With the NFL Draft coming up, Seahawks.com is taking a position-by-position look at where things currently stand on the Seahawks' roster, as well as the top prospects at each position. We'll also look at Seattle's draft history at each position under general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll.
The Seahawks currently hold 7 picks in the 2017 draft, which begins Thursday, April 27 in Philadelphia.
- Round 1 | Pick 26 | No. 26 overall
- Round 2 | Pick 26 | No. 58 overall
- Round 3 | Pick 26 | No. 90 overall
- Round 3 | Pick 38 | No. 102 overall*
- Round 3 | Pick 42 | No. 106 overall*
- Round 6 | Pick 26 | No. 210 overall
- Round 7 | Pick 8 | No. 226 overall
*-Compensatory Pick
Our draft preview series begins with the offensive line, a position group that struggled at times last year due to youth and inexperience, but that also showed potential at times, and with more continuity in that group than there has been in recent years past, there's a chance for significant growth in 2017.
Draft History Under Schneider and Carroll
- T Russell Okung (No. 6 overall, 2010)
- G James Carpenter (No. 25, 2011)
- G John Moffitt (No. 75, 2011)
- G J.R. Sweezy (No. 225, 2012)
- G Ryan Seymour (No. 220, 2013)
- G Jared Smith (No. 241, 2013)
- T Michael Bowie (No. 242, 2013)
- T Justin Britt (No. 64, 2014)
- T Garrett Scott (No. 199, 2014)
- T Terry Poole (No. 130, 2015)
- G Mark Glowinski (No. 134, 2015)
- G/C Kristjan Sokoli (No. 214, 2015)
- G/T Germain Ifedi (No. 31, 2016)
- G/T Rees Odhiambo (No. 97, 2016)
- C Joey Hunt (No. 215, 2016)
Where the Seahawks Stand
Regardless of what the Seahawks add in the draft, the offensive line will be one of the more intriguing position groups in training camp this summer given the number of different combinations that could be in play for the starting lineup. Other than right tackle Garry Gilliam, who is currently a restricted free agent, all of last year's starting line is under contract for 2017, but that doesn't mean the line will necessarily look the same. The Seahawks added former No. 2 overall pick Luke Joeckel to compete for the starting job at left tackle or left guard, and free-agent addition Oday Aboushi will compete for the starting job at right guard. Carroll and Schneider have also mentioned the possibility of last year's first-round pick Germain Ifedi moving from right guard to right tackle, and Carroll talked earlier this offseason about Rees Odhiambo having the chance to compete for a starting job.
That's a lot of variables in play, and in all likelihood, the Seahawks aren't done adding to their line, not when you consider that they have used eight picks on offensive linemen in the past three drafts, including first, second and third-rounders. During Carroll and Schneider's tenure in Seattle, three of their five first-round selections have been offensive linemen and the Seahawks have picked 15 O-linemen overall in those seven drafts. But regardless of what happens in the draft and how things shake out in various position battles, the Seahawks are counting on a big step forward from a position group that was one of the youngest and least experienced in the league last season.
"I know we've gotten better," Carroll said last month at the NFL Annual Meetings. "…We'll figure it all out when we start to put the pieces together. I really like that we've been able to improve. The two guys (Joeckel and Aboushi) are really good pass protectors. That's something we really wanted to add and those guys definitely will help us."
NFL Media Draft Expert Mike Mayock's Top 5 Offensive Tackles
1. Cam Robinson, Alabama
*Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Â *Five-star recruit and three-year starter at left tackle who is a road grader with impressive power at the point of attack and enough athleticism to function in diverse run schemes. Robinson has tape galore against SEC edge talent either playing in the NFL or who soon will be. The tape shows a player with the traits and physical ability to be a good NFL tackle, but his balance issues and inconsistencies as a pass protector are a concern. Robinson is a candidate to be overdrafted due to the position he plays and his size, but buyer beware as some of his deficiencies might not be easily correctable.
2. Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Extremely confident tackle with the athleticism to stay on the left side and the technique to make an early impact as a starter. Ramczyk has the core strength and body control that should keep him connected to blocks in both the run and pass and he's proven to be scheme versatile with his playing style. Ramczyk is an early starter with the potential to become a good starting left tackle provided his medicals hold up.
3. Garett Bolles, Utah
Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Because he's only played one year of FBS football and hasn't been able to fully fill out his frame over the last five years, Bolles will require a projection and conjecture than most of the tackles in this year's draft. He clearly has elite athletic ability and foot quickness, but his lack of core strength and ability to sustain blocks against power across from him is a concern at this time. While he has Pro Bowl potential for a zone-scheme team, his floor will be a little lower than you might like in an early round pick.
4. Taylor Moton, Western Michigan
*Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Â *Four-year starter for ascending Western Michigan program. Size and potential to dominate at the point of attack with pure power should make him a coveted right guard prospect. He can be a little stiff in his movements and his footwork needs plenty of work, but he's functional in both areas. Might need additional work before he is ready to take on the wily, athletic defensive tackles in the NFL, but his physical traits and power give him a chance to become a reliable NFL starter.
5. Antonio Garcia, Troy
Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Consistently playing below 300 pounds, his lanky frame is the first thing that gets noticed. But his positive attributes show up on tape more than his weaknesses. Mass and functional strength are concerns and he still needs plenty of technical work, but a team could look to draft and stash him based on his starter's traits and ability.
NFL Media Draft Expert Mike Mayock's Top 5 Interior Linemen
1. Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Four-year starter at left tackle whose lack of length will likely force him inside on the next level. He has the athleticism to handle athletic interior rushers while being able to fit into diverse rushing attacks that ask more from the guards and centers. His ability to potentially line up at tackle, guard or center will only increase his value. Lamp's 2016 performance against Alabama's talented edge players was a resume-builder that shined a spotlight on his potential as a pro.
2. Dan Feeney, Indiana
Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Four-year starter and two-time team captain, Feeney has been the consistent anchor along an Indiana offensive line that helped to produce NFL running backs Tevin Coleman and Jordan Howard. Feeney is a quality zone blocker with an ability to pull and lead the charge, but he might lack the play strength to become a reliable base blocker. His intelligence and ability to operate in space and protect the quarterback could make him an early starter with a ceiling of above-average NFL guard or center.
3. Dion Dawkins, Temple
Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Quality tackle who operates with good balance and solid technique. Shows some good initial quickness and a smooth kick-slide out of his stance, but might be better in short areas as a guard rather than in open space as a tackle. He's athletic enough to operate in space, but power appears to be his calling card. His wide-hand approach in pass protection could be a difficult habit to break, but he has the natural power to withstand bull rush that might come with that. Dawkins is a well-schooled, three-year starter who has chance to transition into an early starter.
4. Pat Elflein, Ohio State
Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Elflein is a smart, tireless worker with a winning background and experience at all three interior offensive line spots. While his feet are just average, his core strength and wrestling background could make him a favorite of teams looking for more strength at the center position. Elflein will have occasional issues in pass protection, but his strength as a run blocker and ability to play with excellent hands and plus body control should make him one of the first interior linemen to come off the draft board.
T-5. Ethan Pocic, LSU
*Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Â *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.
T-5. Dorian Johnson, Pitt
Bottom Line (via NFL.com):Five-star prospect coming out of high school, Johnson was a full-time starter for three years at Pitt and was known for his consistency and well-rounded game. He has functional power to turn defenders out of the hole and enough athleticism to match any run-game scheme. Johnson doesn't carry bad weight and should be able to add more bulk with no problem. While he has some weaknesses, nothing appears to be glaring and he should set into a starter's role right away and become a solid NFL guard.
RELATED
Take a look at NFL Media Analyst Mike Mayock's top offensive linemen in the 2017 NFL Draft.
