The more I think about this draft and Coach Carroll being 70 years old the more only one name comes to mind. CB Derek Stingly could line up right away with either CB Justin Coleman or CB Artie Burns filling out a secondary with FS Quandre Diggs and SS Jamal Adams that could arguably be the LOB v2. Carroll does not have the mindset or the years left in the NFL to be in a rebuilding year. If he had nothing but rookies they would still be out for blood and to be 1 and 0 after every game. Assuming DE Kayvon Thibodeaux is gone, Stingly seems like a certain pick. If Stingly is also gone, then OT Charles Cross would be the next on their board. If all three are gone then I suspect they will trade down a few and pick the best Edge available. Edge is deep in this draft, but there are only a few who could be blue chips and that group likely ends when DE George Karlaftis is taken off the board. Seattle could get a lot in return for moving back just a handful of spots but they could also end up losing out on the player they desperately need.

Here are the 8 picks they will have when the draft starts:

Round 1: 9

Round 2: 40, 41

Round 3: 72

Round 4: 109

Round 5: 152, 153

Round 7: 229

I think Seattle will trade back from #9 and #41 because the guys they want will be gone. But they could also take Cross or Stingly at #9, then trade up using #40 and #41 to get the last of the best Edge guys on their board.

The higher QB Malik Willis and QB Kenny Pickett go, the better life is for 12s.

QB:

If nothing else changes QB Geno Smith would likely be the starter. Seattle could be fine with him at point guard. QB Drew Lock likely keeps on the team as a backup. The only way this changes is if Seattle grabs QB Baker Mayfield. Not only does that seem unlikely, but they could have already made that happen if it was going to.

Offensive line:

If camp started today, LT Stone Forsythe would start instead of LT Duane Brown, who remains a free agent. Then LG Damien Lewis, C Kyle Fuller, RG Gabe Jackson, and RT Jake Curhan would round out the line. Seattle has started worse lines. Cross would go a long way to helping this group. Or we could hope that OT Bernhard Raimann falls to #40. At #72 OT Daniel Faalele, OG Darian Kinnard, or OT Nicholas Petit-Frere could be on the board. I could easily see 2 of the top 4 picks going to the offensive line.

RB:

RB Chris Carson is an unknown at this time. His injury could be far worse than we know. RB Rashaad Penny is back because he wants to play with Carson. If Penny could play at the same level as the last few games last year and Carson is at his best too, then whoever is under center is golden. But if Carson is not going to come back at the same level (or at all), Seattle might take a running back much earlier than anyone would expect. RB Breece Hall may well be on the board at #40, or RB Isaiah Spiller at #72.

WR:

This may be the only position that I would be stunned to see a pick unless it is a special teams player. WR Tyler Lockett, WR DK Metcalf, and WR Dee Eskridge are all prime targets for any new starter.

TE:

Seattle got TE Noah Fant in the trade for Wilson and has re-signed TE Will Dissly. That will do nicely to lead their depth of talent. No needs here, but if they are high on TE Trey McBride he should still be on the board at #40. Options, options.

K:

PK Jason Myers is not a success in Seattle and I would applaud Seattle taking any kicker at any late round.

D:

Seattle needs to rush the passer. They have had that need forever and keep missing on players in the draft. Let's face it, even if 2 quarterbacks go in the top 10 Thibodeaux still will not drop to #9. Should Seattle take the best Edge available there? Only if the board is just right. Most likely Seattle will address the Edge with #40/41 taking DE Boye Mafe or DE Arnold Ebiketie. If they wait until #72 all ten of the top edge guys should be gone leaving them with DE Darrell Taylor, DE Shelby Harris, and DE LJ Collier as their starters. DT Al Woods and DT Quinton Jefferson are back and that makes me feel better about the middle. But Seattle should draft at least two linemen on each side of the ball.

At linebacker and without LB Bobby Wagner, Seattle has LB Jordyn Brooks and LB Cody Barton and maybe LB Ben Burr-Kirven as their starters? It seems like one of the top four picks should go here, maybe LB Channing Tindall from Georgia at #72? LB Christian Harris, LB Quay Walker, or LB Leo Chenal are a bit of a reach at #40/41, but if Seattle dealt down to #50 one of them could still be there.

The secondary starts out with FS Quandre Diggs paired with SS Jamal Adams. Then they have CB Justin Coleman, CB Tre Brown, CB Sidney Jones and CB Artie Burns. They could definitely use a bump in cornerback talent through the draft or they could stand pat. I say Coach Carroll will take the best available corner at one of the four early picks to try to build one last special group at his favorite position. So why not start with Stingley?

If I had to be pushed to make a projection without any trades, it would be this.

#9 - CB Derek Stingley

#40 - OT Bernhard Raimann

#41 - Edge Boye Mafe

#72 - LB Channing Tindall

#109 - RB Brian Robinson

#152 - DT Thomas Booker

#153 - OG Joshua Ezeudu

#229 - PK Ryan Stonehouse

Go 'Hawks!

End.