Seattle has the twenty-seventh pick and made it to the second round of the playoffs. They have one of the game’s best quarterbacks in Russell Wilson, but they need to improve their offensive line and pass rush.
The Seahawks have seven picks in the draft: a first, two seconds, a third, two fourths, no fifth, a sixth, and no seventh. Their extra second round choice comes from Kansas City in the Frank Clark deal. Compensatory picks come to them in the third, fourth, and sixth rounds.
I list the needs below, including major, for depth, and areas they are unlikely to look at. I may add categories for a particular situation.
Major Needs (No Particular Order):
Offensive Line: For a perennial playoff team, this is a bad line that gets bailed out by the mobile Russell Wilson. Left tackle Duane Brown is the best player on the line and he will be 35 on opening day. Mike Iupati is the left guard, while the center is open for competition. BJ Finney was signed from the Steelers in free agency after being a backup. The position had eight starts each from Justin Britt and Joey Hunt. The right side has DJ Fluker at guard and possibly Cedric Ogbuehi at tackle, a free agent signing from Jacksonville after bombing out as a first-round pick in Cincinnati. Brandon Shell is another free agent signing from the Jets at tackle. Other backups on the line include Ethan Pocic, Jordan Roos, free agent signing Chance Warmack, and Phil Haynes. This team needs a tackle, maybe two. Picking an interior lineman may also be helpful.
Edge Rusher: Nobody on the team had more than four sacks and the team as a whole only had 28. With Jadaeveon Clowney and Ziggy Ansah currently unsigned, there are four on the roster. Bruce Irvin (Carolina) and Benson Mayowa (Raiders) are free agent signings to go with Rasheem Green and LJ Collier, last year’s first-round pick. Quinton Jefferson left for Buffalo in free agency and Branden Jackson is unsigned. This position will probably be addressed sooner rather than later.
Cornerback: This is an area that may be addressed early. Shaquill Griffin came on and had a very good year. Tre Flowers had an average year and there will be competition for his job. Quinton Dunbar was acquired from Washington, while Ugo Amadi, Neiko Thorpe, and Kalan Reed are back from last year. There will be two corners picked: one early and the other in the mid-to-late rounds.
Depth:
Quarterback: Russell Wilson is one of the game’ best and is the only quarterback on the roster with Geno Smith unsigned. Wilson makes this team go and makes up for a mediocre line. An injury to him would hurt this team and drafting someone to fill in would be helpful.
Running Back: The main ball carriers were Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny. Carson ran for 1,230 yards and was sidelined late in the year, along with Penny and others, to the point where Marshawn Lynch was pulled out of retirement. Travis Homer and Adam Choice are other backs, while Nick Bellore is the fullback when needed. CJ Prosise, Lynch, and Robert Turbin are unsigned free agents. Another back could be chosen for depth.
Wide Receiver: The Seahawks have the makings of a good pair in Tyler Lockett and last year’s second-round choice, DK Metcalf. They signed Phillip Dorsett from New England to provide some depth, while David Moore and Malik Turner saw action. John Ursua, Penny Hart, and Cody Thompson round out this unit. Jaron Brown is unsigned. One more good receiver would make this group very strong.
Tight End: The Seahawks signed Wayne Hills alum Greg Olsen shortly after he was released by Carolina in a cost-cutting move and he should be the starter. The trio of Will Dissly, Jacob Hollister, and Luke Willson all started some games, with Dissly catching 23 passes in six games before missing the rest of the season, Hollister had 41 receptions, and Willson had seven starts as the blocking tight end. This is a deep position with Olsen’s signing and if Dissly can stay healthy, it’s a team strength.
Defensive Tackle: The incumbents are Poona Ford and Jarran Reed. In reserve is Nazair Jones, while Bryan Mone and Demarcus Christmas are vying for time. Al Woods left for Jacksonville in free agency. It is not a big need, but they may pick a tackle for rotational purposes.
Linebacker: The Seahawks are strong at two of the three positions, with All-Pro Bobby Wagner in the middle and KJ Wright on the weak side. Strong side is where it’s unsettled. Mychal Kendricks is unsigned and while Pete Carroll may want him back, it’s unknown whether he returns. As it stands, it may be between Bruce Irvin and Cody Barton; Irvin returns from Carolina in free agency and also plays end, while Barton was a third-round pick. Others on the roster include Shaquem Griffin and Ben Burr-Kirven. It is not a big need and they addressed this last year, but another could be chosen.
Safety: There is potential with Brad McDougald at strong safety and Quandre Diggs at free. Diggs came from Detroit in a trade at midseason and played well down the stretch. McDougald played well and provides leadership. The reserves are Marquise Blair, Delano Hill, and Ryan Neal. Blair was one of their second-round choices. Any pick here will be for depth.
*Information from various sources, including Pro-Football Reference, Sportac, and ESPN.