The Seattle Seahawks are a team in transition. They finished last in the NFC West and then traded away their franchise quarterback. So yeah, the NFL Draft is important. Here are Seattle’s biggest team needs.
Seattle Seahawks team needs in the 2022 NFL Draft
Is this a rebuild? A reload? Or something totally different? We’ll know a lot more about the Seahawks‘ plans for 2022 after the NFL Draft.
Quarterback
The Seahawks have not drafted a quarterback in the first round since taking Rick Mirer second overall in 1993. But there’s a real chance that drought ends in 2022, particularly with Seattle drafting in the top 10 for the first time since 2010.
The Hawks own the ninth overall pick, the signature piece of the Russell Wilson trade, and could use that pick to find his successor.
They’re currently in a weird in-between roster development spot. The Seahawks could have done the whole tear-down, build-up thing after trading Wilson and cutting Bobby Wagner, but their aggressive approach in free agency suggests they’re trying to win.
It’s just hard to see how they can with Geno Smith, Drew Lock and Jacob Eason as the three quarterbacks on their roster.
Offensive Tackle
Our Spidey Sense is tingling a bit here. While quarterback might be the Seahawks’ most important need, it’s not their biggest, if that makes sense. There’s a reason they have yet to bring back starting tackles Duane Brown and Brandon Shell, both of whom are free agents.
It’s fair to presume that the Seahawks are keeping tabs on Brown and Shell but are holding off on re-signing them until after they see what the draft brings.
But certainly, some sort of upgrade is coming. The Seahawks’ current tackle situation is rough: Greg Eiland, Jake Curhan, Stone Forsythe.
Linebacker
Wagner is a no-doubt Seahawks Ring of Honor inductee and has a very strong case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s a six-time first-team All-Pro, an eight-time Pro Bowler, and twice led the NFL in tackles.
The Seahawks simply have no one on the roster to replace him, and there’s probably no one in the draft that can come close. But they have to try something. They signed Joel Iyiegbuniwe in free agency but are paying him like a backup/special teamer.
Former first-round pick Jordyn Brooks’ 109 solo tackles led the NFL in 2021, but he was a liability in coverage. Brooks allowed 9.0 yards per attempt and 4 touchdowns in coverage last year.
Cornerback
The Seahawks ranked 31st in pass defense (265.5 yards per game) and 24th in dropback EPA (0.11) in 2021, and their big free agent additions to their cornerback room were Artie Burns and Justin Coleman.
D.J. Reed had an excellent season in 2021, holding opposing passers to 5.8 yards per target and a 67.8 passer rating. And Sidney Jones was solid too. But with Reed gone, the Seahawks don’t have much behind Jones.
Defensive Tackle
The offseason signing of Quinton Jefferson was a good start. But Seattle could use one more rotational player to round out a group that includes Poona Ford (who is entering his contract year) and Shelby Harris.
