Seahawks draft primer part 5: Defensive line

This is the fifth part of an eight-part series examining each position in the NFL draft and what the Seattle Seahawks’ needs are at those positions. The players listed are the top prospects in the draft at their positions, with their college, height and weight provided:

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

1. DeForest Buckner, Oregon, 6-7, 291

2. Sheldon Rankins, Louisville, 6-1, 299

3. Jarran Reed, Alabama, 6-3, 307

4. A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama, 6-4, 307

5. Robert Nkemdiche, Mississippi, 6-3, 294

DEFENSIVE ENDS

1. Joey Bosa, Ohio State, 6-5, 269

2. Shaq Lawson, Clemson, 6-3, 269

3. Kevin Dodd, Clemson, 6-5, 277

4. Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky, 6-2, 251

5. Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State, 6-4, 273

Seahawks’ situation: These are both positions of need for Seattle. Defensive tackle in particular could use some help, following the departure of Brandon Mebane in free agency. The Seahawks signed free agent Sealver Siliga, and holdover Jordan Hill has shown flashes, but neither has been a full-time starter in the NFL. At defensive end the Seahawks have quality in Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril, but both have reached 30 years old and Seattle needs to start thinking about a succession plan. Back-ups Frank Clark and Cassius Marsh are young, but offseason talk has had both as candidates to replace departed strong-side linebacker Bruce Irvin. So expect defensive line to be a draft target.