BROCK AND SALK

Seahawks Draft: Lance Zierlein’s thoughts on Will Levis, draft’s strengths

Jan 27, 2023, 12:10 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2023, 12:34 pm

Seahawks Will Levis...

Will Levis of the Kentucky Wildcats runs the ball during the second half against the Northern Illinois Huskies on September 24, 2022. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

(Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Seahawks fans are eagerly awaiting the 2023 NFL Draft, and for very good reason.

Bumpus: Why it’s crucial for Seahawks to keep OL coach Andy Dickerson

The Seahawks are in great position to add impact players in this April’s draft as they have two picks in each of the first two rounds, including the No. 5 overall selection.

Someone who covers the draft in great detail is Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. He joined Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Thursday to disuss the draft and the Seahawks, and he also shared his thoughts on a recent mock draft that had Seattle making a bit of a surprise selection.

Kentucky QB Will Levis at No. 5?

No one is more famous when it comes to NFL mock drafts than ESPN’s Mel Kiper, who was one of the forefathers when it comes to covering the NFL Draft in great detail.

Kiper revealed his first mock draft of the offseason for ESPN this week, and it had the Seahawks making a selection that few would expect.

In that draft, Kiper had the Seahawks selecting Kentucky quarterback Will Levis fifth overall. It’s a hypothetical that both Brock Huard and Mike Salk aren’t on board with.

Related: Will Levis to Seahawks? Brock & Salk react to Kiper’s mock draft

Does Zierlein agree with Kiper than Levis is worthy of being the No. 5 overall draft pick in April?

“No, he’s not,” Zierlein said. “So let me address some of the things Mel said. Mel also had (star Buffalo Bills quarterback) Josh Allen as his first quarterback in 2018, so I think he deserves kudos for that. Mel clearly loves (Levis’) arm talent, he loves the size … The kid did play with injuries this year – three different types of injuries he gutted his way through.”

Something you’ll hear or read about with Levis is that his 2021 season was much better than his 2022 campaign due to having a better supporting cast and having an NFL offensive coordinator running things on that side of the ball.

While Zierlein agrees Levis was better in 2021, he doesn’t think the tape was as impressive as some believe.

“I go back to (Levis’ 2021 season) and I still didn’t see enough in 2021. Mel’s really putting everything on 2021 where the offensive line was a lot better, too. (The tape is) better. It’s better. And I will tell you there are some arm talent throws where I go, ‘Wow.’ But there are some basic accuracy throws … that don’t get made, and I didn’t see the same poise that you want to see in the pocket — awareness of pressure off the edge,” he said. “There’s some things that really concern me with the quickness of reading the field. So no, I don’t think (he’s a top-five pick).”

Zierlein thinks people will try to push Levis or Florida’s Anthony Richardson way up draft boards because they’re big quarterbacks with huge arms who are also impressive athletes but are very raw, kind of like Allen was coming out of Wyoming in 2018.

“But I think (Allen is) an outlier. And I think it’s a mistake with those two guys in particular because I think that, to me, if you want to take a shot, you take shot around (pick) 20 if Seattle wanted a quarterback,” Zierlein said. “You take a shot there and you try to roll with Geno (Smith) and keep letting him run the team for the next year or two years. But at No. 5, to me, if it’s not Young or it’s not Stroud, I am not taking a quarterback at five.”

General draft thoughts

When looking at the draft as a whole, which positions have some of the best top-end depth?

“It’s the best tight end draft that I’ve seen, a terrific tight end draft. I mean, really, really good,” Zierlein said. “I think from a corner standpoint, it has a chance to be a better corner draft than we’ve seen recently … A 6.2 (grade) is an average starter, and I already have, looking at just the corners, I’m looking at about 12 to 13 who are in this draft that have that grade. So I think that’s a really good sign if you need corner help.”

What about on the defensive line, where the Seahawks could use some help for 2023 and beyond?

“I think this is a really good draft for defensive tackles in the middle of the draft. You can wait until round three, four, and five and I think you’re gonna find starters, and pretty good starters on the interior,” Zierlein said. ” … And then from a pass rush standpoint … (the Seahawks) have a chance to put together a pretty good rush with picks five, 20 and 38.”

Listen to the full conversation with Zierlein at this link or in the player below.

Brock and Salk podcast

Brock and Salk

Seattle Mariners Mitch Haniger...

Mike Salk

Salk: Scars remain as Mariners return, but hope isn’t far away

As the Seattle Mariners return for 2024, Seattle Sports' Mike Salk writes about seasons, scars, frustration, hope and baseball.

11 hours ago

Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft Payton Wilson...

Brandon Gustafson

Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profile: ‘Twitched up’ LB fills a need

Next up in Brock Huard's Seattle Seahawks draft profiles is a very intriguing defender in North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson.

15 hours ago

Seattle Seahawks Sam Howell...

Brandon Gustafson

New Seahawks QB Sam Howell describes trade, his role and more

The Seattle Seahawks have a new QB in Sam Howell, and he joined Brock & Salk on Wednesday to describe the trade that sent him to the Hawks.

17 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Getting to know new Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Howell

What do Seattle Seahawks fans need to know about new QB Sam Howell? What will he bring to the QB room and competition this season? He joined the Brock and Salk show toady to talk about what type of QB the Seahawks are getting. Can he be a piece that helps this team get back […]

19 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Brock Huard’s NFL Draft Profile: Payton Wilson, LB – NC State

Today on Brock and Salk, Brock Huard looked at a potential fit for the Seattle Seahawks in the upcoming NFL Draft. Why does Brock think NC State LB Payton Wilson might be a defensive fit for the Seahawks? What else could he bring to the defense other than LB depth? Watch his breakdown of him […]

19 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez...

Brandon Gustafson

Passan: Mariners’ Rodríguez can take game to another level in 2024

The 2024 MLB season can be when we see "the absolute apex" of star Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez, ESPN's Jeff Passan said.

21 hours ago

Seahawks Draft: Lance Zierlein’s thoughts on Will Levis, draft’s strengths