Reviewing the Seattle Seahawks' 12 Biggest NFL Scouting Combine Takeaways

The Seattle Seahawks arrived in Indianapolis with several goals in mind. They needed to look for upgrades at linebacker, survey the potential pass-rushers, interview the quarterback candidates and see if they could find a few offensive weapons.

They undoubtedly got most of the answers they were looking for and will be able to enter free agency with a strong understanding of what they can accomplish in the draft.

John Schneider was undoubtedly looking at players that aren't on most teams' radars. 

12. The Seahawks Will Be Drafting 12th in April

The Seahawks are hoping this will be the Year of the 12. The 12th man will be behind the team drafting 12th in 2012. Nauseating enough, yet?

While some weren't too interested in the coin toss with the Kansas City Chiefs to break their 11th-pick tie, it could make a big difference on draft day. The Chiefs could stand in the way of the Seahawks being able to trade their pick, as their needs on the offensive line and at running back could result in a player with trade value coming off the board. 

Several teams down the draft order have needs at offensive tackle, but Jonathan Martin could be too tempting for the Chiefs to pass up. The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't likely to move up to 12 to draft Mike Adams, and there might not be the man on the board other teams simply must have.

Then again, the Chiefs may opt for David DeCastro, and a team may like the value of moving up to 12 more than up to 11. 

11. Vontaze Burfict Won't Be a Draft Target

Most draft boards had Vontaze Burfict as a first-round target last week. A few even thought the linebacker-needy Seahawks would be a good fit. While he could have been an option in the second round, concerns with his speed and versatility made him an unlikely option for Seattle.

Showing up to the combine out of shape and with a bad attitude may have taken Burfict completely off the Seahawks' draft board. He dropped a 40-time over five seconds, so while the Seahawks need some toughness in the middle, they are more interested in getting faster.

Unless Burfict is available in the sixth or seventh round, don't expect the Seahawks to bet on turning around his work ethic and approach to the game. 

10. There Will Be a Quality Running Back Available in Round 2

The Seahawks will most certainly place the franchise tag on Marshawn Lynch if they aren't able to work out a long-term deal, but the team can't risk entering 2013 without an established running back. If Lynch isn't under contract by the draft, they should be compelled to use an early pick on a runner.

Even if Lynch is inked, Seattle needs a complementary back and someone that can fill in should Lynch miss time again. 

Lamar Miller was one of the fastest backs at the combine and likely solidified himself as a late first- or early second-round pick. At 5'11" and 212 lbs, he could possibly fall to Seattle in the second round.

Chris Polk is a faster version of Lynch. He has similar size to Miller but was a bit slower with straight-line speed. He is shifty and versatile and could be an option for the Seahawks if the Green Bay Packers pass on him.

Doug Martin would be a solid consolation prize if Miller and Polk are gone. He's a great blend of size, speed and athleticism. He hits gaps hard, and while he's not explosive, he has great feet and is adept at making tacklers miss.

David Wilson is also making noise as a top running back prospect, but he may not be big enough to entice the Seahawks with their second pick.

9. Brock Osweiler Height Reduction Gives Him an Increase in Value

Brock Osweiler was listed as 6'8" in college, a height that raised red flags for scouts. Quarterbacks with that amount of height haven't fared well in the NFL, often lacking the mobility and quick release needed at that level.

I've mentioned several times over the last two months that Osweiler's release, while having an odd hitch, is quick and compact. It isn't surprising that he came in at "just" 6'6" at the combine.

Osweiler showed enough athleticism over the season, not to mention his NFL-ready arm, to garner second-round consideration. He has some work to do on the mental aspect of his game, but would be a great pick if the Seahawks have a veteran added to the roster for him to learn behind.

It would take some work to get accustomed to him playing a brief game of "patty-cake" before throwing the ball, but Osweiler did what he needed at the combine just by getting measured. The Seahawks should be most interested in his pro day.

8. Luke Kuechly Is the Best Middle Linebacker in the Draft Class

David Hawthorne will likely be priced out of Seattle, leaving them with the need and opportunity to upgrade the linebacker position. Pete Carroll stated at his year-end press conference that Seattle needs to add speed to the linebacker position; Luke Kuechly fits the bill.

Checking in at 6'3" and 242 lbs, Kuechly ran a 4.58 40 and a 4.12 20-yard shuttle. He was a top performer in every skill except the bench, where he still cranked out 27 reps.

There were some concerns with his speed heading into the draft, but those have been answered. He would be a prime first-round target for the Seahawks if they can get a defensive end in free agency.

7. Seattle Will Find Secondary Depth from an Unexpected Draft Pick

John Schneider has plucked players in the fifth round of the prior two drafts and turned them into solid parts of their secondary. Kam Chancellor was a Pro Bowler in his second season, and Richard Sherman showed he has the potential to join him following the 2012 season.

Seattle doesn't currently have a fifth-round pick, so Schneider may need to use the sixth round this offseason.

Seattle needs a player that can back up Earl Thomas at free safety. Walter Thurmond III has had health issues, so a player that can play the nickel spot would also be helpful. 

They may see something in Trent Robinson (Michigan State) or Christian Thompson (South Carolina State). The draft is thin at free safety, but rabbits out of the hat have become the expectation for Schneider.

6. Wide Receiver Has Solid Depth

The Seahawks could use another option at wide receiver in case Sidney Rice or Mike Williams continue to have injury issues. While they have great depth at the position, most of their backups are better suited to working from the slot.

It is possible the Seahawks sign a certain pending free-agent quarterback and opt to bring in his favorite target from his current team. Via free agency or the draft, another target in the passing game wouldn't hurt.

A player like Chris Owusu would bring yet another Stanford Cardinal to Seattle. He is a player that has a lot of potential and great speed, but concussion issues derailed his final two seasons.

Owusu is 6'0" and 200 lbs and runs a 4.31 40. He could be a seventh-round gamble that pays big dividends.

5. Offensive Line Upgrades Will Be Difficult

There is some depth in the draft, but the Seahawks have other needs that will keep them from taking an offensive lineman early.

They were likely looking at options that will be available later in the draft. Perhaps a player like Markus Zusevics (Iowa) or Lamar Holmes (Southern Miss) can be transformed by Tom Cable.

Zusevics tore his pectoral muscle on the bench press at the combine, and will consequently have a lot of uncertainty around him at the combine. Teams will likely avoid him, as he could miss most/all of the 2012 season. However, with the Seahawks looking at needing a body in 2013, he could spend the year working out with the team and learning the NFL, all while not using a roster spot. This could be the perfect solution.

Andrew Datko may be an even better gamble. He was originally seen as a second- or third-round prospect, but he missed most of 2011 with shoulder injuries. A late-round pick could produce a solid prospect.

4. There Could Be Solid Mid-Round Value at Running Back

If the Seahawks don't grab a running back early in the draft, there should still be some quality prospects to be culled from the fourth or sixth rounds.

Chris Rainey has the look of a solid change-of-pace back, and showed great speed at the combine. However, he came up well short of the 4.1 range he was hoping to hit.

A time around 4.3 was expected, so his 4.45 was a disappointment. However, this drop will likely leave him as an option later in day three instead of being off the boards on Friday.  

He seems like a good fit for the Seahawks, and it isn't hard to picture the "It's Rainey in Seattle" and "It's Raineyng on the Clink" promotions. He could step in and take on the role Justin Forsett was expected to fill.

Robert Turbin had perhaps the best combine of any runner. He flashed 4.5 speed with a solid, bruising 222-lb frame. He won't likely last until the sixth round, but he would be an outstanding complement to Marshawn Lynch with a fourth-round pick.

3. New First-Round Defensive End Prospects Have Emerged

Establishing a an edge pass-rusher is one of the Seahawks' top priorities this offseason. Much of the early attention has involved hope that Quinton Coples is available when the Seahawks are on the board.

A few new names are getting attention following the combine, however, and will have scouts pulling up more film to see how they looked on game days. Coples is not likely to be the top end on the Seahawks' radar.

Nick Perry is a player Pete Carroll would likely love to have follow him from USC to Seattle. He was a monster at the combine, and his experience with Carroll's defense would make him a logical target.

He doesn't have ideal size for an NFL defensive end, and he is an unknown commodity at linebacker. This could lead to him being an option late in the first round should the Seahawks have the opportunity to trade back. However, unless the Seahawks have answered concerns at defensive end in free agency, they may need to take Perry at 12 if he is still on the board.

Perry recorded 9.5 sacks last season, and many believe the junior will get significantly better.

Andre Branch has moved into first-round consideration, but is a bit of a reach at 12. He showed better straight-line speed than Coples and outperformed him in timed agility drills. He was a full half-second better in the 20-yard shuttle

Branch is a bit under-sized for an NFL defensive end (6'4", 259 lbs), but he'd be ideal in Pete Carrol's Leo position. Perhaps a year or two covering passing downs for Red Bryant would help ease his transition to the NFL.

Whitney Mercilus was a sack machine in his junior year, producing 16 sacks. He is the same size as Branch, with a slight advantage in the 40-yard dash. However, he was behind Branch in agility drills.

Melvin Ingram and Courtney Upshaw were both impressive, as expected. However, both are likely to end up playing linebacker in a 3-4 defense, and both are expected to be Top-10 picks.

Jared Crick is a wild card when looking at the defensive line. He doesn't have the straight speed of several top-end prospects, but he outperformed Coples and Mercilus in some of the agility drills. He has a great burst and could be an option at defensive end in the second round.

2. The Linebacker Picture Has Become More Clear

Linebacker could be the Seahawks' biggest need in April's draft. They will be without Leroy Hill, and could be priced out of retaining David Hawthorne. 

Dont'a Hightower solidified his position as a first-round prospect. He was already seen as a solid instinctual ILB, but dropping a 4.68 40-time showed he does have the speed to stick with most tight ends in the NFL. He would struggle with third-down backs, though.

Hightower is a physical player that is projected to a 3-4 scheme, but the Seahawks may have seen enough to believe he'd be a fit in their defense.

Another standout linebacker may have worked his way above Seattle's second-round pick. Lavonte David is a fast, physical linebacker that should excel in the NFL. He also has great instincts and always seems to know where the ball is headed. He has the speed and skill to get there.

Zach Brown showed he is one of the faster linebackers entering the draft, but his 4.50 40-time was actually a bit slower than expected. He struggles with instincts and tackling, which could be explained by too many scheme transitions. He will likely be a first-round pick and offers the speed the Seahawks are looking for.

Bruce Irvin could offer a third-round option for the Seahawks. He's a talented DE/OLB that was out of position at West Virginia. He also ran a 4.50 40, but put in an even more impressive 4.03 in the 20-yard shuttle.

There are several other outside linebacker prospects that will be options for the Seahawks on draft weekend. The team should have left Indianapolis with a good feel for what needs to happen in free agency and what it can accomplish during the draft.

1. The Quarterback Picture Didn't Change

The Seahawks almost have to grab a quarterback in free agency and the draft. They haven't been able to build the position under John Schneider and Pete Carroll, and without taking a shot on a rookie they aren't likely to start.

They saw very little at the combine to solidify their stance on which quarterback that should be. Contrary to some perceptions, players aren't often made or slayed at the combine. The quarterback position was no different in 2012, and there was little done to differentiate any of the second-tier passers.

Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III likely secured the top two draft slots, but little else changed. Most of the top prospects opted to not throw, which did give Kirk Cousins a chance to show he is one of the better passers in the draft class. 

However, a few players did impact their draft status.

Darron Thomas likely threw himself out of whatever draft aspirations he had. Jordan Jefferson, on the other hand, showed a strong arm and good accuracy. He was looked at as a late draft pick, but could have jumped into the mid-rounds with his performance.

Pro days coming up next month will provide a bit more insight, but odds are that Schneider and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell have already determined which quarterback they want to join the team. They are looking for a player to compete with Tarvaris Jackson. In an interview with John Clayton, John Schneider stated:

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I think Tarvaris knows the theme of Pete's program is competition at every position, and so I think he recognizes that we are probably going to try to bring in somebody to compete with him.

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The actions the Seahawks take in free agency will certainly tip their hand at their draft strategy, but at this point it is anyone's guess as to what this front office will do at the quarterback position. One thing Schneider made clear in the interview is that Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn, Brian Hoyer or any number of draft options are in the running.

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We always study guys that are possible cap casualty guys (Manning), unrestricted free agents (Flynn), [restricted] free agents (Hoyer), and then obviously the draft class, so that is the world we live in, or the different categories that we are scouting.

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Pete Carroll did little to help clear up their intentions.

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We're looking for a great competitor. We're looking for a guy that can really carry it when it's tough and make plays when you need it to happen, that affects guys around him in a real positive way because of what he brings. 

There's a lot more to it than just physical stature, but really, we'd like to have a guy that can run a little bit and complement the running game and do something for us...get out on the edge and threaten enough to keep the run game that we're so committed to alive and at its best.

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About all the heads of the Seahawks did was rule out the return of Charlie Whitehurst for a third season.