Seahawks Draft: What do you want them to do and what they do need?

Apr 17, 2020, 12:20 AM

Could the Seahawks add another receiver behind Tyler Lockett in the draft? (Getty)

(Getty)

BY BRENT STECKER

Seattle Sports

The Seahawks have a lot of ways they can go in next week’s NFL Draft.

Heaps: Why the Seahawks are unlikely to trade out of the first round

There’s pass rush, the No. 1 topic surrounding the team this offseason after a poor performance in that area in 2019. There’s offensive line, a position group that is full of uncertainty. There are skill positions that could use more depth. The Seahawks are even being linked to defensive backs early on in some mock drafts.

With that in mind, 710 ESPN Seattle’s Tom, Jake and Stacy took things head-on Thursday, with each of the three hosts identifying the thing they want the Seahawks most to do in the draft, then what they think is what Seattle needs to do the most.

Read their answers below, then tell us in the comments what your draft wants and needs for the Seahawks are.

What do you want?

Tom Wassell: Running back somewhere in the draft

You’ve heard me talk about getting Frank Gore as the season approaches. Now I’m half-serious when it comes to that, but I think my point is clear. They’re going to need another running back. They’ve got Chris Carson but I’m not going to count on Rashaad Penny for anything really at all this season, especially if he’s not going to come back (from knee surgery) until halfway through. Travis Homer, nice piece, not the second running back. He’s just not. They need somebody to either change up the pace from Carson or to take over completely in case there’s an injury problem. Now I don’t think that they have to draft a running back early – in fact I’d be kinda miffed if they used that 27th pick on a running back in the first round, or even the second round. I think you can maybe use your later-round picks and still somebody who’s adequate for this job, but I still want a running back. In fact I’m just going to say it right now – I think they will come away with one. I’d be surprised if they didn’t. I think that they know after last year’s debacle with injuries at the end of the season going into the playoffs that they need something more than what they have. They may need, like, two guys. I don’t think they’re going to draft two guys, but they need to get at least one somewhere in the draft.

Jake Heaps: Wide receiver in the early rounds

I want a game-breaking wide receiver early in this draft. There’s been a lot of conversation about how deep this receiver draft is and how special this receiver draft is. I think that you get a chance to bolster this offense and put more weapons around Russell Wilson and really try and make this offense elite by trying to add one more special playmaker. The best thing about it is there’s not going to be this insane amount of pressure on this receiver to be a DK Metcalf, to have that same type of production as a rookie because you brought in Phillip Dorsett as kind of an insurance policy if things don’t go well with a rookie receiver in a shortened offseason. I think it’s a high-reward, low-risk move for them and it only gives them opportunity. There are so many guys around pick 27 and around where their two second-round picks are where they can get a legitimate game-breaking, game-changing receiver to complement DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

Stacy Rost: Don’t trade out of the first round

What I want is them to draft in the first round. I don’t think they need to. I don’t think that trading out of the first round would signify a failure on their part. In fact, I would bet that they don’t draft in the first round. But it’s exciting, it’s a change of pace. Unlike last year where they kinda miraculously – and give (general manager John) Schneider credit for this – turned four picks into 11 picks, and that includes the pre-draft trade of (Frank) Clark, they don’t just need depth. They need actual stars and they need contributors. They don’t need to add anything else to special teams, they don’t need a special teams haul like they had last year. They need guys that can start or that can back-up starters right away, and I think that you’re more likely to get those guys in earlier rounds. … You are more likely to find success in earlier rounds. I think they need to hit there.

What do the Seahawks need?

Wassell: Offensive line

I’m going to go with offensive linemen. They have 17 offensive linemen, and you know what, I don’t think that that’s enough because between the guys who we know have already spots earned, and there really aren’t many of them, and the guys that they’ve acquired this offseason, who knows how that’s going to shake out. I can see at least two of those five positions on the offensive line being real question marks going into the season, so I think you need to draft an offensive lineman, not only somewhere in the draft but probably in the earlier rounds.

Heaps: Impact player on the interior of the defensive line

My need is the defensive line, and they need to find a game-wrecker. They need to find somebody who has the juice to get after the quarterback, to be disruptive in the run game, and who’s going to bring a little bit of attitude to this defensive line as well. Hopefully they’re able to solve their edge rushing issues before the draft by getting Clowney, Yannick Ngaukue – just something that can give us a sigh of relief and not stress us all out as Seahawks fans. … I would not be surprised if they address early edge rush and defensive tackle. I think that they need to address defensive tackle more than anything else, and that’s why I want them to really go after a dynamic, three-technique defensive tackle like Ross Blacklock (TCU), Marlon Davidson from Auburn, Justin Madubuike from Texas A&M, Neville Gallimore from Oklahoma. I think there’s some guys that are out there at that defensive tackle position that bring some attitude, bring major disruption on the interior to go along with Jarran Reed and Poona Ford. That to me is a must – not even a want. It’s an absolute, surefire need for the Seahawks.

Rost: Multiple additions to the defensive line

I know pass rush is at the top of all of our lists, but instead of just saying they need a defensive end, I actually think they need someone on the interior as well. I think they need a defensive tackle and a defensive end, at least two additions to their defensive line. We know they need pass-rush help. They were 29th in sacks, 29th in quarterback hits, 26th in pressures last season. That’s not good at all, but that doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it doesn’t happen because of one deficiency. In the NFL, a defense doesn’t become one of the worst defenses in the league because it has one injured defensive end. It’s failures across the defensive line. It’s defensive tackles that can’t get pressure up the middle, it’s guys that don’t help with the pass rush. … They need more especially if they’re going to go with this kind of rotational approach to their defensive line. … I think they need both a tackle and an edge.

You can listen to the full segment at the top of this podcast from Thursday’s show.

Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Tom Wassell, Jake Heaps and Stacy Rost on Twitter.