‘No secret’: Hawks want to trade down

“It’s no secret with us, guys. We have four picks, so we’ll be looking to move back.” – John Schneider

It’s draft week – finally!

Free agency slowed to a trickle five weeks ago, so it has been a long, slow wait for the NFL’s Christmas Day. But it is upon us.

This is considered one of the lesser-talented drafts in several years, which John Schneider anticipated when he traded his fourth- and fifth-round picks for Rashid Shaheed last season. The Hawks have four picks (32, 64, 96, 188) as the week begins, and their top positional needs are running back, edge rusher, defensive back and interior offensive line.

The Hawks also need to focus on finding defenders who can help them stop their biggest nemesis, the Rams. That could mean an edge rusher who gets “quick wins,” as Mike Macdonald has said, or maybe another Swiss Army knife coverage guy in the mold of Nick Emmanwori.

Schneider announced Monday that he plans to try to trade down from 32 – obviously to add a pick and get better value for his first selection. Beyond that, though, there is much debate about whether the Seahawks should use their top pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price or a top defensive player.

Rather than putting our breakdown in one giant post, we have broken it out into the following sections:

Quibbling over Price

Simpson the bait at 32?

Veteran trades: A running back?

Who are the Rams beaters?

Quibbling over Price

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of our draft preview, broken out into several posts for easier digestion.

There is a big debate about whether the Seahawks should use their top pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price.

The consensus mock draft on Mock Draft Database has the Seahawks taking Price at 32. Draft IQ, meanwhile, has Price as Seattle’s pick at 64.

NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah prefers 32 – simply because the numbers dictate it.

Continue reading Quibbling over Price

Simpson the bait at 32?

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of our draft preview, broken out into several posts for easier digestion.

John Schneider has made it clear he wants to move down from 32.

The last time the Seahawks drafted 32nd, back in 2014, they dangled a quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater) as bait to trade down. They could do the same thing this time.

Alabama’s Ty Simpson, the No. 2 QB in the draft, is considered a borderline first-round pick.

An NFL personnel guy told Jonathan Jones of CBS: “In a typical year I think you could get (Simpson) in the second, but this year I think if you want him you’d better be willing to take him in the late first or he could be gone.”

Continue reading Simpson the bait at 32?

Veteran trade market: A running back?

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of our draft preview, broken out into several posts for easier digestion.

In light of the “incredibly shallow” running back class in this draft, Daniel Jeremiah posted, “Teams with some depth at the position should have a trade market for their vets.”

It would not be a stunner if the Hawks got their running back that way. We previously have mentioned Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard.

Continue reading Veteran trade market: A running back?

Who are the Rams beaters?

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of our draft preview, broken out into several posts for easier digestion.

The theme of this draft for Seattle really needs to be: Players who will help beat the Rams.

Matthew Stafford & Co. lit up Seattle’s stellar defense in their second and third matchups last season, gaining 1,060 yards and scoring 64 points. Seattle won because Sam Darnold played lights out both times as well.

The Hawks really need to add defenders who can either get to Stafford or stop the ball from getting to Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and the tight ends.

Continue reading Who are the Rams beaters?