Seattle Seahawks 2015 NFL Draft Preview
By Zac Snyder
Teams are putting the finishing touches on their preparation as the 2015 NFL Draft is nearly here.
To preview the draft for the Seattle Seahawks, I got together with Keith Myers of 12th Man Rising. Below are my questions followed by his answers.
1. What are the team’s biggest needs heading into the draft and how might they address them?
"The interior offensive line and wide receiver are the most obvious needs for the Seahawks, but they also could use and edge rusher and a nose tackle that might eventually replace Brandon Mebane. Guard might be the biggest need, but that doesn’t mean that Seattle will use their first pick on the position. Offensive line coach Tom Cable wants guys with a very particular athletic profile that he looks for. Those guys can typically be picked up later.Instead, I suspect that the Seahawks will use there top pick on a wide receiver for the second year in a row. Last year it was Paul Richardson. He played well down the stretch, but tore his ACL in the playoffs and likely won’t be back for the start of the season."
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2. What needs to happen for this draft to be considered a success?
"As long as Seattle gets someone who can start at LG or center and they get a wideout who can contribute at some point this season, then the draft will be a success. With 11 draft picks and so little that is necessary for success, that should be difficult. The worry here is that the Seahawks will try and get cute here. They cannot wait too look to address their needs and end up with guys who aren’t ready this season."
3. What in your mind would make this draft a failure?
"Besides not getting a starter for the offensive line, the draft will be a failure if the team cannot add at least three impact players to the roster. Seattle’s roster is stacked, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need an influx in young talent. GM John Schneider likes his boom-or-bust guys in the middle and late rounds. It has worked well for him in the past, getting guys like Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor late, but not all of those guys work out. If Schneider rolls snake eyes too many times with those gambles, then the Seahawks won’t sufficiently re-stock their roster for next season."
4. What is a bold prediction for your team this draft?
"Is it possible to create a “bold prediction” for a team that constantly defies conventional wisdom on draft day? Any prediction that is “bold” for most teams is something the Seahawks have probably already done at least once since Schneider became the GM.The Seahawks will draft a player and immediate change their position. That’s my prediction, and it sounds fairly crazy until you realize that the Seahawks have done it three years in a row. in 2012 was J.R. Sweezy who was moved from DT to OG. 2013 saw the Seahawks move Jared Smith from DT to OC. Last year it was Eric Pinkins, who was moved from safety to CB.So, while that might not be the boldest of predictions, it is going to have to do."
5. What is a draft angle the general public might not be aware of for your team?
"By now everyone knows that Seattle draft board rarely fits in with what the draft media thinks. What everyone might not know is why. The Seahawks place a premium on the quality of athlete that they select. Almost all of Schneider’s selections are guys that are significantly above average athletically compared to their NFL piers. Often times, players with that type of athleticism is rare. In those cases, Schneider will take the guys he wants often a full round or more earlier than the draft media think he should. Schneider would rather “reach” in those cases than miss out on an athlete he really wants."
For full Seahawks coverage, check out 12th Man Rising.
Next: 2-Round 2015 NFL Mock Draft