What the Experts Are Saying About Seattle Seahawks' 1st-Round Draft Pick

The Seattle Seahawks haven't used a first-round draft pick since 2012, when the team selected outside linebacker Bruce Irvin with the No. 15 selection.

In 2016, the team holds the No. 26 overall pick in the draft and should feel compelled to use it.

But at which position? There are plenty of obvious needs in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and adding depth at running back and linebacker wouldn't hurt, either.

Experts around the NFL media sphere have expressed their respective thoughts on whom the Seahawks should draft. Predicting picks is anything but an exact science—all we can do right now is speculate as to what the team's draft strategy will be.

For now, let's sift through the speculation and see which picks make sense, as well as one that doesn't. 

Dane Brugler, CBS Sports: OT Jason Spriggs, Indiana

In an April 20 mock draft, Dane Brugler of CBS Sports has Seattle taking offensive tackle Jason Spriggs out of Indiana. It's a solid pick. 

At 6'6", 301 pounds, Spriggs certainly looks the part of an NFL starting left tackle. His natural athleticism and large frame will be enticing to the Seahawks, who need all the offensive line help they can get.

The above highlight reel does a nice job of breaking down Spriggs' plays, labeling his more notable competition. You'll notice that he does an excellent job of fending off Ohio State's Joey Bosa, a projected top-five draft pick. His footwork and body control are part of why he is a top-five tackle prospect in this draft.

Quarterback Russell Wilson's improvisation skills kept him alive last season, and running back Thomas Rawls proved he can be a feature back in Seattle's system. Adding a piece such as Spriggs to bolster the left side of the offensive line benefits both players and allows Seattle to return to its power-running roots. 

Like all draft prospects, Spriggs is a work in progress. He doesn't always play with the strength you'd expect from a man his size, and his recovery time after getting beaten is questionable. But if there's any offensive line coach in the league who can develop Spriggs and get the most out of him, it's Seattle's Tom Cable. 

This pick makes a lot of sense and would instantly improve the Seattle offense in 2016. 

Peter Schrager, Fox Sports: C Ryan Kelly, Alabama

LM Otero/Associated Press/Associated Press

Ryan Kelly is the No. 1 rated center prospect in the 2016 NFL draft and would be a great choice at No. 26.

Offensive line is absolutely the Seahawks' most obvious need. Naturally, taking an offensive lineman with the No. 26 pick is a popular choice among NFL mock drafts.

Peter Schrager's April 19 mock draft on Fox Sports has the Seahawks grabbing Alabama center Ryan Kelly, which would be an outstanding choice for Seattle. 

Last offseason, the Seahawks traded away star center Max Unger to the New Orleans Saints for tight end Jimmy Graham. It wasn't a bad trade by any means, but it was pretty evident that the Seattle front five wasn't the same without Unger last season.  

Bringing in the 6'4", 311-pound Kelly would plug that crucial hole and add a tough blocker to anchor the offensive line for the foreseeable future. Kelly's toughness, both mental and physical, will appeal to Coach Cable's style. Kelly experienced one of the most professional college football atmospheres while at Alabama, all while paving the way for running back Derrick Henry's Heisman Trophy-winning campaign.

While left tackle is arguably a bigger area of need, especially with Russell Okung leaving for the Denver Broncos in free agency, taking the draft's best center prospect could be the better pick. 

Don't be surprised if the Seahawks bypass a top tackle prospect for Kelly, who is an instant plug-and-play fit in Seattle's downhill running attack. 

Todd McShay, ESPN: DT Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss

Thomas Graning/Associated Press

Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche is a top talent, but character concerns will keep him from becoming a Seahawk.

Defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche out of Ole Miss is one of the draft's most overrated prospects. But his raw talent and 6'3", 294-pound frame landed him with the Seahawks in Todd McShay's recent ESPN Insider mock draft.

Don't count on this happening. 

Nkemdiche's production falls flat of the hype he has received from NFL draft experts. In his final season at Ole Miss, Nkemdiche only racked up seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Yes, defensive tackle is a position that makes a lot of plays that don't end up on the stat sheet.

But making fewer than 10 tackles for loss and fewer than five sacks isn't an outstanding final audition for the NFL, and neither was being arrested for marijuana possession before the Sugar Bowl, resulting in Nkemdiche's suspension and his decision to enter the NFL draft. There will be a team that overlooks the incident, and he will be drafted, but Nkemdiche seems like a reach given Seattle's recent draft history. 

General manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll won't roll the dice on Nkemdiche. They spend their first-round choices sparingly, and there are simply too many safer prospects with just as much talent to choose from at No. 26. 

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: DT Chris Jones, Mississippi State

Let's take a look at a defensive tackle prospect who does make sense for the Seahawks in Chris Jones out of Mississippi State, whom Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com projects to Seattle. 

At 6'6", 310 pounds, Jones is built to stuff the middle, and that's exactly what he's good at doing. In the highlight video above, watch at the 26-second mark to see how Jones' bull-rushing capabilities stop LSU's 3rd-and-1 rushing attempt. 

You can also see in the video that Jones plays at multiple spots along the defensive front, showing versatility in his skill set. Versatility is a trait that Coach Carroll's Seahawks covet, as it allows the team to consistently disguise its defensive fronts.

His junior season stats don't blow you away (7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks), but there is one number that is low-key important to look at—Jones broke up four passes in his final season at Mississippi State and had nine total pass breakups in his collegiate career. 

The bottom line is that Jones can line up at defensive tackle or end if need be, and has the size, brute strength and potential to make a long-term impact in a division featuring running back talent such as Todd Gurley and Carlos Hyde. 

If the Seahawks do indeed choose to address their defensive line rather than the offensive front, Chris Jones is a safe and solid pick here. 

Dan Kadar, SB Nation: DE Shaq Lawson, Clemson

Richard Shiro/Associated Press/Associated Press

Clemson's Shaq Lawson is an ideal fit for the Seahawks defense.

An April 18 mock draft by Dan Kadar of SB Nation has Seattle taking Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson in the first round. The 12th Man should love this pick. 

It's no secret that Bruce Irvin's free-agency departure for the Oakland Raiders has left a sizable hole at outside linebacker. Irvin could do a little bit of everything in Seattle's hybrid 4-3 defense, and Lawson seems like the perfect replacement.

Although Lawson is listed as a defensive end, his size (6'3", 269 lbs) makes him a prime candidate to become a hybrid end/outside backer at the next level. And that would fit the Seattle defense nicely.

He isn't an outstanding pass-rusher. Despite his athletic frame, Lawson doesn't bend around the edge like you might hope, and he rarely demonstrates inside finesse moves. But his size does allow him to be a good edge-setter, and his imposing presence will command double-team blocks at the NFL level. 

His willingness and ability to drop into coverage add tremendous value to his draft stock. And with strong-side linebacker being a major team concern, Lawson's versatility would make him an effective rotational player in the Seattle front seven. 

Robert Klemko, The MMQB: OT Taylor Decker, Ohio State

Back to the offensive line now, where The MMQB's Robert Klemko has the Seahawks picking offensive tackle Taylor Decker of Ohio State.

As you can see on the highlight tape above, Decker is a mauler in the run game. At 6'7", 310 pounds, you'd expect him to be. 

Taylor is a pretty fit on paper for the Seahawks, who like to run the ball with authority and force. Having an imposing figure such as Decker to seal the left (or right) side of the offensive line would do wonders for Thomas Rawls. Decker also shows a high willingness to make himself present at the second level by taking on linebackers and safeties.

Pass protection is another story for Decker, who at times will get knocked backward despite his massive frame. Decker visibly struggles with speed rushers and loses leverage battles because of his height, but he has decent recovery speed to make up for a lost step.

The bottom line here is that Decker is a power blocker who will fit nicely on a run-first team such as the Seahawks. There is a visible lack of versatility in Decker's game, however, that may limit him to being a right tackle in the NFL. 

Even still, taking Decker wouldn't be a bad move for Seattle. The team has several holes to fill along the offensive line, and Decker certainly fits the Seahawks' offensive scheme. He would be an instant upgrade over free-agent acquisition J'Marcus Webb. 

Charley Casserly, NFL.com: OT Germain Ifedi

Staying on the right side of the offensive line, our next prospect is offensive tackle Germain Ifedi of Texas A&M. Charley Casserly of NFL.com predicts that the Seahawks will pick Ifedi with the No. 26 selection. 

By watching the above highlight tape, a couple of things immediately stand out. First, Ifedi looks to have a good feel for the tackle position. His hand placement while sliding remains solid on most snaps, and Ifedi confidently steps into his blocks. 

The second item that stands out in the tape above is how consistently he squares up his 6'6", 324-pound frame to his assignments. It's only a single-game sample size, but Ifedi doesn't let Mississippi State edge-rushers get around him in the video above. He also shows solid second-level blocking ability past the line of scrimmage.

One downfall is that he doesn't dominate in the run game like a man with his size should. Ifedi also seems to be content matching defenders rather than dominating them, which his frame should lend itself nicely to. Ifedi is clearly more of a pass protector than a power run-blocker, which brings a scheme fit with Seattle into question.    

The Seahawks can do almost no wrong at No. 26 selecting an offensive lineman. But with Schneider and Carroll at the helm, it wouldn't be surprising if Seattle picks defense—or even trades out of the first round.

Ethan is a Seahawks draft correspondent for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ebai_today for more Seahawks coverage and musings about the NFL.