hooker by overplaying my hand. Plus there were a couple media moments that came back to me. #1) Mike Tannenbaum putting Seattle on Hendon at #5 in his mock draft a few weeks ago. #2) John Schneider himself.
On one recent episode of his radio show on 710; John talked about the Seattle draft room not caring about the reaction and/or pleasing the fanbase with their drafting. That comment came in close proximity to Jalen Carter coming to town for an official visit, so my thought initially went to Pete and John not caring about the reaction of fans to drafting a guy with legal charges and the redflag stuff. But, really, the fanbase, I think, would more predominantly love a selection of Jalen Carter because of the media label on him of “the most talented player” in this class. What the fanbase might actually be more up in arms about is “reaching” on a player, especially in context of having the returning starter in Geno Smith under contract for 1-3 more years. THAT might bother people. So that was an interesting thought discovery.
Seattle has done a ton of work on this DE class. The official visit list includes Will Anderson, Byron Young, Yaya Diaby, Nick Herbig, BJ Ojulari, and Will McDonald. The two biggest omissions from that list might be Nolan Smith and Felix. There is some buzz that Nolan will be drafted before this point, so he may not be an option. Felix was at the Combine as 6’3″/255lbs with 33 1/2″ arms. He did not test there, but at KState pro day he verticaled 34″ and broad jumped 10’04” with a 6.94s three-cone. Only six DE ran the three-cone at the Combine, but a 6.94 would have bested all of them. His profile is VERY similar to Maxx Crosby who was 6’5″/255lbs with 32 7/8″ arms, 36″ vert, 10’02” broad, and a 6.89s cone a few years ago.
#2.37 – RB Zach Charbonnet
I sort of hate to use an early pick like this on a RB when there is so much talent in the 2nd round at other spots, but Seattle will always tend to go more aggressive on RB’s, and really the roster is so thin at the spot right now that this shouldn’t surprise. Charbonnet is too much of all the things that I’m looking for in a back to compliment Ken Walker to pass on him.
#2.52 – TE Tucker Kraft
Seattle has been nowhere near this TE class even though it is commonly thought to be a very good group. They might be pretty satisfied with what they have in-house. Personally, I’m not okay with letting another draft go past where a Travis Kelce or George Kittle is sitting right there at a reasonable price and Seattle passes. Finding a quality TE at any draft price is worth double in future cap savings over a comparable WR.
Kraft is 6’5″/254lbs with a 4.69s forty. There are a good, solid eight TE this year that run sub-4.7 forties this year, and two more that were at exactly 4.70, so the depth is good to allow you to use some patience. But not too much. I like the value play on Kraft.
#3.70 – CB Darius Rush
I really like this range for a CB. You’ve probably missed on Julius Brents who seems to have the higher buzz, but I think you can be in range of Cory Trice or Rush. Trice rolls a bit bigger at 6’3″/205lbs, with a 4.47s forty and an 11’00” broad jump. Rush is 6’2″/198lbs with a 4.36s forty and only 10’01” broad. Both are plenty long. So it’s a bit of personal preference, and mine leads me to Rush.
#3.83 – DT Byron Young
Having passed on Jalen Carter, Seattle still needs to do some work on the DL. I’ve got 3 names that fall around this spot with similar profiles: Moro Ojomo, Kobie Turner, and the Alabama Byron Young. I kinda think Seattle won’t be interested in Turner due to his lesser athleticism. I, personally, find Ojomo a bit awkward with some wasted movement in his tape. So I’ve come around to Young.
Byron measured in at the Combine at 6’3″/294lbs with 34 3/8″ arms with 5.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 6 hurries. It’s not quite the monster profile Chris Jones had in 2016 when he came in at 6’6″/310lbs, 34 1/2″ arms but similar production from both.
#4.123 – OC Ricky Stromberg
This is a weird year for the center position and I’ve spent a lot of it trying to match talent and value. Then you have to position the center value vs the talent/value of other positions in the same range. After much consideration; I’ve decided to put preference on RB and TE in the 2nd and hunt for a center later down. And Stromberg is where that path led me.
Testing at the Combine as one of the top two centers; Stromberg went 6’3″/306lbs with 33 1/4″ arms and a 5.26s forty, 32.5″ vert, and 9’3″ broad. It’s a very close profile to a fellow Oklahoman Creed Humphrey who tested at 6’4″/302lbs, 5.11s, 33″ vert, 9’4″ broad. On tape Ricky is arguably the best center run-blocker in the class.
#5.151 – LB Yasir Abdullah
There’s sort of a subset of linebacker that popped up through Seattle’s 30 visits that run 230-240lbs and either know how to passrush or had documented success as a blitzer. Abdullah would fit that profile very well at 6’1″/237lbs with a 4.47s forty with 14.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks, and 7 hurries.
#5.154 – DS Jason Taylor II
There’s something fishy going on with Seattle and their safety situation. They’ve got Diggs. They’ve got Adams supposedly coming back. They signed Love. Pete Carroll says they’re going to play three safeties. Okay…maybe. But it also wouldn’t surprise me if they did something else after the draft that relates to the safety group and the salary cap. At minimum they need to draft someone to replace Ryan Neal. To that end…Jason Taylor. He can play centerfield. He can play in the box. And he most definitely will be a stud on special teams.
#6.198 – DT Dante Stills
I had some thought to mock a nose tackle at this spot. Seattle certainly did diligence on a few NT’s through their 30 visits. But I think maybe they make that a rookie free agent priority, and instead look to get another DT that can create pressure in the backfield. Dante measured 6’4″/286lbs and ran the third-fastest forty time for a DT at 4.85s. He’s a good kid with NFL bloodlines.
#7.237 – DS Jerrick Reed II
Whereas the Jason Taylor pick may be to hedge a cap casualty move; I think Jerrick is a guy I’m drafting just to hedge safety depth for injury. He was a 30 visit guy and his profile reminds me a bit of Jeremy Reaves from a few years ago. Just a well rounded player with great intangibles.
He’s not the biggest of players at 5’10″/196lbs, but neither is Quandre. Reed posted 4.46s speed with a 38″ vertical. Really strong fundamentals.
Final, final haul:
#1.7 – QB Hendon Hooker
#1.20 – DE Felix Anudike Uzomah
#2.37 – RB Zach Charbonnet
#2.52 – TE Tucker Kraft
#3.70 – CB Darius Rush
#3.83 – DT Byron Young
#4.123 – OC Ricky Stromberg
#5.151 – LB Yasir Abdullah
#5.154 – DS Jason Taylor II
#6.198 – DT Dante Stills
#7.237 – DS Jerrick Reed II
See you Thursday.
Seattle Seamocks 