Seattle overperformed considering their talent last season. Can they retool and position themselves to be a playoff team for yet another year? And what does the draft hold with Seattle having eight selections; a first (No. 27), two seconds, one third, two fourths, one fifth and a sixth - assuming three compensatory picks (and no trade downs)?

QB-

QB Russell Wilson remains someone who should get at least one MVP vote sometime in his life. The question will be who backs him up and then hope they never have to play. This might be the year to drop a 3rd round pick on a backup as Wilson goes into his 9th year already.

OL-

This position keeps dragging down Wilson. They have done okay some days and then look like revolving doors on other days. Drafting late in the first round impacts this position perhaps more than any other. RT Germain Ifedi, LT George Fant, and LG Mike Iupati are all free agents, C Joey Hunt is a restricted free agent, and C Justin Britt is recovering from a knee injury. Britt will likely be a cap space cut leaving center as a crucial free agent need. This year’s draft is not deep enough with line talent to have the 27th pick be a starter over existing younger players. Free agency should focus on the offensive line especially at guard and center.

RB-

All running backs for Seattle were injured. RB Chris Carson will be back and about equal to his former self. RB Rashaad Penny had a much nastier injury and I am not sure he ever will be what he could have been. RB Travis Homer is someone that I like, but he does not seem like he could carry the load as the main guy. Seattle should draft someone late (4th round maybe) with the ability to play up.

WR-

This group will be anchored by WR Tyler Lockett and WR DK Metcalf and they are all that should really matter in fantasy football next season. Seattle has some young guys who could also step up. And this draft class looks strong at wide receiver so I would not be surprised to see the "best available" guy at #27 be a receiver. But this is not a position of need (especially compared to both sides of the trenches)

TE-

I think Seattle is done here with TE Greg Olsen added to the fold. TE Will Dissly could make Olsen look unnecessary, if he stays healthy. And TE Jacob Hollister has fantasy worthy talent as well. TE Luke Willson is a free agent and may or may not continue as a ‘Hawk. I want him too because of who he is as a person, but we will see. The depth here also contributes to wide receiver not being a position of need.

PK-

PK Jason Myers. Meh. I am not sure it matters.

D-

Try as they might the pass rush just does not seem to happen for Seattle. But DE Jadaveon Clowney was a stud on those snaps where he could get past his injuries. Getting him back as a free agent should be a priority. The other free agents here are: DE Jarran Reed, DT Al Woods, DE Quinton Jefferson, DE Ezekiel Ansah, DE Branden Jackson, and DT Bryan Mone. The first three would be painful to see go, but I would especially like them to find a way to keep Woods. Free agency should be active here as well because Seattle seems incapable of drafting for this need.

LB Mychal Kendricks is also a free agent and my first thought is to just let him go because Seattle has LB Bobby Wagner and LB KJ Wright and anyone who they pair with should be good enough. But as hard as it is to believe, these guys are both rapidly approaching the 10 year mark of their careers. LB Shaquem Griffin and LB Cody Barton have shown flashes, but they are not Wagner and Wright. Kendricks is a better starter right now than either of them. This is the year Seattle needs to infuse at least one new, young star into the linebacker slot or this position will become an area weakness very soon.

Corner and safety both looked better than expected last year. Maybe not good and maybe I do not quite understand why FS Marquise Blair was not on the field a lot more often. But when Blair and SS Quandre Diggs were on the field this unit looked like they could be something special again. If the coaches are not wanting Blair on the field, then they need to find a different answer. But corner is much less special and is an obvious area of need. I would be thrilled if #27 turns into a corner. Stopping the run is great, but playing in the NFC West without at least one strong corner is just not fun.

So my take is that #27 should be a corner, 2nd round a linebacker and a defensive tackle, 3rd and both 4ths combined for a quarterback and two offensive lineman, and then best available in the 5th and 6th. This is pending any free agent moves in March and April before the draft starts on April 23rd.

Go Hawks!

End.