The NFL Draft can have a huge impact on a team’s short-term fortunes if a franchise gets it right on the best of the college players on offer.
Pete Carroll and the Seahawks organization will be hoping their latest picks can help the team take the next step towards another Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Here is a look at the pick of those players and what impact they could have in their rookie season in Seattle.
Jordyn Brooks
To many the Seahawks’ opening pick in the 2020 NFL Draft was a surprise. Those within the organization are, however, very happy they secured linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
The Texas Tech graduate had an outstanding season in 2019 which saw him nominated as a Butkus Award finalist. General manager John Schneider was in high praise of his team’s selection as he described Brooks as a player with great speed for his size.
The Seahawks were at their very best when the ‘Legion of Boom’ were dominant on defense. The addition of Brooks alongside Bobby Wagner on the second row might just help the NFC West team dominate on that side of the ball again this year.
Darrell Taylor
One of the priorities for the Seahawks to address in the offseason was to find a pass rusher. They will be hoping they have done that with the addition of Darrell Taylor who was their second pick in the draft.
Taylor should be an immediate starter this season. They traded up from 59 to 48 on the board to secure the Tennessee defensive end.
Seattle’s new player recorded 16.5 combined sacks over the last two years. He has already set himself the target of being the rookie pass rusher of the year in the NFL in 2020. After generating just 28 sacks in the league last season, Carroll needs his new young star to have an immediate impact.
Damien Lewis
Guard Damien Lewis was part of the LSU team which won the College National Championship in 2019. He started 15 of the Tigers’ games last year in an impressive campaign.
LSU, who are amongst the favorites in the American football odds for the NCAAF in 2020, were responsible for 14 players at the draft this year, the most from any college programme. They will be confident that Lewis can go on to have a great career in the NFL as he shone for them at right guard.
Seattle’s offensive line was really poor in 2019. They did not do a great job of protecting their quarterback Russell Wilson. Despite that lack of support, Wilson still did a great job at getting the ball away.
Expect to see Lewis start at right guard from week one. The rookie is an excellent run blocker so he may also help to create the gaps required for the running backs to take advantage of.
Seattle begin 2020 against the Atlanta Falcons at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Georgia. They are bidding to win the NFC West for the first time since 2016.
