By Jared Stanger
After falling to the Niners on Thursday Night Football, and their record dropping to 3-3, the Seahawks now stand to draft at #14 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Mike Macdonald coached defense ranks 25th in the league in points allowed, with the rush defense ranking 27th. QB Geno Smith leads the league in passing yards, but ranks 20th in passer rating and is tied for the league lead in interceptions thrown. And the offensive line has run-blocked to the tune of 27th in the league.
There’s a LOT wrong with this club right now, and we’re progressing to a draft that is extremely light on 1st round talents, and isn’t particularly deep overall either. Some of the positions this draft looks strong at; Seattle doesn’t have as immediate needs (like edge rusher and running back). It’s really not looking like a good situation for Seattle to make a quick rebuild.
In terms of the first round…a lot of times the media will pre-emptively stack their first round projections with guys that come from the annual “Freaks List”. This year, I’d say there’s maybe 8 of 32 (25%) that overlap. Oh, so, is the first round stacked with guys that are grading out elite or have top of class production through six weeks? Not really. It’s kind of a bananas year.
With this in mind…and this specifically applies to the state of the draft class in the middle of October 2024…I think Seattle should trade back their first round pick. If/when the media starts re-ranking the class, and we get more guys that fit what Seattle needs, then maybe I’ll change my mock to reflect that with a stick-and-pick edition.
Seattle currently projects to having nine picks after they are awarded their slate of compensatory picks. We don’t need to add more volume. I just want to re-position a little bit in the first two rounds. I like the look of trading with Buffalo. The Bills have ten picks projected, included two in the second round. Pending their performance this week in MNF, they should be drafting between #21 to maybe #23 in the first round. Their second round picks are roughly #54 and #64. There is a scenario we should get #54, but for now to make the numbers work; Seattle gives #1.14 overall for Buffalo’s #1.21 + #2.64 + #4.137.
#1.21 – OT, West Virginia, Wyatt Milum
There are obviously reasons Seattle should try to fix their defense urgently. A guy like Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams would immediately improve our run defense. And there are certainly edge rushers available in this range that look pretty special and would be a good BPA pick. But when I reverse-draft; I think I can get a nose tackle later because of position value, and I can get an edge guy later because of depth in this class.
You know what I can’t get too much later? Offensive line.
Well, let me clarify. If Seattle is replacing Stone Forsythe…I think they can get one of those on day three. But…if we’re needing to truly commit to replacing Abraham Lucas; I think we need to do that pretty early in the draft.
Milum is listed 6’6″/317lbs…which is pretty ideal measurements for an OT. The guy is country strong, too. He’s been playing LT for the Mountaineers, but I’ll move him to RT similar to how the Chargers drafted Joe Alt and moved him to RT, while leaving incumbent LT Rashawn Slater in place.
#2.48 – QB, Mississippi, Jaxson Dart
If Seattle is truly prepared to draft a QB of the future; why not stick at #14 and take him there? As we saw last year; the guy(s) we need probably don’t fall out of the top 10. We’re gonna have to try to pull some Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson shit. Which, also, seems to be the only way John Schneider is comfortable to take a shot on a QB.
To me, Dart is still a top two QB in this draft, but he’s the one we can get. He’s hitting 70% completion, over 10.0 ypa, and over 4 to 1 TD to INT.
#2.64 – OG, Georgia, Tate Ratledge
It’s perhaps foolhardy to take two OL in our first three picks when there are equally big needs on defense, but I just think it’s such a big need with such a shallow class available. And Ratledge is probably only available this late because he’s currently shelved for another month with an ankle surgery recovery. If he gets back in time for a few regular season games and a playoff push; his stock probably climbs out of this range.
#3.79 – DT, Mississippi, JJ Pegues
Pegues is one of my favorite players in this class, and so I’m allowing myself to draft him well before the national media are valuing him. Mississippi has the #1 run defense in the country, and JJ is the (literally) biggest part of that at 6’2″/325lbs. The Rebels use him all up and down the DL, plus he’s become a pretty frequent collaborator on offense as a running back. He’d be such a unique player to add to the Macdonald defense.
#4.115 – Edge, Marshall, Mike Green
There are still a few very intriguing passrush linebackers available into this range. Kyle Kennard, Collin Oliver, and Green come to mind. I’m going with Green for the repertoire, and some of the projectability metrics. Listed 6’4″/248lbs and a redshirt sophomore, but this is his 4th year in college. His production of 10.5 TFL, 8.0 sacks, and 10 hurries all rank top 5 in the class. If he can add another 7 lbs of muscle, even better.
#4.136 – RB, Iowa, Kaleb Johnson
I don’t think I had room for a RB in my last mock, but with the extra pick from Buffalo leading to back-to-back picks in the fourth round; I think it’s good draft practice to take one in this very strong RB class.
Johnson has been one of the top two most-explosive RB this year with Ashton Janty. His style reminds me of somewhere between Arian Foster and Shaun Alexander.
Even with Ken Walker missing a couple games to start this year; Seattle has only given third-string RB Kenny Mcintosh 3 carries all year. So, I don’t think they believe in him for some reason.
#4.137 – LB, Mississippi, Chris Paul Jr
There is no position in this draft that I’ve spent more time on that has yielded worse results than off the ball linebacker. I’ve looked at the freak athletes…they don’t have good instincts. I’ve looked at the guys with good season stats…they look slow. I’ve looked at the guys projected high by other media outlets…they don’t come across like they can handle the playbook in interviews.
So, as much as I’d like to use one of the second round picks on the “QB of the defense” for Macdonald, I just don’t think the value is there.
Chris Paul Jr is my compromise. Listed 6’1″/235lbs he’s got good size. On the season he has 48 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 7 hurries, 3 PBU. It’s a well-rounded production line. He can blitz, he can cover, he can get sideline to sideline. In his tape he looks athletic enough.
#5.172 – TE, Oregon, Terrance Ferguson
It seems like a pretty strong class of tight ends, which may allow for some patience to draft one. Bowling Green TE Harold Fanning is top 10 in receiving overall for the year. Penn State TE Tyler Warren had 17 catches and over 200 yards this last weekend. Guys like Colston Loveland, Orande Gadsden, Anthony Torres, Brant Kuithe, Jake Briningstool, Elijah Arroyo, Luke Lachey, Gunnar Helm, Eli Stowers have all popped in one way or another.
I’m going with Ferguson, probably because of recency bias, because I just thought he looked awesome this week versus Ohio State. Listed 6’5″/255lbs and averaging 16.05 ypc on the year.
#6.193 – DL, Nebraska, Ty Robinson
Seattle is due to have both Jarran Reed and Johnathan Hankins hit free agency after this year, so two DT is in the draft is probably a must. JJ Pegues is a good run-stuffer that can passrush a bit, and Ty Robinson is a good passrusher that can play the run a bit. Ole Miss is the #1 run defense in the country, but Nebraska is no slouch at #4.
Robinson is listed at 6’6″/310lbs, but if you told me he was 285, I’d believe it. He has 6.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 2 hurries, 3 PBU, and a blocked kick on the year. Like Pegues, I think you can use him all over the DL…and Nebraska does.
#6.210 – LB, California, Teddye Buchanan
Seattle really needs to draft two linebackers with both Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker only signed to one-year deals. Maybe they’ll go back to free agency for a linebacker like a Nick Bolton as their top overall target.
Buchanan is listed 6’2″/235lbs, and has 56 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 3 hurries, 3 PBU, and a FF on the year.
#7.228 – DS, Virginia, Jonas Sanker
Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if Seattle took any of, like, 10 position groups with this pick. They could triple down on OL or DL. They could take a WR or a CB, which they haven’t taken thus far. I’m going with safety because I’m following the free agency lead. K’von Wallace may walk after the year, so to replace him I’m going with Sanker.
Sanker is listed 6’1″/210lbs. Senior Bowl reported this week he runs 4.4. On the season he has 49 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 hurry, 3 PBU. He’d be a great special teams guy at minimum.
Overall, this is a back to basics draft. We’re going heavy in the trenches again until John Schneider gets his philosophy in order and starts picking the right OL/DL guys. We’re going QB, RB, and LB. Honestly, if we can get somewhere near what the Commanders did this last draft when they got QB Jayden Daniels, DT Jerzhan Newton, DB Mike Sainristil, TE Ben Sinnott, OT Brandon Coleman, WR Luke McCaffrey, LB Jordan Magee, DS Dom Hampton…that’d be a pretty solid draft towards a quick turnaround.
Seattle Seamocks 