NFL Draft 2011: Seattle Seahawks Are Drafting for the Future

With the 2011 NFL draft only a couple of days away, the speculation amongst fans and media is at an all-time high. The draft is an exciting time of the offseason, as Super Bowl teams are built here.

After a surprising playoff run last year, there are some Seattle Seahawks fans who feel the team is one or two players away from making a serious push in 2011, so it is easy to see why the draft takes on extra importance to everyone.

There are two problems with this sentiment. One, Seattle is far from just one or two players away. It has many holes that need to be filled before fans can start making Super Bowl Sunday plans.

Secondly, even if Seattle were one player away, who in this draft is that player?

Nobody. This draft isn't about getting the next marquee, face of the franchise player.

Its easy to fall into the "we just have to draft player X and we're set" mode when thinking about the draft. Yes, getting a top prospect will ultimately help the team, and if you are at the top of the draft, you can grab a superstar.

But it is not that simple.

Last season, Seattle made two great first-round selections with Russell Okung and Earl Thomas. Both of these players performed well last year and seem to be well on their way to becoming longtime studs for Seattle.

They weren't perfect, however, and Seattle still struggled running the ball, protecting the quarterback and stopping the pass: areas Okung and Thomas were specifically drafted for.

Now, part of the problem was the rest of the team, but the true impact of Okung and Thomas won't be felt for a couple more years. Two years from now both of those guys will be hitting their prime as players in the NFL.

They will need help though.

Looking at the potential draft picks the Seahawks might select this weekend, none are rated as high as Okung and Thomas. If those guys couldn't change the Seahawks' fortunes in their rookie years, will Jimmy Smith? Mike Pouncey? Jake Locker?

This year's draft is about continuing the rebuilding process, which Seattle is definitely still in.

Seattle won't be drafting anyone who is going to lead this team to the playoffs next year. Seattle will hopefully be drafting players who are going to make up the foundation of a Super Bowl contender in the years to follow.

Whether they select Jimmy Smith, a lineman in the Pouncey realm or even one of the quarterbacks available, the Seahawks will have to wait to enjoy their skills.

John Schneider and Pete Carroll would never admit in public that they were rebuilding, but looking at all the moves they've made in the past two years, that 's exactly what they are doing.

Every good team needs those second-tier players that act as the glue of the team—the solid guys who might not make Pro Bowls but give a team that extra edge that depth provides.

That's who Seattle is after in this draft. The question is will it find the right guys to fill that role?