Seahawks Draft: All Options Open for GM John Schneider
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Who will the Seattle Seahawks select with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft?
Now less than two weeks away from the festivities in Kansas City, the answer to that question remains as uncertain as it did when Seattle's 2022 season came to an end with a postseason loss to San Francisco in mid-January. But while the lack of clarity would often be viewed as a negative, that's not the case for general manager John Schneider and company, who have positioned themselves to go a number of different routes and still add premium talent to the roster.
From a needs standpoint, the Seahawks would be wise to attack defense, particularly continuing to overhaul their rebuilt defensive line. Even with Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, and Boye Mafe returning in 2023, if standout Alabama EDGE defender Will Anderson Jr. falls to the fifth overall pick, Schneider should be sprinting to the phone in the war room to call in the pick for a potential pass rushing superstar.
If Anderson isn't on the board, Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter may be the most talented player in this year's draft class and would immediately bolster an interior defensive line that has lost established veterans Shelby Harris, Quinton Jefferson, and Al Woods this offseason. Of course, such a selection wouldn't come without controversy due to the player's tumultuous pre-draft process, including being charged with two misdemeanors for racing and reckless driving in March.
Selecting either Anderson or Carter, at least from a football perspective when not considering Carter's numerous red flags, would be "chalk" picks for Schneider that match how he and the front office drafted last season plugging needs with the best players available.
But as Schneider pointed out on his weekly radio show on Seattle Sports 710 last Thursday, every draft class has unique qualities. While the Seahawks' tendencies in past drafts shouldn't be completely ignored, they also shouldn't be used as end all, be all guidelines for what the franchise will do with the fifth pick later this month either.
"Every class is completely different," Schneider remarked. "You can go back and look. I was doing it last night. I can't say what year, sorry. But I went back and looked at a class and the first round was just awful. Why did guys bust? And why did the guys make it in that class? There was only like five guys in that class that made it."
In the question leading to that response, Schneider was asked about Seattle's past trends drafting receivers and cornerbacks. Dating back to his arrival with coach Pete Carroll in 2010, the organization has never picked a cornerback earlier than 90th overall and never picked a receiver earlier than 45th overall in 13 previous drafts, which has created a narrative that the team won't pick a player from either position in the first round.
However, the Seahawks have afforded themselves flexibility to go any number of directions with their fifth overall pick. By signing Dre'Mont Jones to a three-year, $51 million deal, they don't have to force the issue rolling the dice on Carter if they have concerns about his character. With Nwosu, Taylor, and Mafe already on the roster and all under the age of 26, while Anderson falling into their laps would be ideal, they don't have to reach for an EDGE either.
Instead, even after re-signing Pro Bowl quarterback Geno Smith to a three-year deal in March, Seattle could use the top-five pick on a signal caller if the right prospect falls to them. As Schneider said at the combine, quarterbacks "don't grow on trees" and they don't expect to pick this high again, so taking advantage of the opportunity for a young talent such as Florida's Anthony Richardson would make a ton of sense.
Going outside the box, Schneider could also invest the fifth pick in a cornerback such as Devon Witherspoon, who recently met with the Seahawks for a top-30 visit and would create a dynamic one-two punch with Pro Bowler Tariq Woolen on the outside. Such a pairing coupled with star safeties Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams would bring back memories of the "Legion of Boom" with elite talent throughout the secondary.
If Richardson and Anderson aren't available and Schneider isn't comfortable drafting Carter or Witherspoon fifth overall, Seattle could also aim to trade down to recoup picks. Depending on who is on the board, the team could still land a quality prospect such as Northwestern tackle Peter Skoronski, Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy, or Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez among other possibilities.
"It depends on the class. Best player, best fit and away we go," Schneider said of the process. "I know this is entertainment so when you guys are talking about, 'Well, these mock guys have this here and that there' and all that, it's understandable because of the player."
What will ultimately drive Schneider's decision making for the Seahawks later this month? At the end of the day, talent evaluation still carries the majority of the weight, especially with a rare top-five pick the team hasn't had since 2009. This is why Carter recently visited the VMAC and at least for now remains in the mix despite his off-field troubles and work ethic-related concerns.
But other factors will also be held in serious consideration. If Seattle wasn't pleased with what it heard from Carter during his top-30 visit and the prospect didn't do enough to sell the team on selecting him, character could lead to him being removed from the draft board entirely. Leadership intangibles and mental toughness will also be part of the equation, which could make Richardson, Witherspoon, or another top prospect vault up their big board.
With the scouting department tying up loose ends in coming days, nobody knows what will happen once the Seahawks are on the clock and all options remain on the table. Until then, fans will have to wait with anticipation as Schneider, Carroll, and their cohorts comb through every last detail on prospects aiming to make the best choice with a crucial selection for the present and future of the franchise.
"The easiest thing to do is to evaluate the player. That's the easiest part. Bring in the person. Bring in his heart. Bring in the mental aspect of it. The psychological part of it. The medical. There's a ton that goes into it. That's what makes it fun, the entertainment part."
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