Another year, another offensive line. Seattle has added OT Luke Joeckel who was a bust at Jacksonville and OG Oday Aboushi who has not been much better. Joeckel was a former #2 overall pick and will cost Seattle tackle money. So he will compete for LT George Fant’s left tackle spot. If he cannot beat out Fant then he will start at left guard. This might not be a bad thing because Fant does have an upside having only just started playing football a couple of years ago. Aboushi will get a shot at right guard allowing RG Germain Ifedi to compete with for OT Garry Gilliam’s starting spot. The offensive line was arguably the weakest link last year (maybe in the entire NFL?) even after drafting Ifedi in the first round and OG Rees Odhiambo in the second. Odhiambo will also compete as a starter at guard this year. Seattle may still pick another offensive lineman or two in this years draft.

Seattle received two 3rd round compensatory draft picks for 2017 and their draft will have seven picks:

first-round (26th overall)

second (58),

3 thirds (90,102,106),

sixth (210),

and seventh (226)

Other than continued help at offensive line, Seattle will look for a backup quarterback, backup linebacker, starting defensive tackle, starting linebacker and potentially a starting corner.

QB-

QB Russell Wilson is good a playing injured, but they really need a better backup than QB Trevone Boykin. They may use a late third round pick here.

RB-

RB Thomas Rawls and RB C.J. Prosise should be all that is needed here, but Seattle added RB Eddie Lacy here as well. I don’t see them bringing in anyone else. Last years issues were all about injury and you can’t plan for that kind of luck.

WR-

WR Doug Baldwin and WR Tyler Lockett will lead this same group again this year. I don’t see any changes happening at this position.

TE-

TE Jimmy Graham is solid. He spent a lot of offseason time with Wilson too. That may payoff on the field. TE Luke Willson was prioritized to return from free agency. TE Nick Vannett has great upside going into his second year. I don’t see any changes happening here either.

K-

PK Steven Hauschka is gone. Either PK Blair Walsh or PK John Lunsford will get the call. I suspect it will be Lunsford.

D-

Defensive Tackle is a need that could be addressed in the first round to match someone young with DT Jarran Reed . Especially if a player is available who can rush the passer.

Linebacker became a need with the exit of LB Michael Morgan. There should be a linebacker picked in the first three rounds.

If there is a trade involving CB Richard Sherman then the whole team changes. Sherm would bring at least one starter and likely another player with upside. The Legion of Boom does show Sherm as its face, but SS Kam Chancellor and FS Earl Thomas are just as much its heart. Seattle has just settled in with CB DeShawn Shead as the 4th player in the LOB, but if Sherm leaves they will need to grab another corner in the draft and maybe even in the first round. SS Bradley McDougald’s addition is welcome depth for Kam and ET but adding another safety to the roster would be a good idea.

Go Hawks!

End.