While the Seahawks continue to add role players to the bottom of their roster and still might sign a veteran guard later, they are pretty much done in free agency. So all eyes have turned to the draft, which is now a mere three weeks away.

We are not scouts, nor do we pretend to be draft experts. And we certainly have no idea what John Schneider is going to do in three weeks – who does?

But, after checking out consensus boards, seeing what top analysts think of this draft and running through a bunch of scenarios, we have thoughts on the strategy Schneider should/could use.

The Seahawks are in great position with five picks in the top 92 – that is the most picks in the top 100 by any team. That should be enough for the Hawks to address most of their needs.

We all know the top need: guard. At the owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., today, Schneider said the Seahawks were not going to sign a guard until perhaps after the draft, if they see someone let go by another team. So that means guard is their No. 1 priority in the draft.

They also could use a nose tackle, wide receiver, cornerback, tight end and edge rusher.

This is considered a “meat-and-potatoes” draft – i.e., not many superstars but a lot of future starters. It has a lot of similarly graded players – one GM told ESPN there are 40 who could go anywhere in the late first or second round. One scout said, “Player No. 15 on your board might have the same grade as No. 50.”

So, it’s a good year for Seattle (like Chicago and Buffalo) to have three picks in the first two rounds.

Let’s take a look at the needs and the best strategy in those first two days.

The needs

A quick explainer on why these are the top needs:

OL: Having failed to find a starter in free agency, the Hawks quite obviously need a left guard – and that means adding an immediate starter in the first two rounds. The Hawks have a lot of guys who have played mostly right guard, so drafting a LG-ready player would be better than moving a guy from the right side. They also could prepare to possibly replace Abe Lucas at right tackle in 2026.

NT: This is the one spot on defense they still need to fill for 2025. It would be great to add one on Day 2.

WR: It goes without saying that the Hawks have a need here after DK Metcalf was traded and Tyler Lockett was cut. The Hawks took a flyer on Cooper Kupp and added Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 2025, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba needs a long-term partner.

CB: The Hawks would be smart to trade Riq Woolen for a Day 2 pick, if possible, and then use said pick on a new corner who is cheaper and a better fit for Mike Macdonald. Or perhaps they draft a corner and trade Woolen before the season. We just don’t think Woolen is in Macdonald’s long-term plans, so they have to prepare to replace him — and it would be better to do it now.

TE: They could use a complement/replacement for Noah Fant.

OLB: Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe might both be gone in 2026, and DeMarcus Lawrence, who will turn 33 in April, is year to year. It would be wise to add a depth player who could ascend to starter in 2026-27. It is a strong draft for adding one on Day 2.

Ideal strategy

This is definitely the kind of draft — a lot of similarly graded players from the mid first round through the 40s — where Schneider might be looking to trade down. And it would make sense if he then traded up out of the 50s to get a top target in the late 30s.

“Having those five picks in the first 92, it allows you to maneuver a little bit depending on how other people see it,” Schneider said from the NFL meetings. “That’s one of the things that I’m trying to do down here.”

Or he could just sit on his five picks in the first two days and take them as they come.

Whatever he does, Schneider has to find a plug-and-play left guard in this draft.

Grey Zabel of North Dakota State is a popular mock to the Hawks at 18. Kelvin Banks Jr. could be another option.

If Schneider moves down from 18 into the late first round, he could target Donovan Jackson — a certain plug-and-play guard.

The extra pick from trading down then would allow for a move up in the second round, if Schneider and company really wanted a certain guy.

In this example, we have Seattle moving down to take Jackson and then back up to grab his Ohio State teammate to fill the nose tackle spot:

What Schneider might do

Schneider has been willing to take almost any position in the first round: four offensive tackles, two defensive linemen, a linebacker/edge, a safety, a running back, an off-ball linebacker, a corner, a receiver. He also traded a first-round pick for a tight end (Jimmy Graham), one for a receiver (Percy Harvin) and a couple for a safety (Jamal Adams).

The only non-kicker positions he has not drafted in the first round are a quarterback and an interior offensive lineman (James Carpenter was a college tackle who moved to guard in Seattle).

Thus, if Schneider stays at 18, it would not be surprising to see him take a position other than offensive line. Macdonald might be interested in one of the top defensive backs. Lots of people seem to love Jahdae Barron, Malaki Starks or Nick Emmanwori for the Hawks.

Some think the Hawks might go receiver, considering their need. We think that is a Day 2 position. But perhaps Michigan tight end Colston Loveland is an option they are considering.

If Seattle doesn’t take a guard in the first round, it will come down to 50 and 52. But most of the best left guard prospects figure to be gone at that point, so Schneider likely would be looking at tackle converts such as Oregon’s Josh Conerly, Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery, Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea or West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum.

Here is a scenario where the Hawks take the luxury pick (Emmanwori) at 18, double down on offensive line in the second round after trading down and also get a nose tackle and corner on Day 2:

Here is a scenario where the Hawks take Zabel at 18 then trade up for Jackson, with the idea of putting Zabel at center and Jackson at left guard:

The move up for Jackson could be independent of the pick at 18 as well.

If Schneider does not take at least one lineman in his first three picks, it will bode poorly for the progress of the line yet again. His Day 1-2 strategy simply must hinge on this position.