Seahawks' Top 2024 NFL Draft Targets

The Seattle Seahawks have one of the best NFL draft reputations across the NFL.

Seattle's front office nailed a handful of picks over the last two years, including Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen and Kenneth Walker III, to rebuild the depth across its roster.

Plenty of trust should be applied to Seattle's selections in the 2024 NFL draft, starting with the No. 16 selection.

The offensive line is expected to be Seattle's primary first-round target. The Seahawks could choose between two interior players who spent their collegiate careers in the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle's front office will be ready to pivot if the preferred offensive linemen are not available. The defensive interior could be the focus in that situation.

Troy Fautanu

Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 04: Washington Huskies offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (55) blocks during a college football game between the Washington Huskies and the USC Trojans on November 4, 2023, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Seahawks should be more familiar with Troy Fautanu than most first-round prospects because he played at Washington.

Fautanu has been projected to go anywhere from No. 10 to No. 20 in various mock drafts.

Bleacher Report's NFL scouting department projected Fautanu would land with the New Orleans Saints at No. 14.

However, ESPN.com's Jordan Reid predicted Fautanu would land at No. 20 with the Seahawks after a projected trade dropped Seattle four spots.

Fautanu's availability at No. 16 comes down to how quickly the run on offensive linemen happens.

In this case, the Seahawks have to hope Joe Alt lands with the Tennessee Titans at No. 7, not the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5. The Chargers and Titans have the two biggest O-line needs in the top 10.

Alt going to the Titans would give the Saints more options at No. 14 and likely allow the Seahawks to land their primary offensive line target at No. 16.

Taliese Fuaga

Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images

EUGENE, OREGON - NOVEMBER 24: Taliese Fuaga #75 of the Oregon State Beavers in an offensive stance during a game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on November 24, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

Taliese Fuaga is projected to land in the same draft range as Fautanu.

B/R's NFL scouting department predicted the Oregon State product would be the Seahawks' pick at No. 16.

B/R's Brandon Thorn drew a comparison to a former NFL lineman when he broke down Fuaga's skill set.

"Shades of Mike Iupati can be found on Fuaga's film," Thorn said. "With Seattle's penchant for bigger, hulking guards, this pairing fits in more ways than one."

Fuaga would be a massive get for Seattle's new coaching staff, which should have a Baltimore Ravens influence of some sort with Mike Macdonald in charge.

Fuaga is the type of play the Ravens would select and he could now fit the profile of player the Seahawks are in the market for.

Byron Murphy

John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Texas Longhorns DT Byron Murphy J. (90) chases downTexas Sate Bobcat QB Behren Morton during the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns on November 24, 2023, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Seattle could flip its focus to the defensive interior with the No. 16 pick.

Texas' Byron Murphy is viewed as the best interior defensive line prospect in the draft class and he could fill a huge hole on the Seahawks roster.

ESPN.com's Field Yates broke down how Murphy could fit in Seattle. He projected Murphy to the Seahawks at No. 16 in his mock draft with Mel Kiper Jr.

"Seattle needs to hammer the interior of the defensive line at some point early in the draft, and Murphy is the best defensive tackle in the class. He is explosive as a pass-rusher and he plays with power, torque and leverage in the running game," Yates wrote.

Seattle may not have a choice to change its approach at No. 16 if the run on offensive linemen swoops up Fautanu and Fuaga in the top 15.

A trade up for an offensive lineman could happen if that is the case, but the Seahawks could also stay put and improve their defense on Thursday.