The NFL Draft is so shut that I can virtually really feel it. The Seattle Seahawks are about to make workforce historical past after they make their first choice beneath new head coach Mike Macdonald, which is as thrilling as it’s perplexing. Put merely, we actually don’t know what to anticipate when it comes to how the workforce will method this draft. John Schneider and Jody Allen are nonetheless round, so we are able to’t low cost their affect; the size of Macdonald’s “leash,” so to talk, will likely be value speculating on.
With that in thoughts, the already unpredictable nature of predicting draft picks feels even much less… predictable. So taking that into consideration, what are the consultants predicting?!
Let’s begin off with Michael-Shawn Dugar, who’s predicting in The Athletic that the workforce goes to go the trade-down route with John Schneider’s acquaintances on the Inexperienced Bay Packers entrance workplace.
Spherical 1, No. 25 (from Packers): Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
Projected commerce: Seahawks obtain Nos. 25 and 58. Packers obtain Nos. 16 and 118.
Normal supervisor John Schneider has a historical past of buying and selling again along with his former employer within the first spherical, so right here he does it once more, agreeing to maneuver again 9 spots in change for recouping a second-round decide. Barton spent three of his 4 years as a starter in faculty at left sort out however initiatives as an inside lineman on the subsequent stage partly due to his quick arms (32 7/8 inches) and lack of foot quickness. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Barton 18th total and the No. 1 heart on his large board, however the 6-foot-5, 313-pounder also can play guard. Seattle’s present projected starters on the inside are left guard Laken Tomlinson, heart Olu Oluwatimi (or Nick Harris) and proper guard Anthony Bradford. Barton can are available and compete with any of them in Yr 1.
Chris Trepasso of CBS Sports activities additionally predicts a trade-down situation that finally lands Graham Barton. In his model, the workforce will discover keen companions within the Atlanta Falcons, who commerce picks 28 and 60 (which additionally concerned a commerce with the Buffalo Payments) to maneuver as much as 16.
Spherical 1, No. 28 (from Falcons): Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
This feels so Seahawks-y. Commerce again, then land an offensive lineman from Duke who might play most likely 4 positions up entrance. Like it.
Draft-expert Dane Brugler expects that the workforce will likely be in quest of an inside offensive lineman, however not Barton.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, G/T, Washington
The protected wager is perhaps a commerce down by the Seahawks, however it might be robust to maneuver away from Fautanu if he falls right here. Although the Huskies’ left sort out can keep on the skin if wanted, his ability set might be maximized inside and would give the Seahawks interesting versatility throughout the offensive line.
Troy Fautanu stays a well-liked choice for the Seahawks; along with Brugler, a number of different analysts are sticking with this prediction, together with Eric Edholm of NFL.com.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, G/T, Washington
I believe there’s a robust case for Fautanu being the best-case situation at this decide. He can begin out at guard and transfer to sort out finally if the Seahawks need. Mike Macdonald must wait a bit for defensive assist, however he provides a top quality blocker. If Michael Penix Jr. was nonetheless on the board, I used to be going to think about him right here.
Jordan Reid of ESPN goes with Fautanu, as effectively, however he’s additionally predicting that the workforce will commerce down to twenty earlier than doing so. On this model, the Pittsburgh Steelers would ship picks 20 and 84 to Seattle with the intention to slide up 4 spots.
20. Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
It is a nice consequence for the Seahawks, who commerce down 4 spots and nonetheless get one among their targets. Fautanu initiatives as a sort out, however he might additionally play guard — and that’s the place Seattle wants assist proper now. He’d be part of Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas to type an thrilling younger nucleus up entrance. Coming from the close by College of Washington, Fautanu is an agile and aggressive blocker. His consciousness, bodily arms and energetic ft assist him keep in place.
Professional Soccer Focus goes a distinct route, with the workforce electing to go for a high-upside defender.
16. Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
Turner posted a top-10 pass-rush win charge amongst edge defenders in 2023, and he brings top-end measurables. He needs to be a strong piece alongside Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu.
Different consultants, corresponding to Corbin Smith, took a take a look at among the defenders who the workforce might be taking a look at, honing in on Jared Verse (who was in for a top-30 go to), Dallas Turner, and Laiatu Latu. He additionally famous that the workforce met with a number of edge defenders on the mix:
On the NFL mix, they’d formal conferences with Alabama standout Dallas Turner in addition to Washington standout Bralen Trice and Western Michigan star Marshawn Kneeland. Since then, projected first-round picks Jared Verse of Florida State and Chop Robinson of Penn State met with workforce brass on the VMAC on official top-30 visits.
So the consensus appears to be within the trenches… and I’ve no drawback with that, in anyway.
