Seahawks’ pre-draft positions of need: Wide receiver

Seattle has invested more into its receivers than any other position on the roster whether you’re talking about the big-money deals given to Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin or second-round picks used on Golden Tate and Paul Richardson.

But attrition due to free agency (Tate), injuries (Rice and Richardson) and attitude (Harvin) leaves receiver as the team’s most clear-cut need heading into free agency.

Where Seattle stands

Of the five receivers Seattle had active for the Super Bowl, none were drafted into the NFL. That’s not necessarily a condemnation. After all, Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse have shown that the league’s talent evaluators underestimated them coming out of college while Chris Matthews showed that – when healthy – he can be that big-bodied threat on the outside that Pete Carroll has used so effectively going back to his days at USC. But look no further than Seattle’s return game to see the drain the Seahawks have suffered in terms of explosiveness. By the time the Super Bowl rolled around, the Seahawks’ return game came in two flavors: touchback for kickoffs, fair catch for punts. No team has thrown the ball less often over the past three years than Seattle, but that doesn’t mean the Seahawks don’t value wide receivers. Specifically, they value receivers who can create big-play scoring opportunities. It’s why Kearse has moved up the depth chart, and it’s what Seattle needs to find more of, stat.

Seattle’s draft history

The Seahawks have chosen six wide receivers during John Schneider’s five drafts as general manager. That’s more than any other skill position on offense, and the fact that five of those six picks were used in the first four rounds only emphasizes the importance Seattle places on the position. That position is also where Seattle has made two of its more high-profile misses in the draft. Kris Durham was a fourth-round pick in 2011 who caught three passes as a rookie, was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and released before the 2012 season began. Chris Harper – a fourth-round pick in 2013 – didn’t make the regular-season roster that year. Tate was the team’s biggest success, but even then, it took until his third season for him to become a mainstay and he left as a free agent a year ago. Richardson – last year’s second-round pick – was beginning to emerge as a consistent target for Russell Wilson but suffered a torn knee ligament, and Seattle can’t be sure he’ll be ready when the season begins.

Names to remember

Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri. Amari Cooper and Kevin White are going to be long gone by the time Seattle picks at No. 31. Green-Beckham is one of the most physically gifted receivers available in the draft, the No. 1 recruit in the country coming out of high school. He had two drug-related arrests while at Missouri and was dismissed from the team last year after he was accused of pushing a co-ed down at least four stairs after forcing his way inside an apartment looking for his girlfriend. He transferred to Oklahoma, but his request to be eligible immediately was denied. His size at 6 foot 5 and 237 pounds and 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash make him comparable to Mike Evans, who was drafted No. 7 out of Texas A&M last year, but the criminal allegations create questions.

Devin Funchess, Michigan. He’s got the size (6-4, 232) that Carroll has had a great deal of success with at receiver, most recently with Matthews in the Super Bowl. Funchess’ time of 4.7 seconds in the 40, though, is going to cause many teams to wonder if he’s more of a tight end than a receiver.

Devin Smith, Ohio State. Looking for someone to make the most out of limited opportunities? Well, Smith (6-0, 196) caught 33 passes for the Buckeyes last season. Twelve of those receptions went for touchdowns. He scored 30 times in his college career.

Tyler Lockett, Kansas State. His size (5-10, 182) means he probably won’t be drafted in the first round, but he was one of the most explosively athletic performers at the scouting combine.

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