I like these behind the scenes write ups. Last year, this thread (link below in Similar threads) didn’t get as much traction as it deserved.
Reading in between the lines of the Seahawks own draft board I’d guess they came away with:
One of their top 3 graded players in Witherspoon at #5.
One of their top 12 players in JSN at #20
One of their top 15-20 players in Derick Hall at #37.
Despite needs they went best player available at #52 which was a low-key need as the Seahawks did need a big, physical workhorse type back to really complement Walker’s game. I like that Pete Carroll made the call, last year, there was more of collective discussion in taking Walker at #41. I liked a lot of RBs in this draft, they could have taken any one of them in the mid-rounds and I would probably would have been satisfied. However, the one thing that kept me wanting and pulling for Zach Charbonnet especially over the rest of the bigger, more physical backs is that he doesn’t fumble. ZC can do alot of dirty work but also has the awareness and were-with-all to protect the rock with his life. I’m sure that was a big reason Carroll had the conviction to call off due diligence, the RB class was deep enough to balk at BPA for a bigger need but Carroll was like…nope, we’re taking this dude, right here, right now.
I kind of want to know who the guy was they had pegged for #83.
YaYa Diaby and Zach Harrison had similar length and strength profiles similar to Mike Morris that you could beef up to play 3T end.
Not to forget Bama’s Byron Young who was probably one of the most plug and play 3-4 edges in the class. A Jarran Reed mentorship would have been outstanding for him.
Tyler Steen was an OT they visited with that possibly could have moved to OG like the McVay tree has a reputation of doing. They took OG with their next pick.
Pickens had a similar profile to Cam Young but with more pass rush upside.
Sydney Brown had a similar athletic profile and positional versatility to Jerrick Reed but is bigger and stronger and his body of work was in a more competitive conference and pairing him with a former teammate would have its positives.
Both Drew Sanders and Marte Mapu also seemed like guys that could play multiple positions and be big time situational chess pieces especially in a 3-4 hybrid.
And then there is Hendon Hooker, who was likely the easiest QB to redshirt behind Geno, the most comparable QB to what Geno brings to the table in skill set, and perhaps the biggest reason I liked Hooker was he looked like the most coachable and controllable out of the big 5. Meaning he is more apt to stay on schedule within the scheme and play call rather than try to take control of the offensive identity and do his own thing for better or for worst.
If I had to pick one that just made the most sense to perhaps filling both a need and possibly BPA it would have been Byron Young. He would have been ready to start immediately if needed and had outside/inside flexibility to be a 3-4 end or a 4-3 DT.
www.seahawks.com
