Seahawks Draft: Josh Wilson a Poor Fit in Seattle

After trading their first-round pick to the Patriots for Deion Branch, the Seahawks made every effort to remind their fans that they'd already done quite well for themselves with their top choice in 2007.

Of course, that was just smoke and mirrors—because Branch played for the 'Hawks in 2006. However you want to spin it, the fact of the matter is that Seattle had no first round pick in 2007. 

Team president Tim Ruskell also told Seahawks fans they could get a sense of the teams predraft thinking by studying Internet mock drafts.

Well, eight of the ten mock drafts I saw had the 'Hawks making different selections. Four were offensive linemen; two were tight ends; one was cornerback; one was a fullback. Offensive guards Josh Beekman from Boston College and Justin Blalock from Texas were listed twice.

The Seahawks have only three guards on their roster: Chris Gray, who will be 37 in June; Rob Sims, a fourth-round selection in 2006; and Floyd Womack. Poor blocking and injuries limited Shaun Alexander to 3.6 yards per carry in 2006, and Matt Hasselbeck also spent time on the injured list. If anything was clear, it was that the 'Hawks needed O-line help...and so who did they go with at the end of the first round, when their turn came up and Beekman was still on the board?

Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson.

The choice doesn't make much sense. Seattle already has Kelly Herndon, Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings (last year's top pick), Jordan Babineaux, Jimmy Williams, and four others listed on the depth chart at corner. While each has a kink in his armor, games are won or lost in the trenches—and the Seahawks had far bigger holes to fill on the line.

Sure, Wilson's kick-return ability fills a need for the 'Hawks...but not one that should trump protection up front.

With the 85th pick in the third round, Seattle chose Brandon Mebane, a defensive tackle from California. Let's see—the Seahawks have Chuck Darby, Rocky Bernard, Russell Davis, Marcus Tubbs, Craig Terrill, and three more players on the roster at DT. They also have Patrick Kerney, Bryce Fisher, and Darryl Trapp, and two others on the depth chart at DE.

I don't think Mebane runs back punts.

Day two began for the Seahawks with the 120th pick in round four, which they used to select defensive end Baraka Atkins from Miami. Please see previous paragraph.

With pick 124 of the fourth round, received from San Francisco in a trade for wide receiver Darrell Jackson, Seattle selected offensive lineman Mansfield Wrotto from Georgia Tech. Finally. The 'Hawks project Wrotto as a starting guard...but the "When?" part of the equation is anybody's guess.

At least the fans in the Hawks Nest can start making those Wrotto Wrooter signs.

With pick 161 in the fourth round, Seattle took Will Herring, a linebacker from Auburn. Let's count together, shall we? At linebacker, the Seahawks have Leroy Hill, Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson, Niko Koutouvides, Kevin Bentley, and Tony Robinson. Did you get six? I did.

Since they traded Jackson, the Seahawks obviously had a need for another wide receiver to complement "number-one pick" Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram, D.J. Hackett, and Ben Obomanu—so they selected two: Courtney Brown from Auburn at pick 197 in the sixth round, and Oregon State's Jordan Kent at pick 210.

With their last pick in the seventh round, Seattle chose offensive guard Steve Vallos from Wake Forest. And let's be serious: Can a seventh-round selection, pick number 232, really be expected to help?

For the record, the 'Hawks now have five offensive linemen, two rookies, one in his second season, and one soon to be 37. Pat Rose and Austin King (WHO?) are listed as backup centers to Chris Spencer, so maybe they're in the mix too...along with anyone picked up on waivers.

I'm sure some of the Seattle draftees will help the team, but I don't think the 'Hawks did much to address their most pressing weakness. I'm not going to grade the Seahawks' draft, because I don't believe in giving grades before the test—and the test doesn't start until September.

I just hope Shaun and Matt have their insurance premiums paid up.