The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2015 NFL Draft without a first-round draft choice. After the receivers struggled last year to create separation for quarterback Russell Wilson, the team sent their first-round draft choice and center Max Unger to New Orleans for star tight end Jimmy Graham. The draft is never a bad result when Jimmy Graham counts as your first-round pick. Here is a recap of the Seahawks 2015 NFL draft.
Draft Results
2nd Round, 63rd Overall: DE Frank Clark (Michigan)
3rd Round, 69th Overall: WR Tyler Lockett (Kansas State)
4th Round, 130th Overall: OT Terry Poole (San Diego State)
4th Round, 134th Overall: OG Mark Glowinski (West Virginia)
5th Round, 170th Overall: CB Tye Smith (Towson)
6th Round, 209th Overall: DE Obum Gwacham (Oregon State)
6th Round, 214th Overall: DE Kristjan Sokoli (Buffalo)
7th Round, 248th Overall: SS Ryan Smith-Murphy (Oregon State)
Seattle Seahawks 2015 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Tyler Lockett (Kansas State) is the best player in this draft. There are talented guys, athletic guys, and guys with potential out of this world. Then there are straight up playmakers, and that is where Tyler Lockett falls. Lockett scored so many touchdowns at Kansas State and has incredible ball skills, something Russell Wilson is going to love. Lockett is going to start and become an immediate impact player.
The Head-Scratcher: Off-the-field concerns have become a pressing issue in the NFL. No matter how talented a guy can be, if he has serious problems, he usually doesn’t work out in the league. Seattle took a big risk with defensive end Frank Clark. He has the talent to thrive in Seattle’s defense, but he was suspended and dismissed from the team in two separate occasions during his collegiate career. It’s hard to doubt Seattle, but they did take a big risk with a valuable second-round pick. Clark likely would have been available in later rounds as well.
The Surprise: Seattle really didn’t have a shocking pick outside of Clark. The team had a fine draft but could have waited on Clark until the fourth round and grabbed a player with a better character in the second.
The Steal: As good as the receivers are that were taken in the first and second rounds, Lockett will match their production. I think Lockett has a chance to have close to 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie. Without Pro Bowler Max Unger, Seattle may have to pass a little bit more, and Lockett will be open all day for Wilson down the field.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Mark Glowinski (West Virginia) should be able to turn heads in training camp and win the starting center job. San Diego State tackle Terry Poole is also expected to compete for the job as he makes the transition to the interior line, but I think Glowinski will fill in nicely for Unger as a rookie center. Blocking for someone like Marshawn Lynch won’t be too difficult, and although Unger will be missed, Glowinski has the height, length and weight needed to succeed at the next level. He has great upper body strength and can fight off big defensive linemen.
The Rest: I mentioned Terry Poole (San Diego State) in the last section, as he is a tackle who will bring depth to Seattle’s line. He is a project and a year or two away from being ready to play. The team took a lot of projects in the later rounds of the draft, and that is the luxury of having few holes like Seattle did entering the draft. Cornerback Tye Smith (Towson) is another tall defensive back who has quick feet and should be developed into a great third corner behind Richard Sherman and Jeremy Lane. Expect Smith to eventually become a starter on Seattle’s defense. In the sixth round, the team took defensive ends Obum Gwacham (Oregon State) and Kristjan Sokoli (Buffalo). Both are raw projects with natural power and quickness. Gwacham is a converted receiver who needs to update his arsenal of pass rushing moves and beef up while Sokoli should be able to use his active hands as a pass rusher to succeed. In the last round, the team took another defensive back in safety Ryan Smith-Murphy from Oregon State. Smith-Murphy is a big safety like Kam Chancellor who attacks the box and is very physical. While his ball skills are lacking, Smith-Murphy should learn plenty of defensive moves while in Seattle.
The Bottom Line: If we count Jimmy Graham as a part of this draft, Seattle receives an 8 out of 10. Seattle went into the draft needing receivers and walked out of the draft with Graham and Lockett. However, without Graham, the draft drops to a 6.5 due to Frank Clark’s questionable behavior. If he pans out and Lockett produces, this draft will be very successful for Seattle.
My Grade: 6.5/10
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