With just three picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, most Seahawks mocks this year have followed a similar pattern. They use those picks to address their biggest needs at cornerback, offensive line and wide receiver, usually in that order. As great a fit as Ifeatu Melifonwu would be for the Seahawks’ secondary, no one needs to read yet another mock draft where they take him the second round. Instead, I tried to create a scenario where Seattle could turn those three selections into a full eight-player class that fills those pressing needs while shoring up depth in other areas.
While there’s no way the Seahawks’ actual draft class ends up looking anything like this, every individual pick is well within the realm of possibility. I don’t expect all or even most of these players to still be available where I have them, but at least a couple should be. The trades included might also seem a little unbalanced, but both assume there’s a sliding prospect that the other team is willing to pony up for. And for whatever it’s worth, both trades grade out fairly evenly on the Jimmy Johnson pick value chart. Let’s get to it!
Ideal Seattle Seahawks 7-Round Mock Draft
Round 2, 56th Overall: Traded to Vikings for picks 78, 119, 125 and 157
Round 3, 78th Overall: OT Walker Little, Stanford
Trading down into the middle of the third round and still landing a potential franchise left tackle? As far as dream scenarios go, this one’s actually rather plausible. Despite being named the #1 overall recruit coming out of high school and earning all-conference honors at Stanford in 2018, Little’s draft stock has been all over the map. The main knock on him is his lack of recent playing time, as he missed most of 2019 with a knee injury and opted out of the 2020 season. Seattle can afford to ease him back into action, letting him compete with Brandon Shell for the right tackle job in the short term while coaching him up as Duane Brown’s heir apparent on the blindside.
Round 4, 119th Overall: CB Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas
D.J. Reed was a pleasant surprise last season, but the Seahawks haven’t had a true top dog at cornerback since Richard Sherman left town. While Rochell may not be able to immediately step into that role, his physical tools are everything Pete Carroll could want in a developmental prospect. 32-inch arms? Check. 4.4 speed? Check. Insane jumping ability (43-inch vertical, 11’1″ broad jump)? Check. He’ll need a transition period as he makes the jump from covering FCS wide receivers to the NFL, but he has future lockdown corner potential.
Round 4, 125th Overall: LB Pete Werner, Ohio State
Linebacker isn’t the Seahawks’ most immediate need, but they’d be wise to address the position in the draft given K.J. Wright’s uncertain situation. Werner has experience at all three linebacker spots and offers more long-term upside than current backups Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven. He could compete for the starting job on the strong side if Wright leaves, but if he stays Werner will still provide some much-needed depth to the linebacker room.
Round 4, 129th Overall: Traded to Eagles for picks 150, 189 and 224
Round 5, 150th Overall: OT/C Robert Hainsey, Notre Dame
The Seahawks re-signed Ethan Pocic as their presumable starting center in 2021, but they’d still be wise to bring in some competition through the draft. Hainsey played right tackle exclusively during his Notre Dame career, but doesn’t quite have the size to stick there at the NFL level. He flashed his proficiency at playing center at the Senior Bowl, and could also provide Seattle with valuable depth at both guard spots.
Round 5, 157th Overall: WR Josh Palmer, Tennessee
The Seahawks have a bevy of young wide receivers below Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf on the depth chart, but only one (Cody Thompson) stands taller than 6’0″. Palmer didn’t put up eye-popping stats in college due largely to shaky quarterback play, but that obviously wouldn’t be a problem in Seattle. He has the size (6’2″) and reliable hands to make contested catches, with plenty of speed to make something happen after he does. His presence as an outside option would also allow Lockett to move around the formation more easily.
Round 6, 189th Overall: CB Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina
Speaking of size, Mukuamu has more than any other cornerback in the draft. Concerns over his speed and fluidity might keep him waiting to hear his name called longer than expected, but at 6’4″, 212 lbs with 34-inch arms, he could dominate as a press-man corner with a little coaching. He also offers experience as a safety and a slot cornerback, spending time at all three positions at South Carolina. Even if his limitations do prove too much for him to stick on the perimeter, Seattle should still be able to find a home for him in their secondary.
Round 6, 224th Overall: DT Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh
If Little’s draft stock is all over the map, Twyman’s is in uncharted territory. Multiple outlets had him as a late first-round pick after the season ended, but The Athletic’s latest seven-round mock draft left him out entirely. He’ll likely land right in between as an early Day 3 pick, but the Seahawks shouldn’t hesitate to snap him up if he’s still available this late in the draft. Twyman is a little undersized for the position, but his pass-rushing skills would bolster a defensive tackle group that is lacking on that front after Jarran Reed’s departure.
Round 7, 250th Overall: WR Marquez Stevenson, Houston
Don’t be fooled by his mediocre pro day numbers. Stevenson ran a 4.87 40 in high school before spending his college years torching AAC secondaries, so clearly his speed translates better on the field. He has a better path to playing time as a kick returner than at receiver, but either way he should be ready to contribute for the Seahawks right out of the gate. That’s something that can’t be said for many seventh-round picks.
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