Seattle Seahawks Full 2016 Draft Guide and Preview

We're only about a day away from the 2016 NFL draft, if you can believe it. 

Thursday will be decision time for Seattle Seahawks brass, and the team has some interesting decisions to make. Do the Seahawks grab an offensive lineman to improve upon the team's biggest need? Do they spend a first-round pick on Bruce Irvin's replacement? How about beefing up the interior of the defensive line?

The Seahawks could make any of those moves and be better off in 2016. That's what the draft—in theory—is all about, after all. 

Seattle holds nine picks in the draft, including two in the third round and two in the seventh. 

Let's get right into what else you need to know for the NFL offseason's biggest event. 

Draft Picks

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

With nine total draft picks, will the Seahawks feel compelled to make some trades this draft weekend?

Picks by round

• First: No. 26 overall
• Second: No. 56 overall
• Third: Nos. 91 and 97 overall
• Fourth: No. 124 overall
• Fifth: No. 171 overall
• Sixth: No. 215 overall
• Seventh: Nos. 225 and 247 overall

Draft tidbits

1. The last time the Seahawks used a first-round selection was in 2012, when they picked West Virginia defensive end Bruce Irvin at No. 15 overall. Despite serious and glaring needs along the offensive and defensive lines, don't be surprised if the Seahawks once again trade out of the first round Thursday.

2. The Seahawks have had decent success in the second round of the last three drafts, bringing in defensive end Frank Clark (2015), wide receiver Paul Richardson (2014), offensive tackle Justin Britt (2014) and running back Christine Michael (2013). Clark showed promise a season ago along the defensive front, and Britt has been durable while starting in all 32 of his career games. 

3. Seattle is one of the best teams in the league at finding starters in the draft's later rounds and will look to continue that trend in 2016 with two seventh-round draft picks. Notable late-round selections include tight end Luke Willson (Round 5, 2013), cornerback Jeremy Lane and guard J.R. Sweezy (Rounds 6 and 7, 2012) and defensive pieces Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell and Malcolm Smith (Rounds 5, 6 and 7, 2011). 

Top Needs

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

With left tackle Russell Okung departing for the Denver Broncos in free agency, the Seahaws would do well to draft his replacement in the first round.

1. Offensive line

There isn't just one position along the Seahawks offensive line that needs bolstering—the team could upgrade left tackle, guard and center.

Left tackle Russell Okung and guard J.R. Sweezy both left the Seahawks in free agency. In their place, Seattle brought in former Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders offensive lineman J'Marcus Webb, as well as former Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Bradley Sowell. 

A brief summary of both players' careers: Sowell has 12 NFL starts to his name since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Webb struggled at tackle for Chicago and wasn't much better as a guard for the Raiders last season. 

Seahawks O-line coach Tom Cable can get the most out of these two, but there's still major room for improvement. Expect the team to pick an offensive lineman in the first round, assuming the Seahawks don't trade out of it.

2. Outside linebacker

Bruce Irvin's departure for the Oakland Raiders in free agency leaves a large hole in the Seahawks' hybrid 4-3 defense. He missed only six career games while wearing a Seahawks uniform and racked up 12 sacks in the last two seasons while batting down five passes and scoring two defensive touchdowns in that same span. 

The team will miss his presence and production.

If Seattle can't find a versatile prospect in the draft's early rounds, it might need to draft two players (a down lineman and a true outside linebacker) to fill the void left by Irvin. 

3. Running back

Marshawn Lynch is retired, and second-year pro Thomas Rawls is a capable replacement. Even still, the Seahawks need to add a playmaker to this position group that includes solid backup Christine Michael.

Seattle's rushing attack suffered after Rawls broke his ankle late in the season against the Baltimore Ravens, which ended a stellar season for the then-rookie runner. There will be plenty of running back talent available in the draft's middle rounds, and the Seahawks would be wise to scoop up an insurance runner to solidify a promising backfield.  

4. Defensive tackle

This isn't a major area of concern for the Seahawks, but the position group could use some fortification. 

The Seahawks roster shows five listed defensive tackles, many of whom lack production and experience. For example, A.J. Francis has been in the league three years and has only two tackles to his name, one solo and one assisted. Justin Hamilton, entering his second season, literally has zero statistics to talk about.

Jordan Hill and Ahtyba Rubin are bright spots, and free-agent acquisition Sealver Siliga's 6'2", 345-pound frame should help plug the middle—on paper, at least.

Still, it would be wise for the Seahawks to invest a mid-round pick in some fresh talent at this position for the future. Rubin is entering his ninth NFL season, and Siliga is entering his sixth. These two run-stuffers won't play forever, and Siliga is on a one-year contract. 

5. Tight end

Seattle's roster might show five tight ends, but only two of them are worth using in the passing game—Jimmy Graham and Luke Willson. 

Tight end is certainly lowest on the list of team needs for good reason. Graham is among the league's best at his position and will be expected to be a difference-maker for Seattle in his second season with the team. 

But what happens if Graham gets hurt again? Willson is a somewhat-reliable incumbent backup but lacks consistency as an effective weapon in the passing attack. It would make sense, even in a draft class that isn't teeming with exceptional tight ends, to spend a late-round pick on a prospect with good hands and agility. 

Top Targets

Brandon Wade/Associated Press/Associated Press

Alabama's Ryan Kelly is the draft's top-rated center, and will undoubtedly be on the Seahawks' radar at No. 26 overall.

With the Seahawks' top five needs in mind, let's take a look at potential picks at each area of concern:

Offensive line

1. Ryan Kelly, center, Alabama: This is an easy one, given the current state of the Seahawks offensive line. While Seattle will likely miss out on the draft's top tackle prospects, it should still have a shot at the best center in the class in Ryan Kelly. Kelly has a high football IQ and plays with a nasty streak. His overall talent and toughness make him an excellent first-round selection, and Coach Cable would get a heck of a Christmas present in April. 

2. Cody Whitehair, offensive guard, Kansas State University: Some will criticize Whitehair's overall strength and arm length, but if you watch his tape, you see a guy who's comfortable with playing either guard or tackle. His versatility makes sense on an O-line riddled with question marks. Also remember that Seattle will have familiarity with Kansas State after selecting ex-Wildcats wide receiver Tyler Lockett in the third round of last year's draft. 

Outside linebacker

1. Kamalei Correa, Boise State University: The Seahawks need to replace Bruce Irvin, which is much easier said than done. Correa offers a great mix of pass-rush and coverage ability, which suits the Seahawks' hybrid 4-3 base defense.

Correa is a quick-twitch athlete with a frame perfectly suited for the role Seattle would use him in (6'3", 243 lbs). He forced five fumbles at Boise State and has a knack for splitting gaps to make a play. He isn't a full-time down lineman, but neither was Irvin. This would be an excellent choice in the second round for Seattle.

2. Kyler Fackrell, Utah State University: Staying in college football's Mountain West Conference, we look at a prospect with a ton of potential. Fackrell posted four sacks in 2015 while registering 15 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hurries. Those dozen hurries set a school record. In addition to getting behind the line of scrimmage, he displayed coverage skills while at Utah State, defending eight passes and recording four interceptions in his career.

It's noteworthy that Fackrell suffered a torn ACL at the beginning of the 2014 season, but considering the way he bounced back the following year, he is worthy of being drafted. His versatility would aid the Seahawks defense.  

Running back

1. Devontae Booker, Utah: Thomas Rawls needs a running mate, and Booker's skill set and instincts make him an ideal fit. 

While Booker isn't the bowling ball that Rawls is, Booker has a similar build with two inches of added height and a little bit more weight (5'11", 219 lbs). He runs the football with excellent vision, which allows him to avoid incoming tackles.

He isn't the fastest runner and likely won't provide a ton of home run plays. But he's tough, consistent and smart with the ball. His addition would essentially double what the Seahawks already have at running back, which wouldn't be a bad thing. 

2. Kenyan Drake, Alabama: In many ways, Drake is the opposite of Rawls—Drake is a quick-twitch runner with breakaway speed who rarely runs downhill.

But that's exactly why the Seahawks should consider taking him. 

Drake is an explosion waiting to happen. His lateral quickness is unparalleled in this draft, and he is versatile enough to not only catch passes out of the backfield but to actually line up at slot receiver. 

Drake's draft value is increased by his special teams experience. Yes, the Seahawks already have Tyler Lockett scoring touchdowns on special teams, but would it hurt to add another burner to the backfield on kickoffs? 

The Alabama speedster is projected to go in the draft's middle rounds and would be an excellent value pick for the Seahawks in the third round (where Seattle has two picks).

Defensive tackle

1. Chris Jones, Mississippi State University: This pick only happens if the Seahawks are all-in on choosing defense at No. 26 overall.

Although Jones is listed as the draft's eighth-best defensive tackle prospect, according to CBS Sports, he has a knack of getting to ball-carriers (102 career tackles, 18 for loss) and shows some promise as an interior pass-rusher after notching 8.5 sacks in his career.

Jones isn't limited to just playing inside, as the 6'6", 310-pound Mississippi State wrecking ball also lined up at defensive end at times. He is a versatile and disruptive talent that this writer believes will go in the first round. 

2. Kenny Clark, UCLA: Another versatile interior lineman who has been one of the best run-stuffers in the country while playing for the Bruins, Clark would be a great scheme fit for the Seahawks.

Being a former wrestler helps Clark win many individual battles at the line of scrimmage, as he uses his body leverage to work around blocks and stuff ball-carriers. Clark's strength is unquestionable after pumping out 29 reps of 225 pounds at the NFL combine. 

Clark is a true interior defensive lineman. He lined up as both nose tackle and defensive tackle in UCLA's 4-3 base defense, and despite his "smaller" frame of 6'3", 314 pounds, he would help the Seahawks win in the trenches. 

Tight end

1. Tyler Higbee, Western Kentucky: Again, the 2016 draft class isn't teeming with elite tight end prospects. But Higbee is a solid all-around player who could garner some attention from Seattle if he's still available in the fifth round or later.

Higbee has shown steady improvement in his four-year college career and ended on a high note with 38 catches for 563 yards and eight touchdowns in his senior season. Higbee is a big target—at 6'6", 249 pounds, he will be a tough matchup for defenses and even tougher to tackle.

2. David Morgan II, Texas-San Antonio: Morgan is another well-rounded tight end prospect and is expected to fall into the draft's later rounds. 

Morgan has sure hands and isn't afraid to take a hit over the middle. He finished 2015 with 45 catches for 566 yards and five touchdowns, which earned him second-team All-American and All-Conference USA selections.

He is a bit of a clunker when it comes to route-running, but his willingness (and effectiveness) in run blocking gives him extra value. Another large target at 6'4", 262 pounds, Morgan just feels like a late-round Seahawks steal. 

Rumor Mill

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CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 17: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks looks on prior to the NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on January 17, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halv

"We aren't going to tell you a thing," coach Pete Carroll said with a smile at a Tuesday predraft press conference, according to Gregg Bell of the Seattle Times. 

That comment seems about right for the Seahawks' draft strategy, which is notoriously rumor-free and rarely coincides with what any of the "experts" around the league think.

With that being said, let's take a look at a few predictions and see what the chances are that they'll come true. 

Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com: Seahawks will trade out of first round

In an April 24 ESPN.com piece, Sheil Kapadia predicts that the Seahawks will not use their first-round draft pick for the fourth straight year.

Kapadia claims the Seahawks would love to trade into the top half of the second round, solidifying a chance at a player such as Texas A&M offensive tackle Germain Ifedi. 

While this is a viable guess, especially given general manager John Schneider's draft history, there are a couple of reasons a trade on Thursday is doubtful.

First, the Seahawks have actual, glaring needs along their trenches that they haven't had in quite some time. The team would do well to select a top-rated offensive line prospect in the first round, even if it clashes with the team's typical draft strategy.

Second, the Seahawks already have nine total picks, including two apiece in the third and seventh rounds. It would be more logical to trade away one of the third-rounders to acquire more mid-to-late-round picks, where Seattle has had great success finding starting talent in the last five years.

Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times: Need for a running back is an 8 on a scale of 10

There's little question that the Seahawks could use an insurance runner behind Thomas Rawls after the retirement of Marshawn Lynch. But is it an 8-out-of-10 need for the Seahawks?

Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times seems to believe so. 

Quite frankly, it isn't. Running back is a need, for sure, but it's down the list below offensive line and outside linebacker at the very least.

The difference in positions here is that the Seahawks actually have a legitimate starter at running back in Rawls. Name a prospective breakout player along the offensive line not named Garry Gilliam (and even that would be a leap of faith). 

It's a similar situation at strong-side linebacker, where Brock Coyle and Frank Clark—a defensive end last season whom Pro Football Talk reports has recently been listed as a linebacker—are penciled in.

An eight on a scale of 10 in terms of need assumes the Seahawks would like to address the running back position in the draft's first two rounds. That would be quite a stretch, even with Seattle's mysterious draft habits. 

Seattle Times: Seahawks feel 2016 is deepest draft class since 2010

In an April 26 Seattle Times article, Condotta and fellow Seahawks reporter Jayson Jenks wrote that Carroll and Schneider believe this year's draft class is the deepest since the two decision-makers have been together in Seattle.

"We think it's strong all the way through," Schneider said in the article. "There doesn't seem to be many huge drop-offs (in talent) along the way."

Schneider may just be referring to the draft class' depth in terms of the Seahawks' needs at offensive line, defensive line and outside linebacker, all of which the 2016 draft is rich with. 

If Seahawks brass is indeed confident about this draft's depth, it could increase the chance of seeing a Day 1 trade from Seattle on Thursday. It could just as easily mean the Seahawks stay put and cherish each of their nine draft picks, seeing as the team has at least one selection in each of the event's seven rounds.

Schneider's comments do suggest one thing—that the Seahawks general manager is excited about the sheer amount of talent he sees in front of him. This draft class is going to make the Seahawks a better team, one way or the other.

7-Round Mock Draft

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Ryan Kelly is an absolute stud at center and, if available, should be the Seahawks' pick at No. 26.

It's mock time. Here we go:

Round 1: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama: Kelly is the best center in the draft, and the Seahawks have myriad issues along their starting front five. This would be a home run choice for Seattle, as it would nab a cornerstone for the O-line for years to come.

Round 2: Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State: We're sticking with our original second-round choice here in Correa. He's fast, disruptive and versatile, and (on paper, at least) provides a systematic replacement for Bruce Irvin.  

Round 3, Pick 91: Connor McGovern, OG, Missouri: Coach Cable gets another tough-minded, bruising offensive lineman in McGovern, who is ready to improve Seattle's running game with his 6'4", 304-pound frame. Although he is best suited inside, McGovern could be developed into a tackle if need be. 

Round 3, Pick 97: Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State: A small-school prospect with a ton of documented production, Hargrave lands with the Seahawks and instantly makes a difference along the defensive front. His FCS competition in college is questionable, but his 29.5 sacks in his last two seasons are worth a third-round pick.

Round 4: Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama: The Seahawks are thrilled to pick up their second Alabama talent of the draft, and Drake is the ultimate complementary piece across from starter Thomas Rawls. Seattle's offense just got a whole lot scarier. 

Round 5: Deiondre' Hall, FS, Northern Iowa: With major needs already being filled, the Seahawks take a flier on a ball-hawking safety with 13 career interceptions, including four pick-sixes, and an ideal 6'2" frame to eventually develop into a corner if needed.

Round 6: John Theus, OT, Georgia: Durability is one of Theus' biggest strengths, as he started in 48 of 53 career games and still managed to play in the other five. He's a competitive football player, and his 6'6", 313-pound frame effectively absorbs bull rushes.

Round 7, Pick 225: David Morgan II, TE, Northern Iowa: Seattle takes a chance on a prospective No. 2 tight end in Morgan, whose blue-collar mentality takes him places at the next level. 

Round 7, Pick 247: Joe Schobert, OLB, Wisconsin: Seattle's final pick is a well-rounded linebacker who shows exceptional willingness to contribute on defense however he can. Schobert's career stats include 30.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and 12 pass breakups, as well as six forced fumbles. 

Agree? Disagree? As always, express your thoughts in the comments section below or Tweet to Ethan @ebai_today.