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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Tim Weaver

2023 NFL draft: Seattle ‘comfortable enough’ with roster to go BPA at No. 20

All the talk for the Seahawks over the next few days will be centered around what they plan to do at No. 5 overall. The debate for months has been between a quarterback or a defensive lineman at that spot and that has not changed now that we’re at the 11th hour.

According to Albert Breer at Sports Illustrated, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll loves Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter but we shouldn’t rule out Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson if he’s there.

“This, to me, is the ceiling for Carter. I’ve heard that Pete Carroll loves the Georgia game-wrecker, and that the Seahawks had a good 30 visit with him. That said, Seattle GM John Schneider has had his ups and downs with such gambles in the past, and it’s fair to wonder if his experience with Malik McDowell a few years back would have a material effect on whether or not he’d spend the fifth pick on someone with Carter’s file. I also wouldn’t rule out Richardson…”

As for the No. 20 pick, Breer says Seattle is comfortable enough with its roster to go best player available or trade down.

“As for the second pick? Sounds like Seattle is comfortable enough with its roster to go best player available there, with a trade down always being a possibility as long as Schneider’s finger is the one on the trigger.”

You’ll never hear us argue against taking the best player available in Round 1, but a different approach may be more prudent given the opportunity to set themselves up for long-term success at quarterback the way the Packers have historically.

If the Seahawks don’t land a QB prospect with the fifth overall pick, a popular scenario is them targeting Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker at that No. 20 spot. Assuming Richardson is not on the board anymore, taking the top pass rusher on the board then going after Hooker is our favorite scenario.

2023 NFL draft: The consensus big board top 75 prospects

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