The Seattle Seahawks have a lot of holes to fill and only four picks in the upcoming NFL draft with which to fill them.
While the team is expected to focus on shoring up their defense, including their pass rushing and their secondary, the team could also use the draft to pick up some more playmakers to join Russell Wilson and company on the offensive side of the ball next season.
While wide receiver is probably a bigger priority, especially considering the health issues of Doug Baldwin, the team could also bring in another playmaker or two at the tight end position.
Presently, the team has Will Dissly and a pair of veterans – Ed Dickson and Nick Vannett – penciled in on the depth chart. George Fant is in the mix as well as a hybrid tight end/sixth lineman.
Dissly is the expected starter, although he is coming off a serious knee injury. Dickson is more of a run-blocker and Vannett, while he had a career year last year, is likely more of a backup.
If Seattle does choose to go after a tight end, here is a player the Seahawks could target with each of their four picks in the upcoming NFL draft.
Round 1 (Pick 21): Noah Fant, Iowa
Fant is expected to be the first tight end off the board, and may not even make it down to Seattle’s first-round pick. If he does, his outstanding athleticism would make him a huge weapon in the open field.
He’s not much of a blocker, but a big tight end with 4.5 speed and excellent length would give Seattle an immediate top-tier receiver Wilson could target throughout the game.
The combination of Fant and Dissly at tight end would be among the best in the league.
Round 3 (Pick 84): Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
The Seahawks have already met with Texas A&M tight end Jace Sternberger, the only tight end that Seattle has been connected to in this draft class.
Sternberger is similar to Fant, an outstanding athlete with a good catch-radius and a high football IQ. However, unlike Fant, there are concerns about Sternberger’s size and strength, which could limit his ability as a run-blocker.
Still, this would work for Seattle who already has two adept run-blockers in Dickson and Dissly. Sternberger could step into a Vannett-style role as a playmaker in this offense.
Round 4 (Pick 117): Foster Moreau, LSU
While the first two tight ends are pass-catchers, Foster Moreau from LSU is a dedicated run-blocker who excels as a lead blocker and a wham blocker.
He isn’t the best route runner, likely limiting him to run-blocking duties in the NFL, but the same was said about Dissly and he ended up proving his worth as a pass-catcher in just three games last year.
Of course, Seattle doesn’t need Dissly 2.0 unless his injuries issues are worse than reported, so taking Moreau would be nothing more than insurance at this point.
Round 5 (Pick 148): Dax Raymond, Utah State
Raymond was a two-time All-Mountain West honorable mention while at Utah State, showing off excellent skills in his final two years with the Aggies.
Scouts are concerned about his bulk and his pass-catching skills, and the fact that he will be a 24-year-old rookie after going on a two-year mission after high school.
Still, Raymond has the athleticism to succeed in the NFL and could function as a second tight end in two tight end sets. He’d have to work hard to win a job out of camp, but if the Seahawks see something they like here, he could become their next late-round steal.
