If there is one thing the Seattle Seahawks have not done well in the past 6 years, it’s draft.
Luckily for Seahawks fans, the team only has four picks they need to suffer through this year thanks to Jamal Adams.
With their first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft the Seattle Seahawks select, Jamal Adams Safety New York Jets.
— ✘💔ᴑ ᵗⁱˡˡ ʷᵉ ᵒᵛᵉʳᵈᵒˢᵉ (@RogerSzmodis) February 4, 2021
GM John Schneider has been a genius when it comes to free agency and trades.
In 2019, he robbed the Texans of EDGE Jadeveon Clowney for two backup linebackers and a third-round pick.
This past season, he worked the Bengals for EDGE Carlos Dunlap and only gave up a backup center and a seventh-round pick.
Safety Jamal Adams cost the team a lot of draft capital in the trade with the Jets, but the man just broke an NFL record for sacks by a DB.
The problem with these acquisitions is they are normally one-year deals and if you don’t win it all now, you have to extend them or dump them.
It burns the team when you keep giving up draft picks to try and win now, then end up with nothing at the end of the season.
So here the team is in 2021 with four draft picks, a lot of key players set to be free agents, and no cap space.
This year’s NFL draft is extremely important for the Seahawks and they have to make all four of these picks count.
You can't draft 1st round busts if you don't have them😏👏 pic.twitter.com/1CykC8Wqxy
— SD (@SD_Hawks_189) February 3, 2021
1: Cornerback
The Seahawks have holes all over the place.
Most of these holes can be found on the defensive side of the ball.
There are 5 corners set to become free agents, including starters Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar.
The hawks have zero depth at CB, so instead of trying to extend older veterans, it’s time to get younger.
Their first option is to stare down CB Tyson Campbell from Georgia.
Georgia cornerback Tyson Campbell is a really interesting player.
* 6'2", 185
* Just 1 INT in college
* Ht/length/speed traits for days
* Fearless tackler
* Frame/skills to developRaw potential is super high. Think Late 1 is very realistic on him
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 4, 2021
Since he is a projected late first-round pick, all they can do is sit back and pray.
His size is probably what has placed him on Pete Carroll and John Schneider’s draft board.
Pete loves the long-armed, big-bodied corners, and his addition of Tre Flowers in 2018 showed it.
Flowers was a safety turned corner, and he has struggled.
Drafting Campbell will still give Pete the size and physicality he looks for, but with the actual talent of a corner in coverage.
Another option would be to draft his teammate CB Eric Stokes.
Teammate Eric Stokes is a Day 2 starter.
* 6'1", 185
* Elite in press coverage
* 4 INTs in '20 while barely being tested
* Handsy technique needs cleaned up
* Loves contact; attacks 50/50 balls— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 4, 2021
The draft position makes more sense for where the hawks are sitting.
You still have great size, maybe even better pass coverage but the talent is a little raw.
You have Campbell up top and Stokes on the bottom in this video:
Same thing. Consistent. Now Kyle Pitts dunks on Campbell here but the technique was still sound. Gave himself a chance to make a play. Sometimes the receiver is just better on that rep. Good job by Stokes at the bottom. Staying patient/square when the space was already created. pic.twitter.com/BPOWgtBf54
— Crocky (@eric_crocker) February 1, 2021
TE Kyle Pitts is a tough matchup, but Campbell plays good technique and Stokes holds his ground.
If either of these guys falls to the hawks, they will be great additions.
2: Offensive Line
Yes, the entire offensive line is in desperate need of improvement.
The only piece that held up down the stretch was at the center position, but guess what?
Rebounding from two injury-marred seasons, Ethan Pocic brought stability to the middle of the #Seahawks offensive line in 2020.
But as he heads towards free agency, did he play well enough to warrant a new contract?https://t.co/eRmJtcL0er
— Corbin Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) February 5, 2021
They brought in rookie Damien Lewis at RG last season and had a very up and down year.
LT Duane Brown and LG Mike Iupati are old as dirt and injury-prone.
Who is RT Cedric Ogbuehi?
If the Seahawks take a corner in the second round, their next pick will be in the fourth round.
Needing someone with versatility, OT/G Thayer Munford from Ohio State would be a great option.
Highest-graded OTs on true pass sets this season:
1. Alijah Vera-Tucker – 89.2
2. Brady Christensen – 88.9
3. Thayer Munford – 87.1
4. Liam Eichenberg – 84.3 pic.twitter.com/N3JuDacrdy— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) February 6, 2021
Munford was viewed as an early-round draft pick but had a down year in 2019.
He returned for his senior year and showed he has the skill to play at the next level.
College scouts have suggested Munford can move to guard in the NFL, which would be perfect for the Seahawks.
This could give Iupati and his $2.5M cap hit the boot and bring some youth to the hawks offensive line.
Some competition needs to be brought to the RT position, so I am choosing Stone Forsythe from Florida.
.@stone_forsythe growth over 5 years at Florida has been tremendous. He’s a warrior. Stuck it out at his dream school for 5 years and now has a bright future ahead of him in the NFL! @WestOrangeFB pic.twitter.com/smPOiNgd0X
— Collin Drafts (@CoachDrafts) December 20, 2020
He had his ups and downs in 2020 but proved he can handle elite pass rushers in the SEC.
Forsythe is a projected 3-5 round draft pick, so the Seahawks can pick him at in the fourth or fifth if they get lucky.
3: Quarterback
I went there.
The Seahawks are playing with fire by refusing to bring in a young, competent backup for Russell Wilson.
I am by no means suggesting the Seahawks move on from Wilson, but hanging onto a $1M coin-flipper is silly.
It does not hurt to bring in some young blood for Wilson to try and groom into an NFL starter.
At the very least, he can turn into trade bait after a good preseason performance and get the hawks a few draft picks.
I am going to wait and see if QB Feleipe Franks from Arkansas can drop to the seventh round.
.@RazorbackFB QB Feleipe Franks finds @Kenny_Yeboah84 who comes down with the TD!
📺: Reese's @seniorbowl on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/OVoDqGIMmV
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 30, 2021
Do the Seahawks more immediate needs if they want to win the Super Bowl in 2021?
Sure, but at some point, you need to start thinking long-term.
Franks has a Josh Allen feel to him.
He has a big arm but that doesn’t mean he is accurate.
Franks definitely has some work to do at the next level, but in today’s big passing play style offenses, he could find some success.
