What we know about the Seahawks draft so far (Hint: not much)

The top priority for today is to say Happy Mother’s day to all of the mothers. My mother is on a plane, and also makes a point of not reading this website very often (can you blame her?). Either way, I love you mom.

Nonetheless, I hope that instead of reading this post you’re spending time with your mom. I hope this finds you on Monday.

Nobody ever likes the Seahawks draft. I haven’t really liked one since the first Pete Carroll, John Schneider draft that netted Russell Okung and Earl Thomas. They’ve worked out in rare form, though, and as a fanbase we have largely decided to just trust the front office until we see them falter. That’s basically true this time. I don’t have a problem with any of the draft picks specifically, there just isn’t a star in the group that I can see. I’ve felt that way in the past before, and then Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Malcolm Smith, and probably some other guys happened.

This team has a unique ability to find talent in the darkest corners, and under the most stubborn bedrock. Is Paul Richardson that guy? Who knows. The team drafted Chris Harper last year in the fourth round with the distinct possiblity that he could play most of the snaps across from Sidney Rice in three-receiver sets. They cut him before the season started. This front office attempts to maximize every avenue for talent acquisition. That includes trades, where they’ve acquired Percy Harvin and more recently they made an intriguing trade for Terrelle Pryor.

This team doesn’t seem like they’re influenced at all by league perception of the draft. They are remarkably headstrong, a trait that is enviable in an NFL front office. While the entire league builds their passing games and pass rush, PCJS built the team’s running game and secondary. As the league shifts to imitate them, at least so far as plus-sized defensive backs are concerned, PCJS have invested in the team’s offensive line and receiving corps.

This team is weird, and the league is getting used to it. So you’ll see modest grades for this team’s draft, but with the caveat that they’ve created a trend of proving experts wrong.

That in mind, here are some brief, largely meaningless profiles of the guys the Seahawks drafted and some of the prominent undrafted free agents they signed:

 

Round 2, Pick 45 – Paul Richardson, WR, Colorado

Richardson is a burner with smallish hands. Comparisons to DeSean Jackson are valid, though Richardson isn’t quite as elite an athlete, and likely has zero ties to notorious gangs. A lot will be made of his 40 time and his 38-inch vertical, but the vertical speaks to explosiveness that can create separation while Richardson is still on the ground.

Round 2, Pick 64 – Justin Britt, OT, Missouri

A reputed mauler with amazing size. Seems like the odds-on-favorite to start a right tackle very soon, if not in 2014. Michael Bowie should have something to say about that.

Round 4, Pick 108 – Cassius Marsh, DE, UCLA

An example of the silliness of judging athleticism solely on 40 time, vertical leap, and bench press. Explosive end who should receive substantial reps in the rotation at LEO. High motor, for what that’s worth.

Round 4, Pick 123 – Kevin Norwood, WR, Alabama

Good all around receiver with health issues in his past. More athletic than he’s given credit for, but will never take the top off of a defense. High character receiver.

Round 4, Pick 132 – Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB, Boston College

Hyper-athletic, albeit undersized receiver. Pierre-Louis has measurables that are off the chart, and there is an outside chance that he sees time at safety in Seattle. With some weight he’d make an interesting candidate for LEO, where his marginal diagnostic skills could be hidden some.

Round 5, Pick 172 – Jimmy Staten, DT, Middle Tennessee State

Potentially a five-technique prospect who could also play inside. Most of what is being used as his scouting report are stats, which for a DT or five-tech mean very little. This is one of those “just trust these guys, but don’t be upset if he doesn’t make it through training camp” picks.

Round 6, Pick 199 – Garrett Scott, OT, Marshall

Big, tall, underweight tackle. Athletic with long arms, but played in a relatively weak conference at a non-football-power. Seems like his best fit is at guard in the NFL despite relatively prototypical tackle measurements (though he’s listed at 294 lbs.).

Round 6, Pick 208 – Eric Pinkins, S, San Diego State

Kam Chancellor comparisons are obvious. Highly athletic, plus-sized safety. Probably ends up on the practice squad or with a mysterious injury that lands him on IR before the team’s last cuts. Project for future years that has the physical tools to match Chancellor if he can learn the game as well as Kam.

Round 7, Pick 227 – Kiero Small, FB, Arkansas

Fullback is a luxury, and the Seahawks took Small at an appropriate spot. Between Derrick Coleman and Spencer Ware, Small will have some competition going into 2014. Small is basically a blocker only.

 

UDFA:

Keith Price, QB, Washington

Worked with Russell Wilson last offseason. Played in pro-style offense. Good guy to have as a prospect, but likely a career backup at best.

Chase Dixon, TE, Central Arkansas

Athletic, small-school, tight end prospect.

Dion Bailey, S, USC

Played safety and linebacker at USC, but isn’t big enough to sniff linebacker in the NFL.

Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas

Good pass rush prospect with decent size and athleticism.

Andru Pulu, DT, Eastern Washington

Former Huskies DT, was kicked off the team after a fight. Huge body, another project.