Seahawks 7-round NFL mock draft: Dealing early and often to fill positions of need

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Seahawks 7-round NFL mock draft: Dealing early and often to fill positions of need

With only a few days until the Seahawks are on the clock with the 16th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, here’s one final seven-round mock featuring a couple of trades on the first two days before selecting eight players with the potential to fill Seattle’s needs, both in the short term and down the road.

First, a reminder of their picks entering Thursday.

Round Pick Overall Notes

1

16

16

3

17

81

From Saints via Broncos

4

2

102

From Commanders

4

18

118

6

3

179

From Commanders

6

16

192

7

15

235

Round 1, No. 25 (from Packers): Graham Barton, IOL, Duke

Projected trade: Seahawks receive Nos. 25 and 58. Packers receive Nos. 16 and 118.

General manager John Schneider has a history of trading back with his former employer in the first round, so here he does it again, agreeing to move back nine spots in exchange for recouping a second-round pick. Barton spent three of his four years as a starter in college at left tackle but projects as an interior lineman at the next level in part because of his short arms (32 7/8 inches) and lack of foot quickness. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Barton 18th overall and the No. 1 center on his big board, but the 6-foot-5, 313-pounder can also play guard. Seattle’s current projected starters on the interior are left guard Laken Tomlinson, center Olu Oluwatimi (or Nick Harris) and right guard Anthony Bradford. Barton can come in and compete with any of them in Year 1.


Edgerrin Cooper, right, could fit with the Seahawks and potentially be a full-time starter in 2025. (Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images)

Round 2, No. 58 (from Packers): Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M

Cooper is Brugler’s LB2 behind Michigan’s Junior Colson, who may be off the board at this point in the draft. But as I mentioned in this breakdown of potential linebacker fits, Cooper could be considered by some teams to be the top linebacker in the draft. He has good length, speed and coverage skills. Seattle’s two projected starting inside linebackers are on one-year deals, so even if Cooper doesn’t beat out Tyrel Dodson or Jerome Baker in Year 1, he’s someone who may be ready to be a full-time starter in 2025.

go-deeper

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Round 3, No. 94 (from 49ers): Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest

Projected trade: Seahawks receive Nos. 94, 124 and 176. Niners receive Nos. 81 and 179.

In this scenario, Schneider connects with another one of his friends, San Francisco general manager John Lynch, and moves back in the third round while picking up a fourth-round pick in the vicinity of the selection he gave up in the trade with Green Bay. Seattle ends up giving up the earlier of its two sixth-round picks and gets back the final pick in the fifth round.

Mustapha was a two-year starter at free safety in college who recorded 80 tackles with one forced fumble, five tackles for loss, three passes defensed and one interception last season. At 5-10 and 209 pounds, he’s short with a compact build and uses that frame to be a really solid tackler in space. He’d be able to play either spot in Seattle’s split-safety system but would be best used coming downhill near the line of scrimmage.

go-deeper

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Round 4, No. 102: Malik Washington, WR, Virginia

Washington is a speedy slot receiver who was very productive in his lone season at Virginia, catching 110 passes for 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s only 5-8 and 191 pounds, but he’s strong with the ball in his hands, which allows him to make plays after the catch; he ranked No. 1 among FBS wide receivers with 35 forced missed tackles, according to Brugler. Seattle is still holding out hope that receiver Dee Eskridge puts it all together as a YAC threat who can stretch the field with his speed, but Washington brings many of the same skills — including kickoff return potential. Drafting Washington here would be an example of taking the best player available instead of filling an obvious need, but that’s a fine strategy at this point in the draft.

Round 4, No. 124 (from 49ers): T’Vondre Sweat, NT, Texas

Sweat recently visited Seattle after he was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated earlier this month. It’s unclear if he’s still on Seattle’s draft board after that visit, but if he is, the 6-4, 366-pound nose tackle who was one of the best defensive linemen in the nation last season would jump into the competition with veteran Johnathan Hankins and 2023 fourth-round pick Cameron Young. Macdonald wants to be stout up the middle. Sweat helps him accomplish that goal.

Round 5, No. 176 (from 49ers): Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville

Seattle has only three running backs under contract: Ken Walker III, Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh (Bryant Koback retired last week). Drafting a running back on Day 3 isn’t out of the question. Guerendo dealt with hamstring and foot injuries at Wisconsin before transferring to Louisville, where he rushed for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry last season. Guerendo is a strong runner at 6-foot and 221 pounds with 4.3 speed and elite athleticism. He also caught 22 passes for 234 yards. If the medical report is clean, Guerendo would be another option as a returner — he averaged 22.3 yards per return on kickoffs — while bringing speed that the Seahawks’ running backs don’t have outside of Walker.

Round 6, No. 192: Brennan Jackson, edge, Washington State

Jackson (6-3, 264) is a good athlete who had 24 1/2 tackles for loss and 14 1/2 sacks over the last two seasons at Washington State. His effort is one reason he was able to be productive in college, and that’s the trait that will likely make him an effective special teamer at the next level and, if given the opportunity, a potentially impactful situational pass rusher. Jackson turns 24 in October, and it would take time for him to develop into an early-down player, but he’s a decent Day 3 project to take on because of his motor and explosion off the ball.

Round 7, No. 235: Daequan Hardy, CB, Penn State

Hardy (5-9, 179) is a slot corner whose 4.38 speed and 42 1/2-inch vertical jump show up in coverage and as a blitzer off the edge. He’s comfortable with the ball in the air and strong at the catch point, which is why he recorded nine passes defensed with two interceptions last season. Hardy averaged 14.6 yards per punt return and had a pair of touchdowns in 2023. Even though it’s fair to question his ability to defend the run in the NFL at that size, special teams would be Hardy’s path to making Seattle’s roster while he develops his game as a slot defender.

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

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(Top photo of Barton Graham: Peter Joneleit / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)