Huard: 2 draft prospects Seahawks shouldn’t pass on if available

When looking back on the Seahawks’ 2022 season, it’s clear to see the areas where they need to improve.

Bump’s Breakdown: Grading 2022 Seahawks’ offense, defense, STs

With free agency and the NFL Draft fast approaching, many Seahawks fans are looking at defensive linemen, linebackers and interior offensive linemen who could join the team this offseason.

But when it comes to the draft, are there any players the Seahawks should draft early who don’t play any of those positions?

Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard identified two prospects he thinks Seattle should draft if they’re available even though they don’t play a position of need.

“Corner and safety would be a couple of those spots,” Huard said during Tuesday’s Brock and Salk on Seattle Sports 710 AM. “There’s a kid out of (Texas) A&M that I love … Antonio Johnson, the safety/nickel.”

Johnson, a first-team All-SEC player in 2022, is Pro Football Focus‘ No. 30 draft prospect.

“He played some nickel early because they had some safeties. He is a killer,” Huard said. “He is a 6-foot-3, ‘I want to just tear you apart’ dude. Kind of a Deebo Samuel on defense. So keep an eye on him.”

We see you, @Antonio_johns0n 😳 @AggieFootball pic.twitter.com/JDGFTCd127

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 20, 2021

The other player Huard discussed caused him to bring up when the Seahawks drafted future Hall of Fame guard Steve Hutchinson back in 2001. And it’s not because this player is an offensive lineman.

“I’ll call this like the Steve Hutchinson. The Seahawks didn’t want to draft a guard, but Steve Hutchinson was on that board and it’s like, ‘This guy is definitively such a better player than any other guard,’ and (then-head coach) Mike Holmgren and crew took him and it was the right move,” he said. “Hall of Fame, amazing player paired with Walter Jones and (helped) turn Shaun Alexander into an MVP and went to a Super Bowl.”

So who is this player that caused Huard to bring up a Hall of Famer?

“Tight end out of Notre Dame Michael Mayer. Freakshow,” Huard said.

TOUCHDOWN MICHAEL MAYER#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/0h7iJ6q3JS

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) October 9, 2022

Mayer, PFF’s No. 17 draft prospect, had 809 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2022 and was a consensus first-team All-American.

Just how good does Huard think Meyer is? He brought up not one but two future Hall of Fame tight ends when discussing Mayer’s skillset.

“He’s 6-foot-6, 265 (pounds). Kind of a Travis Kelce as a receiver – like, you can’t guard him, and then dominating like (Rob Gronkowski) as a blocker because he’s 265,” he said. “And I know that’s not a position of need. You’ve got Noah Fant, you’ve got Colby Parkinson, and we’ll watch Will Dissly’s injury.

In Mayer’s case, Huard thinks he would be someone for the Seahawks to consider with their second first-round pick, which is No. 20 overall.

“He’s different than the rest of the tight ends in this class,” Huard said.

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

More from Huard: Seahawks Draft – 2 position groups deep with talent

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