The recently wrapped-up NFL Scouting Combine at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium provided NFL personnel staff with plenty of measurements, medical evaluations, athletic testing results, and personal interview information that will help teams better determine the top professional prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft.Â
Draft analysts also came away from this past week's event with more clues when it comes to projecting where players might wind up when the opening round of the NFL's annual selection process gets going on Thursday, April 28 in Chicago.Â
Below, check out a post-combine look at which players media pundits are pegging to the Seahawks in round one, when Seattle is slated to pick No. 26 overall.
Elliot Harrison, NFL.com: DT A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
Analysis: "Robinson is one the top interior defenders in the draft and he would fit perfectly in Seattle."
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: DT A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
Analysis: "Pete Carroll adds a big body to the front line to fortify the Seahawks' stellar run defense."
Todd McShay, ESPN.com (Insider): DT Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
Analysis: "The Seahawks have shown a willingness to take a chance on risk/reward prospects in the past, and Nkemdiche, who comes with plenty of off-field baggage, certainly fits that bill. Even though his tape is inconsistent, he has top-10 talent, and his combine workout confirmed his rare athletic ability. According to ESPN Stats & Information data, Nkemdiche is just the fifth defensive lineman since 2006 to weigh in at 290-plus pounds, run a sub-5.00 40-yard dash and jump at least 35 inches in the vertical."
Rob Rang, CBSSports.com: T Jack Conklin, Michigan State
Analysis: "Seattle's offensive line was a weak spot season long and with pending free agent left tackle Russell Okung likely to draw significant attention on the open market, the cap-challenged Seahawks may be forced to look to the draft for reinforcements. Conklin is a former walk-on turned All-American who plays with the aggression and physicality that the Seahawks lacked up front a year ago."
Dane Brugler, CBSSports.com: T Jason Spriggs, Indiana
Analysis: "Seattle has several question marks on the offensive line, including the future of Russell Okung who is in a contract year. Spriggs has core strength issues, but his frame and athleticism will be extremely appealing for teams with needs on the offensive line."
Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: T Taylor Decker, Ohio State
Analysis: "They have major issues up front and tackle Russell Okung and guard J.R. Sweezy are free agents. This is a player who could play left or right tackle and he's one of those kids the scouts love. The scouts I talked with raved about his work ethic."
Will Brinson, CBSSports.com: LB Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
Analysis: "The Seahawks' brass feels like a group secure enough and willing to gamble on grabbing top-end talent with injury risk (and a fifth-year option) here."
Pat Kirwan, RealFootballNetwork: T Jack Conklin, Michigan State
Analysis: "The Seahawks need offensive line help and it may be time to tap into it in the first round, rather than hope that offensive line coach Tom Cable can develop another late-round pick. It may be hard for the Seahawks to resist Derrick Henry here."
Nate Davis, USA Today: DT Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
Analysis: "He's disruptive and versatile and fills a gap for a team that will need to reload the middle of its D-line. The O-line will have to be rebuilt in subsequent rounds."
Jon Ledyard, USA Today: DL Jonathan Bullard, Florida
Analysis: "It's probably lazy to mock Bullard here, but the Seahawks never do what we expect, so good luck trying to guess John Schneider's strategy. Bullard fits beautifully in Seattle, where he can play a number of techniques along their multiple front defense. The explosive Gators defender can attack gaps in a disruptive fashion, bursting off the football with eye-popping quickness and physicality. His violent playing style is what Seattle looks for in their defensive linemen, but Bullard can also two-gap and hold the point of attack when necessary as well."
Matt Miller, BleacherReport.com: DT Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
Analysis: "The big defensive tackle has obvious ability and athleticism, and the key is finding the balance between his risk and reward. If you can get the next Fletcher Cox or Cameron Jordan at the end of Round 1, that's a pretty good deal. There's no doubt NFL general managers will be weighing the same question for the next seven weeks. In Seattle, head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider are no strangers to taking on off-field risks and hoping for on-field results. If Nkemdiche is going in the first round, the Seahawks are a likely destination."
Dan Kadar, SB Nation: DE Shaq Lawson, Clemson
Analysis: "Lawson is an ascending player following his Combine performance, so his stock may be much higher than this come April."
Robert Mays, SI.com: DT Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
Analysis: "Seattle's offensive line needs a ton of help, but with most of the ready-to-play options already gone taking Rankins would give them a chance to make an area of strength even better."
Seahawks coaches, scouts and front office staff are out in Indianapolis to watch draft-class talent preform at Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine.Â