The Rotoworld Football crew’s Ian Hartitz, Nick Mensio, John Daigle and Hayden Winks are breaking down every team's biggest needs, division by division, and Josh Norris offers potential solutions in this month's NFL Draft.
For a breakdown on every team, check out the team-by-team draft preview schedule.
Seattle Seahawks
Notable Offseason Additions: TE Greg Olsen, G/C B.J. Finney, RT Brandon Shell, LB Bruce Irvin, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, OG Chance Warmack, CB Quinton Dunbar, WR Phillip Dorsett, DE Benson Mayowa
Starting Offense
QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Chris Carson
WR1: DK Metcalf
WR2: Tyler Lockett
WR3: Phillip Dorsett
TE: Greg Olsen
LT: Duane Brown
LG: Ethan Pocic
C: BJ Finney
RG: D.J. Fluker
RT: Cedric Ogbuehi
Starting Defense
DE: Bruce Irvin
DE: L.J. Collier
DT: Poona Ford
DT Jarran Reed
WLB: K.J. Wright
MLB: Bobby Wagner
SLB: Shaquem Griffin
CB: Shaquill Griffin
CB: Quinton Dunbar
SCB: Tre Flowers
S: Quandre Diggs
S: Bradley McDougald
Team Needs
Hartitz’s Analysis
Defensive line: It remains to be seen how the Jadeveon Clowney saga plays out. Meanwhile, Ezekiel Ansah, Branden Jackson, Quinton Jefferson and Al Woods will need to be replaced. Re-signing Jarran Reed while adding edge defenders Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa helps, but this defense is still missing a difference-making talent on the line. Currently Seattle has the fifth-fewest 2020 dollars devoted to the defensive line. Not great for last season's 25th-ranked defense in Havoc.
Cornerback: No. 1 CB Shaquill Griffin (No. 25 in yards allowed per cover snap) was great in 2019, but Seattle never asks their corners to travel with individual WRs. This meant offenses could regularly exploit mismatches against corners Akeem King (No. 46) and Tre Flowers (No. 72). Yes, adding Quinton Dunbar was a savvy and solid decision. Also yes, nobody has fewer 2020 dollars devoted to the defensive side of the ball than the Seahawks. They can afford to add talent to all three levels of the defense.
Offensive line: Regular contributors such as C Joey Hunt, LG Mike Iupati and LT George Fant have been replaced with free agents G/C B.J. Finney, RT Brandon Shell, OT Cedric Ogbuehi and G Chance Warmack. Obviously some of these signings could work out, but the Seahawks haven't exactly earned the benefit of the doubt on the offensive line over the years. Overall, Seattle has ranked as a bottom-10 offense in adjusted sack rate in each of the past five seasons. They've failed to properly address this issue, ranking No. 26, No. 31, No. 16, No. 21 and No. 22 in money spent on the offensive line since 2015.
Seahawks' 2020 Draft Picks
Norris’ Options
1 (27). EDGE/DL Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State - I’m a lunatic. I watch every team’s post-draft press conference following the conclusion of each day of the draft. You pick up decision maker tendencies over the years, and John Schneider/Pete Carroll prioritize players who have overcome adversity. Ones who conquered a major life event. Not only does Yetur Gross-Matos fit that mold, he’s also an exciting prospect with great fluidity for his size. He has the ability to destroy the offense’s plan a handful of times per game.\
WATCH NOW: Check out who our experts thought the Seahawks would land in our First Round Mock Draft Show!
2 (59). T Lucas Niang, TCU - The Seahawks tend to have questions at multiple positions along their offensive line every year. One of those spots this year is right tackle. He’s at his best as a pass blocker with over 34-inch arms. Per PFF, Niang allowed just seven quarterback hurries in 2018 (his last full season of player) and has conceded just three total penalties in his collegiate career.
2 (64). G Netane Muti, Fresno State - An absolute mauler at guard, Muti certainly fits the Seahawks’ mentality of prioritizing competitors. Unfortunately, he recently dealt with a Lisfranc injury. The Seahawks have shown a willingness to draft players coming off injuries at “discounts”.
3 (101). EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Florida - With or without any more pass rushing additions in free agency, the team needs to add multiple prospects in the draft. Gross-Matos in round one can operate on the outside and inside, so adding a pure edge threat in Greenard makes sense.
4 (133). CB John Reid, Penn State - The Seahawks seem set at outside corner. But since losing Justin Coleman to a massive free agent deal, they’ve been looking for the right slot corner. Enter Reid, who lined up inside 116 times last season.
4 (144). WR James Proche, SMU - The Seahawks could still be on the look for a true slot option. They deemed John Ursua one of the best prospects at the position last season, which resulted in a total of 18 snaps. Proche did a little bit of everything at SMU, including winning 20 contested catches despite measuring in under six-feet.
6 (214). iDL Bravvion Roy, Baylor - Roy is a wild man on his pass rush - limbs everywhere, untraditional angles. But it works, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him outperform his draft slot.
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