We are less than two weeks away from the 2020 NFL draft, a spectacle that – thanks to COVID-19 – will happen completely virtually for the first time in NFL history.
The Seattle Seahawks are known for working the phones and making a lot of trades, so they will be particularly fun to watch in light of these new circumstances.
We at Seahawks Wire have already put together a pair of mock drafts, but version 3.0 is the first one to include potential trades – a staple of Seattle’s draft strategy in the John Schneider era.
Two trades occur during this mock draft, and below is a look at what trades they make, and who they end up with in our latest mock.
Round 2, Pick No. 34: Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin
(Seahawks trade pick No. 27 to Indianapolis Colts for pick No. 34 and pick No. 122)
The Seahawks almost always trade out of the first round, and the opportunity to add a fourth round pick while only moving back eight spots is too good to pass up.
While Baun’s experience is primarily as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, his tenacity, speed and ability to get to the quarterback are so compelling that I could see the Seahawks taking a shot at him if he’s still around in the early second round.
Baun may take a year to adjust to a new role, but his versatility and overall athleticism make him a prime candidate to routinely post double-digit sacks, something the Seahawks desperately need whether or not they re-sign Jadeveon Clowney.
Round 2, Pick No. 64: Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
(Seahawks trade pick No. 59 to Chargers for pick No. 71 and pick No. 112)
There are a lot of fourth round guys I really like, so I figured I’d swap pick No. 59 to move back 13 spots to No. 71, while also adding another pick in the fourth.
Claypool is who I would have taken at No. 59 overall, so the fact that he slid five more spots makes the trade look even sweeter.
A six-foot-four receiver with plus speed and physicality, it’s not hard to see why Seattle would be enamored with Claypool.
After all, last time they had the final pick in the second round was just last year, and they used it on physical specimen DK Metcalf – a pick that looks incredibly smart in hindsight.
Claypool is a similar mold, and adding him to a receiver room with Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Phillip Dorsett would be a huge win for Russell Wilson and this Seattle offense.
Round 3, Pick No. 71: Lucas Niang, T, TCU
I was thrilled to see Niang still on the board at No. 71 overall. Niang is a start-right-away right tackle prospect, who has the physicality to excel in run-specific offensive schemes – much like Seattle’s.
A high football IQ only sweetens the pot, and the only major downside is a discouraging injury history – which complicates things because of how difficult it is to obtain medical information, thanks to the quarantine.
Still, if Seattle sees Niang on the board in the early-third, and they have a pick in that range, this is a no-brainer selection.
He could easily beat out Brandon Shell for the starting right tackle job as a rookie, and would be a great long-term piece for this Seattle offense.
Round 3, Pick No. 101: Zack Moss, RB, Utah
I’m not usually a big proponent of drafting running backs early, but using a pick outside the top-100 (albeit barely) on a talent like Moss would be perfect for Seattle.
Chris Carson and Rahsaad Penny are expected to be the team’s top two backs next year, and second-year man Travis Homer proved he is capable of stepping in as necessary.
However – Carson and Penny are both coming off major injuries, and the team wants to avoid having to sign two free agents off the street right before a playoff run, like they did last year.
Moss is a physical, punishing runner from the University of Utah, and his style of football and overall size would make him a very appealing option for coach Pete Carroll.
There are not many running backs I would advocate for in this draft for Seattle, but Moss is atop my list.
Round 4, Pick 112: Ben Bredeson, G, Michigan
Trading the 59th pick to nab Niang at 71 and Bredeson at 112 feels like an absolute heist. Niang is a potentially instant starter at right tackle, and Bredeson is a near-perfect fit for Brian Schottenheimer’s power running offense.
Bredeson is a mauling guard with an NFL frame and NFL ruggedness, who has a high football IQ and should have no problem adapting to a run-first offensive scheme.
He has some athletic limitations, and probably won’t be versatile enough to move around the line, but if Seattle wants to add a mauler to their already crowded guard collection, Bredeson would be a nice addition in the fourth round.
Round 4, Pick 122: Anfernee Jennings, EDGE, Alabama
Similar to above, trading pick No. 27 to snag Baun at No. 34 and Jennings at No. 122 gives Seattle two solid edge defenders for the price of one – the obvious reason Schneider loves dealing back.
Jennings, like Baun, is more familiar playing in a 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker, which could make his transition to Carroll’s 4-3 base defense a bit tricky.
However, he’s a long, strong rusher with the smarts and athleticism to succeed at setting the edge, and has the tools necessary to become a strong pass rusher in time.
The Seahawks may have to be patient with both Baun and Jennings, but the duo could become a very strong pass rush combination in time.
Round 4, Pick 133: Jabari Zuniga, EDGE, Florida
Just in case both Baun and Jennings need a full year to adjust, let’s take a third pass rusher. Jabari Zuniga is an extremely well-built, explosive athlete who is very raw and doesn’t necessarily have a distinct position in the NFL.
However – the Seahawks love guys like this, and there’s plenty of reason to believe Zuniga could thrive in sub-packages, where he would be allowed to pin his ears back and go after the quarterback with reckless abandon.
There’s a chance he hones his craft enough to become a regular starter on the defensive line, but even if not, his potential as a special teamer and specialized pass rusher is enough to warrant one of Seattle’s many fourth round picks in this mock draft.
Round 5, Pick No. 144: Myles Bryant, CB, Washington
This is perhaps earlier than Seattle would want to take Bryant, a cornerback who, with below average height and length does not fit their usual profile, but as a potential nickelback and key contributor on the special teams he would be a nice fit.
Bryant is an excellent open field tackler with plus speed, and while he probably won’t be able to play on the outside at the next level, he could push Ugo Amadi for playing time at nickel while replacing free agents Neiko Thorpe and Akeem King as gunners on the special teams.
Not every pick is going to be an immediate starter, or even a long term starter. Carroll loves to take special teamers in the later rounds of the draft, and Bryant fits that bill very well.
Round 6, Pick No. 214: Raequan Williams, DT, Michigan State
The Seahawks need to not only address the defensive end spot, but the interior defensive line as well. Jarran Reed and Poona Ford are the expected starters, and DeMarcus Christmas, Bryan Mone, and Nazair Jones will compete for backup spots on the interior as well – likely alongside a veteran free agent pickup, as the Seahawks are prone to make.
However, they could use their final pick at the tail end of the sixth round to snag Raequan Williams from Michigan State, and see if he has the tools to compete for that backup job.
Williams is versatile and put up solid numbers in college, earning third team all-conference honors two years in a row. However, he doesn’t have the flexibility or athleticism to be a big time star in the NFL.
Still, using a late pick on a flyer at a position of need is peak-Carroll, and Williams comes from a strong football program and could be a diamond in the rough.
