Seahawks 2021 NFL Draft primer: Can they protect Russell Wilson?
Three options in the second round
Eric Stokes
When the Seahawks were at their peak, it was built on the backs of their defense. Specifically, an elite group of defensive backs — the Legion of Boom. Richard Sherman spearheaded a group that made passing against the Seahawks an absolute nightmare for quarterbacks and offensive coordinators alike. The current iteration of the Seahawks defense is a far cry from those days, but there’s plenty of opportunity to get some of that fierceness back in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Eric Stokes, the former Georgia Bulldogs cornerback, could be the perfect cornerback for the Seahawks if they don’t move up in the draft. If they stay put at 54 and let the board come to them, they could fall into one of the more talented members of the cornerback class. Stokes may not have the technical skill of some of his counterparts, but what he lacks in that area, he makes up for in physical traits.
Stokes would give the Seahawks the coveted size they look for at the position, and he’s got speed to burn. He’s arguably the fastest prospect at the position in this year’s draft class. He possesses very nice hands and good ball skills — essential for a player at the position to be a difference maker. He doesn’t have the hip fluidity you would like to see, but his speed more than makes up for it. Seattle would be lucky to have Stokes staring them in the face at this pick.
Alim McNeil
When you talk about defensive linemen, the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald is the gold standard. Everyone in the NFC West — and the league as a whole — is trying to find their answer to Donald, on both sides of the ball. Teams are trying to find interior offensive linemen who can neutralize what Donald does, and they’re trying to find defensive tackles who can replicate it.
Former NC State defensive tackle Alim McNeil isn’t in that mold. He’s not an explosive pass rusher from the inside like Donald is. However, that doesn’t mean that Alim can’t make an impact on the game in some similar ways. McNeil has an explosive first step and plays with great pad level. When you can combine those two things, you’re going to give offensive linemen fits no matter your skill set.
Though not bringing much to the table as an initial pass rusher, McNeil has a good motor and very good change-of-direction for a man of his size. He’s able to adjust to a cutting running back in the run game, and can chase down a scrambling quarterback in the pocket. He’s not going to be chasing down a Kyler Murray-type quarterback in the open field, but with his burst and quick-twitch, he may be able to disrupt him.
Jalen Mayfield
As Russell Wilson goes, so go the Seahawks. The same can be said for just about every team and their starting quarterback, but it’s especially true of Seattle. Wilson has proven to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league since the Seahawks took him in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He’s also proven to be one of the most heavily-sacked QBs in that timeframe.
Wilson isn’t getting any younger, and he’s already taken an incredible amount of hits in this league. When you combine all the sacks he’s taken from a porous offensive line, along with the extra games they’ve played thanks to prolonged success, it begins to take its toll. Wilson may not be wearing down quite yet, but Father Time catches up to everyone eventually. Seattle needs to start doing a better job of protecting Wilson, and they can start doing that in the 2021 NFL Draft with former Michigan tackle Jalen Mayfield.
Mayfield may not have a ton of experience at the position, but he’s been battle-tested in the experience he does have. The Big Ten has thrown a bevy of talented pass rushers into the league in recent years, and Mayfield has lined up against his fair share of them — and held his own against them. Mayfield isn’t the best run-blocking tackle in this class, which may be a negative for Seattle, but keeping Wilson upright should be objective number one, and Mayfield will do that.