2011 NFL Mock Draft: Seattle Seahawks Settle for Local QB Jake Locker

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In the 2011 NFL Mock Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker with the No. 25 pick in the first round.

A lot has to work out for this pick to actually occur. First, Seattle has to see enough in locker to make him their future franchise quarterback. They cannot draft him simply because he played for the Huskies.

Also, they have to either sign Matt Hasselbeck to just a one year, incentive laced contract or allow him to walk away. There is absolutely no point in signing Hasselbeck to a two or three year contract and then go ahead and draft Locker. Having returned for his senior season at Washington, if Locker is going to start in the NFL one day, it should happen no later than his second season with an NFL team.

I have heard so many conflicting reports when it comes to Locker that it is almost impossible to predict where he will go or project how he will be as a pro. Had he come out after his junior year last year - which he clearly should have - he could have been a top pick. Now, he is a borderline first round prospect at best.

With so many different views, who will be right in the long run?

Either way, I expect the Seahawks to gamble on Locker, although I am not convinced that he is the answer for Pete Carroll and company. They need to upgrade the offense, and it all begins at quarterback, but Locker could be a bit of a reach at this pick. I would grab another position here, and possibly take a quarterback in the second or third round.

But regardless of anyone's opinion of Locker, many people have him going to the Seahawks with the No. 25 pick in the first round.

ESPN NFL Draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, who both feel that Seattle will draft Locker.

"Locker has worked hard to help scouts forget about a bad season of tape, and did enough at his recent pro day to get more positive vibes attached to his stock among evaluators," says Kiper. "As we've said before, Locker has a big-time arm, a great attitude, elite athleticism for the position, but has unfortunately lacked accuracy, the one trait most of us believe is the most innate. But I wouldn't put it past him to improve that, given the kind of kid he is, and his range of talent. This isn't an endorsement of Locker as a guy who should step in and start for the Seahawks if Matt Hasselbeck isn't back in 2011, but even if Seattle makes a move for a short-term answer at quarterback, Locker could be hard to pass up if Pete Carroll thinks he's a solution for the long run."
"Locker is worth a late-first round pick in my opinion but there are some questions about whether he is a fit in Seattle's West Coast offense, which requires accurate throws and quick decisions in the pocket," writes McShay. "However, new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell comes in from Minnesota and brings a scheme that showed a lot of variety in recent seasons depending on the quarterback and also used the running game to set up play-action/bootleg packages. Bevell is capable of tweaking his offense to get Locker working on the run outside the pocket, where he is at his best. The ideal situation would be to bring free agent Matt Hasselbeck back on a short-term deal to help mentor Locker and give him time to develop."

Locker will wind up going in the first round, and the Seahawks are his most likely destination. If they decide to opt for another player, or even position, then expect to hear the name of either Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Andy Dalton (TCU), Christian Ponder (Florida State), Jimmy Smith (Colorado) or Nate Solder (Baylor).

For more on the draft needs of the Seahawks, make sure to check out Bleacher Report Contributor Ben Goldstein, who takes a look at the 2011 NFL Draft: 7 First Round Draft Picks That Would Be Perfect for the Seahawks.

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