Seahawks 2020 Draft Recap

 

The 2020 NFL draft has come and gone, and the Seahawks made a total of 8 selections. The players picked are listed below in the order of their selections (round and overall selection), with short notes included:

• R1/Pick 27 - Jordyn Brooks (LB): Brooks has experience at both OLB and ILB, and should be able to come in and contribute early on defense. He has an aggressive, downhill playing style, with good instincts and the explosiveness to quickly act on what he sees. Bobby Wagner is cemented at MIKE and K.J. Wright set to play out his final contract year at the WILL spot, making this early pick an unexpected one. Brooks could be a hedge for Mychal Kendricks at SAM, and is an immediate challenger to Cody Barton.
• R2/Pick 48 - Darrell Taylor (EDGE): Taylor possesses impressive bend and burst rushing off the edge, but requires refinement with regard to technique and hand usage. He also has the potential to be a 3-down player, as he flashes the strength to anchor well against the run. With Clowney's free agent status and a disappointing stint for Ziggy Ansah, the Seahawks needed to add some talent on the edge.
• R3/Pick 69 - Damien Lewis (OG): The free agency period saw the Seahawks sign plenty of OGs, but it's hard to fault them for going after a true pick for the future at the position. Lewis was a big, physical mauler at RG for LSU's top-flight offense, and possesses the athleticism to also climb to the second-level as a blocker. He should immediately provide competition for incumbent D.J. Fluker, who is entering a contract year.
• R4/Pick 133 - Colby Parkinson (TE): Parkinson has great size and decent agility testing numbers for someone of his stature. Parkinson was mainly used as a move TE by Stanford, acting as a big receiver who could attack as a coverage mismatch on shallow or downfield routes with good ball skills. He looks to be a viable red zone threat, as he feasts on catching passes while boxing out smaller DBs. The Seahawks have plenty of depth at TE for the coming season, so Parkinson was likely a pick with the long-term in mind.
• R4/Pick 144 - Deejay Dallas (HB): Dallas fits the physical dimensions that the Seahawks have previously gone after. He flashes good short-area acceleration, and looks to drive and fall forward when being tackled. Dallas rounds out a RB group that features Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny, both of whom are coming off significant injuries. Assuming Carson and Penny are healthy when the season starts, Dallas is unlikely to see the field this year.
• R5/Pick 148 - Alton Robinson (DE): Another pick to add some speed to the front 4. Robinson is a pass rusher who primarily won with get-off and quickness at Syracuse. He currently relies on athleticism over technique to win reps, but flashes the traits to be a real disruptor. He could come in and contribute as a situational player on passing downs for the Seahawks. 
• R6/Pick 214 - Freddie Swain (WR): Swain had something of a breakout season for Florida in 2019, showing that he has the tools to be a playmaker. He had good all-around testing numbers at the combine, and that athleticism translates to the field. He has deceptive speed to add yards after the catch, and already has experience returning punts and kicks. He should be able to plug in immediately on special teams while growing into a WR3 role over time, as there is some untapped potential in his game.
• R7/Pick 251 - Stephen Sullivan (TE): The Seahawks traded a 2021 6th rounder to get back into the draft to select Sullivan, a big-bodied, lengthy TE. Sullivan had poor agility testing numbers at the combine, but has good speed and leaping ability to win jump balls. He projects well to a role as a move TE in the same vein as Parkinson, making his selection an interesting one to trade a future draft pick for.

The Seahawks addressed perhaps their biggest need by selecting two DEs who bring athleticism to the DL rotation, but no DT was added to support Poona Ford and Jarran Reed. The selection of a LB in the 1st round and an OG in the 3rd added to positions with some depth, though the talent they both displayed in college works to justify the picks. The selection of two TEs was curious, as the position group also looked good for the Seahawks coming into the 2020 season. Finally, a RB and WR were picked up to fill out the roster, though neither look like they will be more than role players at the moment. 

Most of the moves made by the Seahawks indicate that they are looking to round out the depth chart rather than inject immediate talent to contend. While this approach worked when they already had a strong overall team, it does not seem to lend itself well to short-term aspirations of improving a team with several deficiencies. I had hoped they would tap into a talented WR class earlier on to find an exciting 3rd option behind Metcalf and Lockett, and it was interesting to see the Seahawks come out of the draft without a developmental DB prospect given that there is no cemented starter at nickel corner. Likewise, no OT or C were added to bring competition to those position groups either. 

Realistically, not all of their needs could be addressed in a single draft. No real risks were taken on with their picks, though some of the incoming class shows promising upside. Free agency is still available to add proven talent to the team as well.  On a positive note, players were drafted that bring aggression and physicality, traits that the team has been lacking for some time. Toughness and reliability seem to have been the name of the game, and no big swings were taken at game-breaking talent. 

As it stands, the Seahawks seem to have the juice to once again secure a playoff berth, but no moves have yet been made to put them over the top for a deep postseason run. A Super Bowl berth looks unlikely for the current roster, but having a Russell Wilson certainly helps. Overall, I like the draft class, and am always excited to see how the impact they will have moving forward. More detailed profiles for the drafted players (with a good body of game tape) will be coming in future posts. 

Go Hawks!