One of the most recognized names in the industry, Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports. Rob has been covering the NFL Draft for more than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA Today, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, among others. He also works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Rang's opinions and evaluations are his own and do not reflect those of the Seahawks. Follow him on Twitter @RobRang.

The Seahawks enter the 2024 NFL draft with seven draft picks, but enough needs that general manager John Schneider may ultimately elect to trade down.

The priority would appear to be on both sides of the line of scrimmage, reinforcing an offensive line that often struggled to generate clear running lanes for recent second round picks Ken Walker III and Zach Charbonnet to exploit, or a clean pocket for Geno Smith to survey the field. The situation was even more dire on the defensive side of the ball where a lack of containment had the Seahawks ranking 31^st out of the league's 32 teams in both rushing yards and touchdowns allowed last season.

Seattle addressed both groups in free agency and also brought in quality veterans at linebacker, safety and tight end but more help is needed. As it stands now, Seattle has the longest wait of any NFL team between its first and second selections – a gap of 65 picks. This is why I anticipate Schneider and the Seahawks aggressively pursuing the idea of acquiring extra picks. In my final mock draft here and at FOXSports.com, I am projecting Seattle to trade back from their current selection at No. 16 overall, sending that pick to the Buffalo Bills and getting the No. 28 and No. 60 overall selections back in exchange.

Round 1: No. 28 overall (projected trade with the Buffalo Bills) – Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan

While much of the pre-draft buzz around the Seahawks has focused on needs along the offensive line, incoming head coach Mike Macdonald will certainly want to prioritize Seattle's lagging run defense, especially given that the unit he led in Baltimore last season allowed a league-low six rushing touchdowns all year long. The Seahawks, by comparison, surrendered 24 rushing touchdowns to opponents last season, just one fewer than a Carolina Panthers squad that finished the season with the NFL's worst record at 2-15.

Needless to say, the Seahawks are hoping for an immediate impact with their first-round pick. A blocker can provide that – and there are starting-caliber offensive linemen to be found throughout the first round, however, an impact defensive lineman typically can "move the needle" more than a guard, which is among the reasons why I think Seattle will focus on defense first. Adding a player already familiar to Macdonald's approach – like Jenkins, who first emerged as a starter at Michigan while Macdonald served there as a defensive coordinator -- would seem like an obvious strategy.

And let's be clear, Jenkins is a really good player. He started 33 games over the past three seasons, watching a trio of his former Michigan linemates earn first round selections over that time, with Seattle nabbing another (Mike Morris) last year. Jenkins was, himself, named an All-American this past season and all-conference each of the past two years. While perhaps not quite as big as his four-time Pro Bowler father, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Jenkins is a muscled-up and highly athletic prospect that many in the national media seem to be overlooking. Doesn't that sound like a typical Schneider selection?

He's quick enough to play outside and powerful to play inside, providing the Seahawks with the flexibility to constantly rotate their veterans up front, just as Macdonald did successfully in Baltimore and Michigan.

Round 2: No. 60 overall (projected trade with Buffalo) – Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State

The Seahawks received this pick as part of the earlier projected trade back from No. 16 overall. Landing an "extra" selection on Day Two would allow the Seahawks to prioritize both sides of the line of scrimmage with premium picks.

Like the aforementioned Jenkins at Michigan, Beebe proved to be a virtual rock at Kansas State, starting 48 of a possible 51 career games over his college career and earning the title as the Big 12's Offensive Lineman of the Year after each of the past two seasons. He's allowed just one sack since his redshirt freshman season and is among the best run blockers in this class, generating impressive power at the point of attack due to his use of leverage, grip strength and leg drive.

Beebe starred the past two seasons at left guard, where the Seahawks currently have recent free agent addition Laken Tomlinson slated to take over for free agent departure Damien Lewis. The 6-foot-3, 322-pound bowling ball also started at left and right tackle when injuries to teammates popped up at Kansas State, offering the positional versatility and grit Schneider has always prioritized up front.

Round 3: No. 81 (from Saints through Broncos): Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina

Just as they did at guard, the Seahawks filled immediate holes at linebacker in free agency by inking quality veterans Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson. Each signed just one-year deals, however, all but guaranteeing that Seattle will invest at least one 2024 draft pick on the position. Day Two (Rounds Two and Three) of the 2024 draft looks to be a "sweet spot" for linebackers, which is why I believe Seattle will ultimately add to their current one selection. If available at this point in the draft, Gray would seem to be a clear fit for Seattle, boasting the size, speed and playmaking ability to project as a long-time NFL starter.

The 6-foot-2, 234-pound Gray certainly filled up the stat-sheet at North Carolina, registering a total of 365 tackles, including 29.5 for loss and 8.5 sacks over his three starting seasons in Chapel Hill. He also generated 15 turnovers during that time, intercepting five passes with a handful of both forced and recovered fumbles, as well.

Round 4: No. 102 (from Commanders): Calen Bullock, DB, USC

Just like at linebacker, Seattle looked to free agency to replace iconic starters at safety, but with Rayshawn Jenkins and K'Von Wallace signed to short deals, the club could still be on the lookout for reinforcements – especially one with the range and ball-skills that Bullock offers.

At 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds Bullock has a frame that would appear better suited to cornerback. Further, he possesses the athleticism (as proven at the Combine with a 4.48-second 40-yard dash time, for example), to handle this conversion. Some Seahawks fans might remember that Seattle turned former Oklahoma State safety Tre Flowers into a starting cornerback a few years ago.

Bullock possesses the traits to consider a position switch but I like his upside at free safety. He does a nice job of reading the eyes of quarterbacks and has a combination of speed, length and soft hands to be an eraser in the deep middle.

Round 4: No. 118: Joe Milton III, QB, Tennessee

The trade for Sam Howell reduces the need for a young quarterback but Seattle won't go into training camp with the former Commanders starter as the only passer on the roster behind Geno Smith. If the Seahawks are willing to invest a draft pick in a developmental quarterback this year, Milton would seem like the perfect blend of upside and value at this point in the draft.

At 24-years-old, Milton is older than most prospects (as well as Howell) and, despite his age, he's still a relatively raw prospect, needing to show greater awareness and touch as a passer. That said, he completed an impressive 64.7% of his passes this past season at Tennessee, throwing 20 touchdowns against just five interceptions against quality SEC competition, while running for another seven scores. And at a chiseled 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds, Milton certainly looks the part of an NFL quarterback, boasting arguably the strongest arm of this class. He'd be drafted as a clear No. 3 developmental quarterback but one with starter upside, as well as the size and athleticism to potentially provide the Seahawks with a Wildcat or Tush-Push wrinkle on offense or simply on the scout team to prepare the defense for opponents with mobile quarterbacks.

Round 6: No. 179 (from Commanders): Jha'Quan Jackson, WR/PR, Tulane

Wide receiver may just be the Seahawks' deepest and most talented position but this draft is loaded with talented pass-catchers and Seattle has often taken advantage of unique position groups in the past. Further, with the club needing to replace its primary punt returner, DeeJay Dallas (who signed with Arizona as a free agent), Seattle may place extra emphasis on special teams.

Jackson is built like a classic punt returner, checking in shorter than most NFL wide receivers at 5-foot-9 but solidly built at 188 pounds. He accelerates in a blink and possesses very good top-end speed, officially clocking in at 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Better yet, he's field fast, showing the vision and courage to attack through traffic, scoring touchdowns as a receiver, runner and returner for the Green Wave, often while leaving opponents in his wake.

Round 6: No. 192: Jack Westover, TE, Washington

With a program-record 13 players invited to the Combine this year, the NFL clearly recognizes what a special class it was that led the University of Washington to a national title game berth. And, with all due respect to projected first round picks like Rome Odunze and Michael Penix, Jr. perhaps no one better personified the grit and clutch play that led to the Huskies PAC-12 championship this season than Westover.

Broader and quicker laterally than either of Seattle's top two tight ends, Noah Fant and Pharoah Brown, Westover could prove a valuable H-Back option in Ryan Grubb's offense. It is a role, of course, that he perfected a year ago under Grubb at Washington, more than matching his previous career totals with a breakout 2023 campaign that included 46 receptions for 433 yards and four scores with another coming as a rusher.

Westover is the perfect example of a player that Seattle's new coaching staff will know better than any others in the NFL. They'll know that he spent much of his childhood focusing on basketball and proved a remarkably savvy football player despite limited experience. They'll also have the experience with him to look past the thumb surgery which limited his workouts at the Combine and UW's Pro Day. Like former Seahawk and Husky Will Dissly (selected in the fourth round of the 2018 draft), Westover won't hear his name called until Day Three – but don't be surprised when he plays longer and better in the NFL than many of the tight ends selected ahead of him.

Round 7: No. 235: Frank Crum, OT, Wyoming

Generally-speaking, I've always been a big fan of using late round selections on athletic big men. This year's class could offer an especially unique opportunity as the tackle class, in particular, is so talented and deep that several blockers who normally might be drafted in the 5^th or 6^th round could last until the final stanza or even go undrafted.

That could be the case with Crum, a 6-foot-8, 313-pounder who turned heads at the Combine by clocking in at 4.91 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

Crum is far from just a workout warrior, however. The Laramie native started 48 of 55 possible games for the Cowboys over the past five seasons, earning First Team All-Mountain West Conference in 2023 at left tackle while spending most of his career on the right side, offering Seattle the size, athleticism, dependability and versatility to fight for a roster spot.

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