Seattle Seahawks Big Board: Final Pre-Draft Update

The Seattle Seahawks will soon be making their picks at the NFL draft. All the questions Seattle fans have about their team's intentions will shortly be answered, and the ‘Hawks will have some new talent.

Predicting who the Seahawks will select is obviously a difficult task, but there are certain players who obviously are being targeted in the team's war room.

Here is the potential big board for the Seattle Seahawks:

Jesse Williams, Defensive Tackle, Alabama

Johnathan Jenkins, Defensive Tackle, Georgia

Sio Moore, Outside Linebacker, Connecticut

Montori Hughes, Defensive Tackle, Tennessee-Martin

Khaseem Greene, Outside Linebacker, Rutgers

Kyle Long, Offensive Tackle, Oregon

Brandon Williams, Defensive Tackle, Missouri Southern

Jamie Collins, Outside Linebacker, Southern Miss

Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Cornerback, Connecticut

Terrance Williams, Wide Receiver, Baylor

For the purposes of this particular big board, consider these lists to be players who may conceivably be around when the Seahawks pick. There are obviously bigger names at some of these positions. However, given that Seattle does not have a first-round pick, the likelihood of the Seahawks drafting them is low unless a big trade is completed.

All predictions subject to change without notice!

Quarterback

Collin Klein, Kansas State

Sean Renfree, Duke

Nathan Stanley, Southeastern Louisiana

Jordan Rodgers, Vanderbilt

Ryan Griffin, Tulane

Drafting a quarterback seems fairly unlikely now that Seattle has signed Brady Quinn and brought back Josh Portis. If a quarterback is drafted, it may just be a way to provide competition and depth. Or, if a particularly intriguing “sleeper” pick is still on the board, Seattle might think about a late-round selection.

Collin Klein has his critics (especially over his throwing motion) but he could end up being a solid pro, someone whom years from now could be viewed as another case of poor evaluation.

Running Back

Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State

Kenjon Barner, Oregon

Kyle Juszczyk (FB), Harvard

Knile Davis, Arkansas

Onterio McCalebb, Auburn

Running back is another position where the Seahawks have solid depth. Therefore, it would be surprising if Seattle took a running back off the board in the early rounds.

Still, there are some questions surrounding the position, such as Michael Robinson’s age and the need to replace Leon Washington, both as a runner and return man.

Wide Receiver

Keenan Allen, California

Terrance Williams, Baylor

Markus Wheaton, Oregon State

Da’Rick Rogers, Tennessee Tech

Denard Robinson, Michigan

Percy Harvin is in the house. Sidney RIce stayed healthy in 2012. If the Seahawks are confident in the productivity of Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin going forward, wide receiver may be a lower priority.

However, there may still be interest in a tall, “big play” receiver or a pure speed guy. There is also a player like former Michigan quarterback-turned-receiving prospect Denard Robinson, who could be a wild card in terms of his potential ability to play in multiple offensive schemes.

Tight End

Zach Ertz, Stanford

Vance McDonald, Rice

NIck Casa, Colorado

Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State

Joseph Fauria, UCLA

This is another position group that does not address a glaring need for Seattle. Incumbent tight end Zach Miller and quarterback Russell Wilson developed a nice rapport in 2012. Backup TE Anthony McCoy is not great, but he is serviceable.

Do the ‘Hawks draft a guy late and see if he can compete with McCoy or potentially replace Miller if he becomes a cap casualty in the future? If someone like Zach Ertz is available in the second round, does Seattle grab him and give Wilson yet another weapon on offense?

Possibilities, possibilities.

Offensive Line

Kyle Long, Oregon

Terron Armstead, Arkansas Pine-Bluff

Barrett Jones, Alabama

Bryan Winters, Kent State

Chris Faulk, LSU

It is unclear whether the offensive line will be a priority for the Seahawks. There are certainly questions about the right side. However, it is unknown whether Seattle would like to stick with current players like James Carpenter, J.R. Sweezy and Breno Giacomini and see if these existing pieces can achieve continuity.

This position group may be the most interesting to watch, because the drafting or not drafting a lineman should indicate how management feels about the current Seahawks front line.

Defensive Line

Jesse Williams, Alabama

Johnathan Jenkins, Defensive Tackle, Georgia

Montori Hughes, Tennessee-Martin

Brandon Williams, Missouri Southern

Jordan Hill, Penn State

This is a strong class of defensive tackles, which means that the ‘Hawks may have some options if they choose to take a tackle in the second or third round. For Seattle, the selection of a defensive lineman may be more about the future than the present.

With the signing of Tony McDaniel and the bevy of returning defensive ends, Seattle could theoretically draft a player and ease them into the lineup. Newly acquired Michael Bennett may play some inside, and a young draftee could play different roles depending on his skill set.

As noted by The News Tribune, Alabama's Jesse Williams is an intriguing athlete who may be on Seattle's radar.

Linebacker

Sio Moore, Connecticut

Khaseem Greene, Rutgers

Sean Porter, Texas A&M

Trevardo Williams, Connecticut

Jelani Jenkins, Florida

For many fans, outside linebacker is the top priority in this draft, and there are some solid athletes in the early and middle rounds. The Seahawks will undoubtedly be looking for speed and physicality to partner with K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner.

Malcolm Smith might be the starter in 2013, so the Seahawks could just be looking for depth at this point. However, it is likely that this position will be addressed some time during the draft.

Secondary

Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut

Darius Slay, Mississippi State

Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

Phillip Thomas (SS), Fresno State

Tharold Simon, LSU

What the Seahawks may be looking for from defensive backfield prospects this year is depth, and athletes who could fit well into Seattle nickel packages. Now that Kam Chancellor has been signed to a long-term deal, at least one piece is solidified for the next few seasons.

This may be a situation where the Seahawks grab an athlete who is more of an experiment. There is some depth in the secondary if people stay healthy, so Seattle may have some room to draft a player who is more under the radar.

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