NFL Draft Grades - Seattle Seahawks
Change Team:
Seattle Seahawks Upcoming 2023 Draft Picks (10)
Grade: D
Uhh, what? Did the Seahawks forget that they're experts at drafting cornerbacks in the middle and late rounds? Did they also fail to remember that they have a talented No. 1 cornerback? Seattle really needed to improve its pass rush. Picking Witherspoon here over Jalen Carter seems ridiculous.
Grade: A+
How in the world did Jaxon Smith-Njigba drop to Seattle? I understand the Seahawks have D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but the latter is in his 30s and won't be on the roster much longer. Besides, Seattle needed a better third receiver in the short term. This is a tremendous pick.
Grade: C+
Derick Hall doesn't have great athleticism and upside, so I thought he should have been slated in the third round. I don't think this is terrible value, however, and Hall fills a big need for a team that couldn't get to the quarterback last year.
Grade: D
I don't understand this pick. Kenneth Walker had a tremendous rookie year, so a running back was one of the last things the Seahawks needed. I like Zach Charbonnet as a receiving back, but the Seahawks pretty much wasted this selection.
Grade: C-
The Broncos needed a cornerback, but this is too early for Riley Moss. The Iowa prospect has some speed concerns and a checkered injury history, so I thought he would be chosen around the fifth-round range.
Grade: B
The Seahawks were terrible against the run last year, so they needed to make a pick like this. Cameron Young will help them stuff the rush. He makes sense in the middle of the fourth round.
Grade: A-
Mike Morris isn't a high-upside player, but is a powerful end who can stuff the run and get to the quarterback. He should have been chosen earlier than this, so I love the pick.
Grade: A
Olusegun Oluwatimi is a solid center prospect and I thought he would be chosen earlier than this, perhaps late third or early fourth. The Seahawks needed a center, and they're getting great value.
Grade: B+
A safety makes sense for the Seahawks, especially one whom I had in the fifth round. Jerrick Reed is a good athlete, but size limitations dropped him. He's still a good pick here in the sixth frame.
Grade: A-
Another running back? This would be much better if the Seahawks didn't waste a much earlier pick. Kenny McIntosh is a great receiver out of the backfield, and I thought he would go way earlier than this
Walt's Mock Selections as of 6/6/2023 -View Current Mock Draft
Round: 1
Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
It's amazing that at No. 5, the Seahawks could end up with the top prospect in this class. With the Panthers moving up to No. 1, we now know for sure that the top two picks will be a quarterback. If the Cardinals trade the third choice, there will be four quarterbacks gone after four picks, leaving the Seahawks with Will Anderson, who will provide a huge boost to their pass rush.
If, however, Anderson is off the board, the Seahawks will strongly consider Jalen Carter. The Georgia product is having a rough pre-draft session with an arrest and a horrible Pro Day workout, but the Seahawks have taken chances on troubled players in the past. Carter is a top-three prospect in this class based on the tape.
*** OTHER 2023 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Will Anderson or Tyree Wilson, DE - This should be the floor for the top two pass rushers unless something very strange happens.
2. C.J. Stroud, QB - If both the Texans and Colts pass on C.J. Stroud, the Seahawks will certainly have to consider him as their long-term franchise quarterback.
Round: 1
Seattle Seahawks: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
The Seahawks need to strengthen their defensive line, but they can take a break and focus on their offense. Tyler Lockett is 31, so he won't be around much longer. Seattle hasn't possessed a talented third receiver in quite some time.
Zay Flowers is a small receiver, but can go the distance whenver he touches the ball.
*** OTHER 2023 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Calijah Kancey/Mazi Smith, DTs - If the Seahawks went edge at No. 5, these defensive tackles would be in play at No. 20.
2. Myles Murphy, DE - Tyler Lockett is 31, so the Seahawks need a No. 2 receiver for the future in addition to a No. 3 for the present.
Round: 2
Seattle Seahawks: Will McDonald, DE, Iowa State
The Seahawks aren't messing around with their defensive front. They really need to upgrade their terribly weak pass rush.
Will McDonald is a fast and athletic edge rusher.
Round: 2
Seattle Seahawks: Cam Mitchell, CB/S, Northwestern
The Seahawks lost Ryan Neal this offseason, which would explain why they brought in so many safeties for top-30 visits.
Cam Mitchell is an instinctive, phsyical cornerback with good size. He can also play safety.
Round: 3
Seattle Seahawks: Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M
The Seahawks could stand to add another mid-round talented cornerback to their secondary.
Jaylon Jones is an instinctive cornerback with good speed and athleticism.
Round: 4
Seattle Seahawks: Jordan McFadden, G, Clemson
Seattle had great offensive tackle play last year from its two rookies, but the interior blocking could stand to improve.
Jordan McFadden may have to move to guard in the NFL.
Round: 5
Seattle Seahawks: Nick Herbig, OLB, Wisconsin
Yet another edge rusher for the pass rushing-starved Seahawks.
Nick Herbig projects as a situational edge rusher, as he is undersized for a full-time role.
Round: 5
Seattle Seahawks: Jerrick Reed, S, New Mexico
Here's more help for Seattle's secondary. The Seahawks have to deal with all of San Francisco's weapons, so they'll want as much defensive back help as possible.
Round: 6
Seattle Seahawks: Robert Cooper, DT, Florida State
The Seahawks are thin on the defensive line, so I would expect them to spend numerous picks to fix this problem.
Round: 7
Seattle Seahawks: Jake Andrews, C, Troy
The Seahawks can add more competition to a troubled center position with this pick.
Past Grades and Selections
2023 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
D Uhh, what? Did the Seahawks forget that they're experts at drafting cornerbacks in the middle and late rounds? Did they also fail to remember that they have a talented No. 1 cornerback? Seattle really needed to improve its pass rush. Picking Witherspoon here over Jalen Carter seems ridiculous.
A+ How in the world did Jaxon Smith-Njigba drop to Seattle? I understand the Seahawks have D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but the latter is in his 30s and won't be on the roster much longer. Besides, Seattle needed a better third receiver in the short term. This is a tremendous pick.
C+ Derick Hall doesn't have great athleticism and upside, so I thought he should have been slated in the third round. I don't think this is terrible value, however, and Hall fills a big need for a team that couldn't get to the quarterback last year.
D I don't understand this pick. Kenneth Walker had a tremendous rookie year, so a running back was one of the last things the Seahawks needed. I like Zach Charbonnet as a receiving back, but the Seahawks pretty much wasted this selection.
C- The Broncos needed a cornerback, but this is too early for Riley Moss. The Iowa prospect has some speed concerns and a checkered injury history, so I thought he would be chosen around the fifth-round range.
B The Seahawks were terrible against the run last year, so they needed to make a pick like this. Cameron Young will help them stuff the rush. He makes sense in the middle of the fourth round.
A- Mike Morris isn't a high-upside player, but is a powerful end who can stuff the run and get to the quarterback. He should have been chosen earlier than this, so I love the pick.
A Olusegun Oluwatimi is a solid center prospect and I thought he would be chosen earlier than this, perhaps late third or early fourth. The Seahawks needed a center, and they're getting great value.
B+ A safety makes sense for the Seahawks, especially one whom I had in the fifth round. Jerrick Reed is a good athlete, but size limitations dropped him. He's still a good pick here in the sixth frame.
A- Another running back? This would be much better if the Seahawks didn't waste a much earlier pick. Kenny McIntosh is a great receiver out of the backfield, and I thought he would go way earlier than this
2022 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
A- Grade
I would've preferred Jermaine Johnson, but Charles Cross is an excellent pick as well. The Seahawks have needed to spend a premium pick on an offensive line for quite some time, and they've finally done so. It's funny that it finally happens when Russell Wilson is gone, but Seattle needs better blocking without Wilson's mobility.
B Grade
Teams were torn on Boye Mafe. Some believed he would go in the first round, while others thought he was a vanilla day-two left end. It looks like Mafe fell somewhere in between. I imagine he'll help the Seahawks' horrible pass rush, which sorely needed to be upgraded.
B+ Grade
I'm torn on this pick. I love Kenneth Walker, as his balance and run-after-contract ability is off the charts. He's my top running back. However, the Seahawks could've addressed their huge hole at quarterback and failed to do so with their two selections. They could have taken another running back later on Day 2. Still, I don't hate this pick because Walker was one of my favorite players in this range.
B Grade
Wow, still no quarterback? This Drew Lock versus Geno Smith camp battle is going to be lit. The Seahawks will at least be able to protect for Lock or Smith with Charles Cross and now Abraham Lucas. The Washington State product is very athletic and fits what the Seahawks look for in blocking prospects. I like the fit, but come on, this had to be Malik Willis.
B Grade
Coby Bryant is a solid prospect I had in the fourth round for most of my mock draft updates, so I like this range for him. He also fills a need the Seahawks had at cornerback. I just wonder why Seattle hasn't addressed quarterback yet. The team has no chance with Geno Smith or Drew Lock.
A+ Grade
This is a classic fifth-round cornerback pick by the Seahawks. Tariq Woolen is tall and athletic like other corners Seattle has drafted. Woolen would've been taken much earlier if it weren't for health worries, but this is incredible value that fills a need. I love this selection.
B+ Grade
The Seahawks entered the draft desperately needing to upgrade their horrible pass rush. Tyreke Smith, joining Boye Mafe, should help make that happen. Smith was someone I expected to be drafted in this range, so I like this pick.
B Grade
I mocked Chris Paul eight picks after this one, so I like the range for this prospect. Adding offensive line help makes sense as well, given that the Redskins currently don't have a great blocking unit to shield Carson Wentz or Sam Howell.
2021 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
F Grade
There are so many reasons to hate this pick. First of all, it's a shock that the Seahawks didn't trade down because they had just three selections in this draft. Second, Russell Wilson complained about offensive line help, yet Seattle didn't address it. Third, Dwayne Eskridge was someone I've had in the third or fourth rounds. And fourth, this doesn't fill a need at all.
A- Grade
There was a stretch last year when the Buccaneers lost some games because they didn't have any healthy receivers. They're making sure that doesn't happen again. Jaelon Darden is a legitimate sleeper. He'll be able to see more of the field in 2022 when the Buccaneers inevitably move on from Antonio Brown.