After shipping off their 33-year-old star quarterback, the Seattle Seahawks are in a bit of a conundrum. What will they do with the rest of their free agents? Will they make any more trades? But perhaps most importantly, what will they do with the ninth overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft? Let’s take a look at Seattle’s team needs following the Russell Wilson trade.
Top Seahawks draft needs following Russell Wilson trade
First things first, quarterback. Although Drew lock was in the package that sent Wilson to the Denver Broncos, he has already proven to be not much more than an NFL backup. If the Seahawks plan to trot him out for all 17 games in 2022, they are aiming for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That became even more of a reality when they cut All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner. Furthermore, Seattle is reportedly fielding calls on receiver Tyler Lockett.
So yes, they aren’t exactly aiming for a Super Bowl in the next few years. Trading Wilson signified the franchise waving the white flag and entering a full-on rebuild. As a result, cutting or trading high-priced veterans for valuable draft capital makes more sense than keeping them in-house.
If we’re being honest, nearly every position will be a need by the time the draft rolls around. Nevertheless, Seattle’s main concerns include:
- Quarterback
- Offensive Tackle
- Linebacker
- Cornerback
- Defensive Tackle (Wide Receiver if Lockett is traded)
Top options for Seattle at ninth overall
The Seahawks could be of two minds on draft night: 1) Lock isn’t good enough to build around, so let’s tank for a top QB prospect in the 2023 class — Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud, anyone? Or 2) Lock can be our franchise QB with some development, so let’s build around him. I’d assume their motive in bringing in Lock was just to be a bridge QB and lead the team to the No. 1 overall pick next year.
But let’s imagine the Seahawks decide to go with a first-round quarterback in 2022. With the ninth pick, who can Seattle realistically draft at QB? Truthfully, any of the top prospects could fall into their laps. Malik Willis seems like the least likely to be available, but after him, Seattle would presumably have their pick of Matt Corral, Sam Howell, Kenny Pickett, and Desmond Ridder.
My personal choice would be Corral from that group due to his raw athleticism and throwing mechanics. He’s still a project, but his combination of physical tools and leadership is what I would want to build my team around. However, projecting a QB to Seattle is difficult as we don’t know what the coaching staff will look like next season.
Non-quarterback options in Round 1
If Seattle decides to skip out on the 2022 QB class, there is plenty of talent to sort through. At offensive tackle, Charles Cross and Trevor Penning should still be on the board at No. 9. Penning fits the Seahawks’ current run-first mold, but Cross is a much cleaner prospect with impressive pass sets.
Taking an off-ball linebacker in the top 10 is a hard sell, but Devin Lloyd’s overall skill set is more than worth the investment. He can legitimately do anything Seattle asks of him and provide a spark to a dwindling defense. Defensive tackle is also of questionable value that high, but maybe Jordan Davis‘ Combine numbers and unmatched size are too good for Seattle to pass up.
If there is no worthy OT left by the time the Seahawks are on the clock, I fully expect them to go corner. While Derek Stingley Jr. has been my CB1 since that immaculate 2019 season, injuries and inconsistent play have dropped him down some boards. Thus, Ahmad Gardner rises to the top, specifically for Seattle. The Richard Sherman comps are aplenty, and Gardner could thrive in Seattle’s Cover 3 system. His size/speed combination is deadly when paired with his physicality and technical refinement.
In the end, whatever Seattle does, they are doing it for the long haul. They aren’t winning many games over the next few years if they continue to gut the roster of aging talent. Regardless, securing quality players in this draft and a face of the franchise in 2023 is paramount for the Seahawks to escape limbo.
