The Seattle Seahawks have always valued quantity in the NFL draft. 2017 was no different, with John Schneider making a series of trades to net the squad 11 total draft picks.
Now, three years later, the Seahawks are left with just six of the 11 picks on the 2020 roster – and only two of them are guaranteed starting spots next season.
Malik McDowell was a huge bust, never even appearing in a game with the team after suffering a serious injury during the offseason.
Third rounder Amara Darboh never panned out, and the team recently released fourth round safety Tedric Thompson after a disappointing 2019 season – joining sixth rounders Mike Tyson and Justin Senior who are no longer on the squad.
However, Seattle made a couple great picks in the seventh round, and third rounder Shaquill Griffin developed into a Pro Bowler last season – so the draft was not a total loss.
Here’s a look at each of the players still on the roster, and how they are expected to be utilized in 2020.
Round 2: Ethan Pocic, Guard
Ethan Pocic has been a disappointment thus far in his NFL career, but he began to show some promise in the 2019 season before going down with an injury.
Pocic played in four games last year, starting one and showing the versatility to play center or the two guard spots. He will compete for a starting job again in 2020, but with Justin Britt, Joey Hunt, Jamarco Jones, B.J. Finney, D.J. Fluker and Chance Warmack – among others – all in the picture, it might be tough for him to find a role.
However – if he stays healthy – the improvements he showed last year should keep him around at least for another year as the coaching staff tries to recoup some value from their former second round pick.
Round 3: Shaquill Griffin, Cornerback
Griffin rebounded from a disastrous 2018 campaign to make the Pro Bowl in 2019, cementing himself as one of the game’s best cornerbacks in his third NFL season.
Griffin was named Seattle’s most improved player by Pro Football Focus last year, as his work in coverage improved dramatically. While he didn’t record an interception, he was among the league’s best at preventing completions, and he has no doubt proven he is capable of replacing Richard Sherman on the left side.
Griffin will likely be paired with newly acquired Quinton Dunbar in Seattle’s defensive backfield, helping form another Legion of Boom-esque secondary in the Emerald City.
Round 3: Nazair Jones, Defensive Tackle
After his rookie season, it looked like Nazair Jones would be a solid third round pick for this Seattle squad.
However, he only appeared in nine games in 2018, making just seven tackles. He was reportedly undergoing a switch from three-tech to five-tech, as the team tried to find a way to make him useful along the defensive line.
Jones then suffered an injury in 2019 and never saw the field, spending the entire year on the injured reserve.
Now – he’ll look to once again compete for a spot on a defensive line that could use some help getting to the pass rusher.
He has a lot of ground to make up to prove he’s worth a spot on the 53-man roster though, and his time in a Seattle uniform could be coming to a close.
Round 4: Lano Hill, Safety
The Seahawks took three safeties in the 2017 NFL Draft: Tedric Thompson, Mike Tyson and Delano Hill.
Only Hill remains, and he lopped two letters off the front of his name.
Hill is the fourth safety at this point, behind Quandre Diggs, Bradley McDougald and Marquise Blair. Ugo Amadi is in the picture as well, although he seems likely to settle into a role as the team’s nickel corner.
For Hill to make the squad in 2020, he will need to demonstrate proficiency on the special teams and the versatility to play both safety spots, which would allow him to be a backup option.
Otherwise, he could find himself looking for a new job when the summer is over.
Round 7: David Moore, Receiver
Moore was offered an original round tender this offseason, which means he is likely coming back at around $2.1 million next year unless another team offers him a higher contract and Seattle declines to match.
Moore had 17 receptions for 301 yards last season, but he ceded his role as the team’s No. 3 receiver to free agent Josh Gordon, and it is now likely going to be taken over by free agent Phillip Dorsett.
Moore was a great seventh round pick, and he will likely still have a role on this team in 2020, but he will have to fight for touches after a relatively pedestrian 2019 campaign.
Round 7: Chris Carson, Running Back
The best seventh round pick in team history, running back Chris Carson rushed 278 times for a career-high 1,230 yards and seven touchdowns last season, while also getting more involved in the passing game with 37 receptions for 266 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Carson is only held back by his health, which limited him his rookie year and cost him the final few games of the 2019 season as well. He had offseason surgery on his hip and is expected to make a full recovery, but his up-and-down track record of health is a concern going forward.
Regardless, Carson should be the top dog in the backfield once again next season, with Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer on hand as well.
