Draft Weekend is here!
And John Schneider finds himself in a familiar position — stocked with five picks in the first two days (and 10 overall) as he tries to finish building a contender for a rising coach.
In 2010-13, he and Pete Carroll built a Super Bowl team using three historically awesome drafts and a couple of key free agents to put them over the top by Year 4 of their program.
Thanks to the Russell Wilson blockbuster trade in 2022, Schneider has been putting together another contending roster – and is looking to finish it off for second-year coach Mike Macdonald with a draft that should be very impactful.
This is the third time Schneider has had five picks in the first two days, and he is going to have to hit on a lot more of these guys than he did in 2016-17.
This is actually Schneider’s third attempt at building a Super Bowl team. His second try started in those 2016-17 drafts, when he had 11 total picks over the first two days. Those should have been the drafts that put the Hawks back into contention. But Schneider largely whiffed, with only three of those 11 earning notable contracts after their rookie deals had expired.
Schneider followed up those fails with first-round busts in the next two drafts. Along with Carroll’s poorly coached defenses, that is why Seattle has just one playoff win in four appearances over the past eight seasons.
But Macdonald put together a playoff-caliber defense in Year 1, and the Hawks have completely revamped their offense for his second season – new coaches, a new quarterback, new receivers. Hopefully new linemen are coming in this draft to complete that rebuild.
It is pretty obvious what the Seahawks need to find in the first two days: a starting left guard, a nose tackle and a wide receiver – and a center upgrade would not hurt. Looking past this year, they also could look to add a cornerback, tight end and/or edge rusher on Day 2.
Almost every mock under the sun has the Hawks taking North Dakota State standout lineman Grey Zabel at 18.
The Hawks also apparently are keyed in on a wide receiver, too. Sources told ESPN’s Matt Miller that the Seahawks are focused on Arizona WR Tet McMillan, in addition to Zabel. McMillan faced questions about his dedication (he said he did not watch game film) and football intelligence, but the Hawks brought him in for a Top 30 and Miller’s report seems to indicate they are satisfied that his mentality would fit Macdonald’s.
McMillan seems unlikely to fall to Seattle, though; Dane Brugler says he will be a top-12 pick. Jacksonville, Carolina and Dallas seem like potential landing spots for him.
One consideration: Would Schneider be willing to forgo Zabel to move down? Houston reportedly is looking to trade up from 25 for an offensive lineman. A drop from 18 to 25 could give the Hawks the 79th pick from Houston.
A move down still could allow the Hawks to draft Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson, who along with McMillan and Zabel are the three scheme/need matches for Seattle in the first round, according to PFF.
Do not rule out a defender either. An impact player on that side could help boost the Hawks to elite status.
Alabama linebacker/edge Jihaad Campbell seems like everything Macdonald would love in a defender. He has a labrum injury that will sideline him until training camp. The Hawks brought him to the VMAC on a Top 30 visit, so they should know all they need to about him. The question they surely asked themselves internally: Is he destined for a short career due to his physical play style?
So what happens if the Hawks cannot move off 18 and both McMillan and Zabel are gone? Who would be the next player on their board? Next Gen Stats’ Draft IQ tool projects the top eight players on their board to be McMillan, Zabel, South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, Alabama guard Tyler Booker, Michigan TE Colston Loveland, Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka, Texas WR Matthew Golden and Georgia safety Malaki Starks.
We would not rule out Michigan nose tackle Kenneth Grant or perhaps Oregon D-lineman Derrick Harmon either – Seattle’s defense still needs a big nose player.
Macdonald wants “force multipliers” — guys who make everyone around them better.
He also wants tough, physical players. Brock Huard of Seattle Sports 710 AM said he was told, “This draft class is going to be in the image of Mike Macdonald. And you know what he wants? Baltimore tough. You know what he wants? Baltimore physical. You know what he wants? Baltimore bully.”
Let’s look at what top media analysts say about each of these potential “force multipliers” and “Baltimore bullies”:
Grey Zabel
Daniel Jeremiah: “Zabel is a versatile offensive lineman with excellent toughness and awareness. He lined up at left tackle in 2024, but he has played four O-line positions during his collegiate career.”
Brugler: “A college tackle, he projects best inside, at either center or guard, where he will compete for immediate starting reps and offer Pro Bowl upside.”
Draft IQ projects Zabel to be high on the boards of the Colts (14), Cardinals (16) and Bengals (17). Can he get by them to Seattle at 18?
Jihaad Campbell
DJ: “Campbell expands the playbook for defensive coordinators and his best football is ahead of him.”
Huard: “He’s a big-time, big-time talent that is maybe just enough of a Swiss Army knife to carve through some of the NFL offenses that Mike Macdonald’s gotta deal with.”
Jahdae Barron
DJ: “Barron is a talented Swiss Army Knife. He aligned outside, in the slot and in the box as a dime linebacker for the Longhorns. He made impact plays in every game I studied.”
Brugler: “Some teams view him as a nickel-only prospect, while others see his value to play multiple positions across the secondary.”
Nick Emmanwori
Brugler: “Emmanwori has the size, speed and mindset to play a variety of roles, although he projects best near the line of scrimmage, where he can blitz, be an eraser against the run and man up with tight ends and backs in coverage.”
DJ: “Emmanwori will be a difference-maker provided the team that drafts him deploys him close to the action.”
At 6-3 and 220, Emmanwori sure evokes comparisons to all-time Seahawk Kam Chancellor. Emmanwori’s VMAC visit probably was meant to discern whether he is indeed a Macdonald guy from a football character standpoint. We tend to think he is not as high on Seattle’s board as some of these other force multipliers.
Malaki Starks
DJ: “His intelligence and leadership ability have blown NFL teams away in meetings. … He has the versatility to move around the field and provide a lot of value.”
Brugler: “His versatile skill set can give a defensive coordinator options, although he is best suited for a free safety role.”
If Zabel, Campbell and Barron are all gone, Macdonald probably would be fine with Starks, who could be a multi-tool chess piece.
Kenneth Grant
DJ: “Grant is a massive defensive tackle with intriguing quickness and power. … Overall, there is some assembly required, but his physical tools are very loud and worth the investment.”
Brugler: “Overall, Grant plays big in a big man’s game, but he also has the athletic traits and effort to grow into more than just a stout run stopper. He projects as an early-down NFL starter with three-down upside.”
Grant is definitely the bully – even though he is ranked 29th on the consensus big board, he would be a great consolation pick if Zabel is gone, especially if the Hawks could drop a few spots to get him.
Derrick Harmon
Brugler: “Harmon is a highly active and disruptive big man who consistently finds ways to gain freedom from blocks as a penetrating pass rusher and run stuffer. He projects as a scheme-diverse NFL starter, anywhere from one- to five-tech.”
DJ: “Harmon has a great feel for the game and can create a lot of havoc …”
The Hawks need a nose tackle, and Harmon is right behind Grant on the consensus big board. If the Hawks were to drop into the 20s and could not have any of the aforementioned guys, Harmon would be a stellar fallback.
Brugler actually has Harmon at 16 overall, between Campbell and Emmanwori and nine spots above Grant. Jeremiah also has Harmon ranked above Grant.
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 
I was hoping for Grant. Turned out that, for me, Zabel was the consolation pick with Grant gone!
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