Seahawks looking for players in draft for 2015 and beyond

John Schneider was probably exaggerating for effect, at least a little, but the way the Seattle general manager describes a typical postgame phone conversation with his father is the perfect anecdote to kick off draft week for the Seahawks.

“My dad’s watching our games on TV like, ‘John, what are you going to do? How are you going to sign all these guys? You’re going to lose everybody. The sky is falling,’” Schneider said.

Schneider’s response: “We’re still going to be able to draft players.”

Indeed the Seahawks will draft players later this week. And as the elder Schneider points out, they’ll need some of those players to fill in as Seattle loses players off their Super Bowl championship team. And even more importantly, when the Seahawks lose more players in the next few years.

In their first few drafts together, Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll found the nucleus of a championship team, adding the likes of free safety Earl Thomas, tackle Russell Okung and strong safety Kam Chancellor in 2010, cornerback Richard Sherman and linebacker K.J. Wright in 2011, and quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner in 2012. Because the Seahawks were rebuilding, and let’s face it, not incredibly deep or talented, many of their picks made immediate impacts.

Now the focus shifts a bit from drafting players who will be impact players in 2014 to drafting players who will take on significant roles when inevitable departures occur in upcoming offseasons.

Just as last year’s draft class had a hard time getting on the field, with tight end Luke Willson and tackle Michael Bowie being the two exceptions, this year’s class, even if it’s very good, might not have a huge impact this season.

That doesn’t mean the Seahawks wouldn’t love to see the players they take later this week blossom into stars as rookies. That would mean they’re good enough to take jobs from players who helped lead Seattle to a Super Bowl. It just means the more important thing is that the Seahawks find future young, inexpensive impact players to balance things out as the current group of young, inexpensive impact players either get paid or leave.

“We know that by extending ourselves (financially) at specific positions that other positions are going to be younger players that have smaller salaries and are going to be expected to come in and contribute right away,” Schneider said. “Much like Earl did right away, Sherm did right away, Russell Okung, K.J., all these young guys that came in and played right away. So it’s kind of like having pillars, if you will, and then building around it, and we have to be very cognizant of what is coming three, four years out.”

Chancellor got his financial reward last offseason, while Thomas got his last week. Sherman likely will too at some point this offseason, and Wilson is a lock to get a huge raise in 2015. And if Thomas, Sherman and Wilson are taking up something in the neighborhood of $40 million in cap space in a couple of years as those pillars Schneider described, some sacrifices will have to be made elsewhere.

Hence William Schneider’s trepidation about his son’s roster.

When the Seahawks were still young and rebuilding, and when they had the tremendous competitive advantage of paying a Pro Bowl quarterback a six-figure salary — an advantage they’ll enjoy for one more season before Wilson gets his pay day — they could focus on rebuilding through the draft while also going out and trading for Percy Harvin or signing pass rushers like Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. Already we have seen in the 2014 offseason that big offseason additions are a luxury the Seahawks can’t afford, not if they want to keep their own.

And don’t get me wrong, that’s a good thing. Basically the Seahawks have built their roster to the point that they’d rather spend money on keeping their own players than adding outside help, which should be the goal for every team in the league. But to sustain their current level of success after paying their own young stars, the Seahawks need to find some impact players in this week’s draft. Even if those players’ impact takes a while to be felt.

Let’s face it, the Seahawks could be Super Bowl contenders again if they didn’t add a single player this week; their current roster is that good. But if the Seahawks are going to be contenders in, say, 2016, players from last year’s class as well as this year’s will have to be a big part of that future success.

You often hear people talk about a team’s biggest need this time of year. For the Seahawks, their biggest need in this draft just might be “help in 2015 and beyond.”

Schneider often likes to say they grade players for their team, not for the league. What he means by that is that the Seahawks aren’t just looking at a player’s talent, but how he fits in on Seattle’s roster.

The Seahawks may think one of the quarterbacks in this year’s draft is fantastic, but if they don’t think he can compete with Wilson, they won’t grade him as high as another quarterback-needy team might.

A big part of that process, of course, is looking ahead and trying to project who might be gone. Schneider said cornerback Tharold Simon was drafted in part because the Seahawks knew Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond, both in the final year of their contracts, could be gone, and sure enough both have found new homes. This draft will be no different. Somebody the Seahawks pick this week will inevitably find himself buried on the depth chart, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a part of Seattle’s future.

“We’re trying to project who’s going to be here, who will be here, who they’ll be competing with,” Schneider said. “I think you saw last year was a prime example of that. Luke (Willson) did a great job. We had a specific role with him in mind, and our coaching staff did a great job with him, but I think you saw a number of other picks in there that were more projections for the 2014 season.”

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Silvertips’ Kaden Hammell (47) enters the rink during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Patterson: Overachieving Silvertips had season worth celebrating

In a season when some thought the team’s playoff streak could end, Everett put together one of its greatest campaigns.

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, center, watches players on the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington hires AD Chun away from rival Washington State

UW quickly targeted its in-state rival’s athletic director after Troy Dannen’s sudden departure.

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger hits a single against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 11, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Why the Mariners could win the AL West, and what could hold them back

Starting pitching, a renovated offense and regression in the AL West are in Seattle’s favor, but injury issues, bullpen concerns and the Houston Astros could be a problem.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Prep roundup for Wednesday, March 27

Prep roundup for Wednesday, March 27: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.