Seattle Seahawks: 12 Prospects They Should Take a Look at for 2011 NFL Draft

With the NFL season winding down and the Seahawks no real threat to do anything big in the playoffs, it’s time to start looking ahead to next season and beyond.

While the team has been a pleasant surprise at times this year, it’s still in rebuilding mode after the disastrous previous two seasons. Luckily, as he proved last year, Pete Carroll is an adept judge of talent at the college level and beyond, so the draft once again could prove to be a boon for a team with some gaping holes that need to be filled.

With the almost complete roster turnover that has taken place this year, the building blocks are set for the future. However, there are some areas that do still need to be addressed. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is getting old and not many are convinced that Charlie Whitehurst is the answer for the future. It might be time to give serious consideration to finding an effective long-term replacement through the draft or a trade.

Both the offensive and defensive lines are looking for an upgrade or simply some more depth behind the starters. Though the foundation for the offensive line is young with the likes of Russell Okung and Max Unger, there is always room for improvement.

The Seahawks' surprising record leaves them out of the top 10 draft picks and in the middle of the first round, where the pool is sometimes more difficult to distinguish. Here are 12 prospects the Seahawks must seriously consider taking, if they are available that is.

Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

A high motor player whose 12.5 sacks are more impressive coming from the run-happy Big Ten. He has also shown a knack for getting in the backfield with an astonishing 26 TFL’s. Though still a bit of a raw prospect, he would do fine spelling sack specialist Chris Clemons.

Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State

Aside from Auburn’s Nick Fairley, considered the best defensive tackle available. A true space eater that would be effective in a rotation with Brandon Mebane and Colin Cole, his seven sacks from the interior are impressive. If this season has showed us anything, it’s that you can’t have too much depth on the line.

Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

Though he has an arrest on his record, Carroll has a good track record with character issues and his play warrants consideration. He shows remarkable effectiveness, even while drawing occasional double and triple teams. Though his numbers have been down somewhat, it appears to be more of a reflection on the amount of attention he receives from opposing offenses.

Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

The odds of him being available when the Seahawks pick are very slim. But there is always at least one prospect that lasts through the top 10 and is there for the taking to a lucky team. Bowers could be that guy, though I highly doubt it. The big, athletic end has 15 sacks on the season and could be an immediate playmaker on the defensive side.

Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

There are no real can’t miss offensive line prospects this year like Okung or Trent Williams last year, but Sherrod is probably the best lineman prospect. A steep upgrade over Sean Locklear, he’s a wide body who is effective in both pass and run blocking and along with Okung would form a solid base for the future.

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

Newton has had an amazing year and his natural abilities have made him one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft. Though comparisons to JaMarcus Russell are inevitable, Newton has proven to be a harder worker and is more respected by his teammates.

As a dangerous dual-threat quarterback, teams will love to have his competitiveness and winning mentality. He would make an already dynamic Seahawks offense that much more exciting even if he only plays sparingly in the first couple of years.

Prince Amakamura, CB, Nebraska

Another prospect that will more than likely not be available when the Seahawks pick, yet could fall depending how other teams pick. A lockdown corner in the mold of Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha, teams rarely tested Amakamura this season. He’s shown an ability to cover any type of receiver and would be a welcome addition given the recent injury history of Marcus Trufant and the lack of depth beyond Kelly Jennings and Walter Thurmond.

Marcell Dareus, DL, Alabama

Though not as dominant as Gerald McCoy or Ndamukong Suh, Dareus is a tackle capable in any scheme who disrupts running lanes and commands extra attention up front. With injuries this year to Colin Cole and Red Bryant, Dareus would provide the needed depth and ability to strengthen the Seahawks defense.

Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas

Considered by some to be the best quarterback in the draft, his size and rocket arm make him a valuable prospect. Given a year of adjusting to the speed of the NFL, he could develop into a Philip Rivers-like quarterback. He makes good reads and is capable of making every throw, an improvement over the declining arm strength of Hasselbeck. Of course, that same argument could be made for Whitehurst but has failed to materialize as of yet.

Brandon Harris, CB, Miami

A sleeper pick who could be a solid if unspectacular cover corner in the NFL. Has size and supreme athletic ability, which fans have come to expect from the NFL factory of Miami. His stock has taken a slight hit from the surprisingly disappointing performance of Miami’s defense this season, but make no mistake that along with Trufant and Earl Thomas, Harris could help form one of the best covering secondaries in the NFL.

Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College

Like I said, it’s a bit of a down year for offensive line prospects in the first round, but if the team wants to go this route, they could consider trading down in the first round to nab Castonzo or Sherrod while picking up another draft pick or player in the process. Carroll showed last year he’s willing to deal on draft day, and Castonzo is certainly a solid line prospect that could develop into quite an effective pro.

Jake Locker, QB, Washington

Of course no Seahawks draft list would be complete without hometown hero Locker. Through the ups and downs of his four seasons at Washington, Jake has shown the leadership and moxie needed to be a signal-caller in the NFL.

Though his stats aren’t what you’d expect to see for a quarterback with his skill level, some of that has to do with the subpar talent level at Washington in recent years. Of course, he will be the emotional favorite to be picked if he’s available, and Pete Carroll has called him the best quarterback he’s seen at the college level.

Of course there are plenty of other routes that the team could take, including trading up or down in the draft, but any of these prospects would be a good fit for a team that has proven to be on the right track of two seasons of disappointment.