I said this in my final mock draft piece a couple days ago; the Seattle Seahawks are the Honey Badger team of the NFL. They don’t care what you think or feel, they are going to do what they want whenever they want to do it. That is their way.

I said this because I had them trading out of the first round into the 40s and taking defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton who’s been a player generating draft buzz and plays at a position of need, but isn’t a big named player. Well, the Seattle Seahawks Honey Badgered me again by staying put at pick 27 and selecting a linebacker that many thought was a Day Two prospect.

I did not see this coming. I thought that linebacker might be a need for them, but I didn’t anticipate it being as big of a need as defensive line, or even running back.

Settling into this pick now, let me say that I like Jordyn Brooks the football player. I like him a lot.

There are elements of his game that are very Bobby Wagner-esque. He plays fast, is a sure tackler, and brings a nice aggression to the ball carrier. With the offenses that they play against in the NFC West that love to run off of misdirection, Seattle needed to get faster athletes playing in space that are sure tacklers. This is how Brooks plays.

I think how he fits Seattle’s defense is likely the heir apparent to KJ Wright at the WILL linebacker position, and maybe other positions down the road. He has experience playing both outside and inside linebacker, and was a highly productive four year starter at Texas Tech. Seattle loves players that are versatile and can play multiple spots.

Listening to general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll during their joint press conference, it also appears like they were drawn to his leadership qualities, his maturity, and his love for the game. I said another piece that I wrote recently that I was anticipating Seattle to look for players in this draft class that would have the ability to come in right away and compete. Listening to John and Pete speak, it is clear that they feel Jordyn Brooks is this type of player.

I’m fully willing to give Jordyn Brooks a chance. Other fans, writers, and bloggers that cover the team are free to freak out and pronounce the end of this team’s reign, but not here, and not me. I’m too much of a Pete Carroll, John Schneider, and Russell Wilson believer. I’m entrenched in optimism. Why shouldn’t I be? When has Seattle ever been worse the 9-7 with Russell Wilson at quarterback and Pete Carroll coaching?

His college coach said that he reminded him of Bobby Wagner (he coached Wagner at Utah State). If Seattle ends up with two Bobby Wagners on the field together over the next few years, everyone will love this pick, and pat John Schneider on the back for landing another steel pick that pundits didn’t see coming.

Seattle needed speed on their defense badly, and with Brooks, they just added speed. I’m down for that.

Other thoughts on the draft.

The San Francisco 49ers got a total steel in the draft by taking massive defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw at pick 14. This stung for me greatly. They just made the strength of their team stronger. They also traded up a bit in the twenties and took Arizona State playmaking receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers got stronger in this draft. Seattle is going to have a chore trying to unseat them in 2020.

The Arizona Cardinals also got a steel in Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons. He might be the freakiest defender in this draft class with is 4.3 speed at 6-3 and 239 lbs, and his unique ability to move around the defense playing linebacker, safety and even cornerback. San Francisco and Arizona both took players that will not make Russell Wilson’s job easier moving forward. I hope that Seattle answers on Day Two by getting Russ another offensive weapon of some sort.

The Green Bay Packers did the weirdest thing ever by trading up in front of Seattle to pick 26, and instead of giving Aaron Rodgers a much needed receiver, they drafted his heir apparent with Utah State QB Jordan Love. Did not see that one coming, but I would love to have been a fly on the wall studying Rodgers’ instant reaction to that. Joy.

Thoughts about what Seattle might do on Day Two

There are some pretty interesting names left on the board going into the second round tomorrow with Seattle owning two picks towards the end of the round. I think it is probable that we see Seattle at least one of those picks on a player for the defensive line. Here is a short list of defensive lineman that might be targets for Seattle.

Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama

Marlon Davidson, DE/DT, Auburn

DaVon Hamilton, DT, Ohio State

Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M

Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State

Julian Owara, DE, Notre Dame

AJ Epenesa, DE, Iowa

All of these players bring a degree of upside with them, and Seattle needs to come out of this draft with a pass rusher either at end or defensive tackle. Preferably both will be addressed in this draft. For me, Raekwon Davis and DaVon Hamilton are two to watch out for.

If Seattle continues to honey badger me, and avoids the defensive line in round two, here are some non pass rushers that could be an interesting boost to the team.

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame

KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State

Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State

Robert Hunt, OT, Louisiana-Lafayette

Josh Jones, OT, Houston

Kyle Dugger, Safety, Lenoir-Rhyme

Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah

Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

John Simpson, Guard, Georgia

Lloyd Cushenberry, Center, LSU

These are all names that are fringe first round talents. There are a number of other interesting names I could have mentioned. Seattle is going to grab a couple good players on day two of this draft, and if they play things right, they might even get three with the third round pick. Hopefully at least one of them adds to the defensive line, if not two.

Can’t wait to see.

Go Hawks!