Huard: Christian McCaffrey would be an asset, but he can’t be a priority draft pick for Seahawks
Feb 23, 2017, 6:00 AM | Updated: Apr 6, 2017, 2:24 pm
Brock Huard is intrigued by Chrisitan McCaffrey's big-play potential on special teams. (AP)
(AP)
While the Seahawks appear to be optimistic about the skillsets and potential of their running backs, 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard is not convinced that the organization has complete trust in its current options. And with that in mind, he is intrigued by what Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey could add to the team’s offense if Seattle drafted him.
“I’ve heard that name bounced around,” Huard said Wednesday. “If C.J. Prosise was not drafted where he was drafted a year ago, I would say Christian McCaffrey could be a huge fit because of the versatility of what he can do.”
Prosise, a third-round pick in last year’s draft, is the wild card in Seattle’s backfield. He showed flashes of big-play ability and versatility throughout the year, but like starter Thomas Rawls he was plagued by injuries.
710 ESPN Seattle’s John Clayton wrote that Prosise could be the Seahawks’ version of Patriots Super Bowl standout James White, and he also mentioned that Seattle could find a powerful back in the draft to challenge Rawls for early-down carries. “Bob, Groz and Tom” also debated the merits of signing 30-year-old bruiser LeGarrette Blount.
McCaffrey fits the Prosise mold as he was a triple threat throughout his career at Stanford. He broke Barry Sanders’ NCAA record for all-purpose yards in a season thanks to his big-play prowess as a running back, receiver and kick returner. Huard said McCaffrey’s ability on special teams could be particularly helpful depending on wide receiver Tyler Lockett’s recovery from a broken fibula.
“What (McCaffrey) does in the special teams games, depending on just the prognosis and the severity of Tyler Lockett’s injury, then you could start to convince me a little bit,” he said. “(Because) of the multiplicity of his game, being able to play in the slot, being able to be a pass-catcher out of the backfield, being a kick and punt returner, being a running back that at times is more than willing to run between the tackles.”
While Huard is enamored with McCaffrey’s abilities, co-host Mike Salk is not interested, though he admitted that is primarily because of McCaffrey’s lackluster performance in Stanford’s 44-6 loss to Washington last season, when the Huskies limited the junior to 49 rushing yards on 12 attempts and five receptions for 30 yards.
“I can’t shake the image of him here in Seattle just getting completely bottled up by the Huskies,” Salk said. “He couldn’t go anywhere. He did nothing in that game. They completely shut him down. He was totally ineffective. And I know he had many other good games in college. I saw many of them on TV. But I’m having a hard time shaking that image.”
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper currently projects McCaffrey going to the Packers at No. 29 overall. And despite McCaffrey’s versatility, Huard said the Seahawks can’t afford to use a pick on a running back in either of the first two rounds.
“He brings a huge skillset; I just don’t think he’s going to be there if and when the Seahawks will have an opportunity to take that kind of player, and to me that’s a third- or fourth-round kind of priority,” he said. “It cannot come before a corner, offensive lineman, safety. … So, is he a third- or fourth-round guy? Ideally, value-wise for the Seahawks, yes. Will he be there? I don’t think there’s any chance.”
