We’ve just experienced three days of pure off-season football fun, and the Seahawks walked away with eleven picks.
ELEVEN PICKS.
Given that, let’s see what is being said about these guys, and see which areas the Hawks improved in the most.
2nd Round (Pick 35) - Malik McDowell, DT/DE
“Has similar physical traits and abilities of Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, but may not share their football character. McDowell lacked production along the interior and could benefit from a move to a defensive end spot in a 4-3 or 3-4 front. McDowell is raw, but when he flashes, it can be blinding. McDowell is an explosive, ascending prospect with All-Pro potential if he grows into his body and takes the necessary coaching.”
“McDowell played both inside at defensive tackle and outside at defensive end for the Spartans. McDowell’s frame and playing style are better suited to him playing an edge defender role at the NFL level. When he is lined up inside at defensive tackle he wins with quickness or by stunting into another gap but McDowell’s length and agility are better served out on the edge. He can also use more of his pass-rush moves when lined up outside including his most consistent long-arm stab pass-rush move and his counters off it. McDowell’s three years of production and positional versatility will intrigue a lot of teams.”
“He’s got a lot of flexibility, he’s played all across the board. He’s been a defensive end, he’s been a nose tackle, he’s been a three technique, which bodes well for us. We see a lot of flexibility in him, he’s a unique player, he’s a very young man, 20 years old, who has a lot of growing. We think he has great upside, he had a fantastic sophomore season that we weighted heavily and we think we have a really special player and we’re really happy to get him. Had a good visit when he came in, all that, and it paid off.”
2nd Round (Pick 58) - Ethan Pocic, C
“Flexible, natural athlete with starting experience all along the LSU offensive line. Scouts say Pocic has the intelligence teams look for from a center and is highly regarded by LSU coaches and teammates in the locker room. Pocic is an excellent "work-up" blocker with the ability to thrive in a running game that operates in space, but his lack of power will produce some extremely challenging matchups for him at times.”
“Pocic does a lot of things well and his ability to make difficult reach blocks make him a fit in any scheme. He’s sound in pass protection and even dabbled at offensive tackle to add some versatility, though he’ll get a shot to stick at center where he looks like one of the best the draft has to offer.”
“We think he’s the most flexible guy in the draft. He started a lot at center but he’s played at guard and he’s played tackle. He’s been a primary player for them in a great conference and just been steady as a rock. Really smart, intelligent, tough guy. Long, tall, he has all the right elements and the background was so versatile that we just thought that was a great opportunity. We really were hoping, there weren’t many offensive linemen in the draft as you’ve noticed that already, and we just thought he could fit into a number of spots and really help us out. We’ll see him at guard and tackle, knowing he can play center.”
3rd Round (Pick 90) - Shaquill Griffin, CB
“Griffin plays the game with an aggressive tilt both in coverage and in his run support. Griffin has good ball skills with a closing burst to challenge throws, but his anticipation is just average and he may not be able to play off of receivers and still be as effective with his ball production. Because he lacks long speed but is an effective tackler, he could be targeted by a defense favoring Cover-2 coverage.”
“Griffin is another player who is likely to see his draft position lowered by what is a deep cornerback class. He ticks all the boxes teams are looking for in an athlete, with the size and raw athleticism that teams will love, but there will be some concern that he struggled as much as he did against Michigan’s Darboh, a draft-eligible receiver. Despite that though, he is coming off an impressive season, and if he can be coached to play inside releases on routes better than he did in 2016, he has a lot to offer teams in the NFL.”
“I think he’s going to be a special teams guy for us, too. You’ll see him on the perimeter, holding up guys and change and be the gunner and all that kind of stuff. Really good motor and the speed, you just can’t deny that it’s really there. He’s a terrific athlete. I see him as an outside guy. We’ll start there and try to transition to our style of stuff. His ability to play the ball, really his ball sense too, we think he’ll be a really good fit.”
3rd Round (Pick 95) - Delano Hill, S
“Hill has the size and physical demeanor to get a quality look from a team as a box safety, but his lack of coverage quickness and ball production won't help his chances. Hill will have to open eyes on special teams and as a lights out, downhill tackler to become an NFL factor.”
“Hill is a unique prospect because all of his NFL Combine measurements are truly representative of his film. He ran an official 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the combine, and that solid straight-line speed is apparent from his reel. He measured out at 6-foot-1, 216 pounds, and he uses his size and natural strength well when attacking blockers at the line of scrimmage, as well as playing press coverage in the slot. There were some less-impressive numbers from Indianapolis, as well, and these too didn’t come as a surprise, given his film. He broad-jumped 9-foot-7, and had a short shuttle at 4.27 seconds; both of these figures illustrate his lack of elite change of direction and closing speed. While Hill isn’t a top-end athlete, his ability to tackle consistently and play in the box make him look like a potential NFL starter. Due to the strength of the safety class, he can probably be selected on day three, but teams looking for a strong safety capable of pressing from the slot, as well as playing the run, should have significant interest.”
“We know he can play safety. He’s played a lot and he’s very physical. He’s just right in the right framework of our style that we love to see. Tough and also, he’s played on the slot a lot, so he’s played kind of the nickel position quite a bit, which has shown the ability to cover receivers, which is good. As always, we’ll check our guys out see what the expanse of his play will bring us. We won’t be hesitant to see how he matches up with wide receivers. That’s a good thing for him, but there’s no question he can play safety. We would say strong and free, he looks more like a hitter, he’s really physical. Might be a little more like Kam [Chancellor] style, so we’ll see. He’s done everything their scheme showed, all of that, so it really was a good evaluation for us, we have a lot of hopes for this.”
3rd Round (Pick 102) - Nazair Jones, DT
“Phone booth defender who has good length and the power to fight for control at the point of attack. Jones' strength is his ability to play the run and he could be a physical fit for 3-4 teams looking to add a run defender to their linemen corps. His inability to get the quarterback will cap his draft slotting but he does have pro potential.”
“An effective run defender, Jones will have to carve out a niche for himself on early downs. He has a great feel for the run game and he uses his length well to keep blockers off his frame, and he can do so from multiple positions along the defensive line. He’s built like an old-school 3-4 defensive end though he can line up and have success at 3-, 4-, or 5-technique. The inability to build upon his disruptive pass-rushing grades in 2014 and 2015 leave some concern about his prospects as a three-down player, but at just 22 years old, he has plenty of room to improve, and he remains a solid mid-round prospect at this stage.”
“Really fired up about that pick. John did a great job to nail him. He’s a big, if you look back at the guys we’ve had, we’ve had a lot of big three techniques. That‘s because we load up and play that running game in our division in particular. We’re hoping he’s going to fit that mold. You go back, you got some names that you can dig out that are big guys. He’s right there. Line of scrimmage guy, early down player, good technique guy, plays hard. Another young guy just coming into it, has amazing stories, as I’m sure you guys are already picking up on. We’re really excited about him. He really fits that role to kind of fit in the division, play that three technique, big and heavy. He’ll be able to play five technique as well, he’s really long and tall. We’re upping our depth and making it challenging and competitive. I think it was a great pick. I love it.”
3rd Round (Pick 106) - Amara Darboh, WR
“Darboh caught the attention of scouts from very early on in his final season at Michigan. Darboh's outstanding size will have some teams excited, but he needs to run well at the combine in order to be targeted as a "size/speed" prospect. He lacks the quickness and hands to make a living underneath, but has the physical traits and willingness to help as a blocker that could get teams to bite on the second day of the draft (Rounds 2-3). Scheme fit could determine whether he becomes a WR2 or just a guy fighting for snaps off the bench.”
“Darboh is a well-built, possession receiver with experience running the full route tree in a pro-style offense. He finished the 2016 season as one of the highest-graded run-blocking wide receivers in the country, which should allow him to earn immediate playing time on special teams at the NFL level. Darboh has the ability to develop into a starting outside receiver, but his lack of elite athleticism limits his upside.”
“He’s young in football and looks like a professional wide receiver. That’s probably the most amazing thing about his story. He’s got, we see him as a blue grit kid that has overcome a ton in his life. I’ve never met anybody from Iowa that I didn’t like, he was living in Des Moines, Iowa [laughing]. No, he’s really a good route runner, he’s got really good ball skills, he’ll block, he’ll play on teams. He’s one of those kids that just checks off all those boxes and there’s still a lot out there in front of him. He’s a very respectful, very articulate kid who has been through a ton.”
4th Round (Pick 111) - Tedric Thompson, SS
“Thompson in an instinctive cover safety with strong ball skills and a history of production during his time at Colorado. Lacks physicality to operate around the box, but his football intelligence and playmaking skills will get him drafted and could give him a shot at eventually starting.”
“Thompson is a safety that despite lacking top-end athletic measurable, is able to make up for it with great anticipation and awareness. His ball skills are every bit as outstanding as his stat line suggests, which makes him an interesting long-term study in terms of production vs. athletic capacity. With such a loaded class, his disappointing combine numbers are likely to push him to the middle rounds, but there’s a well-roundedness to his game that suggests he could develop into a starter.”
“Phenomenal ball skills. I think he led the country in passes defensed. He has great feet, coverage skills, competitor. He’s got really good range, really good short area quickness. He’s a really interesting guy; kind of a well-rounded dude. He’s a ball hog. That’s a big deal. Not just the balls that he’s stolen, but the ones he’s knocked around, and he’s always around the football. That’s a huge priority for us always. It has to do with pass rush, too. That’s why we started where we started with the draft. That was a big consideration.”
6th Round (Pick 187) - Michael Tyson, FS
“Plays with pretty good football instincts and is competitive challenging the run, but his inconsistencies in deep coverage could cause teams to shy away from using him anywhere but near the line of scrimmage. Tyson has average safety skills and could benefit with more weight work if he has to become a full-time box safety with tight end coverage ability.”
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“Mike Tyson basically fits the profile that we’ve been looking for since we’ve been here as a corner. He’s a big, tough, aggressive guy that, based on what we’ve seen, has really good coverage skills. He’s primarily played inside. He played a lot of Nickel for them last year, he got his hands on a lot of balls. He has great ball skills and really strong in run support. He played Nickel. He was a cover guy inside, so you have to have pretty good feet to play inside. Our hope is that he can be a press corner outside.”
6th Round (Pick 210) - Justin Senior, OL
“Senior has long arms and strong hands, but his lack of bend and inconsistent footwork could cripple his NFL cause if he doesn't improve them. Senior is a right tackle only who has three years of experience against talented, SEC defensive ends but he struggled badly at times in the Senior Bowl. His size could get him drafted, but he has some work to do before ever hitting an NFL field.”
“One of the more athletic tackles in the draft. Senior is going to need a complete re-tool of his pass-blocking technique. He also has a learning curve in understanding an NFL offense. Senior may not be a Day 1 starter but his physical ability will quickly make up for his learning curve and bad fundamentals. His versatility to play in any scheme and make any block will serve him well. His PFF grades were good, not great, at Mississippi State but in that offense and blocking schemes, he was their best player. Senior has a high ceiling and his physical tools and potential will probably lead to him being drafted ahead of most of the other offensive linemen entering the draft.”
“Justin had a much better junior year than he did a senior year. A great kid, he’s from Montreal. Very well spoken, very smart. Very, very good pass protector. He got a little heavy for his senior year, and it’s probably something that we’re going to have to monitor here, when he gets in here, and that’s why he went so late. He has a lot of tools to work with. He just needs to decide if he wants to be a player or not. His junior year he played at 295 pounds, and his senior year he played about 315-317, something like that. Then, he continued to climb a little bit. He has a lot of talent, and did not have a great Senior Bowl week, and knows that I think this is a pretty cool wake-up call for him, being selected where he was selected. Because, his scores with the coaches, the way they do it and everything, his pass protection is phenomenal. We’re going to move him on both sides. He finished at right, we’re probably going to start him on the left side.”
7th Round (Pick 226) - David Moore, WR
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“We think that David [Moore] is a stud of a receiver. He’s 219 pounds and he runs really fast and he’s really physical. We brought him out here for a visit, and spent a lot of time with him with our docs, and team psychologist and the rest of our staff. He’s a really cool kid, very tough, very aggressive. Like Pete said, he’s like 222 pounds, running 4.43. Maybe 4.38, depends on the launch.”
7th Round (Pick 249) - Chris Carson, RB
“Carson is an immediate winner of the eyeball test, but that hasn't always been true of his running style. His shift from finesse to a more power-based running style fits his size and physical attributes and gives him a better shot of playing on Sundays. Carson is suited to a downhill attack that allows him to be the hammer rather than the nail, but he's unlikely to create for himself with elusiveness or speed. If Carson works out well, he could hear his name called on Day 3.”
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“I was hanging on Chris Carson. He’s a guy that I found looking through the stuff late in the draft, kind of like we’ve done over the years. I really love this guy because he is so physical and tough the way he ran. You haven’t heard a whole lot about him, he hasn’t run the ball a lot. But when he did, he, to me, made a great statement of his style and a style that we really covet. The second half of the season he really came on. I fell in love with how tough he is, and how aggressive he is. That’s something that kind of falls in that same category, and we didn’t want to miss him. There was a lot of activity around him, we thought, so we got him with that last shot, there. He’s really aggressive. He hammers it. I think you guys are really going to like him when you see him.”
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