2021 Drafting Seahawks: Mock Drafts, With & Without Trades
The 2021 Draft is here- finally. But the Seahawks have not repeated their Frank Clark-led feat from 2019 of amassing picks through trades, so enter the weekend with just three picks.
There’s a feasible chance the Seahawks just sit and take the three picks and go all Dave Gettleman on the prospect of trading back in the flux year that is the 2021 NFL Draft.
If they do that, then it really sees fit the Seahawks find their three clearest needs- when clarifying ‘rumoured’ approaches in free agency against the roster make-up- WR, OL & CB.
Richard Sherman is a touted return, they spent capital on Gabe Jackson and had approaches spurned by a few receivers to fill that WR3 role alongside Tyler Lockett and D.K Metcalf.
So, here is a mock of that approach; three picks, those three perceived needs addressed and we move on.
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A Mock With No Trades
2.56: Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State
The Seahawks made their arguable biggest splash in free agency via a trade. Acquiring long-time Raiders OG Gabe Jackson. Jackson has spent time at both left and right guard and his spot in Seattle, with their Always Compete parse, have yet to definitively dictate his spot for the Seahawks in 2021.
That open-ended question, alongside the memories of 2020 3rd round pick Damien Lewis playing to a good level at his lone start at center (every other came at RG) means the Seahawks still covet a lineman, but possibly one which could see time at all three interior spots.
Enter Wyatt Davis. Davis has experience and good looks in the Buckeye’s interior and would be a fun addition alongside Jackson in the 2021 off-season.
4.129: Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina
Newsome is fun. He was a four-year contributor for the Tar Heels and as their offense begun to spark consistently with 2022 QB Sam Howell, Newsome- alongside touted 1st round WR Dyami Brown shone.
Newsome is slight at 5'9, 190lb and has questions over his speed as a deep threat. But in an offense like the Seahawks, where he won’t be relied on to be the go-to threat and with Lockett and Metcalf on the field, will face one on one’s often, he could thrive. Add in to that how Waldron has experience via the Rams and their slot WR’s prominence and how Lockett noted he expects to be used with more variety in 2021, the fit is fun and Newsome brings experience and at #129, the cost fits too.
7.250: Brandon Stephens, CB, SMU
It’s touted often, here and everywhere. But the Seahawks cover size at corner. It’s worked before and despite questions on what their cornerback depth will shake out like in 2021, they wait here until their final pick to address it with the ideal fit in size/length terms from SMU.
Stephens shone at the Mustangs’ Pro Day, just check out his RAS (Relative Athletic Score) graphic here:
It all fits. Every measurable hits the Seahawks perceived threshold. Add in Stephens versatility and his availability at this late point, it’s a exciting prospect and someone who has the room to grow as 7th round steal in an off-season where the Seahawks paid their last one handsomely.
If They Get Busy
This is, to be honest what I think the Seahawks do. As the entire league begins to whisper about unknowns and a ‘wild west’ feel to the draft following a truncated season in 2020 was followed by a desolate in comparison draft vetting process, the Seahawks have to hit heavy on this group and to do so, they make moves to get more than the three picks above.
So, they begin on Day 2 by moving back…twice.
Trade #1: Carolina Panthers trade up (Kellen Mond?) sending picks 73, 113 & 222.
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Trade #2: New York Giants do a rare thing and move up to 73, sending Seattle #76 & #196
2.76: Brady Christensen, OT, BYU:
The 2nd player off the draft board is going to be QB Zach Wilson. One reason Wilson shone so brightly at BYU is that his offensive line was up there with the very best in college football. There’s a strong chance that three of his line get their names called this weekend.
The Seahawks find themselves at 76 with the opportunity to start that off with a look to their future.
Christensen enters the draft as PFF’s best rated tackle in pass pro in 2020. Hes a long, athletic prospect who could, with Duane Brown in situ at left tackle, find a way to contribute inside (as noted with Wyatt Davis above) with Jackson and Lewis. That makes the most sense, but his time on Wilson’s blindside projects best for this mock and the Seahawks, beginning with limited picks and perhaps missing the first wave of OT prospects, find an athlete to learn from one of the best of his generation.
Trade #3: Raiders trade #121 & 2022 5th round pick for #113
4.121: Jonathan Marshall, DT, Arkansas
The Seahawks defensive line has seen perhaps the biggest churn of the off-season. Gone is Jarran Reed as the central figure in the interior, staying around is Poona Ford, Carlos Dunlap and added to the mix is former 49ers lineman Kerry Hyder.
But it’s that interior where the questions lie. Al Woods is back, Bryan Mone was tendered and is back, but past this coming season the Seahawks have just Ford contracted for 2022.
They need to correct that and do with another wildly atheltic prospect. The tall, rocked up with incredible get-off. Marshall led the way with instant pressures created (under 2 seconds from snap to pressure) and he would be an potential future staple next to Ford. Rotation is huge for the Seahawks defensive line. Adding Marshall (who posted a RAS of 9.99!!) would be the sealing piece on a busy off-season addressing the unit.
Let him do what he does and hope the complete aspects to his game and potential come when given the NFL position coaching that saw Ford and Mone thrive despite not being draft picks.
4.129: Drew Dalman, OC, Stanford
The Seahawks spent a 2020 4th on a lesser-mentioned Stanford prospect in Colby Parkinson. They do again here with the undersized Dalman further addressing the interior issue the Seahawks had in 2020.
Dalman is someone who could both contribute immediately and push the returning Ethan Pocic or someone to put at center in 2022 or if Pocic struggles. It’s as true a competition created as there has been in this mock and Dalman/Pocic certainly have tendencies that match.
Stanford and offensive line works too. A pick which could be a Damien Lewis-type ‘hit’ for the Seahawks.
6.196: Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina
The Seahawks have one of the best 1–2 WR duos in the league with Tyler Lockett & D.K Metcalf. A duo cemented further with Lockett’s recent extension and the figures will begin to ferment on what Metcalf’s likely to get in the next 12–18 months. But they lost David Moore, a solid contributor as a WR3, to Carolina and questions persist on recent draftee’s Freddie Swain and John Ursua at taking that third spot and running with it.
Smith, would clear the clouds on that a bit here. He’s a solid, consistent contributor who played with a carousel of Quarterbacks at South Carolina and shone in 2019 opposite 2020 draftee Bryan Edwards. He has good hands and while his route tree and running ability isn’t his strong suit, he wins often on the line in a very Doug Baldwin type way. He has experience on the outside but as mentioned above with Newsome could bring a fun versatility to the Seahawks receivers room. Having dealt with the carousel and a slog of a 2020 season for the Gamecocks, him buying into the WOOTS mentality is a definite plus and ascending as a route runner like Metcalf has against pre-draft perception. Smith would also find a way to contribue in the kicking game too- again replacing Moore there also.
6.222: Janarius Robinson, DE, Florida State
The Seahawks last move this off-season is one with more questions surrounding it that they had probably hoped when making the move. Aldon Smith signed and now faces legal issues with allegations clouding his status for 2021.
It’s that issue, with questions, as of writing, yet unanswered that the Seahawks again spend a late pick on a upside-heavy pass rusher.
Robinson, again popped high on the RAS and would be a good, strong addition to the pass rush. His length,as Carlos Dunlap showed in 2020, fits and adding him to Dunlap, Mayowa, Robinson in 2021- like Marshall inside- would be a impressive rotation. With or without Aldon Smith.
7.250: Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State
Nahshon was written about in this year’s #DraftingSeahawks. He is as Matty Brown over at SeahawksMaven put it ‘Sushi Meat raw’. But he has incredible length and in two years at Oregon State, showed impressive tendencies to read the QB and ball-hawk in the Beavers secondary. Like Stephens in the no-trade mock, his ability is yet to reach it’s peak and adding him to the secondary perhaps doesn’t answer the question at the position some may covet. But for this mock, we leave the door open for a Richard Sherman return + Nahshon.
Fun.
Other names to keep an eye on:
CB Jason Pinnock, CB Keith Taylor, CB Benjamin St-Juste, WR Jalen Camp, WR Cade Johnson, WR D’Wayne Eskridge, TE Pro Wells, DT Tommy Togiai, WR Tutu Atwell, CB Robert Rochell, OT Spencer Brown, OL Tristen Hoge, OL Chandon Herring,
