The Seattle Seahawks are hard at work on their big board in anticipation of the NFL draft, which is set to begin on April 25.
Fans of football in the Pacific Northwest always love to see their local college heroes end up staying in Seattle, and this year it certainly seems like there has been a lot of buzz about the possibility.
After taking tight end Will Dissly last year, could Seattle make it two years in a row with a University of Washington player heading across the I-90 bridge to play for the Seahawks?
There are plenty of options for them to choose from. Here is a prospect in each round of the NFL draft, including a first-round and a second-round pick, in case they trade back, as many are predicting.
Round 1 (No. 21): Byron Murphy, CB
If the Seahawks do keep their first round pick (more on that later), they could pursue Murphy, who has been one of the most talked about targets for Seattle at that spot.
Murphy would immediately step into a starting role for Seattle, pushing either Shaquill Griffin or Tre Flowers into a bench spot.
Murphy makes up for a lack of elite size with high IQ, instincts and great playmaking ability. He may not be the exact mold Pete Carroll looks for in the secondary, but he’d immediately make this team better in 2019 and beyond.
Round 1 or 2 (if they trade back): Taylor Rapp, safety
Most don’t even expect Seattle to use that first-round pick, which likely means the Seahawks won’t end up with Murphy. It does mean that they could end up with Rapp, his running mate in the Huskies secondary.
Rapp had mid-to-late first chatter, but an ugly showing at his pro day (4.74 in the 40-yard dash) has hampered his draft stock, making him more of a target for the first half of the second round.
If Seattle still likes what its see, and the Seahawks know him better than most teams, they could look to trade back and still snag their guy in the second round.
Rapp makes up for his lack of top speed with great size, strength and tenacity. He projects as a box safety and could learn from Bradley McDougald while perfecting his craft on the special teams.
Round 3 (No. 84): Kaleb McGary, OL
Weirdly enough, the offensive line is not actually one of Seattle’s more pressing needs at the moment. As such, with only a few picks in this year’s draft, the Seahawks may choose to focus on the defensive side of the ball instead of adding more depth up front.
Should they reverse course, however, McGary would be a nice target in the middle rounds. He was a big, agile right tackle at UW but projects as a run-blocking guard at the NFL level, much like Seahawks guard D.J. Fluker.
McGary would be a nice, versatile backup lineman, especially if he learns how to play guard and tackle.
I don’t see Seattle going after him unless they add a few free agents on the defensive side of the ball, but he would be a nice fit.
Round 4 (No. 117): Jordan Miller, CB
Miller has the requisite length to be a Carroll cornerback but lacks the physicality to truly be a ballhawk at the next level. He projects as a solid Cover-3 corner with solid height and lengthy arms.
Add in his 4.49 speed, and you have a player who could wind up in Seattle, where Carroll and company could help him work on his strength and ballhawking abilities.
It wouldn’t be the first time Seattle found a hidden cornerback gem in the middle rounds of the draft, and Miller does have enough tools to someday be a star.
Round 5 (No. 148): Greg Gaines, DT
Tight end Drew Sample was also considered here, although Seattle seems unlikely to take a blocking tight end from UW two years in a row unless the Seahawks are truly concerned with Will Dissly’s health.
Instead, they could reach a bit to snag high-motor interior defensive tackle Greg Gaines. Gaines had a lot of attention coming out of college, but his relatively short arms and tendency to end up on the ground have hampered his draft stock a bit.
Still, the Seahawks have had success finding undersized defensive tackles — including Poona Ford last year — so perhaps they’ll take a look at Gaines in the later rounds if they haven’t shored up that position yet.
The fifth round may be a tad early, but Gaines has the potential to be a solid rotational nose tackle and is one of the hardest-working guys in college football.
