For a team that has seen a nearly complete overhaul on the defensive side of the ball and still has holes on the offense, this year’s draft in Dallas is an important one for Seattle. They have very few picks to do this so trading down is a real possibility, particularly in the first round.
With that said, the Seahawks staying where they currently stand sets them up for success if some of the right players fall. So let’s take a look at some of the best case scenarios for Seattle in this year’s draft.
Seattle Seahawks 7-Round Mock Draft
1st Round, 18th overall – Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
Since trading Richard Sherman, the cornerback position has become a big need for Seattle. They’re currently touting Neiko Thorpe and Shaquill Griffin as their starters and with the recent success of Jared Goff and Jimmy Garoppolo, protecting against the pass in the division is important.
Jackson is an absolute ball-hawk as evidenced by his 27 pass defenses and eight interceptions and good instincts. Seattle is in good position to nab him since most teams below them have bigger needs than cornerback so getting Jackson at 18 would be the best case scenario. Experience is a concern but with such a glaring need, Jackson is a player Seattle has to pull the trigger on if they won’t trade down.
4th round, 120th overall – Cole Madison, G, Washington State
The Seahawks have to find value in the mid-rounds if this draft will be a successful one for them and Madison is exactly the type of player they need to grab to do that. His negatives include things like strength problems and technique issues which both can be fixed through coaching relatively easily. His strengths come in the form of his instincts, reaction and overall athletic ability which are things that can’t be taught making him more valuable.
5th round, 141st overall – Folorunso Fatukasi, DT, University of Connecticut
With the departures of Sheldon Richardson and Michael Bennett, the Seahawks have a massive need on the defensive line but mostly at defensive tackle. Fatukasi is an extremely raw talent for sure but his promise greatly outweighs his negatives. He has enough power and strength to succeed at the next level and his versatility on the line will be a big benefit for Seattle.
5th round, 146th overall – Troy Fumagalli, TE, University of Wisconsin
The Jimmy Graham project failed fairly spectacularly in Seattle and they are now left without a true long-term answer at the position. Fumagalli is 6’6” and while he lacks the true talent that many want from top-tier tight ends, his promise with understanding the intricacies with route running combined with his size makes this a fair risk in the fifth round.
5th round, 156th overall – Keke Coutee, WR, Texas Tech University
One of the more underrated needs Seattle has is at the wide receiver position. Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett are both good players but beyond those two, the Seahawks don’t have a lot of depth. Coutee would provide exactly that, especially because he is a small receiver who is best fit for the slot position. His size and toughness may limit him to a secondary role but that is exactly what the Seahawks need right now.
5th round, 168th overall – Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State
Seattle double-dipping at offensive line shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Jones has the athleticism to match what they are looking for especially in pass protection which is a key factor when you have a quarterback who commonly goes on the move. Russell Wilson is Seattle’s biggest asset so protecting him will be a top priority for the Seahawks.
7th round – 226th overall – John Kelly, RB, Tennessee
Seattle will likely address their running back problem earlier on if they trade down but if not, they will have to find value late in the draft. Kelly is not a bad way of doing that. While he doesn’t have what it takes to be a true number one back, he does have the skills necessary to be an effective piece of a running-back committee. He’s great in the passing game and his ability as a blocker makes him an effective third-down back.
7th round – 248th overall – Natrell Jamerson, S, Wisconsin
Earl Thomas was the subject of some trade rumors earlier this offseason so clearly, his time in Seattle is limited. One of the biggest knocks on Jamerson is his size. He’s 6’0” and 200 lbs. which is virtually the same size as Thomas so Seattle knows how to utilize him despite that. His instinctive and aggressive nature fits well with Seattle’s style and if given a year or two to develop, Jamerson could turn out to be a steal.