The Seahawks season ended just shy of the NFC Championship game in 2019, and while that was disappointing, this is a team that should be right in the thick of the championship hunt again in 2020. Seattle does not have a whole lot of needs right now heading into this draft, and just getting both of their top running backs to return from injury should be a big boost to the offense. The Seahawks are a couple of impact players away from being a true Super Bowl favorite, and I will try to add some using the Mock Draft Simulator from TheDraftNetwork.com
Pray for Russell Wilson because the Seahawks shopped in the bargain bin for offensive line help again. I actually really like the addition of G B.J. Finney, who was a versatile depth piece for the Steelers the past couple of seasons. Finney has always played really well when given the opportunity and he really deserves a chance to show what he can do as a starter. The other addition is one I am much lower on, former New York Jets tackle Brandon Shell, whose play has been up and down throughout his career. Fortifying the offensive line was not the only help Seattle tried to provide to their quarterback, as they added WR Phillip Dorsett and veteran TE Greg Olsen to team with their own talented receivers Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf.
The Seahawks have made some some nice trades to upgrade their secondary, having already added S Quandre Diggs before the trade deadline last season. They also gave themselves a quality number one corner in former Redskin Quinton Dunbar, who is coming off one of the better seasons of his career. Seattle was able to bring back DT Jarran Reed on a new contract, however, it looks like DE Jadeveon Clowney is leaning towards leaving Seattle although he still remains a free agent. Meanwhile, it seems like the Seahawks are replacing their other starting defensive end Ziggy Ansah with new addition Benson Mayowa. Last year’s first-round pick L.J. Collier seems poised to take Clowney’s place in the starting lineup, but the EDGE position still seems like the biggest need going into the draft and I wasted no time in addressing it:
Round 1, Pick 27: Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
Yetur Gross-Matos (great name) is a long, lanky defensive end who is as raw as they come. His length and burst are huge assets both as a rusher and in the run game. He is exceptional in setting the edge against the run, as his frame makes it really hard for runners to get outside of him. He’s also really adept at shedding blocks and his tackle radius is obviously quite large. His biggest issues stem from his inconsistency in his pass rush reps. He really needs to work on his hand usage and refine his plan of attack as a rusher. He will show flashes with nice long arm and club/rip moves, and yet there are too many reps where he is held to a stalemate against tackles. Refining his counter moves will be a huge part of his development moving forward. He does occasionally show a nice inside counter like the one here against Ohio State where is he lined up over left tackle:
Gross-Matos needs to hone his technique to be a more consistent pass rusher in the NFL, which may mean that he will not be an immediate starter in the league, but the Seahawks are a team that bet big on raw athletes and Yetur has the tools to be a high impact EDGE.
Round 2, Pick 59: Prince Tega Wanogho, OT Auburn
A common theme among these top offensive lineman this year is how athletic they are, and Prince Tega Wanogho is no different. He moves really well in space and I really like his footwork in pass protection. He shows strength and a real tenacity in the run game, getting a really good push and he puts people on the ground with regularity. Tega Wanogho really needs to work on his hand placement in order to take a step forward at the next level, as his punch can be a little late sometimes and that can cause rushers to beat him around the edge. He is new to football so it is not a surprise that his technique needs some work. But just look at his mobility and mauler mentality on this run against Georgia:
Tega Wanogho pulls from his left tackle spot, becomes a lead blocker for his back, and blows a dude up at the second level. He may not be an immediate starter in the NFL, but Seahawks LT Duane Brown is heading into his age-35 season and it is time to think about finding the future of the position.
Round 2, Pick 64: Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
Dantzler fits the profile of a Seahawks cornerback due to his height and proficiency in zone coverage. Dantzler was mostly a Cover-3 corner at Mississippi State, showing a nice feel for his zone drops. He was a little hit or miss when it came to reacting to the throw and making a play on the ball. There were times where he was playing too far off in zone and gave up an easy catch, but then there were other times he made excellent plays on the ball like this deflection against Ole Miss:
Dantzler is uneven in run support. He gets pushed backwards a ton and struggles to get off of blocks. Man coverage for him is a work in progress and he is not overly strong at the line of scrimmage in press. His issues shedding blocks and in press are largely a result of him having a thin frame and he definitely needs to add muscle in the NFL. This makes him much more of a developmental prospect, but he won’t be needed to start immediately in Seattle. Quinton Dunbar was a nice addition, even so, he has had issues staying healthy and is heading into a contract year in 2020. Dantzler is someone worth developing in case Dunbar does not stick around after this season.
Round 3, Pick 101: Tyler Biadasz , OC, Wisconsin
Tyler Biadasz would have been a first-round pick had he declared for the draft last year. Instead, he suffered a hip injury and had a rough 2019 that has sunk his stock. He is still a worthwhile flier for a team like Seattle though, as starting center Justin Britt is almost 30 and is coming off an injury of his own.
Round 4, Pick 133: Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington State
Gordon is a nice developmental quarterback that Seattle could turn into a viable back-up to Russell Wilson. His arm strength and mobility make him a nice fit for the Seattle offense, as they should not have to make too many adjustments to their gameplan should Gordon have to step in.
Round 4, Pick 144: Michael Onwenu, OG, Michigan
Seattle’s roster is so good to the point where I started to run out of ideas for these later picks. RG D.J. Fluker is heading into a contract year and the Seahawks would be wise to add a back-up plan in case they cannot bring him back. Onwenu is a large blocker who would make for a perfect Fluker replacement.
Round 6, Pick 214: Carlos Davis, DT, Nebraska
Here is some defensive line depth for Seattle. Davis is athletic for a big man and can two-gap reasonably well. He’s a fringe roster player but one that has some decent upside.
The additions of Finney and Shell plus drafting Tega Wanogho, Biadasz and Onwenu would be the offensive line revolution that Seattle has sorely needed for several years now. While it is fun to watch Russell Wilson scramble around and make plays on the fly, how great would it be if he didn’t have to run for his life all the time? Plus his weaponry is exceptional with the new additions and the expected returns of running backs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny should really make this offense lethal. Meanwhile, adding a pass rusher with Yetur Gross-Matos’s upside and depth at corner like Dantzler could help put the defense over the top in 2020. This may not be a team with many needs, but making some good picks in this draft could help the Seahawks bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Seattle.
Written by: Daniel Hower
Comments
Post a Comment