Howdy Folks.

Well, here we are, approximately one month away for the 2019 NFL Draft. I have sat down with my expert panel to offer to you our 2019 Seattle Seahawk roster breakdown as we prepare to determine the team’s greatest needs. We then match them with the supposed strengths and weaknesses of this 2019 draft class, and thus conclude with our takes on how Seattle might likely draft. My expert panel includes my orange tabby cat Earl, and my medium haired black cat Kam. Allow us to begin.

QUARTERBACK.

Curtis: The team is set in 2019 with franchise quarterback Russell Wilson, but we all know the elephant in the room. Russell’s in a contract year and probably wants to be the richest football player on Planet Earth. Pete Carroll loves an offense that runs the ball, as much, if not more (probably more) than it passes. Does Seattle want to make Russell Wilson the highest paid player in the league? I would love for them to workout a long-term deal, but I have some doubts, and at some point, the team has got to draft somebody who can potentially become the heir apparent. It’s what smart organizations do.

Earl: If Seattle drafts a quarterback with its first pick, I will take a dump on your bedroom pillow. Seriously. This team needs pass rush, safety help, tight end help, more young offensive line, more receivers. I could go on. If Russell leaves, so be it. They signed former first round pick Paxton Lynch. Maybe they make something out of him. I’m warning you, if they draft a QB early, look before you lay, padre.

Kam: Paxton Lynch was cut after two seasons in Denver. Word on the streets is that he was more into playing video games at 1 AM than his playbook. That doesn’t fit my definition of a player being “all in.” Sorry if I am not putting much faith in that dude. That said, I don’t think Seattle needs to draft a QB high, either. Russell Wilson and Nick Foles were a third round picks. Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins were fourth rounders. I think they get a deal done with Russ, though, and you’re making a big mountain out of a tiny molehill.

Verdict. Seattle has a need for a developmental QB, and there will likely be some interesting options in day two and beyond like West Virginia’s Will Grier, Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham, NC State’s Ryan Finley, and Ole Miss QB Jordan Ta’amu.

RUNNING BACK

Kam: Seattle has Chris Carson, who looks like a star in the makings, and they burnt a first rounder on Rashaad Penny last year. They also have oft injured CJ Prosise, scat back JD McKissic, and former Alabama power back Bo Scarbrough. While I can’t say this is an area of need, Prosise’s injury history makes him unreliable. I can see Seattle drafting a back. They do that a lot.

Earl: I still can’t believe that they blew a first round pick on a back last year. By that stupid track record of logic, they probably do draft a quarterback in the first round, and come draft day, I’m not going to poop all day long in the event that they do. That said, Carroll loves to draft running backs, and I can see them taking one later on.

Curtis: Seattle is loaded with runners, this supposedly isn’t a great RB class. Thomas Rawls was an undrafted free agent. That’s where I think they might look to add.

Verdict: Not a huge area of need, but given how much Seattle likes to run, they could add another rookie into the mix at some point. Not a great draft class for the position, but Seattle has a knack for finding late round gems.

FULLBACK

Curtis: I miss the days that Seattle had a great fullback that could lead block, tote the stone, and do a little pass catching.

Earl: That’s because you’re a dinosaur. The league has moved away from the position. I suppose you miss SAM linebacker, as well.

Kam: Seattle won a Super Bowl playing out of I formation. Russell Wilson was deadly bootlegging out of that. I could see Pete Carroll wanting to get back to that more. Does that mean that they draft a fullback? Well, last year they drafted a punter, so anything is possible if the right player is there.

Verdict: Debatable whether Seattle needs or wants a fullback. Undecided.

WIDE RECEIVER

Kam: I don’t think Doug Baldwin is playing much longer. Seattle has a HUGE need at wide receiver, and this looks like a class that has decent talent in the second and third rounds. I want Parris Campbell out of the Ohio State.

Curtis: I really like Parris Campbell and his Buckeye mate Terry McLaurin. Both feel like guys Seattle loves to draft at receiver. Fast, and explosive playmakers. I can see Seattle maybe taking a receiver tops overall, especially if they trade down, and with only four picks, you know that they are trading down.

Earl: After Angry Doug Baldwin and nice guy Tyler Lockett, Seattle ain’t got doo doo for wide out. Oh, they drafting receiver. Bank on that.

Verdict: The 2019 Seattle Seahawks have a high need for wide receiver, and could likely draft one within the first two days of the draft. This draft class appears deep at the position rounds 2 through 4.

TIGHT END

Earl: Allow me the privilege. The 2018 Seattle Seahawks sucked at tight end. They blew chunks at tight end, and this was after the said bye bye to my least favorite Seattle Seahawk since Jerramy Stevens; Jimmy Graham. Seattle needs a tight end that will block AND is a pass catching threat. Not one or the other. That’s what a tight end is supposed to be. A blocker and a pass catcher. This team ain’t got squat.

Kam. Will Dissly was a nice looking player as a rook until he tore is patellar tendon early. Tough injury to come back from. Nick Vannett looks like he will have a great career bouncing in Vegas once Seattle cuts him. Ed Dickson is a grandpa. Please don’t tell me that they are converting George Fant fulltime to the tight end position. I would love to see Seattle draft a BAMF at tight end early. Just give me a BAMF.

Curtis: It’s a good looking draft for tight ends, they say. I like Seattle to draft one. I thought the intermediate passing game for them was wanting last year. They missed Graham. I think they should stay local, and go get Drew Sample from the University of Washington. He’s the name on my post-it note that says “No Matter What.”

Verdict: Seattle has a high need for a reliable pass catching tight end that can block, and this draft class has lots of them.

OFFENSE LINE

Curtis: On paper, this is a strong starting line with Duane Brown, Mike Iupati, Justin Britt, DJ Fluker, and Germaine Ifedi. They have some decent reserves, as well, with Jordan Simmons, George Fant, Joey Hunt, maybe Ethan Pocic still. However, Iupati and Fluker don’t seem like guys that can hold up for a full season any longer. I can actually see Seattle maybe taking a guard high this year after trading back.

Earl: Every year in every draft the first pick should ALWAYS be either an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman. ALWAYS. Don’t screw around with receivers, backs, quarterbacks, safeties (unless their name is Earl), and corners. Every year, either an offensive or defensive lineman. Period. End of story.

Kam: I like Seattle’s offensive line situation. I never thought I would ever say that. This isn’t a great draft for tackles, but there are a lot of guards. You can find good guards in rounds two through five. At some point, I can see Seattle drafting a guard.

Verdict: Seattle has a strong looking starting lineup with questions about durability and age. Offensive line is probably not the biggest need, but it would be wise, at some point, to draft for depth and development.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Kam: Seattle has a star at defensive end in Frank Clark, and potentially another star at defensive tackle in Jarran Reed. They also have another interesting young defensive tackle in Poona Ford. They have major question marks on the roster as to who will be the starting defensive end opposite of Clark. This is a deeeeeeeeep draft at defensive line. I think Seattle’s first pick is going to be a defensive lineman, and if I had to choose which position, I would say defensive end.

Curtis: You can never have enough defensive lineman. That is what my father used to always say. I definitely think Seattle drafts defensive line, and probably a couple of them. I think they get a pass rusher and a run stopper.

Earl: Give me Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Give me 6-4 and 351 Dexter freaking Lawrence. I don’t care if Seattle doesn’t trade back, takes him at 21, and only has three more picks in the whole draft. Give me Dexter Lawrence lined inside with Jarran Reed. If they do that, I will never leap on the bed and sit on your face at three thirty in the morning ever again.

Verdict: This draft class is hyped as a potentially historic for defensive linemen. Seattle lacks depth at defensive tackle. They have a talented pass rushing end, but no obvious mate on the other side. In short, Seattle has needs, and Pete Carroll loves pass rushers. It might be the safest bet that the first player Seattle selects is a defensive lineman.

LINEBACKER

Earl: Bobby Wagner is the best linebacker on the planet. He is what you build around like the way the Ravens did with Ray Lewis. He has KJ Wright, and they Mychal Kendricks back. Plus they got Barkevious Mingo, and Shaquem Griffin. I don’t see great needs here.

Kam: KJ Wright’s knee makes me nervous and Mychal Kendricks might see some jail time for insider trading. Mingo was Just A Guy for me, and Shaquem looked lost as a rookie. I definitely see some needs. If they loose Bobby for a number of games, they are f***ed.

Curtis: This doesn’t appear to be a deep draft for linebacker. I think that’s probably why they brought KJ and Kendricks back. Still, I think there could be some interesting mid round options. Watch for this name in the middle rounds; Drew Lewis from Colorado. His dad played cornerback for the Seahawks, and the Seattle coaching staff reportedly worked him hard at his pro day. He has the athletic profile they like at WILL linebacker. I can see them taking him as early as round four.

Verdict: Seattle has potentially one of the top linebacker groups in the league if Wright can stay healthy, and Kendricks doesn’t end up serving time in the pokey. Seattle’s LB depth was tested in 2018, and it was shaky at times. Look for Seattle to add depth in the middle and late portions of the draft.

CORNERBACK

Curtis: Honestly, I know this runs counter to a lot of fans, but I don’t think Seattle is in bad shape at corner. I think that they have two that they like a lot in Shaquill Griffin and Tre’ Flowers. Are either of them Richard Sherman? No, but both players have upside. I can still see them drafting a corner in the mid rounds where they like to spend draft capital on them, drafting and developing, but I am not expecting them to take a corner high. They’ve never done that.

Kam: I’m not even sure that they burn a pick on a nickel cornerback, because they usually pluck those guys out of nowhere, as well. Do they probably draft a corner? Yeah. I think this draft class offers players that fit the Seattle profile of length, but none of these guys are high round sorts. Color me not really worried about it.

Earl: Damn straight better safety play helps the corners out. Remember when Earl Thomas was playing at the beginning of the season? Yeah, everyone was talking about how great Griffin was looking stepping in for Sherman. Remember what happened to Griffin after Earl was lost to the season? His season went straight into the litter box. Draft cornerback, if you want to, but Seattle NEEDS safety help.

Verdict: Seattle could have interest in adding at cornerback, but likely not the pressing needs that some fans feel. They have an area of the draft they like to target, and that is almost always in the mid rounds. If they draft corner, expect it there.

SAFETY

Earl: Do not get me started about this. I could pen Shakespearian soliloquies about the Seattle Seahawks need at safety. I still can’t believe they did Earl Thomas like that. Yeah, Seattle needs safety help. They need to draft a safety within their first two picks, and if they don’t, I got a doo doo storing up with your name on it.

Curtis: Again, like the corners, I think Seattle likes their safeties better than the fans do. I think they could draft a safety, maybe even somewhat high, but I also think Carroll genuinely likes Delano Hill at strong safety, and that probably puts Bradley McDougald at free safety. The defense played better towards the end of the season when those two were on the field like that, but it is kind of forgotten because Hill was lost to injury, and the lineup reverted back to Tedric Thompson at free and McDougald at strong, and that was the lineup that fans seemed uninspired about. I don’t see safety being a bigger need that defensive line, receiver, tight end, and possibly even backup quarterback.

Kam: You’re whack, Jack. Safety is most definitely a need. And guess who be pouring into the VMAC for top 30 pre-draft workouts? Safeties. Single high free safeties in Maryland’s Darnell Savage and Virginia’s Juan Thornhill. The 2019 Seattle Seahawks are going to draft a safety. Bank on it.

Verdict: If Seattle wants to continue it’s three deep single high safety defense, the players that they have been linked to for pre-draft visits fit that mold. Seattle is possibly preparing to draft a free safety to replace Earl Thomas, as they already have enough decent options at strong safety already on their roster.

SPECIALISTS

Curtis: Seattle just signed pro bowl kicker Jason Myers to a four year contract, and they have a pro bowl punter in Michael Dickson. If anything, they might look to add a punt returner.

Earl: Seattle has a kicker (finally) and a stud punter. They have options on the roster as returners. They are good here.

Kam: You know you are in Seattle when the fan base gets excited about signing a kicker.

Verdict: The 2019 Seattle Seahawks look set at kicker, punter, and long snapper. Returner could be something that the look to sign as a undrafted player or late round pick.

CLOSING THOUGHTS:

Curtis: Seattle’s biggest needs are pass rush, receiver, tight end, backup quarterback, and maybe safety. Everything else is bonus. I think that’s how they probably draft.

Kam: Seattle needs defensive line help, a receiver, a legit tight end, but most of all, Seattle needs a fricking SAFETY. This is a draft that can easily land you all four.

Earl: Safety, defensive line, offensive line, tight end, and receiver. If they draft a quarterback and neglect any one of those position groups at the cost of that, vengeance be my bowels. Oh, yes, vengeance be them well.