NFL draft

Docs and ‘Uncs’: NFL execs weigh in on aging rookie classes

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Treydan Stukes, the hot “Rams beater” prospect a lot of fans would like to see the Seahawks draft this week, was born on Sept. 11, 2001 (yes, 9/11). That means he will turn 25 two days after the Seahawks open the 2026 NFL season.

Stukes, who was called “Unc” by younger Arizona teammates, is one of the poster children for the trend of aging NFL draft classes.

As John Schneider cracked, “We have some guys who have been in school for six years. They’re called doctors.”

An apropos joke considering this overall aging of rookies is partly a product of Covid.

Schneider seems to think the trend will reverse. “It’s my understanding this should be the last year of it,” he said this week.

But other NFL execs think the aging of rookie classes will continue as long as NIL rules college football.

Continue reading Docs and ‘Uncs’: NFL execs weigh in on aging rookie classes →
NFL draft, Trades

‘No secret’: Hawks want to trade down

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“It’s no secret with us, guys. We have four picks, so we’ll be looking to move back.” – John Schneider

It’s draft week – finally!

Free agency slowed to a trickle five weeks ago, so it has been a long, slow wait for the NFL’s Christmas Day. But it is upon us.

This is considered one of the lesser-talented drafts in several years, which John Schneider anticipated when he traded his fourth- and fifth-round picks for Rashid Shaheed last season. The Hawks have four picks (32, 64, 96, 188) as the week begins, and their top positional needs are running back, edge rusher, defensive back and interior offensive line.

The Hawks also need to focus on finding defenders who can help them stop their biggest nemesis, the Rams. That could mean an edge rusher who gets “quick wins,” as Mike Macdonald has said, or maybe another Swiss Army knife coverage guy in the mold of Nick Emmanwori.

Schneider announced Monday that he plans to try to trade down from 32 – obviously to add a pick and get better value for his first selection. Beyond that, though, there is much debate about whether the Seahawks should use their top pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price or a top defensive player.

Rather than putting our breakdown in one giant post, we have broken it out into the following sections:

Quibbling over Price

Simpson the bait at 32?

Veteran trades: A running back?

Who are the Rams beaters?

NFL draft

Quibbling over Price

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of our draft preview, broken out into several posts for easier digestion.

There is a big debate about whether the Seahawks should use their top pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price.

The consensus mock draft on Mock Draft Database has the Seahawks taking Price at 32. Draft IQ, meanwhile, has Price as Seattle’s pick at 64.

NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah prefers 32 – simply because the numbers dictate it.

Continue reading Quibbling over Price →
NFL draft, Trades

Simpson the bait at 32?

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of our draft preview, broken out into several posts for easier digestion.

John Schneider has made it clear he wants to move down from 32.

The last time the Seahawks drafted 32nd, back in 2014, they dangled a quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater) as bait to trade down. They could do the same thing this time.

Alabama’s Ty Simpson, the No. 2 QB in the draft, is considered a borderline first-round pick.

An NFL personnel guy told Jonathan Jones of CBS: “In a typical year I think you could get (Simpson) in the second, but this year I think if you want him you’d better be willing to take him in the late first or he could be gone.”

Continue reading Simpson the bait at 32? →
NFL draft, Trades

Veteran trade market: A running back?

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of our draft preview, broken out into several posts for easier digestion.

In light of the “incredibly shallow” running back class in this draft, Daniel Jeremiah posted, “Teams with some depth at the position should have a trade market for their vets.”

It would not be a stunner if the Hawks got their running back that way. We previously have mentioned Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard.

Continue reading Veteran trade market: A running back? →
NFL draft

Who are the Rams beaters?

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of our draft preview, broken out into several posts for easier digestion.

The theme of this draft for Seattle really needs to be: Players who will help beat the Rams.

Matthew Stafford & Co. lit up Seattle’s stellar defense in their second and third matchups last season, gaining 1,060 yards and scoring 64 points. Seattle won because Sam Darnold played lights out both times as well.

The Hawks really need to add defenders who can either get to Stafford or stop the ball from getting to Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and the tight ends.

Continue reading Who are the Rams beaters? →
NFL draft

Will Hawks draft for the future of the front four?

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This is the least important draft for the Seahawks since 2021. Other than running back, they have no roster holes for 2026 — and they are set to make a very strong run at a Super Bowl repeat.

But what about 2027 and beyond? That is where this draft comes in.

The Hawks have many questions after 2026 about their defensive front: Leonard Williams, Uchenna Nwosu and Derick Hall will be free agents, DeMarcus Lawrence is expected to retire and Jarran Reed likely will be released ahead of his age 34 season.

They need to figure out who will be playing around Byron Murphy II after 2026.

Continue reading Will Hawks draft for the future of the front four? →
NFL draft

Thibodeaux ‘a serious trade target’?

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With the draft now less than two weeks away, it is pretty clear the Seahawks are trying to figure out how to add a pass rusher who can get the “quick wins” Mike Macdonald wants.

They have brought in several guys for VMAC visits – led by speed rushers Cashius Howell and Malachi Lawrence.

But they also have been looking at all of the top cornerbacks who will be available in their draft zone. They might choose to take one of those first.

That brings us back to veteran pass rushers. We previously brought up the possibility of trading for either Minnesota’s Jonathan Greenard or the Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The latest scuttlebutt is that the Seahawks have indeed called the Giants. Per an alleged Seahawks source to Dan Viens: Thibodeaux is “a serious trade target.”

Continue reading Thibodeaux ‘a serious trade target’? →
NFL draft

Looks like Hawks have all the right finalists for top pick

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If the Seahawks’ VMAC visits are any indicator – and they often are – it looks like John Schneider may indeed continue his excellent run of drafting.

We just pointed out this week that he has been pretty bad when drafting below 20 – too often reaching for guys. Schneider has explained his draft method as “picking for our team, not the league.” In other words, their big board is not the same as other teams’ or the consensus board of draft analysts.

Well, it sure looks like the Seahawks’ board matches consensus in this draft. With pass rushers Cashius Howell and Malachi Lawrence reportedly visiting, the Hawks have now reportedly hosted eight of the 13 players ranked 32-44 on the consensus board (via Mock Draft Database).

Seven of those players are edge rushers or cornerbacks, which aligns with what most of us think they need most (in addition to running back).

Here’s a look at the list (rankings from MDD) and then scouting reports from Daniel Jeremiah and Dane Brugler (via The Beast) for each one, with our own comments added.

Continue reading Looks like Hawks have all the right finalists for top pick →
NFL draft

Time for Schneider to prove he can pick well from the bottom

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A lot of fans think John Schneider has suddenly gotten a lot better at drafting over the past four years. But that’s easy to say when he has been picking in the top 20. 

In two weeks, we will find out whether he has gotten any better when his first pick comes outside the top 20.

Over his 16 drafts as Seattle general manager, Schneider has drafted eight guys in the top 20 and made seven initial picks outside the top 20. (He has thrice traded his first-round picks for veterans.)

Continue reading Time for Schneider to prove he can pick well from the bottom →