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Monday Round-Up: Seahawks Earn No. 5 Spot on Bleacher Report's 2023 Draft Class Rankings

Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report ranks the 2023 draft classes league-wide, with the Seahawks earning a Top 5 grade.

Feb 26, 2024 at 10:23 AM

Maliik Obee

Seahawks.com Contributor

Good morning, 12s. Here's a look at what's out there today — Monday, February 26— about your Seattle Seahawks.

The Seattle Seahawks rank fifth on Bleacher Report's 2023 draft class rankings.

As the new-look Seahawks coaching staff continues to get familiar with the 2024 offseason in full-swing, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report takes a look back at Seattle’s 2023 draft class in his latest league-wide draft re-rankings. After helping Seattle climb to a 9-8 finish, the Seahawks first-year group earns the fifth spot on the list.

Ballentine uses a combination of data from Pro Football Reference’s approximate value metric and other tools to determine potential for first-year players.

*Pro Football Reference's* approximate value was used as a factor in the ranking criteria. It is an attempt to quantify a player's value to a team across all positions in a single season. The total AV of the entire class for 2023 is noted on each slide.

However, rookie performance isn't the only measure that matters. Flashes of potential and positional value were also factored into the rankings. Progression isn't always linear, and there are prospects who might not have had a huge impact but showed they could still live up to the hype.
Here's a rundown of where every class ranks one year in.*

Seattle used the No. 5 selection on Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon, whose 16 passes defensed (5^th in the NFL), 79 tackles, 3.0 sacks and an interception returned for a 97-yard touchdown helped him become one of three rookies selected to the 2024 Pro Bowl. At No. 20, the Seahawks selected Ohio State wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught 63 receptions for four touchdowns. Smith-Njigba also became the first rookie since 1960 to record two game-winning touchdowns in the final minute of the fourth quarter. Ballentine praises Seattle's first-round selections, as the team earns an AV of 25.

Total AV: 25Only three rookies made the Pro Bowl this year, and Devon Witherspoon was one of them. The fifth overall pick racked up 16 passes defended, a pick-six and three sacks while giving up just* *5.4 yards per target*.The Seahawks didn't just nail their first pick, though.Jaxon Smith-Njigba carved out a significant role on a team that already has DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. He had 63 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns. Given his clear role as the third receiver, that's a promising stat line.*

There's stuff to clean up for sure, but in terms of the elite-level play strength/power that was on his LSU film translating to the NFL as a rookie in 2023? Anthony Bradford passed that test. pic.twitter.com/YXaaCOn27Z
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) February 22, 2024

Seattle climbed above .500 in 2023, despite fighting injuries that resulted in 10 different offensive line starting combinations. Ballentine praises the potential of guard Anthony Bradford (4th round) and center Olu Oluwatimi (5th round).

Anthony Bradford and Olu Oluwatimi elevate this class's stock a little bit as mid-round picks who could wind up being starters on the offensive line. Bradford played 659 snaps at guard and only gave up one sack, per **PFF*. Oluwatimi was fine in *128 snaps* and could wind up being a starting center.*

Social Post Of The Day

Seahawks rookies Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo both cracked the NFL's list of Top 10 catches from the 2023 season.

The 10 best catches of the 2023 season. Agree with No. 1? pic.twitter.com/3LfY3UDAub
— NFL (@NFL) February 21, 2024

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Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times: What the NFL’s 2024 salary-cap increase means for the Seahawks.

Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times: Seahawks set at corner with Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen.

Brandon Gustafson of Seattle Sports 710AM: 3 reasons not to worry about Seahawks coaches not attending combine.

Corbin Smith of Sports Illustrated: Seahawks Have 'Solid One-Two Punch' For Grubb.

Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times: Why the Seahawks will bring less personnel to the NFL scouting combine.

Zach Bachar of Bleacher Report: Russell Wilson: Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch Should Make Pro Football Hall of Fame.