2012 NFL Mock Draft: Seattle Seahawks Full 7-Round Predictions

The Seattle Seahawks finished 2011 with the same 7-9 record as the 2010 season. However, they were well out of playoff consideration, landing them the 12th pick in the 2012 NFL draft. 

To be fair, a coin toss could give them the 11th spot, but 12 just seems more fitting.

Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have engineered an amazing transformation of talent. They've found gems later in the draft along with undrafted free agents and players that weren't on the radar screens for other NFL franchises.

Seattle enters the 2012 offseason with some very specific needs. Look for an active mix of free-agent acquisitions and continued building through the draft.

Some fans will want to see the Seahawks upgrade the quarterback position via an early draft pick, but they are likely to be disappointed.

The cost for the Seahawks to move up in 2012 will likely to be too high for their front office. They are more likely to trade down from their early draft pick to acquire a player or a first-round selection in 2013.

Aside from quarterback, the Seahawks figure to look at pass rush help from the front four and for help at the linebacker position. Their secondary is solid, but Seattle might look for cornerback depth late in the draft.

On offense the Seahawks need to shore up the running back position. Marshawn Lynch is a free agent they will certainly look to re-sign, but the team can be expected to draft a replacement for Justin Forsett or a new starting back should Seattle lose Lynch in free agency.

The free-agent status of John Carlson could make finding a versatile tight end a priority in later rounds. Cameron Morrah should be a pass-catching option in 2012, with Zach Miller figuring to become an offensive threat again once the Seahawks have their offensive line in order.

Round 7: Dan Persa, QB Northwestern, 6'1

The Seahawks traded Tyler Polumbus to the Detroit Lions for an undisclosed draft selection. I'm assuming they will receive the Lions' seventh-round pick.

This might be too late for Dan Persa, but he currently isn't attracting as much attention as he could.

Persa has a solid arm and set the NCAA record for completion percentage. The concern is his size, which could be a bit small for an NFL quarterback. He has also had several injuries in college, further questioning his ability to survive an NFL season.

Persa is listed at 6'1", but some believe his height to be up to 2" shorter. He will need to step up in off-season activities to bolster his draft status.

Persa is a good runner with elite speed for a quarterback. He isn't as sharp as Tarvaris Jackson on deep throws, though.

Persa's ability to throw on the run should attract the attention of coaching staffs, like Seattle's, that value a mobile quarterback. He has great scramble ability, but unlike running quarterbacks he still keeps an eye downfield and finds receivers on the move. While watching game footage he would find and hit targets that I didn't recognize as being open.

What coach Carroll may like most about Persa is he is simply a football player. He is a tough competitor that works hard in the weight room and on the field. He's a smart athlete, which should be obvious given the college he attends.

Regardless of whom Seattle drafts in the early rounds or signs in free agency, they should grab Persa in the sixth or seventh round if he is still on the board.

If they don't, my reaction will likely be similar to the fit I threw when they didn't draft Jeron Johnson in the 2011 draft. 

Seattle made up for that mistake by signing Johnson as an undrafted free agent. They won't likely have that opportunity with Persa. 

Round 7: Kavario Middleton, TE Montana, 6'5

This pick was acquired from the Oakland Raiders in exchange for Aaron Curry.

Kavario Middleton was a starting tight end for the Washington Huskies until he was dismissed from the team for an undisclosed violation of team rules. It was reported by the Seattle Times and the News Tribune that he failed multiple drug tests performed by campus police.

Middleton is a talented receiver with a great blend of size and speed, running a 4.7-second 40-yard dash. He became expendable for Washington, though, as he was struggling to keep his starting position his Jr. year. They were also signing prep standout Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

Middleton originally planned to transfer to Nebraska, but he did not meet transfer requirements. Moving to a FCS school allowed Middleton to not skip the 2010 season. 

Middleton has not been getting much attention following his fall from UW. That may change over the coming months, but he could be a good project and another late-round gem for the Seahawks front office.

Round 7: Marshawn Lynch

The Seahawks sent their 2011 fourth-round draft pick to the Buffalo Bills for Marshawn Lynch. The trade also included a late-round pick from the 2012 draft.

While not confirmed, I'll assign their round-seven pick for Lynch...mostly because I want Seattle to draft the next player on my list and he may not last until the final round.

Round 6: Darius Fleming, OLB Notre Dame, 6'2

Darius Fleming has not been getting the praise of some of the high-profile linebackers heading into the 2012 NFL draft. Given his great blend of size, speed and instincts that could change.

Fleming was originally used as a defensive end. However, he had the speed to drop back to Notre Dame's "Cat" linebacker.

He's been a disruptive force in the Irish pass defense.

Whether blitzing or dropping into coverage, Fleming has made a name for himself...at least on his team. 

"

He’s tough to play against every day, I’ll tell you. He’s so fast off the ball that he gives our tackles a handful every day. He can disrupt the pocket, and he can drop out and cover. 

Tommy Rees, Notre Dame quarterback

He’s been a dominating player. He has overwhelmed our offensive line at times. I don't use that word lightly. He's overwhelmed some of our players. He's now in that position where we believe he can be an impact player for us.

Brian Kelly, Notre Dame head coach

"

Fleming should be able to help the Seahawks with covering tight ends and running backs on swing routes. He can also lend a hand with getting pressure directly on the quarterback...a trend likely to be seen in other mock picks.

Round 5: Donnie Fletcher, CB Boston College, 6'1", 195 Lbs.

As deep as the Seahawks are at cornerback, Pete Carroll will always look to add competition. Donnie Fletcher is a solid college corner that has great instincts and reacts well to the ball.

Fletcher has good speed, but will likely be challenged covering top receivers in the NFL. While some disagree, I don't see him as a starter at the next level.

If an NFL team wants him to challenge for a starting job he may be gone before the fifth round. However, he figures to be taken around this spot and should be a very good nickel back or part of Seattle's bandit package.

Following a five-interception performance as a junior, Fletcher had two picks in 2011. His tackles also dropped, as Fletcher missed two games and the team failed to qualify for a bowl game following this season.

Round 4: Lucas Nix, OG Pittsburgh, 6'5", 310 Lbs.

Pitt had issues with pass and run blocking in 2010. Part of that was the inability of Lucas Nix to get outside as a right tackle. He was moved inside to guard and has been solid ever since.

Nix has a great push in run blocking, which should attract the attention of the Seahawks' offensive line coach Tom Cable. Seattle needs to be looking for an eventual replacement for Robert Gallery.

Nix is the type of player that Cable should be able to mold into a solid starter in the NFL.

Round 3: Bruce Irvin, OLB/DE West Virginia, 6'2", 245 Lbs.

Bruce Irvin is difficult to place in the NFL. He looks like a solid rush 3-4 linebacker, but his speed opens up other possibilities. 

He would also fit well as an eventual replacement for Chris Clemons at the Leo end position.

One thing that is certain is he is a talented pass rusher with great speed. His 14 sacks in 2010 were first in the FBS. He cooled off in 2011, recording just 7.5 sacks.

The other certainty is Pete Carroll and Gus Bradley have the talent to figure out how to use Irvin's in their hybrid defense.

Round 2: Chris Polk, RB Washington, 5'11

This could be a luxury pick if the Seahawks are able to re-sign Marshawn Lynch. However, it is a luxury the Seahawks may be able to afford if they are able to sign a quarterback in free agency.

Polk is a tough runner, much in the mold of Marshawn Lynch. Unlike Lynch, Polk also has a quick burst that will get him to holes that Lynch sometimes misses.

Polk has the speed to turn the corner in college, but may not be a legitimate home-run threat around the edge in the NFL. Instead, he will rely on his ability to bust open plays by breaking tackles. He does not get tackled easily, typically requiring more than one defender to bring him down.

Polk is possibly undervalued for his contributions on passing downs. He is a solid receiver out of the backfield and also has the ability to be a good pass blocker. 

The biggest concern with Polk is his history of shoulder issues. He uses them frequently to take on tacklers with solid stiff-arms and lowering them into would-be tacklers. However, he has stayed relatively healthy over the last two seasons which should clear the way for being taken in the second round of the NFL draft.

Chris Polk Rushing Stats:

YEAR	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
2011	293	1488	5.1	61	12
2010	260	1415	5.4	72	9
2009	226	1113	4.9	41	5
2008	20	33	1.7	5	0

Pick 12: Quinton Coples, DT/DE North Carolina, 6'6", 285 Lbs.

Yes, this could actually be pick 11 should the Seahawks win a coin toss over the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Seattle has picked immediately after the Chiefs in two of the last three drafts. Combined with Seattle's propensity for the number "12" this just seems like the right slot.

Ryan Tannehill is making noise as a possible first-round talent. He's a player that will need some time to develop in the NFL, as he transitioned from wide receiver to quarterback in college. He started half of the 2010 season and in 2011 for Texas A&M.

While Tannehill could be the selection here if Seattle keeps the pick, I fully expect them to make a different move. Seattle is likely to pick up a quarterback via free agency, leaving them to focus on other positions.

If Seattle doesn't feel settled in their quarterback position, they may also look to trade out of this pick to acquire a selection in the 2013 draft. They could trade back to the end of the first-round or early in round two and receive a first round pick that would allow them to chase Matt Barkley or another quarterback next year.

Quinton Coples has a very good chance of still being on the board with this pick. This will be a solid draft option for Seattle, but would also be a tempting player for several teams to trade up to draft. The Minnesota Vikings could be the ideal suitor, as they will likely pick up several extra draft picks to trade out of the third spot in April.

Should Seattle move to the second round look for them to draft Billy Winn, DE/DT from Boise State.

Coples is a versatile defensive lineman that has moved between defensive tackle and end. He's been able to stuff the run and pressure the quarterback from both roles, registering 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss.

A natural defensive end, Coples could rotate in with Red Bryant on passing downs in 2012. This would give him time to get accustomed to the NFL while working against right tackles.

Chris Clemons will be a 31-year-old free agent in 2013. Seattle could see Coples as his replacement as their every-down end and re-sign Clemons as a pass-rush specialist.

Two picks in the first three rounds on pass rush help may seem indulgent given the defense is the better part of the Seahawks team. However, pass rush is the biggest issue on this team that can be fixed during the upcoming draft.

Carroll wants to win with defense and they will be able to address deficiencies on offense at other times.