A lot of Seahawks fans have been saying that they would like to see the team trade down in the first round and pick up a later 1st round pick and another pick or two in the 2nd/3rd rounds. First off, I do not think that it is likely anybody will be willing to trade up to the #4 spot in this year's draft. I will get more into my main reason why in my player analysis, but one of the biggest reasons is because this year's draft is overall a weaker draft comparatively and I think a lot of teams feel that there is no need to trade up to get the player they need or want. Secondly, the contract $ that is tied to a #4 pick, or any pick in the top 5, is HUGE and so a lot of teams will be unwilling to put themselves in that position for a player that they are not 110% sold will be a franchise type player.
I think the #1-#3 picks are pretty much set, so we can assume that Matt Stafford, Jason Smith, and Aaron Curry will all be off the board by the time Seattle gets on the clock. Detroit and their newly introduced "Fiercer" Lion logo are in desperate need of just about everything coming off an 0-16 season. Sounds like they are leaning towards starting with a franchise QB as reports have come out that they are near sealing a contract deal with Matt Stafford. Although late reports today have stated that the Lions have reached an agreement with Aaron Curry if they decide to select him with the #1 pick. I'm sticking with the call that they go Stafford though as they need someone that can deliver strikes to Calvin Johnson and be a real signal caller out there...now about that offensive line...hmmmm.
I believe that St. Louis will go Jason Smith with the #2 pick. Out is Pace and in will be Smith as the franchise LT for years to come. Smith is probably the only true OT prospect in this draft worthy of a top 5 pick and I think he is going to be great. He's got great physical gifts and even greater work ethic and character. It's just unfortunate that another team in the NFC West will be reaping the benefits of those gifts!
With the #3 pick KC will go Aaron Curry. Curry is possibly the best prospect in this years draft class and some say one of the best OLB prospects to come since L.T.! Bold statement, but he has all the tools to become an L.T. like force at OLB. At 6'2" and 254 lbs, Curry is a BEAST and his skill set and body of work makes him a once in a decade player at his position. If KC is smart, they will go Curry to build a solid defense around.
With the #4 pick the Seahawks will be looking at potentially spending $50-$65M on the rookie contract with at least $15-$20M in guaranteed cash. With money like that on the table, I foresee the Hawks taking a player that can provide immediate impact and contribute right away vs. a player that will ride the bench and come along in development progressively. That is if the Seahawks do not trade down, which in my opinion is that Ruskell and the organization hopes that they will get a phone call on draft day with an offer they are looking for. But like I said earlier, it is highly unlikely that the Seahawks will get a suitor for the #4 pick in this draft.
The prospects at #4:
Mark Sanchez
Sanchez has been skyrocketing up the draft boards in the last month and has been pegged as the Seahawks pick by a lot of analysts as of late. In Sanchez, I see a player that in most drafts would be a late first rounder at best, but in this draft has had his stock rise because there are flat out no top flight QB prospects. Scouts have been wooed by his workouts where he makes every throw in shorts and a cutoff t-shirt to USC receivers. He has decent size, above average arm-strength, good poise in the pocket, and is known to be a terrific student of the game (which is something to be cherished in QB prospects). But he only had 16 starts in a USC pro-style offense that was FULL of NFL caliber talent and I was never blown away by any of his performances. Not to take anything away from Sanchez, but lets face it, when you have an All-American line and All-American talent at every skill position, any QB with an inkling of talent could be productive. Plus, it's not like the last few QBs out of the USC system have turned out to be much in the NFL (minus some great play from Carson Palmer a few years back and the jury is still out on Cassel) and they were all arguably better graded prospects then Sanchez is. I think there is potential there, no denying that, but such a gamble with the #4 pick at this point.Yes, Hasselbeck will be turning 34 this season and has battled injuries the last couple of years so the Seahawks do inevitably need to look at finding his successor. But Sanchez would want a contract at #4 that would more than likely make him a higher paid player than Matt and I don't think the Seahawks want to pay a QB who is going to hold a clipboard on the sidelines that much cash. Paying Sanchez that much would also put Matt under the microscope, or as some say, "start the clock ticking" and that is something I don't think Ruskell nor the organization wants considering they feel Matt is still in his Prime. I think all the buzz that the Seahawks were giving Sanchez was more smoke and mirrors to try and lure a team that is REALLY interested in him to trade up and give Seattle what they are looking for in return for the #4 pick. However, the teams that are interested in Sanchez I think see through it and don't seriously see Seattle taking him with the #4 pick, so will most likely cross their fingers and hope that Sanchez falls to them.
Bottom Line: Sanchez would ride the pine and be making MAD amounts of money to be the backup QB for a team that wants to win NOW! Matt still has 2-3 seasons of good football in him and Seattle can look at drafting a QB in the later rounds or finding a good QB via trade. Picking him at the #4 spot would be the worst decision for Seattle. I could be wrong, but I really don't see Seattle going Sanchez with the pick.
Samo's Reaction to Goodell saying his name at the #4 pick: Big, expensive TV will be damaged by flying object resembling a remote control!
Eugene Monroe
Eugene Monroe has amazing size and with Andre Smith's pre-draft headlines has leap-frogged Andre Smith to become the 2nd best OL prospect in this year's draft. Coming in at 6'6" and 315lbs, Monroe is the type of OL prospect that scouts drool over at first glance, especially because of his superb athleticism at the LT position. However, a lot of scouts have questioned his sheer strength. At the NFL Combine, Monroe only put up the 225 lbs bench press 23 times, which was less than stellar for a man of his size and stature. He was however very impressive on-field and showed that the potential is there for him to become a staple LT in the NFL.Here is why I think the Seahawks though are not too serious about taking Monroe at the #4 spot. For starters, Ruskell has been known to be very weary of taking offensive linemen high in the 1st round. Plus, the Seahawks have invested a lot of money on Tackles in Locklear and Willis on top of Big Walter Jones. So Monroe, like Sanchez, would be making a ton of money to be a backup for at least a couple seasons. You all know that I am a huge Big Walt fan and even though he is getting seasoned in age and has had to battle through pain and injuries, I firmly believe that a Big Walt at 75% is still as good as any LT in the NFL!
Bottom Line: Just like with Matt, eventually and inevitably the sun will set on Big Walt's time and the Seahawks will need to replace his presence at LT. Locklear and Willis both have the potential to be that successor and there is no need to draft Monroe. Besides, according to sources, the Seahawks were one of only two teams to not attend Monroe's Pro-Day workout. Most likely a sign that the Seahawks do not have him at the top of their list for the #4 spot.
Samo's Reaction to Goodell saying his name at the #4 pick: It would be very disappointing to see the Seahawks go this direction with their first pick as it would be a lot of $$$$ tied up in a player that won't immediately see the field, but I could live with it knowing that success is built upon offensive lines and having Monroe on the roster wouldn't hurt the team's future outlook.
Aaron Curry
Now I know that we had crossed Aaron Curry off the list earlier as I had assumed he would be gone by the #4 pick, but he's so darn special that I had to at least give my bottom line and reaction to the scenario where he would somehow fall to #4.Bottom Line: Curry is a freakish athletic specimen (4.56 sec 40 time, 25 reps at 225 lbs bench, and 37" vert) and regarded as the best and "safest" prospect in the entire draft. With Seattle trading away Julian Peterson, there is a spot in the LB core where Curry could come in and start right away. That is what I am looking for, a player with his type of impact that could contribute to a team that is thinking, WIN NOW! The thought of a LB trio of Curry, Tatupu, and Hill in Seattle's 4-3 scheme is scary!
Samo's Reaction to Goodell saying his name at the #4 pick: He's not my top choice for the Seahawks to choose, but it would be near impossible for the Seahawks to pass him up should he somehow fall to #4. I'll be stoked, but still be a little disappointed that we didn't draft...
Michael Crabtree
Here is my top choice for who I think the Seahawks should take with the #4 pick. To me it's almost a no brainer (assuming that Curry is off the board) as Crabtree has put together a resume that is ridiculous in the 2 years he played at Texas Tech. 231 catches for 3,127 yards and 41 TDs...WOW! I don't care what kind of system you play in, those kind of numbers are flat out amazing!!!! On top of all that, most of his best games were against the best teams under the National spotlight. BIG TIME PLAYER MAKING BIG TIME PLAYS IN BIG TIME GAMES! Sure he didn't run the 40, sure he turned out to be a little over 6'1" and not the 6'3" Texas Tech had him listed as, sure he had a broken foot when he arrived at the NFL Combine and had to withdraw, sure he didn't take part in Texas Tech's Pro-Day nor did he work out for any team...WHO CARES! Watch the game film and it's evident that he is big enough, fast enough, and is flat out a gamer and freak of an athlete!Seriously, take a look...
Still have questions about Crab? It's so frustrating how little things can cause so much concern and questions over a prospect. He made the smart decision and got surgery on the foot so that he would be 100% ready for camp. I commend him for that and not worrying about putting up Combine numbers for scouts, having confidence that his game film will do all the talking necessary! The surgery was a success and he has stated this week that there have been no problems in the healing process and he is feeling as good as ever. Plus, look at the guy's ability to catch the ball. The comparisons to Fitzgerald are valid as he catches EVERYTHING with his hands and is so dangerous after the catch. He is built strong and big too and is a fabulous blocker, traits that make him very valuable to a West-Coast offense team like the Hawks.
Imagine, Housh, Crab, Carlson, Burleson, and Branch as your weapons in the passing game. Matt Hasselbeck is just dreaming of such a scenario. Character wise Crab is a class act. He works hard, has just enough ego to make him a competitor, and is a team player. Crab can come in and start from day one and in my mind is going to be worth every penny that the #4 pick will cost. Learning from vets like Housh, Branch, and Burleson will only benefit him in his transition to being a pro and I honestly think that he will turn out to be the top producing pick of the 2009 draft!
Bottom Line: Crab is a game breaking type of player that Seattle needs to make another Super Bowl run in the next few years. He will be the Larry Fitzgerald type of receiver that the team can build their passing game around for years to come. Put him alongside one of the best receivers in the NFL in Houshmandzadeh and you have a great recipe for success. Everytime this guy touches the ball, he is a threat to go house. Pick him with the #4 pick and make every Seattle fan jump in excitement!
Samo's Reaction to Goodell saying his name at the #4 pick: When can I buy my Crabtree jersey?!?!?!?
Thanks for reading, time for me to hit the hay!
Go Seahawks!
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