Like any NFL team, the Seattle Seahawks want to get better before the 2014 season kicks off in September. With the 2014 NFL draft set to begin Thursday, May 8, now is the time. This week is the one week where Seattle can make a difference in terms of adding impact players to the roster.
No doubt, the Seahawks are “all in” on the 2014 NFL draft. Their entire offseason since winning the Super Bowl in February has centered on jettisoning veterans deemed unworthy of retention and resigning a handful of core veterans. Unlike last offseason, the Seahawks are likely to see an infusion of new talent only through the draft process.
Now or never
This week, it’s all or nothing. As the defending champions, the rest of the NFL aims first and foremost at surpassing the Seahawks. The Seahawks’ prime goal is to hold their ground against the rest of the 31-team league looking to close the gap.
For all the hullabaloo about Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles, Derek Carr and a few other “name” quarterbacks, the 2014 draft is considered by many experts and football prognosticators to be one of good depth but few sure-fire stars at the game’s most important position. Fortunately for Seattle (picking at the end of each round), they are not in need of a quarterback.
So why bring them up? Here’s why: quarterback is the most over-drafted position in the NFL. The last-picking Seahawks can only benefit by a first-round run on quarterbacks before they get their turn to pick. In this draft, it’s not entirely unlikely that all four get nabbed before the Seahawks take their turn.
That means four other players the Seahawks can actually use will get closer to the Seahawks’ draft slot.
The Seahawks don’t need to find a guy to distribute the ball — but they do need to impact the passing game. No, Seattle’s needs are a bit different: pass catchers and pass blockers to improve the Seahawks’ 26th-ranked passing offense are at the top of general manager John Schneider’s and head coach Pete Carroll’s draft wish list.
You mock me
All of the mock drafts have been done. It’s time for the real deal. With the draft falling two weeks later than normal in the NFL year, it’s fair to never want to hear the words “mock draft” ever again. At this late stage, the top players are identified, ranked and re-ranked. Fortunately for Seattle, their needs dovetail nicely with the way the draft is projected to unfold.
The 2014 draft is rich with strong possibilities at the 32nd selection of the first round at the wide receiver and tight end positions. While the big-name receiver talents such as Odell Beckham, Jr., Sammy Watkins and fast-rising Mike Evans are certainly going to be selected before the Seahawks get their turn, there are more potential impact wide receivers still likely to be available: Brandin Cooks (Oregon State), Marquise Lee, Cody Latimer or Davante Adams. Each of these “second-tier” receivers can add much to the Seahawks receiving corps.
Should the Seahawks opt for receiving help at the tight end position, again, there is good depth to choose from. The top two tight ends, Eric Ebron and Jace Amaro, will likely be gone, but it’s unlikely that the next tier of tight ends, including Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Washington Huskies) and Troy Niklas will be available.
Should the Seahawks decide to go for the best available player on the offensive line, again, the Seahawks are in luck. With two 2013 starters departed (Breno Giacomini and Paul McQuistan) the Seahawks are certainly shopping for new offensive line talent. While many general managers are loath to select a guard high in the first round of the NFL draft, there are no such worries when you’re picking 32nd. With second-year right tackle Michael Bowie (a seventh-round selection) the current projected starting right tackle, the Seahawks are looking to upgrade.
Tackles Morgan Moses, Cyrus Kouandjio and Zack Martin may be available for the Seahawks at 32. If a run on quarterbacks or wide receivers takes place in the first round, it’s even possible the Seahawks could land tackle Taylor Lewan. Guards Xavier Su’a Filo and Trai Turner are also strong possibilities for the Seahawks at the end of round one.
What about the Legion of Boom?
Don’t discount the possibility that Schneider and Carroll pull the trigger on a defensive back at 32. Despite investing mega bucks in safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Richard Sherman, the Seahawks did lose a couple of talented corners in Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond. Safety Kam Chancellor recently underwent hip surgery. His availability for the preseason is in question. In today’s pass-happy NFL, no team can ever have enough cover guys. Though the Seahawks locked up two of the team’s top defenders, they lost two key performers and may be without Chancellor for some time.
If the Seahawks let the draft come to them, a DB may be the best player available. Don’t expect the Seahawks to pass that up. Add a first-round draft pick to the Seahawks secondary and you’ll have the most expensive defensive backfield the NFL is ever likely to see.
Back, back, back, back
The safest bet for the Seahawks going into this draft is for Schneider to trade back to nab more picks. Seattle only has six selections at present for the 2014 draft. Seattle’s final pick of the night, which closes out round one, (round two takes place on Friday) offers a tantalizing choice to other general managers that might want to out-maneuver the salivating wannabes that will try to tempt the Houston Texans out of their 33rd (top of the second round) pick. Don’t want to get into a bidding war with half of the league to grab the first player in the second round? Knock on Seattle’s door and beat everyone to the punch.
Count on the Seahawks to trade at least one pick and likely more, in an effort to get more mid- and later-round picks. With no free agency acquisitions of note in the 2014 offseason, the Seahawks need more swings at the talent plate if they want to stay ahead of the rest of the league.
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