3 big-picture questions as Seahawks embark on pivotal draft

The Seattle Seahawks have a golden opportunity in front of them.

Details: 2025 Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft coverage from Seattle Sports

Armed with 10 overall picks and five selections in the top 100, general manager John Schneider & Co. enter the NFL Draft with as much ammunition as they’ve had in years. According to Tankathon.com, the total value of the Seahawks’ draft picks ranks seventh in the league, which is the highest of any team that finished with a winning record last season.

It’s not often that an ascending team coming off a 10-win campaign has this much draft capital to work with.

That only ramps up the pressure for Seattle to capitalize on this rare set of circumstances.

So before the clock starts ticking Thursday night, let’s take a look at three big-picture questions regarding the myriad strategies and pathways the Seahawks could take over the course of this potentially franchise-altering weekend.

Should the Seahawks emphasize quality or quantity?

Unlike last year, this draft class is a bit lacking in star power and blue-chip talent. But while there aren’t as many big-time names atop the board, draft analysts have raved about the depth of this year’s class – especially at positions like defensive tackle and running back.

“Teams that are flush with draft picks this year will happily navigate the boards in rounds 2-4 and feel strongly about the potential of finding quality starters,” ESPN draft analyst Field Yates wrote.

So for the Seahawks, one line of thought is that these circumstances give them a perfect opportunity to stockpile as many starting-caliber players as they can. Perhaps they even trade out of the first round altogether to give themselves even more draft picks within that sweet spot of rounds 2-4.

On the flip side, the Seahawks’ slew of draft capital could give them an opportunity to aggressively move up and grab one of those big-time prospects early on. And with so many teams reportedly wanting to move back in this draft, the market conditions could be ripe for a team looking to trade up.

In essence, it boils down to this question: Are the Seahawks better off trying to a get half-dozen potential quality starters? Or should they sacrifice some of those potential starters in an attempt to find a truly transcendent talent?

Will the Seahawks prioritize offense or defense?

The simple answer, of course, is both. As with any team, Seattle will do its best to improve each side of the ball as much as possible. But the reality is there will be difficult decisions that pop up throughout the draft – and there are trade-offs to every choice.

In the Seahawks’ case, those decisions could be particularly fascinating. Seattle’s three biggest areas of need are arguably all on offense – the interior offensive line, tight end and wide receiver. But at the same time, head coach Mike Macdonald is one of the brightest defensive minds in the game. And after how well his defense played over the second half of last season, there’s a real opportunity to turn that unit from good to great.

Like any team, the Seahawks will probably try to stay as close to the best-player-available approach as possible. When teams start chasing needs, they can fall behind the eight ball and miss out on impactful talent.

But when push comes to shove, which direction will Seattle lean? For instance, what if North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel and Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell are both available at pick No. 18? Do the Seahawks go with potentially the top interior offensive lineman in the draft, or do they grab an ultra-versatile linebacker who would be an invaluable chess piece in Macdonald’s defense? It will be a fascinating storyline to watch over the first few rounds.

How will the Seahawks’ plans for their ’22 draft class factor in?

GMs are always looking multiple years in advance. And for the Seahawks, they have some major decisions on the horizon with their 2022 draft class.

That class was among the best of Schneider’s tenure, producing a half-dozen starters in left tackle Charles Cross, right tackle Abraham Lucas, running back Kenneth Walker III, outside linebacker Boye Mafe, safety Coby Bryant and cornerback Riq Woolen. But with one year left on that group’s rookie contracts, Seattle needs to decide who to prioritize for long-terms deals.

How might those plans impact what the Seahawks do this weekend? If they’re unsure about committing to Woolen long-term, could they draft a cornerback with one of their top picks? If they’re hesitant over Lucas’ injury issues, might they draft a tackle early on? And with this being an incredibly deep class for running backs, could Seattle draft one earlier than expected, with the idea that it could ultimately move on from Walker and remain young and inexpensive in the backfield?

This weekend might provide some clues regarding how some of these players fit into the Seahawks’ long-term plans.

Seattle Seahawks draft coverage

• Video: Who Seattle Sports hosts want Seahawks to pick at No. 18
• Brock: How Seattle Seahawks could call an audible in the draft
• Lefko: What Seattle Seahawks’ early picks will tell us about their future
• Analyst: Why the Seattle Seahawks may not draft O-line in first round
• A full seven-round Seattle Seahawks mock draft – with three trades

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