Seahawks Draft Preview: What is the strength of this upcoming class?

The Seahawks are playing better than expected at 3-3 and tied for first place in the NFC West entering a Week 7 clash with the Los Angeles Chargers, but they own two picks in both the first and second rounds thanks to the Denver Broncos.

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While the Seahawks entered the year with minimal expectations, the Broncos were seen as a playoff and even Super Bowl contender by many thanks to the acquisition of Russell Wilson from Seattle.

That hasn’t worked out well for Wilson and Denver, though, as the Broncos are 2-4 and are last in the NFL in points per game.

But the Broncos’ losses are to the benefit of the Seahawks as that helps their draft position.

According to ProFootballNetwork, the Seahawks currently hold the seventh overall pick thanks to Denver, as well as the 14th pick.

We’re still a long ways away from next April’s draft, but with the Broncos having yet to figure things out, it’s worth looking ahead to. And that’s what former NFL quarterback and current FOX Sports college football analyst Brock Huard did Wednesday morning during Blue 88 on Brock and Salk, which airs every weekday from 6 to 10 a.m. on Seattle Sports 710 AM.

“I reached out to a few of the folks that I trust in the business, and they said it’s early,” Huard said. “And it’s early because they don’t know what juniors yet are going to declare, what juniors are going to continue to emerge here in the second half of the college football season.”

But when looking at top-50 lists, Huard said it’s clear where the strengths and weaknesses of the top of the draft are.

“I’ve gotten a chance to see a number of them over the years, and it’s going to be receiver heavy again. There are going to be a few just absolute dudes in the top-10,” he said. “There are going to be some quarterbacks, and you’re seeing (C.J.) Stroud continue to do what he does, Bryce Young and some other names have emerged.”

Stroud and Young are both quarterbacks who are among college football’s best. Stroud, who plays at Ohio State, is tied for the most passing touchdowns in the nation and Young won the Heisman last year at Alabama. Geno Smith, who has played very well for Seattle this season, is on a one-year deal and entering the season was seen by many as a “bridge” quarterback until the Hawks find their long-term answer at the position.

Where the draft isn’t deep, though, is on the offensive line, which Huard thinks played a part in the Seahawks selecting tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas in the first and third rounds, respectively, in this year’s draft.

“Maybe they saw that coming and knew that OK, if we’re gonna get tackles, we better get them this year, because (next year) it’s going to be a leaner crew. And that’s how the good organizations work. They don’t just look at that draft class, they look at what’s coming in the pipeline,” he said.

Huard said that there are a couple “freaking” defensive linemen who are difference makers.

“It isn’t as deep as I look at it right now on paper at that crew. So the closer you can be in that top-10 – seven with the Denver Broncos’ (pick) right now – sign me up,” he said.

Listen to the second hour of Wednesday’s Brock and Salk at this link or in the player below.

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