Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah: What Seahawks are getting from their 3 draft picks
May 8, 2021, 1:25 PM | Updated: 1:27 pm
The Seahawks used the 56th pick on speedy WR D'Wayne Eskridge of Western Michigan. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Seahawks are typically one of the NFL Draft’s key players on a year-to-year basis, but that was hardly the case in 2021.
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Since general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll joined the Seahawks in 2010, Seattle had made at least eight picks in each draft from 2010 to 2020. In 2021, though, Seattle made only three selections due to a number of trades for veteran players like safety Jamal Adams, guard Gabe Jackson and defensive end Carlos Dunlap.
Part of the reason the Seahawks were comfortable with shipping out picks for established players? The uncertainty of this year’s draft.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was less information on draft-eligible players than ever before. Some players only played a handful of games in 2020 while some players’ teams didn’t play any games at all. There also was no NFL Scouting Combine and no in-person interviews and visits.
NFL Network’s draft expert Daniel Jeremiah joined 710 ESPN Seattle’s Wyman and Bob on Friday to discuss the Seahawks’ draft haul and why this year’s draft will differ from next year’s.
As far as Seattle’s draft strategy of trading most of its picks, Jeremiah understands why the Seahawks went that direction this offseason.
“I think it’s about where you are in the process,” Jeremiah said. “If (star quarterback Russell Wilson) was 23 years old (instead of 32) and they were just getting started, I would maybe question jettisoning the draft and bringing in so many veteran guys. But I think they’re trying to hunt down another (Super Bowl) ring since Russell is still in his prime here. I get (their offseason strategy) from a philosophical standpoint.”
And while the 2021 draft was a strange one when it comes to evaluating players, Jeremiah thinks next year’s draft won’t be nearly as strange.
“You always want to have more picks, even in a weird year like this one,” he said. “But I do think there is something to the fact that you’re going to have more information next year, which should make it easier … Everyone can look at it differently, but I don’t think anyone can refute the fact that next year you’re just going to know about those kids.”
But with the limited amount of picks the Seahawks had, how did they do?
Jeremiah started with Seattle’s first pick, Western Michigan wide receiver D’Wayne Eskridge. He’s a big fan of the second-round pick and thinks Eskridge brings a lot of immediate value to the Seahawks.
“I thought he was a really good player and somebody that has not only the speed, which everyone can talk about, but I think he’s one of the best special teams players (in the 2021 draft class). As a gunner, he’s phenomenal,” Jeremiah said.
Eskridge also played a year at cornerback, which Jeremiah said shows his toughness.
“When you get speed and toughness and also the special teams value on top of that (it’s great),” he said. “I just really liked him as a player.”
Next up was Seattle’s fourth-round pick, Oklahoma cornerback Tre Brown. Jeremiah has some mixed feelings about Brown as a prospect, but for the most part is a fan.
“When you look at Tre Brown, I thought it was a pretty deep corner draft, but I thought getting him when they did there was good value there,” he said. “He’s just a competitive player and I think that matches what they like there. I didn’t necessarily see the (4.40 second 40-yard dash) speed that he ran (when I watch his) tape, it was a little bit of a question mark there. But he’s got really good eyes and he’s just a real tough and competitive kid.”
And with the Seahawks’ last pick, Florida offensive tackle Stone Forsythe, Jeremiah had a very simple assessment.
“Forsythe is just a mountain of a human being, so you’ve got something to work with there just on the size alone,” he said. “He held his own (against top Georgia pass rusher Azeez Ojulari).”
Listen to the full interview with Jeremiah, which includes his thoughts on the Senior Bowl’s importance in the 2021 NFL Draft process, at this link or in the player below.
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