OK, here’s a roundup of the rest of Day 2 of the draft, following a slew interviews that included Seahawks general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll:
First a quick additional note on Jarran Reed, who I wrote a lot about earlier in the day. The most significant thing Schneider said was that when the Seahawks were picking at No. 31 in the first round, they were debating between two players: Reed and tackle Germain Ifedi. Schneider decided to go for the offensive lineman, figuring that took Reed out of play. So the Seahawks were stunned to see Reed slipping in the second round, which prompted the trade up from 56 to 49.
Carroll said he envisioned Reed playing on first and second downs, and that they’d see whether Reed was proficient enough in pass rushing to be used on third downs.
Now on to the other selections:
C.J. Prosise
– Schneider and Carroll seemed extremely happy to get Prosise. They like his breakaway speed, his background as a receiver, and that as a running back he has very little mileage on his body because of his late position switch. He still needs work on finishing his runs.
– Prosise said he had no objections to the position change to running back in his senior season. It was just a way to get him the ball more often. He didn’t begin at the top of the depth chart, but series of dismissals and injuries gave him his chance.
– The Seahawks already have a pair of running backs in Thomas Rawls, who’s coming off an ankle injury, and Christine Michael, who was re-signed as a restricted free agent. But Seattle doesn’t have a sure-fire third-down back since the Seahawks didn’t re-sign Fred Jackson. Schneider and Carroll suggested Prosise could take over that role, particularly with his background as a receiver.
– Prosise said his strengths are his speed and his burst through the hole. He compared his game to Matt Forte, because he’s a consistent runner and a good receiver out of the backfield.
Nick Vannett
– Schneider described Vannett as the only true Y (blocking) tight end in the draft, and he was happy to get him because those type of tight ends are rare and the Seahawks don’t currently have that type on the roster.
– Vannett didn’t know the Seahawks were interested in him until this morning, when his agent informed him Seattle was inquiring.
– Vannett described himself as a three-down tight end. He said he was a great receiver, though he didn’t get many targets as a senior, and that he made great strides as a blocker throughout his collegiate career.
– Vannett said he studies NFL tight ends, mentioning Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham as players he studies. He also mentioned Luke Wilson unprompted, showing he already has some knowledge of the Seahawks.
Rees Odhiambo
– Schneider praised Odhiambo’s strength, saying offensive line coach Tom Cable described Ifedi and Odhiambo as the two strongest players he got his hands on during the evaluation process.
– Odhiambo actually was in Seattle, visiting his college roommate Marcus Henry, when he received the call. He had already turned away from the draft and started to make dinner when the call came.
– He and his family moved from Kenya when he was 7 years old as his mother sought educational opportunities. Odhiambo has tragically lost both his parents as his father passed away while they were still in Kenya and his mother passed away when he was 17.
– Odhiambo, who didn’t start playing football until his sophomore year in high school, played tackle at Boise State, but is listed as a guard by Seattle. His senior season was ended by a broken ankle, but he said he’s fully recovered. He said he loves run blocking, so he should fit well with the run-first Seahawks.
Rounds 4-7 are Saturday starting at 9 a.m. Seattle’s picks: one fifth rounder (171st overall), one sixth rounder (215) and two seventh rounders (225, 247). With no fourth rounder and picking late in the fifth round, the Seahawks are projecting they won’t pick until about noon.
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