Bumpus and Turbin break down how Seahawks’ Day 3 picks fit in

A year after making only three selections in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Seahawks tripled that total in 2022, adding nine new picks to the mix.

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Five of those nine selections came in the third day of the NFL Draft alone. And while Seattle’s first four picks – Charles Cross, Boye Mafe, Ken Walker and Abraham Lucas – figure to have key roles right away, it’s a little unclear what the five Day 3 additions can provide.

Former Seahawks receiver Michael Bumpus and former Hawks running back Robert Turbin hosted The Mike Salk Show on Seattle Sports 710 AM on Friday and they broke down each of the Seahawks five Day 3 draft picks and how they fit in on the roster.

4th round CB Coby Bryant, Cincinnati 

The Seahawks opened the third day of the 2022 NFL Draft by addressing the secondary, selecting Cincinnati cornerback Coby Bryant early in the fourth round.

“This is the one of the steals of the draft for me,” Bumpus said “… (Bryant was) drafted in the fourth round, so not super late, not early. Somewhere in the middle. Coby Bryant has a chance to start right now.”

Bryant won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2021, which goes to the best defensive back in college football.

“He won that and he slid to the fourth round. I see this guy contributing right now,” Bumpus said. “When I watch the film, I see a dude who was confident, has good football IQ and recognizes route combinations … I really like what Coby is bringing to the team.”

Bryant’s confidence is what stands out the most to Turbin.

“He just has this swag about him and this confidence about him that you can’t teach. That isn’t something you can coach,” Turbin said. “He knows who he is and he’s comfortable in his own skin. Now it’s just about dialing it in as it pertains to getting the defensive scheme down, understanding what your assignments are and going out there and playing free. But the cornerback position, just like last season, it’s an open competition and certainly a spot that Coby can take over if he performs well.”

5th round CB Tariq Woolen, UTSA

After taking a fairly polished cornerback prospect in Bryant in the fourth round, the Seahawks bet on upside in the fifth round with Tariq Woolen, a 6 foot 4, 200-pound cornerback from UTSA. Woolen ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.27 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine and has 34-inch arms.

“This dude is big … and he ran a 4.2 (40-yard dash). The knock on this dude is gonna be he’s only played 16 games at the corner position,” Bumpus said. “But now here’s the advantage – he played receiver. He understands what we like to do, how we’re trying to move guys.”

Bumpus called Woolen a “developmental-type player” who likely won’t be competing for a starting job as a rookie like Bryant will.

“But I see him contributing on special teams to start,” Bumpus said. “But to have a guy with these measurables, right? These guys aren’t just walking around all day, a DB at this size with this speed.”

Turbin thinks Woolen not having much game experience at cornerback might actually be an advantage as he becomes a pro.

“We talk about that developmental phase, right? Some guys come out of college and they’ve either peaked already or their ceiling isn’t that high anymore. They’re getting pretty much close to what their highest potential is,” Turbin said. “And with Tariq Woolen here with only 16 games under his belt, the sky is the limit. There’s so much that you can develop with this guy. There’s a lot of potential there for him to become a great player in this league. He’ll be an exciting player to watch not only this year going into training camp, but over the course of his career.”

5th round DE/LB Tyreke Smith, Ohio State

The Seahawks double dipped at offensive tackle in the first three rounds and at cornerback in rounds four and five.

After taking Mafe, a defensive end/linebacker, in the second round, Seattle added another Big Ten edge rusher in Ohio State’s Tyreke Smith.

“This guy is vicious. He fires off the football and plays violent. At that D-end spot, you’ve got to be violent,” Bumpus said. “And I really like this pick because the Hawks have not been great at getting after the quarterback … You need guys like this who just get after the quarterback. It’s been a while since you can look at this roster and say, ‘That guy is going to give you eight to 10 sacks.’ I’m not saying Tyreke Smith is going to do that, but I’m saying that there’s potential there and they’re addressing a need.”

“He’s certainly a guy who can develop into a dominant defensive end,” Turbin added. “And listen, the defensive line is one of those positions where the more depth you have, the better, right? Because then you can rotate guys in, you can keep guys fresh. Now the Seahawks have a young defense that they’re building around and their future is immensely bright. I think Tyreke Smith only adds to that in a positive way.”

7th round WR Bo Melton

The Seahawks had two seventh-round picks this year and they used both of them on wide receivers.

The first pick of the two wideouts was Bo Melton, a speedy player from Rutgers who accounted for nearly 40% of their receiving yards in 2021.

Bumpus, who played receiver in the NFL, thinks the Seahawks have something with Melton.

“Bo Melton, this guy is special. Now can he transfer his skills to the NFL? We shall see,” Bumpus said. “But if you look up film on Bo Melton, he is the everything guy. He can go deep, he’ll catch the screens, he does the jet sweep. He’s gonna put some pressure on guys like Freddie Swain and Dee Eskridge to show up and show out. That’s why we have OTAs, because there’s only a few guys who are safe in OTAs … Bo Melton can make some noise.”

Turbin said Melton’s situation reminds him of his former Seahawks teammate Jermaine Kearse.

Kearse was an undrafted rookie in 2012 and wound up playing seven years in the league and helping Seattle make two Super Bowls. He caught a touchdown in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl 48 victory over the Denver Broncos.

“Bo kind of being in a similar boat to me, where it’s like listen, he was a late-round draft – wasn’t undrafted, but late-round – and certainly has an opportunity to make some noise,” Turbin said.

7th round WR Dareke Young, Lenoir-Rhyne

While Melton is a smaller receiver at 5-10, Young is a bigger target at 6-3 and 220 pounds. He also has a pretty unique skillset for being a larger wide receiver.

“He actually played some running back in college as well and had over 600 yards rushing in college,” Bumpus said of the Lenoir-Rhyne product. “I’ve seen this guy line up as a tight end, in the slot, and outside.”

The first thing that stands out to Bumpus with Young’s play? He’s violent and willing to block.

“This is another guy I think can make some noise just off his physicality,” he said. “You’re going to bring a different type of vibe to this team and we’re hearing that they want to be a run-heavy team … If you want those big runs, (offensive linemen) have got to handle the line and get on these linebackers and wide receivers need to get on these corners and these safeties. I see him doing that.”

Bumpus thinks Young will have a hard time making the Seahawks’ 53-man roster, but sees a lot of potential with the seventh-round pick.

Turbin sees Young as someone who could carve out a role due to how physical he is.

“That physicality piece that you’re talking about is important. Playing to your strengths is important as well. Those are ways that you can make the team,” he said. “You mentioned this about Tariq Woolen, right? Special teams and things like that. Showing that availability and physicality from Dareke Young from a special teams standpoint is going to be important, especially as he looks to make this team.”

Listen to the full second hour of Friday’s Mike Salk Show at this link or in the player below.

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