Good morning, 12s. Here's a look at what's out there today — Monday, April 17— about your Seattle Seahawks.
Three Seahawks Selected In First Round Of The Athletic's 2022 NFL Redraft
The 2023 NFL Draft is just two weeks away, and the Seahawks are looking to take advantage of a big opportunity. With two first round draft picks in their possession, curiosity is high surrounding the direction the team will go. But before we look ahead to this year's draft, The Athletic took a look back at a 2022 draft that went very well for the Seahawks, with Nick Baumgardner reflecting on Seattle’s historic class in The Athletic’s 2022 redraft.
In the aftermath of every NFL draft, each team's selections are measured and critiqued before the rookies even play a down. In a season that saw five rookies earn starting roles, Seattle's 2022 group developed into one of the league’s top-ranking draft classes. In Baumgardner's one-round redraft based on 2022 performance, Seahawks tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas and cornerback Tariq Woolen are all selected in the first round.
9. Seattle Seahawks: Abe Lucas, OT, Washington State
Original pick: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Well, this is awkward — Cross and Lucas are teammates in Seattle. That happened because the Seahawks grabbed Lucas at No. 72, and that has been a real steal. Wherever you slot him among the 2022 rookie tackles, you have to admit that Lucas massively outperformed his draft slot. The case could be made that Seattle would still take Cross here, as his upside could still be better, but Lucas was the better of the two last season. Either way, it's great news for the Seahawks, who still have both guys in real life.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
Original pick: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama (to Detroit via trade)
Should Minnesota have traded this pick? Maybe, maybe not. We'll see how the returns pan out over time.
Woolen (No. 153, Seattle) outplayed his draft spot, perhaps more than any player on this list. He should not have fallen to the fifth round. He played at a small school and switched over from receiver midway through his career, so there was a lot to be scared about. But he's also 6-4, 205 and ran a 4.29-second 40 with a 42-inch vert and a broad jump of 10 feet 11 inches. Every Power 5 coach in America whiffed on this guy — and so did every NFL team (at least once or twice) last year.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Original pick: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
Cross isn't tumbling out of the first round entirely, as the former Bulldog was better in protection during the second half of the 2022 season than he was at the start. Cross was among the youngest offensive linemen drafted last year — younger than Ekwonu. Lucas, by contrast, was among the oldest. In a year, maybe we swap which of those two has the edge, but it should be fun for Seattle to watch it play out.
Omitted from the first round redraft but definitely worthy of first-round consideration is running back Kenneth Walker III, who led all rookies with 1,050 yards on the ground and despite not taking over the starting role until Week 6. The Michigan State alum led all rookies in rushing touchdowns (9), tying for No.10 league-wide. Walker III joins Seahawks Legend Curt Warner as the only running backs in franchise history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in year-one.
With 10 picks in this year's draft, Seattle will look to find more talent to build a champion, regardless of round.
Social Post Of The Day
Sixteen Seattle youth participants of the WHOLE Mentoring Program took an HBCU tour sponsored by the Seahawks and Microsoft. Find out more about who they met at Howard University.
More From Around The Web
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times: Analysis: Seahawks set at tight end, but NFL draft could help future.
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times: Analysis: Will Seahawks find their third receiver in this year’s NFL draft?
Brandon Gustafson of Seattle Sports 710AM: Bump & Stacy: Draft mistakes the Seahawks need to avoid making.
R.P. Salao of Clutchpoints: Seahawks star Bobby Wagner’s heartfelt gesture for HBCU students proves he’s an MVP human.
Draft analyst Rob Rang provides a fit on offense to fit each of the Seahawks' 10 draft picks.
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) throws to a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) runs with the ball against Pittsburgh during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Pittsburgh. Boston College won 26-19. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
UCLA's Zach Charbonnet, center, out runs Oregon's Noah Sewell, left, and Mase Funa, right, during the second half in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)
Iowa's Sam LaPorta (84) reaches for a pass under pressure from Nebraska's Luke Reimer (28) in the end zone during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Initially called a touchdown, the call was reversed after review.(AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
TCU center Steve Avila (79) defends at the line of scrimmage during an NCAA college football game against California in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah offensive lineman Braeden Daniels (71) sets to block during an NCAA football game against Florida on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated Utah 29-26. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Southern California offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees (72) while playing Fresno State during an NCAA softball game on Saturday, Sept 17, 2022 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
FILE - In this Oct. 3, 2020, file photo, Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn runs for a first down during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Texas Tech in Manhattan, Kan. Vaughn is the only Big 12 player to lead his team in rushing and receiving, and is one of only two players nationally with at least 300 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Stanford wide receiver Michael Wilson (4) is taken down by Notre Dame's Chase Claypool during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
