Jaylon Ferguson has pass rush traits that could take the sting out of the Frank Clark trade.
Well folks, we are officially one day away to the 2019 NFL Draft, and we all know well what that means. We got our final mock draft!
Yay!
So what do we know about these 2019 Seahawks right now?
Well, for one thing, and it’s the biggest and best-est thing, we know that Russell Wilson has just signed a blockbuster extension and will likely be a Seahawk for life. So, I think we can say that drafting a QB seems unlikely.
The other big, big, big situation with the team is that they just traded their top pass rusher, Frank Clark, to the Kansas City Chiefs for the 29th pick this year, a 2020 second round pick, and they flipped their third round pick. We will get more into that whole deal below. Clearly, this team will be targeting pass rush in this draft.
And the other potentially big situation for the team is the health concerns of Doug Baldwin, and potentially his retirement. Wide receiver could be a big need.
It is also worth noting that this 2019 NFL Draft is considered to be historically deep at defensive line, and a deep draft in general for wide receivers, tight ends, safeties, and offensive guards.
Oh, yeah, one final thing. The Seahawks only have five picks in the draft this year, and General Manager John Schneider loves to trade down to get more picks regardless of how many they have in any year. So, with only four this year, the Seattle Seahawks are, like, 99.999999 percent sure to be trading down to get more.
So, with all that hashed out, here we go. Folks, allow me to introduce to you our final 2019 Seattle Seahawks mock draft.
With the 21st pick in the 2019 NFL Draft – TRADE!
The Seattle Seahawks trade pick 21 to the New England Patriots for picks 32, 97, 101 and 239. The Patriots jump ahead of the Ravens to select one of the premier tight ends to replace Gronk, both teams have needs there, and Seattle picks up two late third round picks, and a seventh rounder to give them eight pick total. That will do.
With the 29 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Trysten Hill, Defensive Tackle, UCF
What does Hill offer?
He’s an athletic defensive tackle with traits to be a constant disruptor, and was one of the most impressive defensive line performers at the combine. His highlight tape is fun to watch. Big men shouldn’t move like that. Put him next to Jarran Reed, and that’s a lot of size, quickness and power inside.
Why is he still available at 29?
He fell into the doghouse with the new coaching staff and was regulated to becoming a rotational player in 2018. Apparently he is opinionated but under Carroll, Seattle has never had a problem adding those sorts. Feels like a classic Seahawk pick.
With the 32nd pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Jaylon Ferguson, Defensive End, Louisiana Tech
What does Ferguson offer?
He’s a long, lean, grown man QB sacking machine who led the nation in sacks. His highlights show an old school kind of bad-assed-ness to his game. He also plays the run well. He got better in college each year, which shows coachable traits, and like other Seattle edge rushers in the past, he displays good ability to convert speed to power.
Why is he at 32?
He played at a smaller school eating up small school competition, and his pro day performance was only so-so.
With the 92nd pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Gary Jennings, Wide Receiver, West Virginia.
What does Jennings offer?
He is a possession receiver with good size and speed to stretch defenses and toughness to fight for contested balls.
Why is he still available at 92?
He’s perhaps a jack of all trades/master of none type, and needs to work on separating from defenders.
With the 97nd pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks Select Drew Sample, Tight End, Washington
What does Sample offer?
He is a well rounded tight end with nice size, and athleticism that can block, and catch.
Why does he last until 97?
He could get stronger, and while he has decent traits as a receiver, he’s not as polished as some of the other players in this draft.
With the 101th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Marquise Blair, Safety, Utah.
What does Blair offer?
He’s a hard-hitting free safety with great range in coverage, and plays the run with a linebacker mentality.
Why is he still available at 101?
As physical as he is, he has a slight frame that might scare some GMs, and because of his aggressive style he can be penalty prone.
With the 124th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Maxx Crosby, Edge Rusher, Eastern Michigan
What does Crosby offer?
Pure speed off the edge to rush the quarterback. Pete Carroll covets speed off the edge, but Crosby also shows well against the run, displays a knack for causing fumbles, and plays with a edginess – all things that Carroll would appreciate.
Why is he at 124th?
He has a long gangly frame 6-5 255 lbs, and the feeling is that he might need a year in an NFL weight room to reach his full potential.
With the 159th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select BJ Autry, Guard, Jacksonville State
What does Autry offer?
He’s a massive human being at 6-3 and 337 lbs, and he’s nimble – traits that Seattle likes in their new blocking scheme.
Why is he still at 159th?
Autry is a small school talent with decent traits but is still raw.
With the 239th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Drew Lewis, Linebacker, Colorado.
What does Lewis offer?
Speed and athleticism at linebacker that the Seahawks covet. He also has the ability to play inside and outside linebacker, and a great special teams player. It was also observed during his pro day that the Seattle coaches were working him hard.
Why is he at 239?
His fundamentals still need work, and he is not exactly a punishing tackler. He could stand to get stronger. He’s a project with upside more than plug and play.
Thoughts about these picks.
Seattle attacks the depth of this draft at defensive line early, and grabs two players who have the talent to be cornerstone starters, and later they grab another player that might have starter potential.
With Trysten Hill they get rare athleticism at DT. Admittedly, I’m swinging for the fences projecting this one, but it feels like a classic Seattle first round pick in that most will not see coming, and it would surely be ripped as Hill is not widely regarded as first round talent. However, there is recent chatter that his stock is rising, and Pete Carroll covets special athletes. Also, Seattle could have the intel on Hill from Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin who both played with him at UFC. If they vouch for him, I think he could be Seattle’s first pick, as they might not want to risk losing him to a team that is picking after them.
With Jaylon Ferguson, Seattle probably drafts a plug and play player to make up for the loss of Frank Clark. They are reportedly high on him, and I suspect one of these two first round picks might end up being him. There are others in this draft class that might have more athleticism that him, but he has traits and production. It wouldn’t shock me if they few him more as a Michael Bennett type than a Frank Clark, or Cliff Avril player.
Maxx Crosby is an interesting player. He had great college production, but might need to redshirt 2019 to get stronger. It wouldn’t shock me if Seattle ends up with three defensive linemen out of this draft that eventually become starters. The draft is that deep.
Marquise Blair feels like a Seattle DB. They’ve been bringing in a lot to the VMAC for visits. I can see them drafting DB earlier, especially if the first pick is a pass rusher.
The selections of Greg Jennings and Drew Sample help fulfill the “Build Around Me Damn-it” clause in Russell Wilson’s mega contract. Seattle could go WR earlier, especially considering the Baldwin situation.
BJ Autry offers needed depth at offensive guard. Seattle has DJ Fluker returning and they signed former division rival Mike Iupati to a one-year deal, but neither player is likely a long-term fixture on the line. Seattle needs to continue adding there.
Drew Lewis has the speed at linebacker that Seattle demands, and an NFL bloodline. Seattle brought back KJ Wright and Mychal Kendricks, but at some point, they need to get younger with that group. Lewis could be an interesting developmental player.
Thoughts about the Frank Clark Trade.
It sucks whenever a team moves on from a great player, especially one that is just hitting his stride. However, Seattle probably feels that there is a pass rusher in this class that can come in and contribute right away. They might see a couple of them.
Seattle probably also feels that there is a young player on the roster that is ready to take a big step forward. Jacob Martin flashed decent outside rush as the season went on last year. DT Poona Ford also came on strong. However, my money is on Rasheem Green. In the preseason, Green looked like a star in the making. That didn’t translate into the regular season, but there was a feeling in scouting circles last year that had he stayed in school another season, he could have probably been a top twenty pick in this year’s class. I suspect Seattle might have a more defined plan for him going into this season, and that is part of the reason why they felt like they could move Clark.
Seattle might also feel like there is a free agent pass rusher or two out there on the market that they can sign after the draft. Ndamukong Suh, Corey Liuget, Ezekiel Ansah, and Nick Perry are all sitting out there waiting for a contract, and Seattle now has the cap space to afford one of these guys after dealing Clark.
When Seattle won the Super Bowl with that historic defense, they weren’t reliant on one dominant pass rusher. They had a collection of good ones with varied abilities. They could be looking to get back to that, and this would be the draft to do that with.
Bobby Wagner is about to get PAID. It feels pretty clear moving forward that the faces of the franchise are Wilson and Wagner, and that is appropriate. They came into the league together, they are both unique athletes, and they both seem to be getting better each year. Trading Clark makes is easier to fit Wagner under the cap, and also gives Seattle a better chance to afford extending defensive tackle Jarran Reed.
12th Life 