The Seattle Seahawks looked to the 2016 NFL Draft to fill their much needed positional needs in their roster. The team seems to have put themselves in the position to bring a second Lombardi trophy home after the success of this year’s draft class.
Here is who they selected:
1st Round, 31st Overall: offensive tackle Germain Ifedi (Texas A&M)
2nd Round, 49th Overall: defensive tackle Jarran Reed (Alabama)
3rd Round, 90th Overall: running back C.J. Prosise (Notre Dame)
3rd Round, 94th Overall: tight end Nick Vannett (Ohio State)
3rd Round, 97th Overall: offensive tackle Rees Odhiambo (Boise State)
5th Round, 147th Overall: defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (Maryland)
5th Round, 171st Overall: running back Alex Collins (Arkansas)
6th Round, 215th Overall: center Joey Hunt (TCU)
7th Round, 243rd Overall: wide receiver Kenny Lawler (California)
7th Round, 247th Overall: running back Zac Brooks (Clemson)
Seahawks 2016 Draft Grade: 8/10, B
Seattle Seahawks 2016 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Former Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed was expected by many to go in the first round of the draft, more specifically between picks 10 and 20. But the Seahawks managed to land him with the 49th overall pick in the second round. Reed has the real potential to land a starting spot on the Seahawks defensive line. This offseason there will most likely be a position competition. Reed will be battling for the first string spot opposite veterans A.J. Francis, Justin Hamilton, Jordan Hill, Ahtyba Rubin, Sealver Siliga, and fellow rookie Quinton Jefferson.
The Head-Scratcher: The Seahawks concluded their 2016 NFL Draft by picking Clemson running back Zac Brooks with the 247th overall pick in the seventh round. There’s no doubting Brooks’ ability to develop and become a starter, but the surprising fact is that he was drafted by the Seahawks when they already have promising running backs Thomas Rawls and Christine Michael on their roster. Not only that, but they also drafted tailbacks C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins in rounds three and five.
When Marshawn Lynch was injured last season, Rawls took over the starting job until he himself had to miss time due to a broken foot. With Rawls healthy and ready to begin offseason workouts, Michael’s ability to be a backup weapon, and Prosise and Collin’s promising development, why did the Seahawks grab a draft a third running back in the 2016 draft?
The Surprise: With the 94th overall pick in the draft, the Seahawks drafted Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett. This may come as a surprise to many as just one year ago the Seahawks signed one of the best tight ends in the league, Jimmy Graham, through a trade with the New Orleans Saints. The Seahawks also hold Luke Willson, Cooper Helfet, and Brandon Cottom on their roster.
The Steal: Before the draft, California wide receiver Kenny Lawler was projected to be taken in the fourth round as a result of his decent 4.6 40-yard dash among other things. But the Seahawks managed to snag him in the seventh round with the 243rd pick overall. Many may wonder why this exceptional talent dropped as far as he did. This year could prove big for Seahawks wide receivers with Lawler showcasing his talents and proving himself as one of the biggest steals from the draft.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: The Seahawks are preparing themselves for life without Marshawn Lynch as he announced his retirement on February 7th. They drafted not one, not two, but three running backs in this year’s NFL Draft. Running backs C.J. Prosise out of Notre Dame and Alex Collins out of Arkansas were drafted in the third and fifth rounds respectively. There’s no doubt that they have the talent to be a part of a NFL franchise. With training camp starting in July, these two are going to find themselves being watched by a lot of eyes.
The Rest: It wouldn’t be news to hear that the Seahawks drafted two offensive tackles and a center in the draft; Germain Ifedi (Texas A&M), Rees Odhiambo (Boise State), and Joey Hunt (TCU). Last year it was clear that the Seahawks needed to make changes to their offensive line when quarterback Russell Wilson was either running for his life or being sacked on every other play.
The Bottom Line: General manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Caroll know how to build a franchise and they have a nice record to show for that. Every draft, the two have managed to find multiple steals and turn them into Pro Bowl players from Russell Wilson (2012 Draft, 75th overall), Richard Sherman (2011 Draft, 154th overall), and Kam Chancellor (2010 Draft, 133rd overall).
