The Seattle Seahawks, perhaps more than any other team in the NFL, are unpredictable when it comes to the NFL draft.
General manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have a unique way of evaluating talent, and the team’s desire to trade down and collect more draft picks has benefited them quite a bit in the past – and is entirely on the table again in 2020.
With the combine over and Pro Day season in full-swing, I decided to take a shot on my first official mock draft of the season. Using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator – which does not account for comp picks – I selected five players who I think could be realistic targets for the Seahawks this year, starting with a potential first round pass rusher.
Round 1, Pick No. 27: Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin
There are a whole lot of people who have been mocked to the Seahawks in the first round, mostly on the defensive side of the ball.
While this class is not nearly as deep at defensive end as the 2019 class was, Baun is one of many EDGE defenders who could find his way to Seattle at No. 27 overall.
Baun is projected as a better fit in 3-4 defensive sets, but his versatility all along the defensive line will appeal to coach Pete Carroll, and his twitchiness and explosiveness will make him a strong pass rusher in due time.
He still has some development to do, which could give Seattle pause, but there is a reason he has drawn comparisons to Clay Matthews. If he’s around at No. 27 overall, it will be hard for Seattle to pass him up.
Round 2, Pick No. 59: Antoine Winfield, S, Minnesota
I’d be pretty surprised if Winfield is still around at No. 59 overall, considering how often he’s been mocked as a first round pick – frequently to Seattle – but this particular mock let him slip, and I know the Seahawks would love to add to their secondary with a player like him.
Winfield is a high-IQ safety with excellent physicality and recognition skills. A checkered injury history and a lack of overall length could be cause for concern, but Winfield can flat out play and is a good bet to outperform his projections.
Even though the team already has Quandre Diggs, Bradley McDougald and Marquise Blair patrolling the deep secondary, Winfield is a potentially very high-impact guy who could come in and start right away, or at least replace McDougald when he hits free agency after the 2020 season.
Round 2, Pick No. 64: Nick Harris, C, Washington
Harris, like a lot of UW prospects, saw his draft stock get hit a little by his performance at the combine. Although his 5.1 in the 40-yard dash wasn’t bad, his overall length and size are cause for concern, and some believe that his previous experience at guard won’t translate well into the NFL, and that he’s a center-only prospect.
However, Harris is a high-IQ, high-motor offensive lineman with great instincts and the leverage necessary to excel in the run game, which makes him a great fit for a Seahawks team that could be without all three of their starters on the interior offensive line if they release D.J. Fluker and Justin Britt to save cap space.
His draft stock probably won’t make him a surefire second round pick anymore, but Seattle could either use one of their comp picks to nab him later on, or could trade back to acquire more picks in the later round, banking on him still being around.
Harris would be a nice piece to develop alongside youngsters Phil Haynes and Jamarco Jones, and it’s not hard to imagine the trio forming part a very solid offensive line in the not-too-distant future.
Round 4, Pick No. 123: Michael Pittman, Jr., WR, USC
While Harris’ stock may have fallen after the combine, USC receiver Michael Pittman Jr.’s did the opposite. A big possession receiver who ran a 4.52 in the 40, Pittman would be an excellent addition to Seattle’s receiving corps, and he would immediately contend to be the team’s No. 3 receiver.
Standing 6’4, Pittman had an excellent 2019 season with the Trojans. His size, toughness, physicality and catch radius have drawn comparisons to Courtland Sutton, and the Seahawks would be more than happy to snag him with their fourth round pick.
Round 5, Pick No. 136: McTelvin Agim, DT, Arkansas
Agim is a rare interior defensive tackle prospect with pass rushing acumen, thanks in part to his past experience playing off the edge.
He’s still raw as a DT however, and will need to get stronger and improve his technique if he wants to play regularly in the middle.
He’s a project, as most late round picks are, but getting a guy with 14.5 career sacks who could play up the middle would be a big get for this Seattle defense – especially if they are unable to retain pass rushing defensive tackle Jarran Reed this offseason.
