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 four picks in the 2019 draft, which begins April 25 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Seattle's 2019 Draft Picks: Round 1, No. 21 overall; Round 3, No. 84 overall; Round 4, No. 124 overall; Round 5, No. 159 overall.
So far we've covered offensive line, defensive line, tight end and linebacker, and today we turn our attention to receiver. Wednesday we'll take a look at where things stand at cornerback.
Draft History Under Schneider and Carroll: Golden Tate (No. 60 overall, 2010), Jameson Konz (No. 245, 2010), Kris Durham (No. 107, 2011), Chris Harper (No. 123, 2013), Paul Richardson (No. 45, 2014), Kevin Norwood (No. 123, 2014), Tyler Lockett (No. 69, 2015), Kenny Lawler (No. 243, 2016), Amara Darboh (No. 106, 2017), David Moore (No. 226, 2017).
Where The Seahawks Stand
The Seahawks didn't pick a receiver in the 2018 draft, the first year they hadn't drafted a receiver since 2012. And while a team heading into a draft with only four picks won't be able to address every position, plenty of draft experts have speculated that the Seahawks could make receiver a priority this year.
In Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett, the Seahawks have a very good starting duo leading the way, so it's not like the Seahawks are lacking playmaking pass-catchers, but that doesn't mean the Seahawks might not want to add more to that position group. For starters, Baldwin is recovering from multiple offseason surgeries, so he likely won't be available during offseason workouts, and while players like David Moore and Jaron Brown showed flashes last year, there could be room for another player to come in and compete for significant playing time along with Lockett and Brown.
That being said, the promise Moore showed, as well as the efficiency Brown demonstrated, recording five touchdowns despite limited targets, showed that the Seahawks have legit options behind their top two receivers even if they don't draft one this year. Moore in particular showed big-play potential during a midseason stretch in which he had five touchdown catches during a seven-game stretch, including a 35-yard go-ahead score on fourth down in a road victory against Carolina.
"It was just a matter of consistency, really," Carroll said of Moore at the NFL annual meetings. "David showed plenty of stuff and we're really excited about him. Quite often it takes young receivers into their third year before they really settle in, I'm hoping that's the case. David's got marvelous talent, he's a terrific competitor, we love the kid, but he just was inconsistent, and that causes him to keep out of the limelight a little bit. But he showed he can really contribute, so we're called upon to figure part of it out for him. I think it's just a natural transition for him to get better. We're not going to ask him to do a lot of stuff that is different, so it will be a lot of repetition and we're just going to count on him to be the kind of playmaker that he has been."
NFL.com's Top 5 Receivers
1. D.K. Metcalf, Mississippi
Overview (via NFL.com): Big, explosive talent with projectable upside to become a home-run threat as a WR1. Teams seek out pass-catchers with rare height, weight and speed dimensions and Metcalf has those for days. While he has the talent to become a full-field threat, Metcalf is still an unpolished gem who was the second-best receiver on his college team. Until his skill-set is more developed, he could begin his career as a hit-or-miss long-ball threat. However, once it clicks, defenses could struggle to find solutions for him.
2. Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
Overview (via NFL.com): "Hollywood" is a skinny, but speedy receiver with game-breaking potential on every snap. His ability to race past cornerbacks and separate deep will require specific coverage and safeties ready to help. His thin frame is a liability when faced with contested catches both short and deep, and long-term durability is a legitimate concern. However, his ability to threaten deep with long speed and short as an elite run-after-catch talent gives him a chance to become the most impactful wideout in this draft.
3. Parris Campbell, Ohio State
Overview (via NFL.com): Blue-chip athlete with elite package of size, speed and fluidity as a big slot receiver. Campbell's athletic attributes could create a coverage conundrum if his offensive coordinator puts him in a diversified role that allows him to attack vertically more often. Teams know he's a gifted athlete, but he needs to add more polish as a route-runner to become a well-rounded target instead of a gadget slot. His upside is bolstered by his traits while his special teams ability and talent with the ball in his hands should level out any bust concerns.
4. A.J. Brown, Mississippi
Overview (via NFL.com): Slot bully with rare combination of brawn and quickness that allows him to separate with both power and foot quickness. Brown has the size and demeanor to take on a relatively heavy workload as a safety blanket for a young quarterback in a ball-control passing attack. He'll see an upgrade in athlete across from him, but he has the feet and body control to uncover and create windows as a premium route-runner.
5. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
Overview (via NFL.com): Tyshun "Deebo" Samuel lives up to his nickname (it comes from a tough guy in the movie "Friday") and plays each game like he's stepping into an alley fight. While Samuel is tough and competitive, he lacks suddenness and might need scheme help with motion and bunch formations to help free him against NFL man coverage. He is a gamer who thrives once the ball is in his hands, and he might be able to help a team from the slot if he can stay healthy.
RELATED
- 2019 NFL Draft Preview: Seahawks Like Progress Made By Offensive Line, But Will They Add Help in Draft?
- 2019 NFL Draft Preview: Will The Seahawks Draft A Defensive Lineman Early Again This year?
- 2019 NFL Draft Preview: Are The Seahawks Set At Tight End With Dissly, Vannett & Dickson, Or Will They Add To That Group In The Draft
- 2019 NFL Draft Preview: With Talented Trio Already In Place, Are Seahawks Set At Linebacker?
