Seattle Seahawks Mock Draft Roundup 6.0

Wilson is long and bendy, with burst and pass-rush moves. The Seahawks prioritize the edge-rusher spot and go Wilson over Jalen Carter.

Kincaid has first-round film in 2022 -- caught everything, even in traffic, and rocks after the catch. Another weapon for Geno Smith.

Wilson didn't work out in Indy, we haven't seen him on the field since November and he is recovering from a broken bone in his foot. But the 6-6, 271-pounder has 35 5/8-inch length and overwhelming power. The Seahawks have to clean up their pass rush, and Wilson would be a great start there after he posted back-to-back seasons of seven sacks. Seattle had 45 sacks in 2022 (tied for seventh), but its 33.5% pass rush win rate and 28.9% pressure rate were both bottom-tier results. And now Poona Ford is a free agent, and Uchenna Nwosu is entering the final year of his deal.

Time to get serious about the defensive line, and Seattle has a second first-rounder at No. 20 to continue on that path.

Yes, the Seahawks already landed Texas Tech's Wilson earlier in this mock, but adding to this defensive line is the team's biggest need now that Geno Smith is headed back to Seattle as QB1. GM John Schneider has to get that unit right, and this could end up a steal. Murphy has power, burst and bend off the edge, and he comes with some versatility. Over the past two seasons, Murphy had 14 sacks, 63 pressures and 23 tackles for loss. So why the slide? There were a few too many times late in the season that he disappeared and didn't have the same impact for the Tigers. He didn't have any sacks over the final four games.

GM John Schneider has acknowledged the Seahawks need to get better up front in order to stop the run. Following Carter's arrest last week, we'll obviously have to see how this situation plays out over the next couple months.

After addressing the defensive line with their first pick of this exercise, the Seahawks add more size and speed to round out a talented receiver trio in Seattle.

Given last week's news that an arrest warrant had been issued for Carter back in Georgia, the potential No. 1 pick's draft projection has become much more complicated. (Carter turned himself in, was released on bond and returned to the combine.)

Teams understandably love the player, but now they must exhaust every resource to ensure they can trust the person. Though Seattle has been burned in the past (see: Malik McDowell), every player is different and every situation is unique. Carter could end up looking like a steal here.

DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett on the outside with Smith-Njigba in the slot? No defense would want to cover that trio of receivers. Smith-Njigba had a near-perfect positional workout at the combine, and he posted elite numbers in the three-cone (6.57 seconds) and short shuttle (3.93).

While the fresh questions about his character were fodder for the white-hot combine spotlight, it's premature to take Carter off the board and, frankly, out of the first round given his prodigious, scheme-diverse ability. And Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has gambled on talent in the face of serious allegations before, former Seattle DE Frank Clark, a second-round selection in 2015, a notable example. From a purely football perspective, Carter is basically made to order — especially after QB Geno Smith agreed Monday to re-sign, meaning Carroll and GM John Schneider don't have to burn this selection obtained in the Russell Wilson trade on another passer. But reinforcements for a defense that hasn't ranked better than 22nd since 2018 are long overdue. The 6-3, 300-pounder's sack numbers (3 last year) won't wow you. But the All-American is cat-quick, lines up at all points along the front, can push the pocket and gets exceptional penetration and is especially effective at swallowing running backs.

Seattle still gave up too many sacks in 2022 — can't blame Wilson for those — and could also use a mauler to further Carroll's desire to run the ball with RB Kenneth Walker III and Co.

Seattle gets an explosive rusher who will help their defense get to the passer. Tyree Wilson can also play stout vs. the run.

There are some questions about the speed and overall movement skills of Jordan Addison, but his tape is really good, and he is a polished wide receiver that coach Pete Carroll will love to have in this offense.

With quarterback settled and drafts assets added with a short trade-down, the Seattle Seahawks can continue to build the rest of the roster. Last year, the team did a spectacular job drafting and found multiple long-term contributors on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, the unit received significant boosts in the secondary with the additions of Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant. General manager John Schneider can now turn his attention to the the front seven, where Bruce Irvin can finally be replaced.

Georgia's Nolan Smith scorched Lucas Oil Stadium with a mesmerizing 4.39-second 40-yard dash. He's undersized at 6'2" and 238 pounds. That's OK. His quickness and athleticism will make up for any shortcomings.

"Smith became one of the big winners from the combine after posting a sub-4.4 40-yard dash time and jumping through the roof with a 41.5" vertical and 10'8" broad jump," Holder said. "He's also a physical player, who's stronger than his 238-pound frame suggests. The edge defender likely would have posted an impressive bench-press number had he not been recovering from a torn pectoral muscle and opted to sit out of the event in Indianapolis.

Some combination of Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe and Smith will provide significant flexibility and explosivity for the Seahawks' pressure packages. What better way to attack the likes of Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray and either of the San Francisco 49ers' young quarterbacks?

Big, physical football screams Pete Carroll and how the Seattle Seahawks head coach wants to play football. There aren't many in this class bigger, more physical and more naturally gifted than Georgia tight end Darnell Washington.

"The 2023 season is a chance for the Seahawks to reset their franchise and their offense," Klassen said. "Few players can do that like a 6'7", 274-pound tight end who tested off the charts.

"Besides the vertical jump, Washington crushed the NFL combine process, including the media interview sessions. Washington's rare size and athletic combination make him a unique weapon, as the type of player who can both out-muscle and out-athlete his opponents on a consistent basis.

"The 21-year-old is a violent blocker, too, which fits Carroll's overall attitude to a tee."

With DK Metcalf at wide receiver, Kenneth Walker III in the backfield and Washington joining the fray, Seattle can field an intimidating set of skill position players.

The approach also places the Seahawks at the forefront of the league's newest trend by playing a far more physical brand of football that leans on a strong ground game to offset smaller defenders continually asked to drop into space.

So, here's where it gets interesting. During his combine presser, Seahawks general manager John Schneider was asked if there was a reason he might extend quarterback Geno Smith with a new contract, and then select a quarterback with an early pick.

Schneider's answer was simple: Because elite quarterbacks don't grow on trees.

From an athletic perspective there are few at the position more elite than Richardson, who tattooed his name all over the Lucas Oil Stadium turf with a series of incendiary and record-setting drills.

Is he a work in progress as a pure passer? Yes, but perhaps to a smaller degree than you may think, and if Richardson is in a situation where he can learn from a veteran quarterback and doesn't have to start right away, the return on investment could be something we've never seen before. Imagine a guy with Cam Newton's size, Michael Vick's speed, and Josh Allen's arm, and that's where Richardson sits right now. That's worth a top-five pick on potential alone, and the development is highly encouraging in a relatively small sample size.

The Seahawks need every bit of help along their defensive line; both Pete Carroll and John Schneider made that abundantly clear during their combine pressers. Neither man has ever been afraid to turn one-position tweeners into multi-gap monsters, so White would fit like the proverbial hand in glove. The former Old Dominion tight end had seven sacks, four quarterback hits, and 30 quarterback hurries in 274 pass-rushing reps, and at 6-foot-5 and 283 pounds, he has the speed and power to attack anybody on the edge, and when he moves inside, that's where he really turns on the power. Both on and off the field, he reminds me of Michael Bennett, who was a unicorn wherever he went when he was a key part of the Legion of Boom.

The Seahawks were near the bottom of the league in pass rush last season and twice gave up at least 40 points.

Maybe the Seahawks look for someone to eventually (or immediately) replace Geno Smith, or perhaps they give Smith another target.

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