This isn’t the draft that will get the Seattle Seahawks back to the Super Bowl. The truth is, Seattle is a team that could be in contention every year if they keep a nucleus in place. But like the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, they’ll need a lot of things to go right to make another title run too.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of improvement to be made in this draft. The Seahawks were in a good spot where they didn’t lose much in free agency, certainly no player they were really counting on returning. They added some key pieces too. There’s no question this is your NFC West favorite next season and probably a team that should expect to make it at least to the NFC title game. So while the first pick of this draft is an immediate starter, the rest of these guys come in with a nod to the future and to possibly plug holes that have yet to emerge.
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Round 1, Pick 26: Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
The Seahawks have pieced together an offensive line long enough. They finally decided to address the issue earlier in the draft last season and need to keep that trend. Lamp, at 6-4 and 309 pounds, is a day one starter on the left side for Seattle. He’s deceptively athletic and the Hilltoppers even used him as a tight end in their bowl game where he scored a touchdown. Lamp is an NFL guard, but played left tackle all the way through school, earning All-Conference USA and All-American nods. If called upon, he could pick up that spot in the NFL too.
Round 2, Pick 58: Larry Ogunjobi, DT, Charlotte
2016: 65 tackles, 13.5 for a loss, three sacks, two passes defended
Seattle has never gotten a lot of production out of its defensive tackles, but Ogunjobi can change that. At 6-3 and 297 pounds, he’s about 15-20 pounds lighter than the Seahawks other tackles, but with that comes a lot more athleticism and the ability to make plays in the backfield. As good as Seattle’s defense has been, they’ll be even better with a DT that can get some legit penetration. Starters Jarran Reed and Ahty Rubin recorded 2.5 sacks combined last year.
Round 3, Pick 90: Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota
2016: 41 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, one interception, 11 passes defended
With the relationship between Richard Sherman and the Seahawks seemingly souring, it’s not a bad idea to start thinking about the future. The team re-signed DeShawn Shead on the other side to keep their starters in place, but then shopped Sherman in a trade all offseason. With a couple of years left on his contract, the team could cut ties with the Pro Bowler at any time if someone makes the right offer. Better to have a guy like Myrick in the fold and trained up if that happens.
Round 3, Pick 102: Alex Anzalone, OLB, Florida
2016: 53 tackles, four for a loss, three sacks, two passes defended, one fumble recovery
Anzalone is a complete, prototype outside linebacker who just couldn’t seem to stay healthy in Gainesville. When on the field, he performed at an elite level and that stat line above just came from eight games before he broke his left arm. All healed up now, Anzalone doesn’t have the miles on him he would have if he’d not spent so much time on the trainer’s table. With NFL trainers and losing any class load, Anzalone can put his injury issues behind him and eventually take over a starting role for the Seahawks.
Round 3, Pick 106: Eddie Jackson, Safety, Alabama
2016: 24 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, one interception, one defensive touchdown, two passes defended, 11 punt returns, 253 yards, two touchdowns
Like Anzalone, Jackson spent the last four games of 2016 after suffering a broken leg. He didn’t run at the NFL combine and shouldn’t be expected to be more than a role player as a rookie and even that will be toward the end of the season. You draft Jackson as an investment. There’s been no setbacks on his injury and the kid could have made some real bank if he’d come out after his junior year (46 tackles, three for a loss, six interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, two passes defended, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble). As with the Myrick pick, Jackson is an investment in the future. Kam Chancellor and the Seahawks have butted heads over his contract and it’s unlikely he’ll re-sign with the team once his current deal runs its course. Jackson is a guy that can plug right into that spot and while he may not be the next Kam Chancellor (that would be saying a lot), he’s definitely going to be a starting caliber NFL safety.
Round 6, Pick 210: Elijah McGuire, RB, UL Lafayette
2016: 232 carries, 1,127 yards, seven touchdowns, 29 catches, 238 yards, two touchdowns, four punt returns, 31 yards
The Seahawks brought in Eddie Lacy as a free agent this season and still have Thomas Rawls on the roster so running back isn’t a need. Still, here in the sixth round McGuire presents a lot of value. At 5-11 and 208 pounds, he’s solid enough to take the NFL pounding and his production has been exemplary for UL Lafayette, surpassing 1,000 yards for three straight seasons and scoring double-digit touchdowns in two of them. He’s also got soft hands and has been a big part of the Rajin’ Cajuns passing game since he took the field as a freshman. In four season he’s caught 130 passes for 1,394 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Round 7, Pick 226: Amba Etta-Tawo, WR, Syracuse
2016: 94 catches, 1,482 yards, 14 touchdowns
Seattle seems to find wide receiver diamonds late in the draft (and as undrafted free agents) and Etta-Tawo can fit that mold. His production at Syracuse was off the charts, averaging 15.8 yards per catch after switching to the Orange after languishing on Maryland’s bench for a couple of seasons. Etta-Tawo finished up the season ranked in the top 10 in nearly every wideout stat and was a first team All-ACC selection. In Syracuse’s first six games last season he caught 47 passes for 834 yards and six touchdowns and never took his foot off the gas. The Seahawks should have no trouble finding ways to use Etta-Tawo, at 6-2 and 202 pounds, in their passing attack.
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