If the Seahawks had drafted in keeping with Mel Kiper’s ESPN’s mock draft

On Monday, a remark from Bigmarinerfan within the Mel Kiper/Subject Yates mock draft article caught my consideration.

These mock drafts are typically pointless (however innocent and generally enjoyable!) workout routines. What wouldn’t it appear to be in an alternate world the place the Seattle Seahawks went with Kiper’s picks one hundred pc of the best way? There’s a clear butterfly impact at play when altering these picks over, however droop that portion of actuality for a bit and play alongside.

To maintain consistent with the above remark, we’re sticking to the final 10 drafts and solely to first-round picks and/or the highest decide of the second spherical. These are all from the final mock drafts Kiper did earlier than the precise draft. I’ll current my opinion as to which decide was higher.

2014 (No. 32)

Kiper’s decide: Stephon Tuitt, DT, Notre Dame (Truly picked: Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 46)

Seahawks decide: Paul Richardson, WR, Colorado (Traded right down to No. 45)

Higher decide: Tuitt. Sadly, Richardson was injury-prone in faculty and stayed that method within the professionals. Tuitt by no means made a Professional Bowl however he had a career-high 11 sacks in 2020 earlier than private tragedy and damage led to an early retirement.

2015 (No. 63)

Kiper’s decide: Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State (Truly picked: Buffalo Payments, No. 50)

Seahawks decide: Frank Clark, DE, Michigan

Higher decide: Clark. Darby has been a largely fantastic, if not unspectacular cornerback. Clark not solely was very productive in his first run with Seattle, he landed the Seahawks an additional first-round decide in a commerce.

2016 (No. 26)

Kiper’s decide: T.J. Inexperienced, S, Clemson (Truly picked: Indianapolis Colts, No. 57)

Seahawks’ decide: Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M

Higher decide: Ifedi. That is by default, as a result of Inexperienced was dangerous out of the gate and by no means improved. For all of Ifedi’s faults, the Seahawks had a beginning proper sort out for 3 years, whereas Inexperienced solely had 12 profession begins as a journeyman security.

2017 (No. 26)

Kiper’s decide: Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU (Truly picked: Buffalo Payments, No. 27)

Seahawks’ decide: Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State (Traded right down to No. 35)

Higher decide: White. Earlier than the accidents, White was thought-about probably the greatest corners within the NFL. He’ll try to revive his profession with the Los Angeles Rams. McDowell… yeah.

2018 (No. 18)

Kiper’s decide: Marcus Davenport, OLB, UTSA (Truly picked: New Orleans Saints, No. 14)

Seahawks’ decide: Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State (Traded right down to No. 27)

Higher decide: Davenport. The method for taking Penny apart, Rashaad’s profession has been injury-riddled and he didn’t even emerge as a starter till the back-end of 2021. Davenport coincidentally had one sturdy nine-sack 2021 marketing campaign, however barely performed in his one yr with the Minnesota Vikings. PFF graded Davenport very extremely in New Orleans, and Marcus has been in step with hurries and pressures to make up for the dearth of sacks.

2019 (No. 21 and No. 30)

Kiper’s picks: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State (Truly picked: Washington Commanders, No. 26); Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State (Truly picked: Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 83)

Seahawks picks: L.J. Collier, DE, TCU (Traded down from No. 21 to No. 29) ; Marquise Blair, S, Utah (Traded down from No. 30 to No. 47)

Higher picks: Sweat and Blair. Word that my “butterfly impact” remark from earlier meant that the Seahawks not buying and selling down from No. 30 most probably means they don’t draft DK Metcalf. As erratic and injury-riddled as Blair was, Layne gave the Steelers solely 145 defensive snaps and 0 begins. Kiper did admit Layne was a attain, and he wasn’t mendacity. No want to debate Sweat vs. Collier. One of many few draft picks that was ridiculous on the time and worse in follow.

2020 (No. 27)

Kiper’s decide: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson (Truly picked: Cincinnati Bengals, No. 33)

Seahawks’ decide: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech

Higher decide: Hmm… Higgins? Remember the fact that Kiper made this decide after the Seahawks had already drafted Metcalf and Tyler Lockett had his rookie contract prolonged. That might’ve been one thing. Higgins is fifth in his draft class in receptions, behind CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Michael Pittman Jr, and Brandon Aiyuk. How a lot of Higgins’ success tied to Ja’Marr Chase being the primary receiver? I believe that’s a legitimate query. Brooks’ greatest season was 2022 proper earlier than his ACL tear, however weighing positional significance I believe I’d’ve relatively had Higgins. This isn’t to discredit Brooks, though it’s a private bias towards valuing extensive receivers.

2021 (No. 56)

Kiper’s decide: Joseph Ossai, OLB, Texas (Truly picked: Cincinnati Bengals, No. 69)

Seahawks’ decide: Dee Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan

Higher decide: Ossai. It’s definitely not by a lot. Ossai missed his complete rookie season with a knee damage, however in 2021 he discovered a task as a rotational move rusher, recording 3.5 sacks and scoring a landing on a fumble return. Sadly, his declare to infamy is committing the roughness penalty on Patrick Mahomes that helped ship the Chiefs to the 2022 Tremendous Bowl. He had his function lowered in 2023 and is effectively behind Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard within the depth chart. Dee Eskridge had that cool jet sweep that one time and a pleasant kick return that different time. Add within the accidents and he’s been one of many least productive receivers drafted in Rounds 1-2 within the historical past of the NFL.

2022 (No. 9)

Kiper’s decide: Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU (Truly picked: Houston Texans, No. 3)

Seahawks’ decide: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

Higher decide: TBD. If we in contrast the 2 gamers at their respective positions, Stingley ought to have the sting after his spectacular second season. DSJ was out of Seattle’s attain anyway, however I’m nonetheless glad with the Cross choice and dread the alternate actuality the place Seattle ignored the left sort out place. Cross had an injury-shortened second yr, so he’ll actually need to step it up in yr three to offer the Seahawks one thing to consider so far as choosing up his fifth-year choice.

2023 (No. 5 and No. 20)

Kiper’s picks: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia (Truly picked: Philadelphia Eagles, No. 9); Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson (Truly picked: Cincinnati Bengals, No. 28)

Seahawks’ picks: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Higher picks: TBD. I favor Witherspoon and JSN over the Carter/Murphy combo, but it surely’s too early to definitively name. In the mean time, it needs to be Witherspoon and JSN by way of productiveness. Carter had a robust rookie season, whereas Murphy was so-so in Cincinnati.

Recap

The Kiper Drafts

Stephon TuittRonald DarbyT.J. GreenTre’Davious White (2x Professional Bowl, 2x All-Professional)Marcus DavenportMontez Sweat (1x Professional Bowl)Tee HigginsJoseph OssaiDerek Stingley JrJalen Carter Myles Murphy

The Schneider/Carroll Drafts

Paul RichardsonFrank Clark (3x Professional Bowl, all with Chiefs)Germain IfediMalik McDowellRashaad PennyL.J. CollierMarquise BlairJordyn BrooksDee EskridgeCharles CrossDevon Witherspoon (1x Professional Bowl)Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The one gamers Kiper mocked who have been out of Seattle’s attain have been Stingley, Darby, and Davenport.

I don’t suppose that is tremendously lopsided on this hypothetical world, however the final two drafts are performing some heavy lifting for the Seahawks. Those the place I want Seattle would’ve gone with Kiper are Sweat over Collier, Tuitt over Richardson, White over McDowell, and Higgins over Brooks. Everybody else is both a wash or I facet with what Schneider did.

You might have a distinct opinion! Reply within the ballot beneath and hold forth within the feedback.