Seahawks Draft: Pros & Cons for Potential Picks at No. 5
With just three days remaining until the 2023 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks are running low on time to make a decision on who they plan to select with the fifth overall pick in Thursday's first round.
Nobody knows what general manager John Schneider and company ultimately will do, but NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah believes Seattle may be out on Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. The talented defender was charged with two misdemeanors for his involvement in a fatal crash in January that led to the death of a former teammate and Georgia staffer and also bombed his pro day workout last month, creating major red flags about his character and passion for the game.
Historically, the Seahawks have been willing to take a chance on talented players with such concerns, including drafting Michigan pass rusher Frank Clark in 2015 after he was kicked off the team due to domestic violence allegations. But after selecting troubled Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell in 2017 blew up in their faces, they have tightened the ship and not taken on such risks in recent drafts, with Schneider himself saying they have made a greater emphasis on character.
Still feeling the scars of the McDowell debacle nearly six years after making the ill-fated selection, as hinted by Jeremiah, Seattle may not have interest in going down that road again with Carter despite his immense talent and the team's major hole at defensive tackle. If that's truly the case, who would Schneider select instead?
Closing in on 48 hours until the draft, here's a look at seven other possibilities for the fifth pick, why the Seahawks should draft the player, and why the franchise may be wise to pass on them:
© Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
Why Seattle Should Pick Him: Arguably the best player in this year's draft class with the best chance to become a superstar at the next level, Anderson tormented SEC tackles with a blend of speed, power, and refined counters, registering 34.5 sacks and 58.5 tackles for loss in just three college seasons. He would instantly provide Seattle with a blue chip pass rusher off the edge who also can defend the run at a high level and fits its 3-4 scheme to perfection as a standup outside linebacker off the edge with enough versatility to put his hand in the dirt in even fronts.
Why Seattle Should Pass: If Anderson sits on the board at fifth overall and Carter isn't on their big board, it wouldn't make much sense for the Seahawks to go a different direction given his complete all-around game, impressive production, and high character. But with Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, and Boye Mafe already on the roster at the edge position, it's possible the front office could want to draft a player that fills a greater immediate need on defense.
Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
Why Seattle Should Pick Him: With a vulture-like wingspan and untapped pass rushing upside, the 6'5, 270-pound Wilson may have one of the highest ceilings in this entire draft class. Already a stellar run defender capable of setting a firm edge with decent rushing production in his final two seasons with the Red Raiders, he offers tons of intrigue with the frame to bulk up and play inside or stick at outside linebacker and blossom at that position. He may not be a carbon copy of Michael Bennett, but he could have a similar impact for the Seahawks for years to come.
Why Seattle Should Pass: Coming off a significant foot injury, Wilson wasn't able to test for teams during the pre-draft process and while he's immensely talented, he's also quite raw for top five consideration with unpolished hand usage and an elementary pass rush plan. If the Seahawks plan to continue deploying a hybrid 3-4, it's worth questioning whether he would be the best fit playing extensively as a standup linebacker since he's not the twitchiest edge defender and primarily wins with power over speed or quickness.
© Matt Pendleton, Gainesville Sun
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Why Seattle Should Pick Him: In terms of tools, there has never been a quarterback who entered the talent with a more enticing mix of size, speed, and arm talent. After interviewing well with teams throughout the draft process and exhibiting quality leadership traits in his brief run as a starter for the Gators, he's a five-tool prospect with superstar upside if exposed to proper coaching. The Seahawks would be an ideal landing spot in the sense that he could learn for a year or two behind veteran Geno Smith, who signed a three-year extension in March, before being unleashed on the NFC West as the quarterback of the future.
Why Seattle Should Pass: While Richardson's undeniable upside may make him difficult to skip out on, the Seahawks made the playoffs last season with Smith at the helm and showed their faith in him by rewarding him with a lucrative extension. Picking the talented, but raw quarterback with clear mechanic issues and accuracy concerns and redshirting him for a year or two would prevent the team from adding a blue chip player at another position that could help them compete for championships now with a Pro Bowl signal caller already under center.
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Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Why Seattle Should Pick Him: A menace on the outside who relishes the opportunity to lay the wood to opposing ball carriers as much as getting his hands on the football after flying into passing lanes in coverage, Witherspoon checks off all of the boxes Seattle looks for from a playing style standpoint and visited with the team earlier this month. Capable of playing outside or in the slot, he's a movable chess piece whose aggressive nature would complement the rest of the team's talented secondary while providing additional flexibility for defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt to attack opposing offenses with.
Why Seattle Should Pass: The Seahawks have excelled at drafting and developing cornerbacks in the latter rounds, including fifth-round pick Tariq Woolen last year, who became a Pro Bowler and Rookie of the Year finalist. With a quality starter already in place across from him in Mike Jackson and a healthy Tre Brown ready to compete against him, the position is far from a major need and while Witherspoon stands out as the cream of the crop, selecting him this early would be viewed by many as a luxury pick with many other talented corners set to be available in later rounds.
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Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Why Seattle Should Pick Him: Though he isn't quite the same physical presence Witherspoon is, Gonzalez may have some features that are more appealing to the Seahawks long-term at the cornerback spot. For one, he's significantly bigger, measuring in two inches taller with longer arms, checking off measurables the team has preferred for boundary defenders in the past. He also has elite athleticism with legitimate 4.3 speed to pair with excellent ball skills, a combination that would be enticing to add to an already talented secondary.
Why Seattle Should Pass: As is the case with Witherspoon, Gonzalez could be viewed as a luxury pick with many other holes on defense that are more pressing in the present. He also isn't quite as good of a tackler and run defender at this stage, which could be deal breakers for a Seahawks defense that finished 31st against the run a year ago and prides having cornerbacks who contribute in that capacity.
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Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Why Seattle Should Pick Him: Oozing with athletic traits and carrying a defensive end build at 275 pounds, Murphy stands out as a player who could be a far better pro than college player. He had spurts of dominant play for the Tigers where he took over games with an explosive get off and powerful bull rush and if the Seahawks were able to cultivate a more well-rounded pass rushing palette for him, he would have a chance to be a perennial Pro Bowl or even All-Pro talent. A player with such a lofty ceiling could warrant a top five pick if the team feels comfortable with him.
Why Seattle Should Pass: As great as Murphy was at times in college, he never quite lived up to the hype due to inconsistent performance, especially in the pass rushing department. While his ceiling may be as high as Anderson or Wilson, after registering only 14.5 sacks in three college seasons, he likely has the lowest floor of the trio, which presents significant risk rolling the dice on a top-five selection.
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Why Seattle Should Pick Him: When Levis plays with poise in the pocket and makes smart decisions with the football, he's as talented as any quarterback in this draft class. Possessing a rocket arm with the ability to fire the ball to all areas of the field off platform with ease, he regularly delivered jaw-dropping strikes to receivers that few NFL quarterbacks could make. He's also a gifted athlete who can do damage with his legs as a runner and extending plays as a passer, further raising his ceiling in the right environment at the next level.
Why Seattle Should Pass: While Levis' highlight package may be the most impressive of the bunch compared to other top quarterbacks in this class, his lowlights could be equally damaging for his draft stock. He has a tendency to get careless with the football at times, making bone-headed decisions throwing into double or even triple coverage, and his mechanics can betray him and lead to errant passes. While he could be a possibility after a trade down, selecting him in the top five to groom behind Smith would be risky business given his current flaws.
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