Official Seahawks Draft Thread: April 25th & 26th

[Bulltalk]

The 2009 NFL draft is 4 weeks from today. I thought it might be good to have a real draft specific thread leading up to and through draft day. If anybody has news on the Seahawks' draft, post it here. I think things are going to start intensifying in the coming weeks.

These players seem to comprise who the Hawks might draft according to all the various mocks I've read. I'll try to put them in the order that represents what I've seen based upon things like availability. These are all the names I've seen:

1) Jason Smith/Eugene Monroe <LT> (either/or)
2) Michael Crabtree <WR> (still hanging in there as a possibility)
3) Matt Stafford <QB> (has been seen as potentially falling to us in a handful of drafts)
4) Brian Orakpo <DE/LB> (almost neck and neck with Stafford as a possibility now)
5) Aaron Curry <LB> (most don't think he'll fall to us, but mentioned as possibility if available)
6) BJ Raji <DT> (fading as a possibility, but still mentioned here and there)
7) Mark Sanchez <QB> (yes, seen him mentioned as possible pick, even more than Jenkins)
8) Everette Brown <LB/DE> (seen mentioned, has been moving up in certain mocks)
9) Malcolm Jenkins <CB> (mentioned)
10) Michael Oher <LT> (seen mentioned, don't think it will happen)
11) Jeremy Maclin <WR> (seen mentioned)

I would say that if anything has changed much at all in the past several weeks it is the idea that:

A) Picking a QB has become a legit possibility in the minds of some
B) Picking a DE/LB (Curry, Brown, Orakpo) is seen as a viable choice in the minds of some

The way I've seen it unfold, not much has changed in that LT (Smith, Monroe) still seems most prevalent in mocks, with WR (Crabtree) not far behind. I would still be okay with either of these positional choices, for each their own reasons. I am also not adverse to picking a QB IF (a big IF) the Hawks see Stafford, for instance, as being a true franchise QB that they just can't pass up. I'd also be okay with Curry if they think him to be a true impact player. Picking one of those tweener DE/LB's (Orakpo, Brown) is an idea I haven't quite warmed up to. Picking a DT I think is an idea that is fading fast with our off-season moves, and BJ being somewhat of an anti-Ruskell choice. I am still against a CB, as I still see picking a CB as a "reach" considering that a LT of the future might be available, or a potential franchise QB, or a real play-making threat at WR, or a strong pass rushing threat.

Anyway, like I said, not all that much has changed in outlook, but there has been a few new players/positions being mentioned more as possibilities in recent weeks.

[NateMustGo]

http://forums.seattletimes.nwsource.com ... m.php?f=14 Good site for draft talk and Seahawk news.

[asdf1223]

I guess u could add Beanie Wells(Private Workout scheduled) as well as Knowshow Moreno(Tim personally hand timed him). Could be a smoke screen or maybe a trade is in the works.

Also a very good article on the relevance of 40 times v/s 3 Cone Drill times for Corners
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/200 ... one-drill/

[Bulltalk]

I guess u could add Beanie Wells(Private Workout scheduled) as well as Knowshow Moreno(Tim personally hand timed him). Could be a smoke screen or maybe a trade is in the works.

Also a very good article on the relevance of 40 times v/s 3 Cone Drill times for Corners
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/200 ... one-drill/

I think a RB is on the radar for the 2nd or 3rd round, not the first.

[Ex-hippie]

I wish I had a better grip on the career prospects of Lawrence Jackson. He didn't have a good rookie season, but there are widely diverging views on his future. Some say he can turn it around and live up to, or even exceed, his draft status (Field Gulls, normally one of the more pessimistic sources out there, had something this weekend suggesting he'll turn it around and is actually better than any of this draft's DE prospects). I've seen others say he should already be written off as yet another Ruskell first-round bust. If Jackson still projects as a good starter, then it clarifies our draft situation a lot by wiping Orakpo and Brown off the board.

[Bulltalk]

I wish I had a better grip on the career prospects of Lawrence Jackson. He didn't have a good rookie season, but there are widely diverging views on his future. Some say he can turn it around and live up to, or even exceed, his draft status (Field Gulls, normally one of the more pessimistic sources out there, had something this weekend suggesting he'll turn it around and is actually better than any of this draft's DE prospects). I've seen others say he should already be written off as yet another Ruskell first-round bust. If Jackson still projects as a good starter, then it clarifies our draft situation a lot by wiping Orakpo and Brown off the board.

With you. It's too early to write him off as being a solid starting DE, though I don't remember seeing him exhibit any specific skill that either wowed me, or gave me a good feeling about the pick. I'm reserving judgment, but he's got to bring it this year.

[Bulltalk]

I heard some draft guy today claiming that the Hawks were all but sold on Mark Sanchez with their top pick, and he believed they would draft him, although possibly in a trade-down scenario.

[nuke the whales]

I read that Seattle had a bunch of people at his pro day. I wonder how much of that is actual interest and how much is driving up the price for the #4 pick. Now that Cutlermania is over, there are still at least a few teams looking for a quarterback, probably including Denver now. If we can convince everyone that we're serious about Sanchez at 4 (assuming we're not), we might be able to get a few teams bidding on the pick. Speaking of Denver, they have picks 12 and 18 now...
As far as trading down and getting him, supposedly he's rising pretty fast and someone might very well trade up ahead of where we trade down to take him.

[Bulltalk]

I read that Seattle had a bunch of people at his pro day. I wonder how much of that is actual interest and how much is driving up the price for the #4 pick. Now that Cutlermania is over, there are still at least a few teams looking for a quarterback, probably including Denver now. If we can convince everyone that we're serious about Sanchez at 4 (assuming we're not), we might be able to get a few teams bidding on the pick. Speaking of Denver, they have picks 12 and 18 now...
As far as trading down and getting him, supposedly he's rising pretty fast and someone might very well trade up ahead of where we trade down to take him.

Then again, the Hawks might just want him. I've been thinking since the last draft that the Hawks have to start looking at drafting their QB of the future either in this draft, or the 2010 draft. I was thinking that they'd lean more towards next year, but now I'm not so sure. Hasselbeck may only have a few good years left in him, and if we're intelligent, we'd be right in drafting and grooming his replacement. It is the most important position on the field.

If they really think Sanchez is a franchise QB, then I can't really argue with such a pick.

[Ex-hippie]

I think we can officially wipe B.J. Raji off the list.

[Ex-hippie]

I read that Seattle had a bunch of people at his pro day. I wonder how much of that is actual interest and how much is driving up the price for the #4 pick. Now that Cutlermania is over, there are still at least a few teams looking for a quarterback, probably including Denver now. If we can convince everyone that we're serious about Sanchez at 4 (assuming we're not), we might be able to get a few teams bidding on the pick. Speaking of Denver, they have picks 12 and 18 now...
As far as trading down and getting him, supposedly he's rising pretty fast and someone might very well trade up ahead of where we trade down to take him.

I read somewhere today that some team might actually trade up to #2 or #3 just to take Sanchez ahead of the Seahawks. If that happens, it might deprive the Seahawks of someone they want, but it won't be the worst thing ever; it will mean one or more players from the list of Curry, Monroe and J.Smith will be there at #4.

[Sweezo]

could be a complete smokescreen w/r/t Sanchez...I'm wondering how much of their scouting is legit and how much of it is keeping up appearances in an attempt to trade down and net more picks. They've been linked to quite a few names that really don't make sense for a team picking early first, early second...but rather a team picking late first. Thorough or something else?

I like the way the 'Hawks are approaching this draft. Everything leading up to the draft in free agency said 'here's a team that wants to win now'...but everything since then signals the team is looking at all options to make this team better in the future. Important because it makes it hard to pigeonhole what the 'Hawks are wanting to do.

A few months ago every seemed certain Crabtree was going at #4. Now, a quick review of the 'experts' lists shows no clear consensus about what people think the 'Hawks will do. QB? T? WR? LB? Who knows? This doesn't appear like a team dreading a high pick that will likely sit on the bench awhile and collect a giant paycheck, even though this team just moved its star LB to cut costs in exchange for a DL/DE with a wonky knee and a one year contract.

Maybe creating that cloud of mystery causes teams lower in the draft order to freak out and offer deals that the 'Hawks can take advantage of?

[sonic-ben]

Jets , Denver, Phil eagles

may trade with us.... but not likely

[Sweezo]

...or maybe the Redskins

I continue to hear that the Skins' primary focus is to move up to draft USC quarterback Mark Sanchez; however, if they do not and if Brian Orakpo is untaken at 13, he would be a frontrunner for them. (That is assuming Sanchez were off the board.) Moving up for Sanchez will likely require that the Redskins move to the third or fourth spot. Both Kansas City and Seattle are amenable to dealing down, according to sources. The New York Jets, who pick at 17, are the other team highly motivated to move up and get Sanchez.

Several sources have suggested the Redskins have begun to send out feelers on what it might take to get Seattle's pick, and the Seahawks, at this stage, would likely seek two first-round picks on the high end. That was a price the Redskins were willing to pay for Chad Johnson last year and Jay Cutler a few weeks back, although neither deal was completed

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2009-nfl-draft/more-on-orakpo-and-sanchez.html

Two first round picks for #4? Yes please...

We could still get an impact player at #13. In fact, if Sanchez is the consensus pick at #4, we'd have a better chance of getting a player at #13 who helps this year over someone at #4, right?

[Bulltalk]

...or maybe the Redskins

I continue to hear that the Skins' primary focus is to move up to draft USC quarterback Mark Sanchez; however, if they do not and if Brian Orakpo is untaken at 13, he would be a frontrunner for them. (That is assuming Sanchez were off the board.) Moving up for Sanchez will likely require that the Redskins move to the third or fourth spot. Both Kansas City and Seattle are amenable to dealing down, according to sources. The New York Jets, who pick at 17, are the other team highly motivated to move up and get Sanchez.

Several sources have suggested the Redskins have begun to send out feelers on what it might take to get Seattle's pick, and the Seahawks, at this stage, would likely seek two first-round picks on the high end. That was a price the Redskins were willing to pay for Chad Johnson last year and Jay Cutler a few weeks back, although neither deal was completed

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2009-nfl-draft/more-on-orakpo-and-sanchez.html

Two first round picks for #4? Yes please...

We could still get an impact player at #13. In fact, if Sanchez is the consensus pick at #4, we'd have a better chance of getting a player at #13 who helps this year over someone at #4, right?

Such a trade for two 1st round picks could even be enough to get me to consider Jenkins at the #13 spot. Sans Jenkins, I'd be decently happy with possibly the best RB in the draft, or possibly Oher, or one of the top DE's, or some such pick you could plug-in-and-play right away.

My thought is that you play 11th-hour-hardball with any such trade. Make the offer steep, if they take it, fine, if they don't, fine as well. Just pick the best player you were going to pick anyway at that #4 spot.

[Ex-hippie]

My thought is that you play 11th-hour-hardball with any such trade. Make the offer steep, if they take it, fine, if they don't, fine as well. Just pick the best player you were going to pick anyway at that #4 spot.

Exactly this. Keep in mind the part about how they're targeting Sanchez. Or, if it's not Sanchez, if any team is looking to trade up, it means there is a player they want specifically. You're not trading abstract draft picks, you're trading specific players. Remind them what the prize is and let them know what it will take to get it. The team with the higher pick has all the leverage in this situation.

[nuke the whales]

The only problem in this case in asking for the moon is if KC comes in and says, "hey we'll take slightly less than what Seattle wants to get out of paying #3 money."

[Bulltalk]

My thought is that you play 11th-hour-hardball with any such trade. Make the offer steep, if they take it, fine, if they don't, fine as well. Just pick the best player you were going to pick anyway at that #4 spot.

Exactly this. Keep in mind the part about how they're targeting Sanchez. Or, if it's not Sanchez, if any team is looking to trade up, it means there is a player they want specifically. You're not trading abstract draft picks, you're trading specific players. Remind them what the prize is and let them know what it will take to get it. The team with the higher pick has all the leverage in this situation.

hippie, you heard it from me first. It was the "brawny factor" with Sanchez that came into play. Everybody's caught up in it now.

Sports radio in Seattle is heating up about the draft now. I just listened as background music to about a two hour debate between Sanchez and Crabtree as the Hawks #1 pick. People mostly think that Ruskell really is enamored with Sanchez, rather than such interest being a ruse to milk some team out of giving up a lot for the pick. The sports radio guys this morning want Crabtree.

I like this one comment, to paraphrase----"Can we all agree that even though we know nothing about him, have never seen him play, and that he's a complete fiction of our imaginations, it's a no-brainer that we pick Curry if he's available."

[Bulltalk]

T-Minus less than 24 hours for draft aficionados. I hope this is a good day for the Hawks. Our last four 1st round picks:

--Lawrence Jackson
--Deion Branch (traded our 1st round pick for him)
--Kelly Jennings
--Chris Spencer

All things considered, Ruskell has been decent in the draft, even though his 1st round picks have been a little suspect. Ruskell's best quality as a GM seems to be in his overall approach to building a roster, throught FAcy, the draft, trades, resignings, etc... He does a pretty good job at keeping us competitive by not letting any area on either side of the ball get too out of hand. It may not be "sexy", but it's mostly been effective.

[Bulltalk]

Stafford signs Friday night. He does end up the #1 pick.

1) Stafford
2) Smith/Monroe (almost assuredly)
3)
4)