NFL Draft 100 Best Picks: Seahawks Jaxon Smith-Njigba Headlines Class
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll put together a strong draft class last year, netting several early contributors such as cornerback Tariq Woolen and running back Kenneth Walker III.
Perhaps best of all, Seattle's 2023 draft class is receiving extremely high marks, and if the praise is matched by on-field production, will give Schneider and Carroll their second consecutive difference-making class.
How good is Seattle's group? ESPN recently broke down the 100 best selections in this year's draft, and the Seahawks landed four ... with two in the top-five alone, the best overall pick.
Standing atop the list was Seattle's selection of receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 20 overall ...
"The Seahawks grabbed my No. 5 overall player and WR1 at pick No. 20, one of the best values of the first round. On top of that, JSN is an ideal fit in the slot -- where he dominated at Ohio State -- and can complement DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in what could be a very good offense this season. I also think Smith-Njigba will seamlessly slide into the WR2 role down the road, once Lockett is no longer there." - ESPN's Matt Miller
Smith-Njigba was viewed as a likely top-15 selection but endured a mini-slide that ultimately guided him to the Pacific Northwest ... and to being named the draft's best pick.
But he wasn't the Seahawks' lone first-round pick - nor was he the lone such selection to earn top-five honors.
Former Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon, drafted at No. 5 overall, joined Smith-Ngijba at the top of Seattle's class and ESPN's rankings, coming in at No. 5 ...
"Sometimes a great draft pick isn't based on need but rather value and team fit. Cornerback wasn't the Seahawks' biggest weakness, but Witherspoon's grade as a player and what he brings to Seattle stand out. With Witherspoon (and Tariq Woolen), the Seahawks are on their way to building yet another elite secondary. He is a silky-smooth cover man with good ball skills (three interceptions in 2022) and toughness." - Miller
Of the Seahawks' 10 selections, it's only right that their first two would earn the highest marks ... but the idea of both being among the league's best overall is certainly encouraging.
However, Schneider and Carroll know that hitting Day 3 picks is crucial for team building - look no further than last year with Woolen and fellow cornerback Coby Bryant.
And really, this is why the Seahawks' class has been so highly touted - it's a deep group that featured several stout picks on the draft's final day.
One such selection was Michigan defensive end Mike Morris, drafted by Seattle at No. 151 overall, with ESPN slotting the pick as the 84th-best across the league ...
"The Seahawks needed speed and power at defensive end in this draft and got it with Derick Hall in Round 2 and Morris in Round 5. At 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds, Morris will be a 5-technique in the team's three-man front but also has experience standing up and rushing over the tackle, too. He is a scheme fit who fills a need while also having developmental upside." - Miller
Morris was named the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2022 after recording seven and a half sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
But wait, there's still more.
Sticking with improving the lines of scrimmage, Seattle's first four picks on Day 3 were spent on linemen, with LSU offensive guard Anthony Bradford kicking things off at No. 108 overall.
The selection of Bradford concluded Seattle's mentions on the top-100 list, coming in at No. 98 ...
"Bradford makes the top 100 because he could be starting very soon in Seattle despite coming off the board on Day 3. He has the mauler mentality in the run game that coach Pete Carroll loves, and he could quickly push Phil Haynes for playing time at right guard." - Miller
These are only four of the Seahawks' 10 picks, and the list didn't include second-round selections in Auburn edge defender Derick Hall and UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet, both of whom are expected to make an impact early.
There's also fourth-round pick and former Mississippi State defensive tackle Cameron Young, a strong run defender, and Michigan center Olusegun Oluwatimi, who could start at some point during his rookie season.
In essence, Schneider, Carroll and staff appear to have followed up last year's act with another loud statement - one that has the Seahawks firmly in the mix to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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