Seahawks Draft: 3 Overlooked Roster Needs to Address in Early Rounds

Over the past three weeks, the Seattle Seahawks have been aggressive spenders improving their roster in free agency, making a big splash signing defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones and firing up the fan base by reuniting with linebacker Bobby Wagner.

With free agency by and large over, general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have turned their full attention towards the 2023 NFL Draft and for good reason. Holding the No. 5 overall pick, the franchise's highest pick since way back in 2009, along with four picks in the top 53 selections, the Seahawks have a perfect opportunity to further infuse their roster with young talent.

To this point, even after re-signing Geno Smith last month, Seattle has consistently been linked to quarterbacks, with Carroll and Schneider throwing fuel on the fire taking selfies with each of the top four prospects at their respective pro days. Defensive tackle and EDGE rusher have also been popular picks in mock drafts, with Georgia's Jalen Carter and Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. being trendy selections.

But while the Seahawks seem likely to hit one of those three prioritized positions with their rare top-five pick, they have given themselves immense flexibility with their other first round selection through free agency moves. Which overlooked roster needs could Schneider and Carroll surprisingly attack with that pick and the franchise's other three selections in the top 83?

Here's a look at three positions that may be bigger needs for Seattle than perceived on paper heading into the draft:

Receiver

As has been the case for the past several seasons, the Seahawks have a dynamic receiving duo many teams would love to have in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The pair of big play weapons have each reached 1,000 yards in two of the past three seasons, making franchise history in the process as the only tandem to accomplish the feat more than once in the same season. With both players under contract through 2025, they should continue wreaking havoc on opposing secondaries for the next three seasons.

But while Marquise Goodwin shined at times last season, Seattle has still not been able to find a consistent upgrade at No. 3 receiver to complement Metcalf and Lockett. Injuries have prevented Dee Eskridge from coming anywhere close to meeting expectations as a former second round pick through his first two NFL seasons, while players such as David Moore and Freddie Swain have departed in recent seasons with little success elsewhere.

Though the Seahawks remain optimistic Eskridge can still turn things around with better luck on the health front and 2022 seventh-round pick Dareke Young flashed promise as a rookie, Goodwin's departure in free agency leaves the team without a clear cut third wideout. Given their immense draft capital in the first three rounds and the fact Lockett will turn 31 years old during the 2023 season, it wouldn't be a surprise at all if the team invested another early pick in the position, particularly for a slot receiver capable of creating after the catch.

Among those who could fit the bill, Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Boston College's Zay Flowers, and USC's Jordan Addison may be in consideration as early as No. 20 overall. On day two, North Carolina's Josh Downs, SMU's Rashee Rice, and Houston's Tank Dell also would present speedy playmaking options to add to Smith's skill weapon arsenal, make an already prolific passing attack even better, and set the team up favorably for the future at the position.

Tight End

In the short term, the Seahawks have one of the best all-around tight end groups in the NFL with key contributors in Noah Fant, Will Dissly, and Colby Parkinson all set to return after strong 2022 seasons. Thriving in Shane Waldron's offense catching passes from Smith, the trio combined to post 109 receptions for 1,157 yards and nine touchdowns. Even Tyler Mabry, who spent most of last season on the practice squad and re-signed on a future/reserve deal, got in on the action with a touchdown catch.

Away from their pass catching accolades, Seattle also received quality blocking from all of their tight ends. Dissly, a former defensive lineman at Washington, remained a force as an in-line blocker, grading out as Pro Football Focus' ninth-best blocker (70.8) out of 43 qualified tight ends. Not known for his blocking coming out of Iowa, Fant took a major step forward in his first year with his new team, ranking a steady 18th overall in that category. The same could be said for Parkinson, who took on a bigger role late in the season thanks to his dramatically improved run blocking.

But while the Seahawks should be set at tight end in 2023, the future beyond next season carries plenty of question marks. Fant and Parkinson will both be entering the final years of their respective deals, with the former playing this year on a fifth-year option worth nearly $7 million in fully guaranteed salary and possibly being on the trade block. The team may not be able to afford to retain both and a tough decision may also be looming on the oft-injured Dissly, who carries a $10.1 million cap hit in 2024.

Keeping those potential issues in mind, Seattle would be wise to dip into one of the deepest tight end draft classes in recent memory, potentially doing so far earlier than most would expect. Depending how the draft board shakes out, Notre Dame's Michael Mayer, Utah's Dalton Kincaid, or Georgia's Darnell Washington could all be on the table as possible first round or early second round targets. Beyond that point, value can be found in later rounds as well, including Iowa's Sam LaPorta, Purdue's Payne Durham, and Old Dominion's Zack Kuntz.

Safety

With more than $40 million on the books at the safety position in 2023, a casual observer would likely question why the Seahawks would even have to consider the possibility of drafting a safety. When healthy, Jamal Adams has been one of the best strong safeties in the game utilizing a unique skill set, while free safety Quandre Diggs has made three straight Pro Bowls and picked off at least four passes each of those seasons. The addition of versatile defender Julian Love in free agency should only make the group stronger.

But while Carroll understandably continues to dream of Adams, Diggs, and Love thriving together in three-safety sets, Seattle has no choice but to prepare for that vision not to become reality. And, after letting reliable veteran Ryan Neal hit the market last week to save a few million dollars, most importantly, the franchise has no choice but to start preparing for life without Adams in the event he can't return to form after missing most of the 2022 season with a torn quad tendon and/or can't shake the injury bug.

Ultimately, the Seahawks hope to see Adams bounce back as a Swiss army knife who can play a number of different coverages and rack up pressures and sacks in bunches as a blitzer. But after missing more than 20 games the last three years, especially with Neal unlikely to come back, it would behoove the franchise to consider drafting one from a top-heavy class in the first three rounds as another insurance policy. Whether that means a top prospect such as Alabama's Brian Branch or waiting until day two for a high-upside player such as Boise State's JL Skinner, nobody should bat an eye if they decide to address the position with future in mind.

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