Pick 18: Grey Zabel

[Kamcussionator]

Zabel wasn't the sexy pick but he was the right pick. JS hears you and feels you now he is hoping everyone can get off his back for a bit.

I see the line currently as Cross - Zabel - Oluwatimi - Haynes - Lucas. It will take some time to gel but that has potential to be a good unit for a long time. Upgrade isn't out of the question but I think the coaching staff will like this line. You can maybe replace Olu with Sundell but I like it. I wouldn't rule out drafting another lineman but we have a lot of young players who just need to develop. I would love Chase Lundt or Jared Wilson at some point and call it a day

Also of note:
Cross - 24 years old
Zabel - 23
Oluwatimi - 25
Haynes - 25
Lucas - 26

Barring salary cap and injuries, this could be our OLine for the next decade.

 

[glenwo2]

If Zabel is as advertised, we'll finally have a pretty sweet OL. It will be fun watching our QB have actual pocket time, find receivers, and move the chains.

Considering how Darnold had to contend with Garrett F'n Bradbury (who gave up a career high 39 QB pressures) and a porous IOL last season with the Vikes, he must be one of the happiest guys in Seattle right now.

 

[Maelstrom787]

Because thinking he would be available at 50 is hilarious. He was going mid 1st round the entire time.
I knew someone would hate the pick, a pick that is almost universally loved. The gift that keeps on giving.
Some people will NEVER be satisfied with a great pick. And everyone who actually scouts for a living gave massive praise to the Hawks for taking him at 18.

I'll go ahead and trust them over keyboard warrior draft experts on a message board. Daniel Jeremiah, who actually scouted FOR NFL TEAMS said that Zabel was his favorite player in the entire draft. I'm here for it. Looking forward to the rest of the picks, esp. the responses from Keyboard Scouts. I suspect some will be solid picks, some head scratchers, the usual. And I'm here for it.

Go Hawks

I didn't say he'd be available at 50.

In fact, you know this, as you had previously laugh reacted the reply where I stated that I didn't think he'd be available at 50.

Thank you for offering nothing again except bitching about other posters having an opinion, though. I'll be here if you want to discuss the actual game of football instead of how mad you are about the behavior of others.

 

[glenwo2]

Yes, but some mocks had him going even higher, so it would have been a risk. As long as he works out, no one will care if he was a bit overdrafted.

I don't care if he was overdrafted NOW with no caveats.

This was the RIGHT move to do.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

I didn't say he'd be available at 50.

In fact, you know this, as you had previously laugh reacted the reply where I stated that I didn't think he'd be available at 50.

Thank you for offering nothing again except bitching about other posters having an opinion, though. I'll be here if you want to discuss the actual game of football instead of how mad you are about the behavior of others.

You said "should have been taken at 50 instead of 18"

That sure sounds like you actually believed it.

Oh well, I found it funny. You don't like the pick, I love it, as do most.

Cool.

 

[chris98251]

Darnold is the happiest Seahawk in the building about now, new Lineman, Kubiack, Kupp, what else does he want for Christmas.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Hoping WR, LB, SAFETY and another O Lineman in the next couple rounds. Could use another corner too, for sure.

 

[James in PA]

LFG!!!!!!! Finally Schneider doesn't do something stupid.

He was trying to trade back though. Thank goodness no other team offered him a decent deal. We would've definitely lost out on Zabel and perhaps Jackson (depending on how far he traded back). Ugh. That would've had me fuming.

 

[Wsumatt1982]

Also of note:
Cross - 24 years old
Zabel - 23
Oluwatimi - 25
Haynes - 25
Lucas - 26

Barring salary cap and injuries, this could be our OLine for the next decade.

Exactly, all currently on rookie deals as well. When we have to pay them it will trickle in as well, it won't be all at once allowing for flexibility. Where we are right now, can we upgrade here and there? Sure but it's a very solid foundation for maybe the next decade. Like I said, Zabel wasn't the sexy pick. Just the right pick. I doubt we could've traded down and still got him, but even if we could, why? Don't get too cute, just take him and move on to the next pick.

 

[glenwo2]

Darnold is the happiest Seahawk in the building about now, new Lineman, Kubiack, Kupp, what else does he want for Christmas.

Jack Bech, please.

 

[chris98251]

John was saying they are pretty happy with the current stable of O lineman, a off season under a NFL line coach in Kubiacks offense may help them a lot, I still would like a pick somewhere in there, but not thinking it as dire as the numbers looked last year. Safety, LB, WR, TE, CB for me, need that true thumper that Slot receivers, TE's and RB's all fear across the middle of the field and underneath routes. Hearing footsteps can do a lot for low completion percentage and turnovers for us.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

He was trying to trade back though. Thank goodness no other team offered him a decent deal. We would've definitely lost out on Zabel and perhaps Jackson (depending on how far he traded back). Ugh. That would've had me fuming.

Well, he kind of said it would have had to be something that blew them away. I suspect that most teams at least listen to offers.

 

[Chukarhawk]

Zabel was always their guy. They interviewed him at the senior bowl and brought him in for a workout. This is who they were targeting, this is who they wanted. I'm betting they take 2 more O-line in the draft.

 

[hawkfan68]

Our OL: Cross - Haynes - Zabel - Bradford - Lucas
Lucky Drew Lock, Sam Darnold and Sam Howell. You know who is drooling? Geno Smith, he started to drool just thinking about playing behind this line.

View attachment 71181

Stoked they got Zabel. All I read on him was that he was suited for the zone based blocking scheme. Drafting him there gives a pretty good indication of what they are looking to do there.

Even with a top rated offensive line, Geno would find a way to turn the ball over in the red zone. It's just who he was.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Yup ^^^^

He was allergic to good decisions when we went against an actual good team.

 

[hox]

He was trying to trade back though. Thank goodness no other team offered him a decent deal. We would've definitely lost out on Zabel and perhaps Jackson (depending on how far he traded back). Ugh. That would've had me fuming.

If he traded down and missed out on Zabel and Jackson, it could have been disastrous.

Passing on Torrence is how you end up with guys like Bradford.
Passing on Beebe is how you end up with guys like Haynes.
Passing on Humphrey is how you end up with guys like Forsythe.

Maybe Zabel isn't a mid 1st round pick value, but when teams are breaking the bank for guys like Will Fries, you get a quality guard on a rookie contract when you can. And I think he is quality. Impressive lower body strength with the ability to maul defenders and finish blocks. He "stole reps" and dominated other top tier talent at the senior bowl.

Will he be the next Hutch? Maybe not, but with his smarts, physicality and athleticism, doubt he will be a bust either.

Now John can move forward in the draft in "BPA mode" instead of "desperation" mode.

 

[oldhawkfan]

Not sure why I'd expect a reasonable, football-based response outside of a bunch of snipes about my avatar (which I plan to change to my adopt-a-rookie, for those asking) or just laughing.

Any of you laughing even watched the kid and the other linemen I'm referencing? I'd love to actually *talk football*.

So changing your avatar to Grey Zabel?

 

[samwize77]

Not everyone is gonna be happy with any given pick. Not everyone is gonna be right and not everyone is gonna be wrong.
But to say definitively "I know" one way or the other is an insight into someone's ability to judge a players future value.
Hindsight might prove someone right or wrong, but in the here and now, they are always wrong, because nobody really knows.
I'm not really stoked on this particular pick....but ya know what?......I'll hope for the best, and give a big WELCOME to Mr Zabel!

 

[glenwo2]

yeah...no one really knows....but that's why they SCOUT players and not ask us keyboard warriors

 

[HawkRiderFan]

Jack Bech, please.

I heard Mina Kimes refer to him as bulked-up Bobo lol. As a compliment