Category Archives: NFL draft

Guy named Lynch helped Seahawks win Day 1

NFL draftIt figures that a guy named Lynch had a lot to do with the Seahawks winning big on the first day of the NFL draft.

Marshawn is retired (we think), but Paxton is just coming into the league, and the Seahawks took advantage of that and an unexpected first-round development to end up with a double win.

While they didn’t move out of the first round for the fourth straight year, as it seemed they would, they did better: They traded down just five spots and added another third-round pick while helping their offensive line with Texas A&M’s Germain Ifedi.

Continue reading Guy named Lynch helped Seahawks win Day 1

Hawks looking for trade-down partners

NFL draftAs the Seahawks look for ways to move down from their pick at 26, it looks like they could have a few options.

Denver (31st pick) and Cleveland (32nd) reportedly have been looking for ways to move up — likely for Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch. Both teams apparently have talked with Green Bay, which picks right behind Seattle. So, it follows that they have talked or will speak with the Seahawks, too.

Of course, the New York Jets could well decide to grab Lynch at No. 20 (or higher), which would leave the Seahawks looking for another team with a reason to move up.

Another draw to moving from the top of the second round into the bottom of the first is the fifth-year player control the first round offers, which could prompt teams to come up for one of the other quarterbacks — or a player at a different position.

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Which gamble will the Hawks take this year?

NFL draftThe Seahawks have made a ton of gambles in the first two rounds over the last four years, so it will be no surprise if one of their top two picks this week looks like a major wager as well.

Counting trades, the Seahawks have gambled with five of eight picks in the first two rounds since 2012.

In 2012, they picked Bruce Irvin, who had overcome a lot of trouble as a youth and sure didn’t seem like he was worth the 15th pick in the draft.

In 2013, they doubled up on character gambles — making an ill-advised trade for Percy Harvin and then using a luxury pick for Christine Michael in the second round.

In 2014, they reached for Justin Britt at the bottom of the second round.

In 2015, they took the most heat by drafting Frank Clark 63rd overall even though he had been involved in a domestic dispute months earlier.

In 2016, various mock drafts have projected troubled defenders Robert Nkemdiche and Noah Spence to the Seahawks. Even if they trade down, as we expect, would the Seahawks gamble on either of those guys?

Continue reading Which gamble will the Hawks take this year?

A look at all 38 of Schneider’s trades

NFL draftDRAFT COUNTDOWN: 6 days. As the draft approaches, we look at draft-related topics involving the Seahawks.

“Who says we’re picking at 26?”

With that comment on KJR last week, John Schneider basically confirmed the Seahawks are going to be looking to trade out of the first round again.

Schneider said this draft is made for trading down because it is the deepest draft since he took over as Seattle’s GM in 2010.

The draft is especially deep in the two areas where the Seahawks need help: offensive line and defensive tackle. And that explains why Schneider will once again be looking to move down.

“You always have to find a partner, and that can be somewhat difficult throughout the day and throughout the weekend,” the GM said. “But this is one of those drafts (that make you want to move down).”

Continue reading A look at all 38 of Schneider’s trades

A look at Schneider’s probable draft strategy

DRAFT COUNTDOWN: 7 days. As the draft approaches, we look at draft-related topics involving the Seahawks.

John Schneider draftingThis is just the second time in four years John Schneider has gone into the draft with his first-round pick, and it appears he is planning the same strategy as last time.

In 2014, he dropped from No. 32 to 40 and then moved down again before selecting wide receiver Paul Richardson with the 45th pick.

Based on his comments last week, it is clear he wants to follow that strategy again. This draft is the deepest since 2010, he said, and he wants to take advantage of it.

Continue reading A look at Schneider’s probable draft strategy

‘Who says we’re picking at 26?’ Schneider wants to move down again

John Schneider (via Fresh Files)DRAFT COUNTDOWN: 2 weeks. Every Thursday until the draft, we look at draft-related topics involving the Seahawks.

The Seahawks have not drafted in the first round for three years; and, if John Schneider has his way, they won’t pick in the first round this year either.

On Wednesday, KJR’s Mitch Levy asked jokingly which player the Seahawks are going to pick at No. 26, and Schneider quickly retorted, “Who says we’re picking at 26?”

Schneider wasn’t kidding either. He said this draft is made for trading down, “quite honestly.”

Continue reading ‘Who says we’re picking at 26?’ Schneider wants to move down again

No apparent interest in a veteran tackle

There’s no sign the Seahawks were interested in Ryan Clady, despite their major need at left tackle, but apparently — if they had been interested — they could have gotten him for a Day 3 pick and $6 million.

That’s what the Jets reportedly gave the Broncos on Sunday — replacing the retiring D’Brickashaw Ferguson with Clady, who was available because Denver signed Russell Okung away from the Seahawks. Instead of possibly replacing Okung in Seattle, Clady is joining former Seahawks James Carpenter and Breno Giacomini in New York.

The Seahawks apparently have no interest in adding another veteran tackle before the draft. As John Schneider told 710 ESPN last week: “We addressed (the offensive line) early in free agency, we’ll address it again in the draft and then we’ll see what’s happening this summer.”

Continue reading No apparent interest in a veteran tackle

Don’t fall for the company line

NFL draftDRAFT COUNTDOWN: 3 weeks. Every Thursday until the draft, we look at draft-related topics involving the Seahawks.

As we all know, the Seahawks are a supposed Super Bowl contender with one major problem: They are starting all over on the offensive line.

The company line has been that there have not been any good linemen for the Seahawks to draft over the last four years. Go ahead and fall for it if you want. But it’s wrong.

Even by the Seahawks’ apparent standards — as carefully derived by Seahawks Draft Blog’s Rob Staton — they should have been able to put together a very good line by now.

Continue reading Don’t fall for the company line

Are Hawks targeting Bullard in second round?

DRAFT COUNTDOWN: 4 weeks. Every Thursday until the draft, we look at draft-related topics involving the Seahawks.

John Schneider draftingFor all of the talk about the Seahawks needing to target an offensive lineman with the 26th overall pick, it is looking more and more like they could be angling to draft a defensive lineman.

Florida’s Jonathan Bullard is the hot name attached to the Seahawks these days. They reportedly were set to bring him in for a visit — a move that could well foreshadow his arrival as a Seahawk in late April.

Continue reading Are Hawks targeting Bullard in second round?

More O-linemen to come, but when?

NFL draftDRAFT COUNTDOWN: 5 weeks. Every Thursday until the draft, we look at draft-related topics involving the Seahawks.

As positively as they try to spin it, it is clear Pete Carroll and John Schneider are not finished with their offensive line.

Carroll said Garry Gilliam can handle left tackle, Justin Britt will improve at left guard, Mark Glowinski is ready to start at right guard and J’Marcus Webb can be better at right tackle for them than he has been for other teams.

Carroll said Gilliam is “an athlete who is really equipped to play” left tackle, Glowinski is “a natural guard” who should “be a big factor” and Britt “is just going to continue grow as a guard.”

“We think those guards give us a really secure spot with big upside,” he said.

But there’s no way the Seahawks are going to training camp with just these guys and center Patrick Lewis. Even on the off chance that they do not add a veteran before the draft next month, they certainly are going to add at least a couple linemen during the draft.

Continue reading More O-linemen to come, but when?