Seahawks Mock Draft: Rounds One Through Seven

Over the last two weeks, rumors have been going around the league about what the Seahawks might do with the fourth overall pick. There have been links to OT Eugene Monroe, LB Aaron Curry, QB Matt Stafford, QB Mark Sanchez, and possibly WR Michael Crabtree.

Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell came out this week and said the he has a list of four players that he is considering drafting fourth overall. Some of those players could go before Seattle or be there when Seattle picks at four. This mock draft will shed a lot of light on what the Seahawks remaining needs are and how they plan on filling them.

First round pick: Fourth overall—Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

Reasons: The Seahawks have two QB’s on the current active roster. Matt Hasselbeck (34) and Seneca Wallace (28). Matt Hasselbeck has had multiple injuries the last two out of three seasons. He says that he is healthy now but he is getting up there in age and they don’t have a FUTURE QB behind him, and I stress the word future.

Some Seahawks fans make the point about Wallace and that he is a good starting QB. Wallace has been a good starter when needed but I can not see Wallace leading the Seahawks under center for all 16 games. Wallace is like Michael Vick without the off-the-field problems, and is not as fast as Vick but still has great feet.

The Seahawks have always been a pass first team, at the least it has been 60-40 or a little 50-50, but never less. Wallace is not a full-season throwing QB. Think about it, he only lead the Seahawks to three wins this season in nine starts. Not that great, even though there was no help but Carlson and Branch.

Getting back to Sanchez. The Seahawks have brought in Sanchez for two private workouts and have basically locked in on Sanchez. Tim Ruskell said that even if QB Matt Stafford was there at No. 4 with Sanchez, the Seahawks would select Sanchez over Stafford because they feel he fits there needs and system best.

Sanchez can benefit a lot from this because he only played 16 games in college. Having a full year to learn the system behind Hasselbeck, and filling in when Hasselbeck gets injured again, because he always does, would help to make Sanchez ready for the NFL. Then, next season, he will take over as the Seahawks new franchise QB.

NOTE: The Seahawks also never pick higher than 20 in the draft, and a lot of scouts and personnel around the league are saying that the Seahawks want to use this chance to take there future franchise QB because they will not be selecting this high for a very long time. The last time they had a top five pick was 1997.

Second round pick: 37th overall—Brian Cushing, OL, USC

Reasons: No this is not going to be a Seahawks-USC love fest where they take all USC Trojans in the draft, but if Brian Cushing is there when the Seahawks pick in the second round, there is no way they will pass him up. The Seahawks traded LB Julian Peterson to the Detroit Lions for DT Cory Redding and a fifth round pick, so that created a huge hole at OLB, opposite of Leroy Hill.

Pairing Tatupu, a former USC Trojan, with Leroy Hill, who the Seahawks hope to sign long term will solidify the position. And if they can't, they really will need to draft Cushing. That trio of LB becomes one of, if not the best, young linebacker corps in the NFC, and possibly the NFL, if they are all healthy.

NOTE: The Seahawks lead the league in players drafted from USC. Now this will not be a Seahawks-USC love fest.

Third round pick:  68th overall- Rashad Johnson, FS Alabama

Reasons: The Seahawks have Deon Grant and Brian Russell. One of the two is a complete failure and is not the hardest hitting safety in the NFL, as Chad Ochocinco said.

That man is Brian Russell. The Seahawks need to address there secondary for once, since drafting CB Marcus Trufant. Kelly Jennings is fine at CB and can be good in the nickel defense. But they are going to need more talent and depth no matter what, and Johnson brings both to the field.

Fourth round pick: 105th overall—Brandon Gibson, WR, Washington State

Reasons: I don’t think you can call this a boom or bust pick because its in the fourth round. Gibson is a very good WR and could make a great slot WR for Mark Sanchez and Matt Hasselbeck. More or less Sanchez, because Gibson will shine more next season than this season.

Jim Mora Jr. likes players who come out and bring everything they have talent wise on the field, and show it, and Gibson does exactly that. He could turn out to be great in the NFL.

Fifth round pick: 137th overall—Kory Sheets, RB, Perdue

The Seahawks will be looking for the next Maurice Morris in the draft, a late round pick that has the talent to be a future starter in the NFL. If he shares time with Julius Jones, who will screw something up, and all of a sudden Sheets becomes the starter and will do better overall than Jones.

Sixth round pick:  178th overall—Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State

The Seahawks, even though I have them already drafting Kory Sheets, can always use depth, especially at RB. Johnson and Sheets could compete for the third running back spot with Justin Forsett. Forsett could become the KR, but its nice to always have competition.

Seventh round pick:  213th overall—Alex Boone, OT, Ohio State

The Seahawks won’t take top OT Eugene Monroe or Jason Smith, but they need depth on the offensive line. This is a great value pick.

 This fills the following holes left on the Seahawks roster. QB, RB, OL and OLB.