Seahawks Draft Profile: DE Keion White a Versatile Option in 2nd Round?
The Seattle Seahawks nailed last year's draft with some mid- to late-round gems.
Could Georgia Tech defensive end Keion White be next?
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock draft on Tuesday and had White going to Seattle's NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams, in the second round at No. 37. This is two picks before the Seahawks' selection at No. 39, potentially putting White in position to be scooped up by Seattle.
But what makes him so appealing?
Kiper listed White's versatility as a major reason for this selection high in the second round. But his multi-faceted ability isn't limited to the defensive side of the ball. He began his college career as a tight end.
More on that later ...
Having been listed as a linebacker, defensive end and defensive tackle, White totaled an impressive 11 sacks during his three-year collegiate career. This included 7.5 last season with the Yellow Jackets.
White seemed to bring the big guns the better the opposition was. In an impressive 21-17 comeback win on the road for Georgia Tech over No. 13 North Carolina on Nov. 19, White sacked potential 2024 No. 1 overall pick and Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye three times.
Behind White's efforts, North Carolina was shutout in the second half at home.
But even in a blowout loss earlier in the season, White showed that the competition brought his game to another level. In a 41-10 loss to No. 4 Clemson on Sept. 4, he sacked Tigers standout quarterback DJ Uiagalelei twice in what was one of the only bright spots for Tech that day.
All of this becomes even more impressive when considering that White began his college career at Old Dominion as a tight end. This comfort and ability to make plays on the ball as a pass-rusher gives White even more value should he land on a Rams defensive line alongside superstar Aaron Donald.
White caught 11 balls for 124 yards as a freshman before making the switch to defense. While these numbers from a tight end would be overlooked by most, it's significant considering White's sudden rise to being a potential second-round prospect as a pass-rusher.
When Kiper mentioned White's versatility, he certainly wasn't kidding, despite forgetting to mention his experience on offense.
The Rams are trying to rebuild their defense on the fly -- there aren't many starters left from their 2021 Super Bowl-winning season. At 6-5, 285 pounds, White is a nice fit as an end in L.A.'s 3-4 defense. He played both tackle and end in college, putting up 7.5 sacks last season. The Rams need a defender who could contribute immediately.
The Seahawks could win in two ways by selecting White: adding another young talent to a rejuvenated defense while also taking away a potential late-round draft target from their division rival.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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