Category Archives: NFL draft

Moffitt was Schneider’s worst draft pick

John Schneider’s worst draft pick is coming out of retirement.

John Moffitt was so bad that Schneider and the Seahawks actually changed the way they evaluate draft prospects largely because of him, focusing on football character over skill starting in 2014.

“There’s certain guys you spend a lot of time with, because you’re trying to figure out the man,” Schneider said before the draft last year. “What’s in his heart? What his personality’s like. Would he fit in in the locker room? There’s certain guys that we haven’t done that good of a job with, in my opinion, in the past.”

That’s a clear reference to Moffitt, who was traded by the team after Tom Cable got tired of his lackadaisical attitude — which it turns out was caused by his drug problem.

Moffitt started 15 games in 2011 and 2012, alternating with J.R. Sweezy toward the end of the latter year. Cable was never impressed by Moffitt, whose drug addiction apparently scuttled whatever ability or desire he had.

Moffitt always came across as a buffoon, running into trouble with the law and the NFL more than once. Apparently he has addressed his drug problem and wants back in the NFL. The Seahawks clearly are not an option.

We consider him the worst pick in Schneider’s six drafts. Here’s our bottom five:

Continue reading Moffitt was Schneider’s worst draft pick

Cable: College has ruined offensive players

SokoliTom Cable says college football has ruined offensive players, and that’s why he chooses to take defensive linemen and make them offensive linemen in the NFL.

Five linemen were drafted after the Hawks took conversion project Kristjan Sokoli in the sixth round, and the Hawks passed on Kansas State center B.J. Finney and Florida State guard Josue Matias, who were thought to be mid-round options but ended up going undrafted. The Hawks also signed another conversion project after their rookie minicamp, Kona Schwenke.

“I’m not wanting to offend anybody, but college football offensively has gotten to be really, really bad fundamentally,” Cable told 710 ESPN, referencing the gimmicky spread option that so many teams now use.

Continue reading Cable: College has ruined offensive players

CHAWK LINES -- Draft

John Schneider talked more about Frank Clark, Tyler Lockett and the rest of the draft class on 710 ESPN.

As expected, the media is picking apart the Seahawks’ selection of Clark. Field Gulls compiled the reports questioning their investigative diligence.

The prosecutor in Clark’s case says there was more to the story than the police report indicated and she does not see Clark as a habitual “batterer,” per The Seattle Times.

Clark’s position coach at Michigan backs him 100 percent and thinks the Seahawks “made a tremendous pick.”

Rob Staton broke down the on-field merits of the Seahawks’ draft class: Clark’s first-round talent, Lockett’s game-breaking ability and the six other picks (plus the best UDFA they signed).

Former Green Beret Nate Boyer talked to 710 ESPN about his journey to the Seahawks. The Times’ Jayson Jenks also wrote about him.

Bob Condotta gave a detailed look at Seattle’s 12 undrafted rookies.

Continue reading

On Clark: Trust the Seahawks, not the self-righteous media

NFL draftThe Seahawks were not comfortable pursuing Greg Hardy once they learned the details of his domestic-violence case, but they clearly think Frank Clark is another story. And Seahawks fans should trust them — even if some self-righteous media folks want to condemn them.

Too many people fell into the trap of convicting Clark in the court of public opinion and sentencing him to life as a social pariah based on one inflammatory police report. As John Schneider said Friday, you have to look beyond the report to find the real Clark.

On 710 ESPN on Monday, Schneider expanded on the Seahawks’ investigation into Clark’s situation. Schneider said he and two other Seahawks scouts were involved in gathering information, which included talking to people in Los Angeles and Cleveland about the player’s early background, getting information from the court and counselors in Michigan and talking to other teams to see whether they had gotten similar information and viewed him the same way Seattle did. (After the Hawks picked Clark on Friday, Schneider said he got calls from three teams that were poised to grab the pass rusher in the third round.)

Continue reading On Clark: Trust the Seahawks, not the self-righteous media

Eight picks were Schneider’s fewest

NFL draftThe Seahawks finished the 2015 draft with eight picks — the fewest they have had under John Schneider. They had never had fewer than nine.

They started with 11, of course, but spent four on Tyler Lockett, a two-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year who tied the conference record for kick-return average (28.5) while averaging 15.2 yards per punt return and setting 17 school records as a receiver and returner.

“We wanted a returner in this program so badly,” Pete Carroll said. “John just needed to figure out where we were going to get him, and I am thrilled we got him. He is such a special return guy.”

Lockett was the only playmaker the Hawks added — unless you count Jimmy Graham, which they do.

The pick breakdown this year: 3 OL, 2 DE, 2 DB, 1 WR. It isn’t much different than the five-year trend coming in, as OL, DL and DB have been Schneider’s highest-drafted positions. He now has used 12 picks each on OL and DB and 11 on DL.

“John did a great job again,” Carroll said. “The board came off like we were hoping and so many guys fit some issues that we had, some needs that we had. It was an awesome job.”

Continue reading Eight picks were Schneider’s fewest

This draft class is full of intriguing people

NFL draftThe Seahawks put together quite an anthology of dramatic stories this weekend.

They started off with the controversial pick of Frank Clark that had plenty of people ripping Pete Carroll and John Schneider. However, by the end of the draft, they had redeemed themselves by signing the inspirational Nate Boyer.

But Clark and Boyer weren’t the only guys who came to Seattle with attention-getting stories. In fact, this might be the most dramatic class Schneider has drafted.

Continue reading This draft class is full of intriguing people

Hawks got three OL, but where will they play?

NFL draftAs the Seahawks entered the draft, many expected them to come out with two or three offensive linemen. And they did.

They first apparently tried to move up to the top of the fourth round — likely aiming for T.J. Clemmings, Tre Jackson or Daryl Williams. They didn’t have any ammunition though, unless they were offering a 2016 pick or a player, so it’s no wonder they were unable to make the move.

In the end, they stayed put and used their two fourth-rounders (130 and 134 overall) on “gritty” Terry Poole and Mark Glowinski. And they added conversion project Kristjan Sokoli in the sixth round. The Hawks had brought in all three for visits before the draft.

Continue reading Hawks got three OL, but where will they play?

CHAWK LINES -- Draft

As expected, the Hawks are not getting very good reviews for drafting Frank Clark.

Larry Stone of The Seattle Times said the Seahawks “uncharacteristically and inexplicably misstepped.”

News Tribune beat writer Gregg Bell set aside all objectivity as he ranted against the pick.

Seahawks.com lists Three Things to Know about Clark (obviously the team’s website goes nowhere near his legal history).

Here are Three Things to Know about Tyler Lockett, whose dad played in Kansas City when John Schneider was director of pro personnel there.

Rob Staton breaks down the Hawks’ strategy on Day 2 and looks ahead to Day 3.

Continue reading

Schneider makes rare move up: Check out his 33 trades with Seattle

NFL draftWhen John Schneider finally showed up to explain his first moves of the 2015 draft on Friday, he cracked of being so late, “Sorry about that; we’ve never traded up before.”

It was a joke about his penchant for moving down in the draft and a reference to his big move up in the third round to get return wiz Tyler Lockett.

It was just the second time Schneider moved up in six drafts since he was hired as Seattle’s GM. He also moved up to get defensive tackle Jesse Williams in the fifth round in 2013.

Continue reading Schneider makes rare move up: Check out his 33 trades with Seattle

Carroll and Schneider are such drama queens

NFL draftYou wouldn’t think it by looking at or listening to them, but Pete Carroll and John Schneider are drama queens.

They proved it again Friday when they used their top draft pick, No. 63 overall, on one of the most controversial players in the draft: banned Michigan pass rusher Frank Clark. Then, as if to take everyone’s mind off the controversial pick of Clark, Carroll and Schneider parlayed four draft picks to move up and grab explosive return man/wide receiver Tyler Lockett six picks later.

Carroll and Schneider knew they would take heat for drafting Clark, who was kicked off the team at Michigan after a domestic violence arrest last year.

But the Hawks have never been afraid to acquire players with dubious character. They traded for Marshawn Lynch, signed Terrell Owens and Braylon Edwards, traded for Kellen Winslow, drafted Bruce Irvin and Christine Michael and traded for Percy Harvin.

Continue reading Carroll and Schneider are such drama queens