Since Marshawn Lynch’s time had ended in Seattle, the Seahawks have been desperately searching for an identity in the backfield. Rawls, Prosise, Lacy, and Carson are just some of the names that have rolled through the backfield since Beast Mode left. With the draft coming up, fans hope that the Hawks select a running back with the kind of personality that can get tough yards and make big plays in the zone-running scheme. Even the Oregon Sports News staff have the Seahawks going with Derrius Guice in the mock draft.
Plain and simple, fans in the northwest want a running back workhorse.
It’s clear that the Seahawks have met with Derrius Guice, a definite 1st round running back talent, but the team has also met with a variety of other premiere talents. These other visits consist primarily of players working in the trenches.
Chalk it up to a team just doing its homework, but there seems to be a consensus on grabbing a lineman in the first round. Former University of Washington defensive lineman Vita Vea paid a visit to Seahawks’ brass yesterday. H’s a prospect that probably won’t fall as far as the Seahawks could hope for, and given that Seattle isn’t well stocked in mid-round draft picks, the team can’t even think to move up a couple of rungs on the ladder just to ensure Vea’s selection. The Seahawks have also met with other prospects that are expected to hover around the 18th pick in the draft including linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and wide receiver Christian Kirk.
The thing about sitting at the 18th spot is that there’s no guarantee that a gem could fall to the Seahawks. Most of these guys like Vita Vea will be gone.
There’s one move that could move the Seahawks up the draft board, and that’s by pairing their current 1st round pick with Earl Thomas. As draft day gets closer, and the fact that the Seahawks won’t be picking for a while after the 18th pick, this thought experiment doesn’t seem too farfetched. If you’re only going to have one pick, might as well work on getting the highest pick possible.
Seeing how Richard Sherman left without the Seahawks getting any real compensation outside of some cap savings, I doubt that the team will ship Thomas. Why not trade down?
The Seahawks have also visited with prospects like defensive lineman Maurice Hurst, running back Akrum Wadley, and running back Kalen Ballage. Even cornerback prospect like Isaiah Oliver can be available on the second day of the draft, and although the Seahawks did their due diligence, they just won’t be able to get a chance at selecting him.
Thinking about running backs, Wadley and Ballage promise that the depth at the position will be there on the second day of the draft. Seattle might not need a flashy name in the first round to carry the ball.
The visit with Vita Vea is promising, and the Seahawks are telling fans that they’re indeed trying to move up in the draft if possible. Should that fail, look for the Seahawks to trade out of the first round in exchange for draft picks on the second day. This will allow them to bring in more bodies for depth and potentially find a day one starter.
But, don’t be surprised if the Seahawks decide to package Earl Thomas and their first pick for a bevy of mid-round picks in this deep draft. It just so happens that the Dallas Cowboys have opened up cap space to absorb Earl Thomas. The Seahawks would swap 1st round picks and at the very least see a 3rd round pick in return. Dallas is desperate for a free safety, so they might have to give a little more to sway the Seahawks.
