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.

If the Seahawks do not pick outside corners Colton Hood (Tennessee) or Chris Johnson (San Diego State), there are four guys in particular who could help with the coverage issues: Treydan Stukes (Arizona), A.J. Haulcy (LSU), Kyle Louis (Pitt) and Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina). The Seahawks brought in all but Louis to VMAC.

Here’s a look at each, with ranks via Mock Draft Database consensus board, Dane Brugler and Daniel Jeremiah – and reports or analysis from various NFL insiders.

Treydan Stukes

Ranks: 57 consensus board, 56 Brugler, 48 Jeremiah

Stukes (6-1, 190, 4.33) is listed 57^th on the consensus board, but he is expected to go in the 40s. Rob Staton even mocked him to Seattle at 32.

Adam Schefter said a general manager called Stukes “one of the best safeties I’ve seen. This guy makes freaky plays that I haven’t seen other safeties make.” Schefter added that he could “sneak” into Round 1. 

“I think this is going to be the next evolution,” Brock Huard said. “(The Seahawks) don’t sit still. … They evolve.

“So, how do you evolve with that? Is it a unique edge that you want around the line of scrimmage? Or is it one of these unique second-level players that’s kind of a safety, that’s kind of a nickel, that’s kind of a corner, that can run 4.33 and be in the hip pocket of Puka Nacua and anybody else you’re gonna face?”

One minor problem: Stukes will turn 25 on 9/11. (Yes, he was born on the actual 9/11.)

As John Schneider cracked, fully referencing players like Stukes: “We’ve got some guys who have been in school for six years. They’re called doctors.”

A.J. Haulcy

Ranks: 59 consensus board, 70 Brugler, 64 Jeremiah

Haulcy (6-0, 215, 4.52) clearly fits Seattle’s split-safety look, although he might not have the same versatility as the rest of these guys. He seems like a player they might look at around pick 64, if they didn’t already pick their Rams beater.

Brugler’s analysis: “With very little hesitation in his reactions, he displays outstanding instincts to bait throws and get early takeoffs to close on routes. He covers a ton of ground and looks just as comfortable in the deep half as he does near the box. His tackling and block evasion need to be cleaned up, but he is more than willing to stick ballcarriers.”

Lance Zierlein said: “He’s more effective playing forward than he is at guarding large spaces in deeper coverages. He’s rock steady as a finisher but sees the missed tackle total tick higher as an open-field tackler. Haulcy’s frame and game are pro ready, though. He projects as a good NFL starter in a zone-heavy scheme.”

Kyle Louis

Ranks: 78 consensus board, 75 Brugler, 55 Jeremiah

Louis (6-0, 202, 4.53) is a guy who has been talked up recently as a very Mike Macdonald style defender by Huard and by Jeremiah, who said he is worthy of a mid-2 pick.

“Some think he’s a safety. Some think he’s a big nickel. Some think he’s a linebacker,” Huard said. “What he is is the best coverage guy at the second level in this draft at his size. … He would be the best big nickel in this draft.”

DJ thinks Louis would help in coverage against the Rams: “(The Hawks) would know exactly how to play him. … He is one of the best coverage players in this draft, regardless of position. You talk about having the chess pieces with (Nick) Emmanwori, him and (Devon) Witherspoon. You’ve got guys you can move all over the place and do so many different things with. I just think that would be a really fun player for them to play with.”

Jalon Kilgore

Ranks: 94 consensus board, 88 Brugler, 76 Jeremiah

Kilgore (6-1, 210, 4.4) played the nickel for three years, including alongside Emmanwori for two years, at South Carolina.

Brugler: “Kilgore is a tough eval when projecting him at a position other than nickel, but his size, athletic talent and ball-hawking skills should give teams confidence to make that bet. There is a high-risk, high-reward scenario waiting for the team that chases his upside.”

Kilgore is a third-round option if the Hawks have not already added their Rams beater before that.