The Seattle Seahawks, particularly in recent years, have taken a lot of talent from local schools in the NFL draft.
Will Dissly came to the Seahawks via the University of Washington in 2018, and a quartet of draft picks from the PAC-12 joined Seattle last year: Ugo Amadi (Oregon) Ben Burr-Kirven (Washington) as well as Marquise Blair and Cody Barton from Utah.
While that may be coincidental more than anything else, it could also be thanks to Seattle’s alignment with many of the offensive and defensive schemes being run by PAC-12 schools – and could point to more PAC-12 players joining the team in 2020.
While there are literally dozens of PAC-12 players who are draft eligible and, at least on paper, decent fits for this Seattle team, here are three who seem like arguably the best fits at this stage of the draft process.
Nick Harris, Center, Washington
Harris is perhaps my favorite local target for the Seahawks, and if they are able to get him in the second round it will be a big win.
Harris is a center with some experience at guard, and he could compete for a starting job on an offensive line where both Mike Iupati and Joey Hunt are free agents and D.J. Fluker and Justin Britt are strong candidates to be cut to save cap space.
Even if Seattle manages to keep all four of those players, which seems unlikely, Harris provides a ton of versatility, depth and potential – and could still challenge for a starting role right away.
Harris has a high football IQ and uses his leverage well as both a run blocker and a pass protector, making him a potential weapon at all three center and guard spots.
On a team that needs more depth and versatility on the offensive line, Harris is an obvious choice – and one that I’m sure coach Pete Carroll and offensive line coach Mike Solari will have their eyes on this draft season.
Bradlee Anae, EDGE, Utah
Seattle’s biggest area of need is on the defensive line, even if they are able to bring one or both of Jadeveon Clowney and Jarran Reed back next season.
Unfortunately, unlike last year, EDGE rushers are much harder to find in this draft class, particularly in the first few rounds.
That’s what makes Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae appealing. He’s likely a third or fourth round guy, depending how the combine goes, and could immediately contribute for the Seahawks in 2020.
Anae is a high-motor rusher with good technique and the ability to contribute as a pass rusher and run defender.
There are some concerns about his overall athleticism, as well as his flexibility and footwork – all things that can be corrected in time.
In a draft that lacks elite EDGE pieces, snagging Anae in the middle rounds – if possible – would be a great get for this Seattle defense.
Jacob Breeland, Tight End, Oregon
The Seahawks have a major depth issue at tight end, and that’s even if Will Dissly remains healthy in 2020 – something he has yet to do in his brief NFL career.
Luke Willson and George Fant are both set to hit free agency, which could leave the team without either of their blocking tight ends.
That leaves Dissly, who has played 10 games in two years and suffered a pair of season-ending injuries, and Jacob Hollister – who showed flashes of excellence but is still very raw and not much of a blocker.
Seattle is expected to address these depth concerns via the draft, and Oregon tight end Jacob Breeland could be the right fit. Breeland’s production was hampered by a leg injury, which could lower his draft stock into the fifth or sixth round range and make him a project for Pete Carroll and company.
Breeland has been asked to do a lot of in-line blocking in his collegiate career, another reason he would be a good fit in Seattle, and his size (six-foot-five, 250) and big catch radius make him an appealing No. 2 tight end and red zone threat at the next level.
