Seahawks 2020 Draft Needs: Offense

After various trades and whatnot, the Seahawks are down to seven draft picks in this week’s 2020 NFL Draft. That’s obviously a far cry from the number this front office normally goes in for – in the 11-13 range, to try to maximize potential hits while minimizing risk – so first and foremost: expect the Seahawks to make some trades.

Here’s what we’ve got at the moment:

  • First Round (27th overall)
  • Second Round (59th overall)
  • Second Round (64th overall)
  • Third Round (101st overall)
  • Fourth Round (133rd overall)
  • Fourth Round (144th overall)
  • Sixth Round (214th overall)

The most likely option is to use their first round pick to trade down and acquire picks in the 2nd, 3rd, and maybe 6th or 7th rounds. The odds are VERY long that the Seahawks stick and pick at 27; someone they’ve rated high on their draft board would have to fall considerably. As is discussed every year, there are various cliffs in an NFL draft that don’t necessarily conform to the number of picks in a particular round. There are probably no more than 20 true first round-graded players; but there might be 40-50 players in that second round range, so having more selections in the second round is usually more valuable than picking someone at the bottom of the first round (the only argument for taking a player late in the first round is if you believe that guy is worthy of a fifth-year option on his rookie deal; but the Seahawks have proven they’re not necessarily interested in going that route).

So, if you’re a Seahawks fan and you’re planning on tuning in on Thursday night to see the Seahawks make some noise, be prepared for that noise to consist of countless groans around the Pacific Northwest.

Real Seahawks fans know that Day Two of the NFL Draft is where the action is!

That having been said, what should we expect? Well, for starters, I think we’re all VERY interested in this year’s wide receiver market. The Seahawks are in a position of strength with this position of strength, as they just drafted future-superstar D.K. Metcalf last year. On top of that, Tyler Lockett is a current-superstar, but it never hurts – especially in a draft as loaded as this one – to keep adding weapons. Particularly weapons on the cheap! I don’t know if there’s necessarily a “type” of receiver I’d expect here, but odds are he won’t be a slot guy. I’m guessing we’ll go after another tall, fast guy, to put on the opposite side of Metcalf. Remember in Philip Rivers’ heyday with the Chargers, when they were always loaded with huge receivers who could stretch the field? I’m expecting something like that, and this draft should certainly provide!

Also, if the Seahawks are able to stockpile enough extra picks, I wouldn’t be shocked to see a second receiver get drafted late; someone to compete with John Ursua and David Moore for one of the back-end of the roster spots.

Even though the Seahawks signed a shit-ton of tight ends this offseason, everyone but Dissly is on a 1-year deal. So, you’d think if the right guy falls to them, tight end is a priority in that 4th round range. That guy would be in a competition with Luke Willson and Jacob Hollister, and he’d also be injury insurance in case Dissly suffers a serious injury in Training Camp/pre-season.

Lots of people are expecting the Seahawks to take another running back, what with all the injuries we suffered towards the end of 2019. That makes a lot of sense, especially with Penny such a question mark, and with Carson being in the last year of his rookie deal. I would LOVE for the Seahawks to get someone good enough to let Carson walk next year, but I also don’t want them blowing it on a guy on Day Two, so here’s hoping a guy they love falls to the sixth round or so.

Every year, we talk about the Seahawks drafting a backup to Russell Wilson, and almost every year they opt to go another direction. Even when they drafted Alex McGough in 2018, they ended up waiving him before the season started, opting to go with a veteran backup instead. The problem is: there’s no way to justify taking a backup quarterback anywhere before the fifth round, but anyone drafted later than that is almost guaranteed to be too green to feel confident in rostering as this team’s lone backup (though, I argue every year: if Wilson ever gets injured for any extended period of time, this team is proper fucked regardless, so you might as well start the rookie and lose as many games as possible). I will say that given how there are zero backups on the roster at this time, perhaps that’s an indication the Seahawks are at least strongly considering drafting one this year.

Finally, with all the free agents the Seahawks have signed this offseason, this might be the first year in FOREVER that we don’t draft an offensive lineman. At best, maybe a late-round flier? But, I wouldn’t count on it.

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