We are exactly one week away from the 2020 NFL Draft, and I thought it would be a good to to explore another mock draft for the Seahawks focusing on their biggest perceived needs.

For many reasons stated in a previous piece that I’ve written, I’m convinced that the Seattle Seahawks are likely in the process of trading for a proven veteran pass rusher (if you haven’t check it out yet, you can by clicking here). It would actually be more of a shocker to me if they went into the 2020 draft in a couple weeks without making a major addition on the defensive line than if they did.

That said, this mock draft represents a scenario where my read on the team is wrong (wouldn’t be the first), and they don’t acquire a major veteran pass rushing talent. My first mock followed the same scenario, and had them selecting the best edge rusher left on their board first. This time around, they go in a different direction.

With the 27th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks trade with the Los Angeles Chargers.

I had the Seahawks trading with the Chargers in my last mock, and I am willing to stick with them again for the simply reason that I believe they will take a quarterback high in the first round and then look to trade back into the bottom of the first to either grab a left tackle type or one of the top end receivers to pair with the passer. Seattle trades pick 27 for picks 37, 71, and 186.

With the 37th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Raekwon Davis, Defensive Tackle, Alabama

The best defensive lineman left on Seattle’s board is a tackle, and they take Davis here because 6-6 and 311 pounds with loads of athleticism is hard to teach. Davis has physical talent that could make him a first round pick, but he also some concerns over his maturity and a lack of a developed pass rush that could have him sliding into day two.

In some ways, this sounds a lot like Seattle’s unfortunate first pick from a few years ago in Malik McDowell, but honestly, I think those concerns are probably a bit far reaching. Davis could have entered the draft last year, and been a high round pick, but he chose to return to Alabama to help contend for a National Title. That says something, at least, and while his sack numbers weren’t great, he anchored against the run very well, and still likely has a lot of untapped potential as a rusher. To be a defensive tackle in Seattle’s scheme you have to be a top player against the run first, and a pass rusher secondly. He screams Seahawk defensive tackle in these regards.

With the 59th Pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Jeremy Chinn, defensive back, Southern Illinois

This is a pick that Pete Carroll may not be able to resist. Carroll craves acquiring special freakish athletes on both sides of the ball, and that is what Chinn is at 6-3 and 221 pounds and able to run a 4.4 forty yard dash. Like Davis, he has a physical profile that you can’t teach.

While coming into the league as a college safety, this is also a guy that Carroll might consider being his next convert to outside corner, as the strengths of his skill set is more directed towards man coverage than zone, and with Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar both set to become free agents in 2021, Seattle might feel the need to address the position at some point in this class. Physically, Chinn would tick a lot of boxes of what Carroll wants at corner.

With the 64th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Willie Gay Jr, linebacker, Mississippi State

There is a theme starting to emerge with Seattle by the time this pick happens; Seattle is looking for unique talent on the defensive side of the ball regardless of position. Davis and Chinn offered unique length and athleticism. Gay Jr offers speed, size, and violence. He’s a fierce run defender who move well sideline to sideline. This pick is all about stopping the misdirection plays that both San Francisco and the LA Rams love to run, and getting younger and faster up front.

With the 71st pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Hakeem Adeniji, offensive tackle, Kansas

If Seattle does not take an offensive tackle with their first three picks, I think this is the area where they don’t wait it out any longer. With Adeniji, they take the best athlete left on their board that’s an offensive lineman. Adeniji is an explosive blocker who I think is a bit underrated in this draft class and might go higher than some are expecting. Some scouts see him as a guard type at 3-4 and 302 pounds, but with long arms and quick feet, I think he is a player they could take to either compete at right tackle or be groomed behind Duane Brown to play left tackle. He showed up well at the Senior Bowl.

With the 101st pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Cam Akers, running back, Florida State

Seattle gets a sturdy compact runner who displays quick cut ability, explodes through holes, runs with aggression, and catches well. These are all traits that they look for at running back, and with Chris Carson heading into a contract year and Rashaad Penny coming off of a serious knee injury that won’t have him available for much of the season, Seattle will most definitely be looking to draft a running back. They get their guy here.

With the 133rd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select John Hightower, wide receiver, Boise State

Seattle is patient with this deep receiver class and grabs a player here who showed well at the Senior Bowl and the Scouting Combine running crisp routes and catching well. At 6-1 and 189 pounds, he has decent size and speed to go along with their vertical attack, but it’s his kicker returner and run after the catch abilities that are likely to appeal, and add immediate value to the team.

With the 144th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select, Trevis Gibson, defensive end, Tulsa

Gibson is one of the few edge rushers out this this class that I think would have some appeal to Seattle, and they might even take him earlier than here. At 6-3 and 260 pounds with long arms, he has the physical profile they covet at the rush Leo end spot. He’s a small school prospect who is unrefined as a pass rusher, but has a lot of raw physical abilities and explosion to make up for that. Once he gets an array of pass rush moves, he could have a quality starter ceiling in this league.

With the 186th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Alex Taylor, offensive tackle, SC State

Seattle again dips into the depth of the offensive tackle portion of this draft by taking a project player with high upside, literally. Taylor is 6-8 and 308 lbs with 36 inch arms. With that long frame his also possesses some pretty decent natural athleticism, but is raw in his technique and could stand to add strength. Taking him here though, would be a decent place to draft and stash a potential starter down the road at right tackle, specially if Adenji can play the left side.

With the 214th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Quez Watkins, wide receiver, Southern Miss

Like they did with offensive tackle, Seattle uses the quality depth of receiver in this class to their advantage, and they take this speed burner late in round six. Watkins possesses elite speed, good hands, and and decent enough size at 6-0 and 185 lbs. He’s a burner drafted to add further speed depth to go along with Russell Wilson’s deep passing. Right now he is pretty much a one trick pony, but the tools are there to make him more well rounded, if he puts in the work.

Thoughts about this mock draft

I like Seattle going aggressive early to beef up the defense, and in many ways, I think Raekwon Davis is their ideal defensive tackle. Going through the Pete Carroll era, they have often sought out long powerful bodies that can anchor against the run and push the pocket. Alan Branch, Tony McDaniel, and Kevin Williams are players that come to mind. Davis is definitely in that realm, but with more athleticism. He could be their answer to acquiring a Chris Jones type of player.

I’m a little on the fence with selecting Jeremy Chinn and Willie Gay Jr with those other two second round picks. On one hand, they both seem to look like Seattle style defenders, but Chinn in particular seems like a project, and Gay Jr has some character concerns about his disciple on and off the field. Both are elite athletes, though, with high end potential, and that is why I think Seattle could be drawn to them. Last year they took DK Metcalf late in round two, he was thought to be a project, and it was a grand slam pick for them. Pete Carroll loves special athletes.

I really like the Adenji pick in round three, and think he has interesting potential at tackle, but I think beyond that, Seattle is likely selecting players with some special traits that they hope will materialize into decent contributors with starter potential down the road. Trevis Gibson could be the one to really develop into a decent starter.

This mock reflects what I think Seattle could likely do based on needs and what is available. Simply put, they need a lot on defense, and that’s what they went after early. Next mock draft will be a different one where Seattle doesn’t chase after needs as much.

Go Hawks