The combine was held this past week in Indianapolis in front of a captive crowd of coaches, general managers, and scouts, each of them hoping to uncover the truth about the players they have been scouting all year. Now that the dust has settled, let’s examine how the combine shook out, and how it effects the Seattle Seahawks.
Offensive Line:
I have recently been on the side of caution when it comes to drafting linemen early. It’s not that I undervalue the position, but that it would involve going against recent Seahawk trends. Although the Seahawks have spent early picks on linemen before (James Carpenter, John Moffitt), that was when Seattle was in the early stages of building their team and they needed a massive rebuild of the offensive line. The current Seahawk offensive line is far from perfect, but they are established and grade well as a run blocking unit.
It’s likely that James Carpenter will be too expensive to resign which will leave an open spot at guard. So while there is a need to draft a lineman at some point in the draft, I believe it would be prudent of the front office to hold out until the mid-to-late rounds to pick a lineman, unless the value is too great at pick 31. A few names to monitor for days 2 and 3 of the draft are Rob Crisp, Mitch Morse and Ali Marpet.
Crisp put in an impressive workout at the combine, measuring in at 6 foot 7 with 10 inch hands and an impressive 32.5 inch vertical. Mitch Morse and Ali Marpet both had impressive combines as well. They both ran under 4.5 in the 3-cone drill and had verticals over 30 inches at 6-5. The offensive line depth in this draft is solid and it’s the kind of soft-spot in the draft that I’m sure the Seahawks will exploit.
Defensive Line:
This was a group that really showed up at the combine. Overall, it is a group with a lot of good depth with a slew of very talented athletes in a group by themselves. This group includes Vic Beasely, Shane Ray, Dante Fowler Jr., Randy Gregory, Leonard Williams, Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Danny Shelton, Eddie Goldman, and Eli Harold.
While it is almost impossible to know how the draft will play out, I am sure that the Seahawks would be all over any of these players if they managed to slip to 31. It is always a positive if you can add a disruptive presence in the trenches. Unfortunately, it is highly likely that none of these players will be available come the Seahawks’ selection. Fortunately, like the offensive line group, there is plenty of quality depth in the DL group that will allow for a more patient approach towards replenishing the rotation.
Wide Receiver:
The Seahawks need a wide receiver. This WR class is strong all throughout and may even give 2014’s class a run for its money. I can’t see a scenario in which the Seahawks go the first two rounds without drafting a wideout (barring a trade back for an early third).
The first tier group of WR’s includes Amari Cooper, Kevin White, and Devante Adams. These are all special players that will be long gone before the 31st pick. Lock it in. The second tier is far more exciting and unpredictable. This is the group the Seahawks will pick from. It includes Dorial Green-Beckham, Devin Smith, Devin Funchess, Tre McBride, Nelson Agholor, Sammie Coates, Jaelen Strong, Darren Waller, and Chris Conley.
This group has such fantastic variety that it will come to what abilities the Seahawks covet in their wideouts. If you want a big, fast athlete that will fight for contested balls then you have Dorial Green-Beckham, Devin Funchess, Jaelen Strong, and Darren Waller. If you are looking for speed and quickness then Devin Smith and Sammie Coates fit the bill. If route-running is your fancy then you have Nelson Agholor. I, personally, would love a chance to take Green-Beckham or Jaelen Strong, as it would add a different dimension to the WR group.
Free Agency Post-Combine:
All signs point to the 2015 draft being an integral step in the Seahawks invigorating their roster and competing for another title in 2015-16. The only problem that is staring the Hawks dead in the face is the draft’s lack of cornerback depth. While a couple of DB’s tested well at the combine, as a whole the group was disappointing. This is bad news for the team as they are in need of cornerback depth with Byron Maxwell likely leaving.
The Seahawks are very proficient at picking late round corners and developing them into solid pros, but coaching takes time and it is unlikely that any late round DB we draft will be ready to start in 2015. My guess is that General Manager John Schneider will be very active in free-agency looking for a solid veteran that can come in and challenge for a starting spot.
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