Perfect Picks 2024: Seattle Seahawks

By Lee Wakefield

Welcome back to Perfect Picks, today we pick for the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle has almost been forgotten in regards to eras that ended across the NFL landscape this offseason.

That conversation has been dominated by Bill Belichick moving on from New England, but Pete Carroll no longer being the Head Coach in Seattle is still quite an odd thought.

Carroll had led the Seahawks since 2010, appearing in two Superbowls. He and General Manager John Schneider built the teams with the legendary Legion of Boom defense. Teams that peaked by winning Superbowl XLVIII in 2014.

Now though, the reins have been passed to Mike MacDonald. He and Schneider will look to build the next era of Seahawks football, and this is how I think they should start…

Round 1 - Jackson Powers-Johnson, Center, Oregon

As you will see from the rest of this draft, Seattle needs interior offensive line help. Both of their starting guards and starting center from this past season are hitting free agency. None of Damien Lewis, Evan Brown, or Phil Haynes are groundbreaking, difference-making players. So with that, this is a great opportunity to get younger and get better here, but still, it’s a tough ask to install three new starters across the offensive line.

Jackson Powers-Johnson feels like the perfect starting point for a team attempting to rebuild their offensive line.

JPJ is the top center prospect for April’s draft and will be a cornerstone for a team for a long time. The Oregon product has a rare combination of obscene power and finishing ability, mixed with athleticism that allows him to make plays on the move, in space, and at the second level.

Powers-Johnson also gives Seattle flexibility long term too, because he has some guard versatility and isn’t a center-only prospect.

Round 2 - Cooper Beebe, Interior Offensive Line, Kansas State

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Cooper Beebe continues the offensive line overhaul for me in round two. A couple of years ago, the Seahawks drafted a pair of tackles in Charles Cross and Abe Lucas, by taking Powers-Johnson and Beebe, Seattle has a chance to build the interior of their line in the same manner.

Beebe is another versatile offensive line piece, with experience at both guard spots and tackle spots across 40 career collegiate games. This, along with JPJ’s flexibility, allows Seattle to shuffle their line when injuries and natural wastage hit over time.

Beebe is another athletic player, who enjoys the physical aspects of playing on the offensive line. If we think about where Mike MacDonald has come from in Baltimore, physicality on the offensive line is non-negotiable.

Beebe will be best as a left guard in the league. You draft him, plug him in and you’re safe for the next decade at the position.

Mid-Round Gem - Javon Solomon, Edge, Troy

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If Seattle wants to draft a player with extremely eye-catching production throughout his college career, how does 31.5 sacks and 42.5 tackles for loss sound?

This is what Javon Solomon put up over the past 3 seasons at Troy. Solomon is an undersized pass rusher with an urgent play style, powerful hands, and enough quick twitch to get off the ball and give offensive linemen problems early in reps.

Solomon only measured in a shade over 6 feet tall and 246 lbs at the Scouting Combine last week, which is why he is going to be available in the fourth round. It is also why he probably isn’t going to be a starter at the NFL level, but for Seattle, who has Boye Mafe and Unchenna Nwosu as starting edge defenders, that’s absolutely fine.

Solomon is going to be a designated pass rusher. A change of pace player. A guy who is going to make long and late downs a problem for Seattle’s opponents when the Seahawks put as many pass rushers on the field as possible to get after the quarterback.

Late Round Sleeper - Storm Duck, Corner, Louisville

Storm Duck in the final round of the draft gives Seattle another big-bodied, long corner to replace or battle it out with Michael Jackson, who is a restricted free agent, for the starting outside corner spot opposite Riq Woolen. 

Duck began his college career at UNC before playing his final year at Louisville as a graduate transfer. Duck had two interceptions as a Freshman in 2019 before the COVID-disrupted season and injuries hampered his progress between 2020 and 2021. However, over the past two seasons, he appeared in 25 games and had 3 interceptions to go along with 16 passes defended.

All of this gives Seattle an experienced player who knows how to get his hands on the football and can make the occasional splash play. As this play shows, Duck also has some value as a blitzer too. This is something that Mike MacDonald loves from his defensive backs as he goes through his pressure package menu throughout the season and adds further value to what already seems to be a bargain in the seventh round.

Draft In Full:

Round 1: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon 

Round 2: Cooper Beebe, IOL, Kansas State 

Round 3: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson

Round 4: Javon Solomon, Edge, Troy

Round 5: Zack Zinter, IOL, Michigan

Round 6: Gabe Hall, IDL, Baylor

Round 7: Storm Duck, CB, Louisville

Feature Image Credit: Field Gulls

Lee Wakefield

NFL, CFB & NFL DRAFT

LEE WAKEFIELD IS A DEFENSIVE LINE ENTHUSIAST, CHARGERS SUFFERER, AND LONG-TIME WRITER AND PODCASTER WITH A NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS. @WAKEFIELD90 ON TWITTER.

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