The Seattle Seahawks have rarely used their first round picks in the John Schneider era, instead choosing to trade down and acquire more capital in the later rounds.
When they have made selections in the first round, it’s been a mixed bag. Aaron Curry was an absolute disaster back in 2009, and Germain Ifedi has had his issues since his selection in the first round in 2016.
Bruce Irvin, James Carpenter and Russell Okung were all success stories, however, and the jury is still out on the Seahawks most recent selections – Rashaad Penny in 2018 and L.J. Collier in 2019.
But without a doubt, the best first-round pick in the team’s recent history is free safety Earl Thomas, who was selected 14th overall in the 2010 draft.
In fact, Touchdown Wire recently ranked the best draft picks of the last decade at each slot, and Thomas was ranked as the best 14th-overall pick in that time.
While Thomas is a Hall of Fame caliber player, it’s worth noting that the No. 14 spot has not been the most successful spot to draft in the last decade or so.
Bears corner Kyle Fuller and Saints corner Malcolm Jenkins are two of the most successful selections, from the 2015 and 2009 drafts respectively, but otherwise, it hasn’t been a hugely successful draft slot.
Historically, Darrelle Revis (2007) and Eddie George (1996) represent other excellent players selected at No. 14.
Still, Seattle’s decision to select Thomas in 2010 – and the selections of Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson in the next two drafts – paved the way for the team’s most successful run in franchise history while creating the notorious Legion of Boom, a legacy that will live on in the annals of football history.
