Seahawks Post-Free Agency 7-Round Mock Draft: Seattle Trades Down, Adds Future Picks
While free agency just opened last week in the NFL and plenty of talented veterans remain available, most of the big deals have already been signed as the Seattle Seahawks and other franchises shift attention back to the 2023 NFL Draft.
Busier than usual for this time of year, Seattle spent significant dollars last week shoring up its defense, including opening up the checkbook to reward defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones with a three-year, $52 million contract among five deals for outside free agents. The team also re-signed veteran quarterback Drew Lock to back up Geno Smith, giving general manager John Schneider no shortage of options with two first round picks next month.
Granted great flexibility after shoring up the defensive line, signing a talented young linebacker in Devin Bush, and bringing back Lock, Schneider finds himself in the driver's seat holding the fifth and 20th overall selections. Though he will be looking to add blue chip talent with a top five pick, after conducting 33 draft weekend trades since 2010, trading down to recoup picks in the present and future will also be on the table.
Simulating such a scenario in my latest mock draft, with three quarterbacks and Alabama star rusher Will Anderson Jr. off the board, Schneider receives a trade down offer he simply can't refuse, sending No. 5 overall and a second round pick (No. 52) to the Texans for No. 12, No. 33, and a 2024 first round pick. By striking the deal, Houston lands coveted defensive end Tyree Wilson and Seattle keeps four picks in the first 37 while positioning itself to do real damage in the 2024 draft.
Still holding 10 picks, who does Schneider add to the Seahawks roster after receiving the trade down haul? Using the Pro Football Network simulator, here's my latest stab at a seven-round Seahawks mock draft:
Round 1, Pick No. 12 - Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia*
*Acquired in trade with Texans
After being arrested for two misdemeanor charges stemming from a January 15th street racing accident and a botched pro day workout, Carter may very well be off of Seattle's big board - and other teams picking in top 10 as well - despite his incredible football talent. But if Schneider trades down five or more spots like in this simulation and the troubled defender remains available, the team may have a far more difficult time passing up on his upside.
The complete package in the interior, Carter tortured opponents in the vaunted SEC with his blend of size and athleticism. Capable of splitting gaps as a penetrator while also possessing the power and quick hands to shed blocks and disengage as a one or two-gap defender, he can play anywhere along the defensive front alignment-wise and impose his will stuffing the run or collapsing the pocket to create opportunities for teammates. Picking him would be a roll of the dice, but undeniable talent makes him worth the gamble to add to the Seahawks' new-look defensive front.
Round 1, Pick No. 20 - Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Though Seattle added an athletic young linebacker by signing former top-10 pick Devin Bush last week, the team still has significant question marks at the position with Jordyn Brooks recovering from a torn ACL and Cody Barton fleeing to Washington. With this year's draft class having questionable depth in regard to off-ball linebackers, Schneider targets one of the premier talents from the group in Sanders, whose size and positional versatility should make him a fun addition in a 3-4 scheme.
Unusually built for a middle linebacker at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Sanders wreaked havoc as a blitzer for the Razorbacks, tying for first in the country at his position with 9.5 sacks and finishing third with 39 quarterback pressures. He also didn't allow a touchdown in coverage while intercepting one pass and breaking up two others. While he needs to get stronger and polish his tackling, his pass rush and coverage skills would make him an immediate asset in Seattle's front seven.
Round 2, Pick No. 33 - John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota*
*Acquired in trade with Texans
In the midst of their surprising spending spree, the Seahawks signed a potential replacement for Austin Blythe at center by giving former Lions starter Evan Brown a one-year, $2.25 million deal. But that contract won't deter Schneider from pursuing a long-term fixture at the pivot position and the team reportedly has been enamored by Michael Schmitz since he dominated at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, so they would pull the trigger if he's still available in the second round.
A load of blocker at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, Schmitz plays bigger than his size at the pivot position and earned a well-deserved reputation as a menacing, tenacious road-grader. Playing with ideal leverage and powerful, active hands, he consistently created push off the snap on gap-run plays and showcased enough lateral quickness to excel on zone concepts as well. Stout in pass protection, he's a polished prospect ready to compete with Brown and start day one for the Seahawks.
Round 2, Pick No. 37 - Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
If Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. had been available at No. 5 overall, the Seahawks likely don't trade out of the spot to begin with. But the team actually has good talent and depth at outside linebacker with Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, and Boye Mafe all returning, so they don't have to force the issue picking an edge in the first round if Anderson doesn't fall to them. Instead, they take advantage of a deep draft class by snagging Anudike-Uzomah, who racked 19.5 sacks and forced eight fumbles in his final two collegiate seasons.
There's much work to be done with Anudike-Uzomah as a run defender, starting with continued development of hand usage to dispel blocks. He also struggled with missed tackles, posting an ugly 18 percent miss rate last season. But while he may not be an every down defender right off the bat, his electric first step off the line as a rusher helped him terrorize Big 12 quarterbacks and should make him an immediate threat on passing downs rotating behind Nwosu and Mafe in Seattle.
Round 3, Pick No. 83 - Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
After the Seahawks invested a second round pick in Ken Walker III a year ago, fans may not be enthused about the prospect of using a pick in the first two days on another running back. But with the departures of Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer in free agency, the team has significant depth concerns at the position and landing another dynamic runner of Brown's caliber at this stage of the draft would be a home run.
Though he's not a big back at only 205 pounds and won't bowl over defenders, Brown is a tough-nosed runner who will occasionally push the pile and creates extra yardage slipping through arm tackles, which helped him eclipse 1,600 rushing yards last year. Known for his track speed, he also made substantial improvements running between the tackles and also added versatility to his resume by setting career-highs in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns as a junior, making him an intriguing third down back candidate for Seattle to pair with Walker.
Round 4, Pick No. 123 - Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
After unearthing a day three gem in Tariq Woolen last April, the Seahawks find themselves in pretty good shape at cornerback moving into 2023. But with this year's draft class stacked with talented corners of all shapes and sizes, it would be a surprise if they don't take another day three flier on a prospect such as Moss, who picked off 11 passes for the Hawkeyes in his college career and checks off several boxes the team looks for at the position.
Moss lacks the arm length (30 inches) Seattle has normally preferred and at times, his 4.45 speed didn't translate on the field when initially beaten by receivers in coverage. With that said, he has elite ball skills compared to his peers that were exhibited at the Senior Bowl and he's a willing and able tackler against the run. At his best playing on the boundary, he would compete with Mike Jackson and Tre Brown right away for snaps across from Woolen.
Round 5, Pick No. 151 - Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
Over the years, Seattle has preferred drafting big play threats such as DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett who possess elite speed and the ability to take a top off of defenses. But looking at the current state of the offense, it would behoove the team to add a crafty possession receiver to complement Metcalf and Lockett and after a breakout year with over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Boilermakers, Jones would fill that void while still offering 4.4 speed from both outside and in the slot.
Despite being on the smaller side at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Jones runs routes with fearlessness to the teeth of the defense and excels at making tough contested catches. Though he's not a burner and won't consistently separate with athleticism, he's crisp route runner who moves smoothly out of his breaks, knows how to get open against different coverages, and exhibits soft, reliable hands. Add in his kick and punt returning experience and this would be a strong mid-day three selection for the Seahawks.
Round 5, Pick No. 154 - Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina
Even after signing Jones and Jarran Reed in free agency, the Seahawks could easily double dip along the defensive line in the draft, especially after losing Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson. Seeking another defensive tackle with scheme and alignment flexibility, they add a former five-star recruit and productive multi-year starter from the SEC in Pickens, who registered 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss for the Gamecocks over three seasons.
Dominant in spurts, Pickens has the size (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) to physically overpower interior blockers and possesses intriguing athletic traits that made him one of the top recruits in the country. Those tools can be seen rushing the passer, albeit disappearing for long stretches, as his quick hands and agile first step can lead to him quickly dismantling the pocket. Taking a flier on him in the fifth round, Seattle will hope to squeeze a bit more consistency from him in a rotational reserve role out of the gate.
Round 6, Pick No. 198 - Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern
While picking two running backs may seem like overkill, the Seahawks only have one running back - Walker III - under contact beyond 2023 with DeeJay Dallas entering the last year of his rookie deal. Even after picking the explosive Brown earlier, the team could use a between the tackles battering ram for short yardage situations and the 212-pound Hull could take that role while also potentially being a fullback option.
One of only three running backs in the nation last year to run for over 500 yards and produce over 500 receiving yards, Hull has a knack for falling forward for extra yardage and possesses reliable hands as an outlet out of the backfield when called upon. Faster than advertised with 4.4 speed, his lack of elusiveness puts a cap on his ceiling, but his physical mentality would bring something different to Seattle's running back stable and he could also pitch in on special teams right away.
Round 7, Pick No. 237 - Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati
In the short term, the Seahawks have three starter-caliber tight ends on the roster in Noah Fant, Will Dissly, and Colby Parkinson. But two of those players will be unrestricted free agents next March, making the position a greater priority to address in the draft beyond 2023. After missing out on a few bigger name prospects, the team caps off the draft with a fun developmental tight end in Whyle, who caught 15 touchdowns for the Bearcats in four college seasons.
A plus-athlete at 6-foot-6, 248 pounds, Whyle uses his size to his advantage high-pointing the football versus smaller defenders, particularly in the red zone. He's not stout at the point of attack as an inline blocker, but he consistently brings maximum effort and performs better as a blocker in space as an H-back or slot. He will need to add muscle to his frame to become an all-around tight end in the league, but he would be afforded that time to develop in Seattle with several veterans in front of him.
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