I am trying my best not to overreact, I really am. I am truly screaming inside while typing this out. I am beyond excited about this Seahawks Draft Class. Make no mistake; the Seattle Seahawks are in a rebuild. I am getting excited about a rebuilding franchise and organization. The first step in starting the rebuild foundation is having a solid 2022 NFL Draft.
This was an absolute masterclass by John Schneider and Pete Carroll. It really felt like they went in with several glaring needs (LT, RT, CB1, EDGE, WR/ST Depth) and addressed those needs with some very promising prospects.
After selecting standout 1st Team All-SEC offensive tackle, Charles Cross from Mississippi State with the 9th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider and Head Coach Pete Carroll addressed the media.
The pair went on to answer questions about Day 1 of the NFL Draft for approximately 20 minutes. At the conclusion of the press conference, while exiting the room, Schneider looked at Pete and almost with a sinister chuckle said: “let’s do some damage tomorrow.”
Entering the final two days of the NFL Draft, the dynamic duo of John Schneider and Pete Carroll did exactly that.
On paper, this is one of the most talented and well-rounded classes the Seahawks front office has managed to draft in years. Understanding this; not a single one of these guys has taken a snap for the Seattle Seahawks, yet. Speculating is what makes the offseason fun. All fans get the opportunity to have a sense of optimism regarding their team. Post-draft articles, grades, and conversations are all we, as fans have until football kicks off again in August.
Here are some of my thoughts on this ‘New Era’ of Seattle Seahawks.
1.09 – Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
The Franchise Left Tackle. I am personally a huge fan of the Charles Cross selection. Best player available at number nine, someone who was talked about going higher in the pre-draft process. Only 21 years old and has so many tools that jump off the screen. He has great feet and is very fluid in the way he moves. Pass sets are absolutely beautiful, as they should be. Considering that is primarily what he did in the Mike Leach Air-Raid system. He is incredibly patient for such a young tackle. He almost makes pass blocking look effortless. Hands are great, if he gets his hooks into you, it is over for the defender. I think Cross is plug-and-play at left tackle for the next 10 years. He has so much room for growth. With an NFL diet and an NFL strength & conditioning program, you will see the difference in a short time. For me, I am a firm believer that it is easier to teach someone how to run block than it is to pass block. For that reason, I believe OL Coach Andy Dickerson and OC Shane Waldron can help Cross reach his ceiling in the run game. I think was a slam dunk selection at #9 – rumor has it post draft that the Seahawks were actually trying to move up in the draft to select Cross because they were so high on him. He fell right to them at #9 and John Schneider kicked off this ‘rebuild’ with a cornerstone on the blindside.
2.40 – Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
The Boye Mafe selection has been the one I have continued to analyze over and over in my head. The possibilities are endless, because of how athletic he is. A fantastic pass-rusher at the University of Minnesota. He tore up the Senior Bowl, like many of the Seahawks draft picks this year. Mafe has all the tools to become a real weapon for the Seahawks’ defense opposite Darrell Taylor. He is the same size as former Seahawk KJ Wright but with the explosion and speed of another former Seahawk Bruce Irvin. I keep thinking about different ways that he can be used: line up inside or outside, twisting/stunting inside, dropping back to cover tight ends or running backs, and obviously rushing the passer. The Seahawks have a collection of pass rushers to grow and blossom over the next couple of years in Darrell Taylor, Uchenna Nwosu, Alton Robinson, and finally Boye Mafe. All 25 years old or younger. The future is looking bright for the Seahawks on the edge.
2.41 – Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
The most controversial pick in this Seahawks draft class, with many 12’s jumping on Twitter to cry about the selection of a running back. I believe some fans were just looking for something to complain about, or they will simply always look for the negative in all their Seahawks scenarios. Walker was the best player available. Plain and simple. K9 was the best player on the Spartans this past year, after his transfer from Wake Forrest, where he took college football by storm. If you are looking for a game to watch – Michigan St. vs Michigan in which Walker scored 5 touchdowns and dominated the game. Everyone in the country knew he was the motor behind their offense and that he was going to get the ball fed to him. Rainy conditions. Rivalry game. Still couldn’t stop him. They added a dynamic playmaker who has superstar potential with the 41st selection. The fact of the matter is the Seahawks are a run-first team offensively. However, the running backs have not been able to stay healthy. Rashaad Penny had a strong finish to his rookie contract and the Seahawks rewarded him with a 1-year deal recently. Chris Carson has been rehabbing a neck injury that we as fans, still know very little about. Neck injuries are not something to take lightly, and Carson may consider retirement. All things considered, the Seahawks selected their ‘insurance policy after addressing two major needs with their first two selections (Cross, Mafe.)
3.72 – Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State
Some members of the media called him the: “Best Right-Tackle” in the NFL Draft – and that is what is expected to come in and do. Lucas is going to come in and compete with 2021 UDFA Jake Curhan for the right tackle position from the minute he steps foot in that building. The former Washington State product, much like his new teammate – Charles Cross – is far more refined in his pass-blocking abilities than he is in the run game. Some are viewing that as ‘weird’ because the Seahawks clearly want to run the ball and neither one of these tackles come from an offense where they were asked to run block a ton. They are not slouches in the run game, don’t let people fool you. I really like both of their potential in the Seahawks new offense. It was incredible value to be able to get Lucas at 72 as he was pre-draft ranked as a Top50 player by several people in the media. Many were even considering taking him at 41. Two concerns that I have are – 1) during his pass-sets, his hands tend to wander or get outside which leads to his defender getting into his chest and setting up the bull rush followed by 2) he needs to do a better job at recognizing when the bull rush is coming and be able to have a better base/anchor. Smaller attributes, which are coachable and will only improve with more NFL snaps. He has all the foundational tools to be a solid starting right tackle for the Seahawks in the coming years. Big fan of Abraham Lucas and his game.
4.109 – Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
Mamba Mentality – we are going to hear that phrase a ton when referencing the corner from Cincinnati. Coby Bryant, spelled differently than the late, great NBA star Kobe Bryant – wants to create a legacy for himself while still possessing the ‘mamba mentality.’ Bryant has been playing corner his entire career and was highly overshadowed by his teammate: Sauce Gardner who went #4 to the Jets. Oh, speaking of the Jets, the Jamal Adams trade is officially complete with this selection of Coby Bryant. An absolute steal at #109 for the Seattle Seahawks. A pro-ready CB in the 4th is insane value, not to mention the fact that most believe he is a ‘perfect’ fit in Seattle. The 2022 Jim Thorpe Award Winner is a true cover corner with great ball skills. Bryant is expected to compete for a starting corner position during training camp and preseason. The corner position is one of the most difficult positions to truly be great at in the NFL, but I am optimistic that the Seahawks can help Bryant reach his max potential.
5.153 – Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
“Riq the Freak” was his nickname at the University of Texas San-Antonio where he converted from wide receiver to cornerback. In athletics when you have a nickname with “freak” attached, it is usually for good reason. Another guy that really improved his draft stock at the Senior Bowl, he was ranked as a top 100 player in this draft because of his insane measurable and his potential ceiling. Standing at 6’4 and 205lbs, Woolen showed up to the NFL Combine and ran a blazing 4.26 forty-yard time. Woolen has only played 2 seasons at CB since transitioning from WR but that makes him perfect for Pete Carroll to coach and mold into his perfect corner. The Seahawks selected an award-winning corner first, then took the upside and potential with their next pick. If the 153 pick looks familiar it is because in 2012 the Seahawks selected another converted WR to CB with the 152 pick. That turned out to be Future Hall-of-Fame CB Richard Sherman. Wishful thinking in bringing him up, but I am excited about the potential that Woolen brings to the Seahawks. I believe his impact on the team in 2022 will be more on special teams as he gets more acclimated with NFL speed and understands the game more from a corner perspective. A project, but one that has a high ceiling.
5.158 – Tyreke Smith, EDGE, Ohio State
Coming out of Ohio State, Tyreke Smith played behind the likes of Chase Young and Nick Bosa. He was more significantly a part of the defensive rotation during his senior season at OSU. He persevered and stayed at OSU and earned one of the highest pressure rates in college 22.3% which was good for number 2 in the NCAA. Smith possesses the skills and the measurable to be a good rotational pass rusher in the NFL. His impact on the Seahawks I believe will be primarily on special teams and as the situational pass rusher. He had an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl as a pass rusher and gave 1st round pick Trevor Penning fits all week. They battled, and from what I saw, Smith won his fair share of reps vs a collection of potential NFL tackles. He moved inside at Ohio State with certain pass rush situations, seeing that was exciting. It has been years since the Seahawks had the ‘NASCAR package’ of pass rushers, I think Smith could grow into a core special team contributor that could become a fan favorite for his relentlessness and energy.
7.229 – Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers & 7.233 – Dareke Young, WR, Lenoir Rhyne
While the Seahawks have DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Dee Eskridge, Freddie Swain, Penny Hart, and Cade Johnson already on the roster. They decided to add two more in the 7th round just four selections apart. Bo Melton at pick #233 was classified by many in the media, as a potential steal. Melton has high upside as a potential WR #3 or #4 – he will need to make a name for himself on special teams first. Much like the Seahawks receivers of the past, Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and Ricardo Lockette – all were core contributors on special teams before they made their big names as Seahawks receivers. I am not too familiar with Dareke Young and believe he has the same opportunity to compete for a special teams spot in his first year – could be a potential practice squad guy considering how crowded the receiver room is all of a sudden.
Summary:
I can ramble on and on about how good I believe this class is, I really could. I love everything that John Schneider and Pete Carroll did. It felt like it went back to those ‘old school’ draft classes. The foundation of this rebuild is set. The real challenge will be next offseason when they have the 2nd most cap room in the NFL entering free agency, and 10 total draft picks in the 2023 Draft. This will be a more competitive team next year than most expect. Much like the 2010s – the Seahawks were a team full of underdog success stories. As this roster starts to look more and more complete towards training camp, I believe the Seahawks will have a similar vibe to them. A bunch of scrappy underdogs that want to compete and want to win. The smiles are starting to creep back into the Seahawks facility. That ‘juice’ John Schneider talked about. It really feels like they did a great job and I am beyond excited about the future of OUR Seattle Seahawks.
2022 Seattle Seahawks Draft Class
1.09 – Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
2.40 – Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
2.41 – Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
3.72 – Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State
4.109 – Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
5.153 – Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
5.158 – Tyreke Smith, EDGE, Ohio State
7.229 – Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
7.233 – Dareke Young, WR, Lenoir Rhyne
MR Sports Corner 