The Seattle Seahawks are one of the most interesting teams in the 2023 NFL Draft. After reaping the benefits of the Russell Wilson trade, Seattle holds the No. 5 and No. 20 overall picks in Thursday night’s first round. The Seahawks are typically one of the hardest teams to predict in how they use their draft capital, but there is plenty of buzz about what they might do.
NFL Draft Rumors: Who Will the Seahawks Draft in the First Round?
The Seahawks have been linked to Georiga’s Jalen Carter for a long time now, especially after his off-field concerns. Seattle fans would be more than happy to land Carter as he’s the most drafted prospect for Seattle at five in Pro Football Network’s Mock Draft Simulator.
However, as PFN’s Tony Pauline noted on Sunday, as much as people outside of the Seahawks organization believe Carter will land in Seattle, the organization itself might be more hesitant to make that type of pick with how Carter’s draft process has gone.
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ESPN’s Todd McShay had a similar note from his 2023 NFL draft buzz piece on Monday. McShay notes that if Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. or Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson is on the board when Seattle is on the clock, the Seahawks will likely take one of the edge rushers. Although, McShay was told by sources that Carter isn’t expected to be the pick.
An even more interesting nugget in the Seattle portion from McShay is he has a “strong sense Seattle won’t leave Round 1 without a quarterback.” McShay mentions both Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Florida’s Anthony Richardson as potential targets with the fifth pick, and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker with the 20th pick.
Seattle is also always a candidate to trade down under general manager John Schneider. Plus, 44% of Seattle users in the MDS are trading back in Round 1. That could make more sense in terms of value to move down from 20 and take Hooker in the mid-to-late-20s in the first round.
What Would Anthony Richardson or Hendon Hooker Mean for Geno Smith?
Why would the Seahawks have so much interest after signing Geno Smith to a contract extension back in March? The contract actually makes Seattle a great destination for Richardson or another young quarterback to sit and develop behind Smith. While Hooker, 25, isn’t “young” in NFL Draft standards, he’s still coming off an ACL injury and will need time to get his feet back underneath him.
Smith, barring injury, will be Seattle’s starting quarterback in 2023. He’s coming off a career year, and the Seahawks showed they can compete in a relatively weak NFC. However, a first-round quarterback isn’t about this season. Smith will turn 33 years old in 2023, and as well as he played last season, he isn’t an elite quarterback.
There is a reason Seattle put a potential out in his contract as early as 2024 for its own flexibility. Most teams don’t make the playoffs and then are in the position to draft a top-level prospect like Seattle can, which the organization knows.
“It’s the position we are in. We are totally connected to the quarterbacks that are coming out. This is a really huge opportunity for us,” said head coach Pete Carroll at the NFL Combine. “It’s a rare opportunity. We’ve been drafting in the low 20s for such a long time you just don’t get the chance at these guys. We are deeply involved with all that.”
What Are Seattle’s Other Draft Needs?
Seattle is still a team with holes. The Seahawks were able to surprise people last season behind a stellar draft class that included Charles Cross, Kenneth Walker III, Abraham Lucas, and Tariq Woolen. Can they do it again? They certainly can because Seattle has 10 draft picks to work with.
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Seattle needs help on the edge, slot receiver, interior offensive, and defensive line. Whether or not the Seahawks grab a quarterback, using one of their first-round picks on a defense star seems likely. Georgia’s Nolan Smith, Clemson’s Bryan Bresee, and Pitt’s Calijah Kancey have been popular names in the mock draft simulator.
On the offensive side of the ball, Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be a home-run fit but likely won’t be there at No. 20. USC’s Jordan Addison, Boston College’s Zay Flowers, or North Carolina’s Josh Downs seem more likely to be available. TCU guard Steve Avila and Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz would make a ton of sense as well for the Seahawks. There are a lot of options and opportunities for Seattle come Thursday.