This Seattle Seahawks 2023 NFL Mock Draft follows a young, upstart team, as it attempts to build on the playoff window that newly anointed starting quarterback Geno Smith has opened. In this scenario, simulated trades were active among other teams via the Mock Draft Simulator, but the Seahawks held steady and did not make any moves.
Latest Seattle Seahawks 2023 NFL Mock Draft
Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU | Round 1, Pick 5
With the top-five pick they acquired from the Denver Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade, the Seahawks have a chance to add a franchise-changing talent. Jalen Carter and Will Anderson Jr. are the top picks, but if neither is on the board, there are other options to consider.
Quentin Johnston needs a little more seasoning, but he could be the final X-factor Seattle’s offense needs alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Johnston’s a dual-sided RAC and contested menace with elite explosiveness, twitch, and reach at 6’4″, 215 pounds.
Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor | Round 1, Pick 20
Al Woods has been one of the unsung forces of Seattle’s defense for some time. But now, in his mid-30s, it looks like his star is starting to fade. There are many quality nose tackle prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, and Seattle should try to take home one of them.
With their second first-round pick, Baylor’s Siaki Ika could be a worthwhile investment. He has a truly uncommon physical profile, with high-end explosiveness and power at 6’4″, 358 pounds, coupled with outrageous strength. Ika can eat up double-teams and double as a pass-rushing threat.
John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota | Round 2, Pick 37
Austin Blythe gave the Seahawks some modest stability at center in 2022, but he was only on a one-year deal and is scheduled to be a free agent. Seeing that the Seahawks have the Day 2 capital to potentially upgrade, they should look into doing so.
MORE: Seattle Seahawks Offseason Preview 2023
At No. 37 overall in this Seahawks NFL Mock Draft, John Michael Schmitz provides a perfect intersection of talent and need. The Minnesota mauler has a physical edge, combined with the mobility, strength, and flexibility to own the middle. He can be a tone-setting starter for a decade.
Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa | Round 2, Pick 52
Lukas Van Ness might not make it this far down the 2023 NFL Draft board. But at the moment, it’s a bit challenging to get an accurate read on his stock. He feels like a prospect who’ll rise throughout the process. But for now, this isn’t a pipe dream.
At 6’5″, 275 pounds, Van Ness has elite physical tools. He’s extremely explosive and powerful, with game-defining leverage acquisition at his size. He can play as a stand-up rusher, from three-point stances, or rotate inside and disrupt at 3-tech and 4i, and be a vital chess piece in the trenches for Seattle.
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois | Round 3, Pick 83
A potential early declare, Jer’Zhan Newton could be a wild card at defensive tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft. Newton doesn’t have the name recognition of other prospects, but his 2022 tape speaks for itself. And for the Seahawks, he profiles as an excellent complement to Ika.
At 6’2″, 280 pounds, Newton fits Seattle’s mold of dense, compact, and well-leveraged 3-techniques. He brings good burst off the line and excellent lateral twitch, all of which helped him lead Big Ten defensive tackles in pass-rush win rate this season.
SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pittsburgh | Round 4, Pick 120
Watch the Seahawks’ Wild Card loss to the 49ers again, and you’ll see that linebacker was a position San Francisco exploited, both on the ground and through the air. Alongside Jordyn Brooks, Seattle needs another fast-flowing downhill presence with upside.
Early in Round 4 of this Seahawks NFL Mock Draft, Pittsburgh’s SirVocea Dennis fits the bill. The Panthers defender is a true hunter in close quarters, with the explosiveness, agility, physicality, and short-area instincts to flow through congestion and find the ball.
Rejzohn Wright, CB, Oregon State | Round 5, Pick 148
Michael Jackson quietly played extremely well for the Seahawks on the boundary this year opposite rookie Tariq Woolen. He’s an exclusive rights free agent, so it’s entirely possible that Seattle brings him back, even with other cap obligations. Nonetheless, they can still add more depth and starting upside at CB.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
In Round 5, Oregon State’s Rejzohn Wright is a prospect who’s tailor-made for Seattle’s Cover 3 scheme. At 6’2″, 200 pounds, he has the long-strider athleticism to glide upfield in side-saddle and cover ground in recovery. Wright also has the length and physicality to convert on plays.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas | Round 5, Pick 151
Kenneth Walker III is the top dog in Seattle. If the second-round draft capital didn’t prove it, his production as a rookie did. The Seahawks have their guy, but behind him, the rotation is in turmoil. Rashaad Penny is a free agent coming off a major injury, and there’s little depth beyond that.
In Round 5, there’s a very appealing utility prospect worth adding, and that’s Texas’ Roschon Johnson. At 6’2″, 223 pounds, Johnson has great size and contact balance, with underrated agility and burst out of breaks. Beyond that, he’s a high-quality pass protector, who can keep coaches comfortable on all three downs.
Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State | Round 6, Pick 184
With nine picks, the Seahawks have the capital to make use of the depth at several positions of need in the 2023 NFL Draft. While tight end isn’t necessarily a top need for them, it’s a place where they can stand to bring in more rotational ability.
This Seahawks NFL Mock Draft sees Pete Carroll and company bring Penn State’s Brenton Strange into the fold. At 6’3″, 246 pounds, Strange is a well-built TE with serviceable blocking ability and the RAC utility to make plays in space as an outlet receiver.