Seattle Seahawks Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades

The Seattle Seahawks suffered big losses in free agency this offseason, losing offensive linemen Russell Okung and J.R. Sweezy as well as outside linebacker Bruce Irvin to name a few.

Now, on NFL draft day 2016, the team begins to repair and improve its roster by selecting future cornerstones from some of the best college athletes in the country. 

But there's a lot more to consider than just athletic prowess when picking for the future of the franchise. Is a player a schematic fit with the Seahawks? Does he have any red flags from incidents away from the football field? Does the team pick a player based on traits, or college production in the stat sheet? 

Don't worry—you don't have to answer any of those questions. Instead, enjoy the draft and check back here shortly after a pick has been made for reaction and analysis all weekend. The NFL draft begins at 8 p.m. EST Thursday.

Seattle Seahawks Picks

What will the Seattle Seahawks' draft strategy be? It's a great question, to be sure, and all we can do is speculate as to what the team will do Thursday night. 

Here are a few potential scenarios that could unfold in the draft's first round:

1). The Seahawks trade out of the first round: Seattle hasn't used a first-rounder since selecting Bruce Irvin in 2012. At No. 26 overall, the Seahawks may feel compelled to trade down into the top half of the second round. It wouldn't be surprising, not only given the Seahawks' recent draft strategy but also because this draft is rich with offensive and defensive line prospects. Those are two of Seattle's greatest areas of concern.

2). The Seahawks bypass their biggest need and draft defense: We all know that Seattle general manager John Schneider will do what he darn well pleases Thursday night, and if there's a top outside linebacker or defensive tackle still available at No. 26 (such as Clemson's Shaq Lawson or Louisiana Tech's Vernon Butler), the Seahawks should strongly consider grabbing one.

3). The Seahawks draft an offensive lineman: Boring, right? But, considering the Seahawks front five is currently a bit of an unproven mess, picking a cornerstone offensive lineman in the first round is arguably the smartest choice Seattle can make tonight. Prospects to keep an eye on: Taylor Decker, Ohio State; Jason Spriggs, Indiana; Ryan Kelly, Alabama; Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M; Cody Whitehair, Kansas State.

Be sure to follow along here throughout the draft, as this slide will track the Seahawks' picks and subsequent slides will have reaction and analysis of each. 

Round 1, Pick 31: Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M

The Seattle Seahawks are among the best in the NFL at finding value in the draft, especially after trading down. They did it again Thursday night, selecting Texas A&M offensive tackle Germain Ifedi after trading from No. 26 overall with the Denver Broncos for their No. 31 pick, the last choice in the first round. 

The Seahawks also receive Denver's No. 94 overall selection, which comes in the third round. Seattle now has three picks in that round.

But this pick was about more than just acquiring an extra third-round choice—the Seahawks addressed their biggest need in the first round, selecting an athletic offensive tackle in Ifedi who should instantly improve the team's front five.  

Ifedi projects to the right side of the Seahawks O-line, at either guard or tackle. At 6'6", 324 pounds, Ifedi has the size to be a dominant force in the NFL—especially under the teaching of Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable. 

That coaching will be important for Ifedi to blossom into what the Seahawks want and need him to be. Ifedi's athleticism is raw, but if you look at his highlight tape, there's plenty to be excited about. 

It's pretty apparent why Ifedi lands on Matt Miller's big board at No. 30 overall, as seen above. Ifedi is a balanced lineman who looks to do a little bit of everything with adequate efficiency. Ifedi squares himself up nicely with incoming pass-rushers, displaying good quickness to shuffle backward and absorb his edge-rushing opponents at the point of contact. 

Ifedi comes across, at least on tape, as a better pass protector than a run-blocker. In the aforementioned highlight reel, he gets beaten badly on back-to-back running plays at the goal line, as he lets his weight get in front of him and whiffs on consecutive blocks. But on passing plays, Ifedi's skill set is highlighted. 

On the very next play, a 4th-and-goal situation, the team passes the ball on a play where the Texas A&M quarterback rolls right. Watch Ifedi, No. 74, latch onto his target and square up, keeping the defender in place so that the quarterback could throw the touchdown.

It's plays like these that got Ifedi drafted to Seattle. Quarterback Russell Wilson is a notorious escape artist, making some of his best plays on the run. The natural athleticism of Ifedi lends itself well to Seattle's offensive scheme, even if the Seahawks are a run-first group.

There are plenty of interior linemen still to choose from in the draft, and the Seahawks acquired a third selection in the third round, one of which could easily be used on an offensive guard. 

Considering that the Seahawks traded down a few spots, nabbed an extra third-round pick and still managed to address the team's biggest need in the first round, picking Ifedi was a Thursday night home run.

Take a look at the reaction, 12th Man—does Ifedi look like a guy who's excited to be on an expected playoff team? 

Grade: A-

Round 2, Pick 49: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Seattle Seahawks used their second-round pick on Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who should be a suitable replacement for the departed Brandon Mebane.

For the second straight day, the Seattle Seahawks traded (up this time) to improve the team's trenches, selecting Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed on Friday.

This is a strong pick for the Seahawks, who needed to find a replacement for long-time starter Brandon Mebane, a free-agency departure to the San Diego Chargers. 

Seattle traded its fourth-round pick (No. 124 overall) to the Chicago Bears to move up seven spots and nab Reed. 

Reed is a monster in the trenches and will make an immediate impact along Seattle's defensive front. The 6'3", 307-pound Reed is a natural space-eater and will improve the Seahawks run defense from Day 1. According to his NFL.com draft profile, Reed made 108 tackles in his two seasons with Alabama, where he played on only 55 percent of defensive snaps.

What does that mean? It means Reed is efficient at plugging running lanes, which is invaluable on a team that plays Todd Gurley's Los Angeles Rams twice a year. His draft profile also says Reed didn't miss a single tackle, or allow any broken ones, in 2015.

Reed is not a natural pass-rusher. Despite his size, he doesn't display an effective bull rush and struggles to beat offensive tackles around the corner. This is a pick to fortify the team's defensive front for years to come, which is exactly what Reed should do.

"The Seahawks got a player coming," Reed told NFL Network immediately after being the last player in the green room selected.

This writer agrees.

Grade: A-

Round 3

The Seattle Seahawks had three picks in the draft's third round. Here's how they went down.

Round 3, Pick 90: C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame

Seattle found a complement to incumbent starter Thomas Rawls in the 6'0", 220-pound Prosise out of Notre Dame. Prosise is built like a three-down back and possesses the speed to break out around the outside when given the opportunity. 

Prosise's value in Seattle's system might come in the passing game. Prosise is a willing and able blocker in pass protection, and he is a proven receiving threat, catching 26 passes for 308 yards with one score in 2015. Prosise actually began his career in 2013 at Notre Dame playing wide receiver. His versatility makes this another outstanding pick for Seattle.

Expect Prosise to outperform third-round expectations early and often next season, much like wide receiver Tyler Lockett did for Seattle a season ago. 

Round 3, Pick 94: Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State

Down the stretch last season, a lack of depth at the tight end position hurt the Seahawks on offense. With that being said, taking 6'6", 257-pound Nick Vannett out of Ohio State was a smart and logical choice.

Vannett's frame allows him to be an effective blocker in both the running game and pass protection, but that's just part of his game—Vannett has a good understanding of how to find holes in zone coverage and get open for his quarterback, even if his route running is a bit choppy at this stage of his career.

Short-distance quickness is another strong point of Vannett's, as his 4.20 20-yard shuffle time was the best among tight ends at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Given Vannett has a strong offseason, expect him to earn the No. 2 tight end spot opposite Jimmy Graham. This will make Seattle's offense balanced and formidable in two-tight end sets, giving the team more opportunities to disguise its intentions on offense. 

Grade: B

Round 3, Pick 97: Rees Odhiambo, OG, Boise State

The Seahawks continued to address their biggest need Friday night with the team's final pick of the day, selecting 6'4", 314-pound Rees Odhiambo from Boise State.

Odhiambo is a raw and natural athlete with major durability concerns. While possessing the strength, bend and instincts to make a difference on the right side of the line, it's important to note that Odhiambo never played a full season in his three years at Boise State. His most recent injury was a broken ankle in October of last year, which ended his 2015 season.

Still, Odhiambo will be a good project for Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable, who can turn excellent athletes like Odhiambo into complete football players in a rather short time frame. Odhiambo offers some positional versatility, as he played both tackle and guard in college.

Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reported on Twitter that the team has officially listed Odhiambo as a guard and first-round selection Germain Ifedi as a tackle. Both players figure to play on the right side of the Seahawks O-line, which is looking much better after the draft's first two days.

Grade: B

Round 5

Seattle traded away its fourth-round pick to Chicago Friday, but the team acquired an extra choice in the fifth. Here's how it went down.

Round 5, Pick 147 (from New England): Quinton Jefferson, DT, Maryland

The Seahawks continued wheeling and dealing on Saturday, acquiring an extra fifth-round pick from the New England Patriots that was used to reinforce its defensive line.

In his final season, Maryland's Quinton Jefferson posted 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and one forced fumble. His tape reveals that he is quite agile in moving around offensive linemen, and he gets good penetration from the inside. 

Jefferson is a player with priorities—according to his CBS Sports draft profile, he is a husband and father of three girls, which should be taken as a sign of good character. 

It's worth noting that Jefferson suffered an ACL injury late in 2014, which resulted in his missing four games last season. He came back to start all remaining 12 games, however, producing the aforementioned stats.

The Seahawks can do no wrong by solidifying their defensive front. On Friday, former Seahawk Bruce Irvin tweeted that in Seattle's 2013 Super Bowl run, the team had a rotation of eight players along the defensive line.

In today's NFL, there's no such thing as having too may pass-rushers. Jefferson is a solid mid-round selection for Seattle. 

The Seahawks received the 147th and 243rd overall picks from the Patriots in exchange for a seventh-round pick (No. 225) and a fourth-round selection in 2017. 

Grade: B

Round 5, Pick 171: Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas

Seattle continued bolstering its backfield by taking Arkansas' Alex Collins, the second running back taken by the Seahawks in the draft. 

Collins is a quick-twitch runner who lives between the trenches. In his final season at Arkansas, he was productive, carrying the ball 271 times for 1,577 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Twenty touchdowns. College production isn't always a tell-tale sign of what's to come in a player's future, but those are some serious statistics—serious enough to catch Seahawks general manager John Schneider's eye at the end of the fifth round.

Ball security is a concern with Collins, as he fumbled 17 times in his collegiate career and lost nine of them, according to his NFL.com draft profile. Another area for Collins to improve is his vision, and he especially needs to hit outside runs better. His 5'10", 217-pound frame will take a beating on inside runs at the NFL level.

Still, Collins infuses Seattle with more speed and scoring ability on offense. This pick is indicative that the Seahawks are trying their hardest to return to their running-game roots, which the team capitalized on to make consecutive Super Bowl runs in 2013 and 2014. 

Grade: B-

Round 6, Pick 215: Joey Hunt, C, TCU

Associated Press

After selecting TCU's Joey Hunt, the Seahawks have now drafted three offensive linemen in the 2016 NFL draft.

The Seahawks added depth to their offensive line in the sixth round, selecting center Joey Hunt out of TCU. 

Hunt is a tough center who anchors surprisingly well considering he is 6'0" and 295 pounds. His short, stout frame will allow him to win leverage battles in the trenches, and his NFL.com draft profile says that Hunt is an instinctive and intelligent player. 

Hunt doesn't mind attacking on the second level and has good recognition of stunt blitzes. 

Because of his size, Hunt may struggle until he gets a feel for the NFL game. He doesn't have the length to play guard or tackle in the pros and will likely only be a center in the NFL.

The selection of Hunt comes across as a pick to secure more depth along an embattled offensive line, and it's unlikely Hunt will earn the starting spot over incumbent Patrick Lewis. 

Seattle has done a nice job of reinforcing its greatest area of concern, as Hunt is the third offensive lineman the Seahawks have selected in the 2016 NFL draft.

Grade: C

Round 7

Round 7, Pick 243: Kenny Lawler, WR, California

Not many other receivers in college football had better highlight tape than California's Lawler, who contests the ball at its highest point well. He shows great anticipation on jump balls and has good top-end speed, which should translate to making some spectacular plays downfield.

At 6'2", 203 pounds, Lawler's skinny frame projects him as a slot receiver in the NFL. He would be smart—like many incoming rookies—to add some much-needed bulk to his frame so that he can absorb hits from professional defenders. 

Overall, Lawler's speed and natural acrobatic athleticism are a good fit in Seattle's offense. The team covets speedy playmaking athletes, and Lawler could see time as a No. 4 receiver in spread packages.

Also consider that receiver Doug Baldwin's contract is coming up, and he is an aging receiver who won't play forever. Lawler adds not only a speedy presence to this year's team but provides some insurance at the wide receiver position for the long term.

Grade: B 

Round 7, Pick 247: Zac Brooks, RB, Clemson

In one of the more surprising moves from a rather predictable Seahawks draft, Seattle selected Clemson runner Zac Brooks with its final pick of the weekend. 

Brooks was the third running back taken in this draft by the Seahawks.

His collegiate production doesn't stand out, and he doesn't have many "wow" moments on his game tape. But in his highlight reel from the national championship game, you can see that Brooks offers a good bit of versatility for the Clemson offense. 

Not only does he line up at tailback and slot receiver but also at wideout. At that position, Brooks shows decent route-running ability and hands. 

Brooks will likely struggle to find a roster spot at running back, given that the position group includes two other draftees as well as incumbents Thomas Rawls and Christine Michael. But, if his versatility stands out in the offseason, Brooks could be an intriguing experimental piece on offense for the Seahawks.

Thanks for following the 2016 NFL draft with Ethan. As always, voice your opinions in the comments section below or tweet the author @ebai_today.