Draft 2014
Each day this week, The Herald takes a look at some of the top players in the 2014 NFL draft at each position, and how the Seattle Seahawks might view that position heading into the draft.
Player rankings from NFLDraftScout.com
Today: quarterback, running back and receiver
Monday: Tight end and offensive line
Quarterback
1. Blake Bortles, Central Florida
2. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
3. Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
Seahawks prospectus: After acquiring Terrelle Pryor in a trade with the Raiders, the Seahawks have four quarterbacks on their roster, including the face-of-the-franchise star in Russell Wilson, and a solid backup in Tarvaris Jackson. So even though GM John Schneider says he likes the draft-a-quarterback-every-year philosophy he learned in Green Bay, it seems unlikely the Seahawks would do so, especially considering Wilson is actually the only quarterback Seattle has picked in four drafts under Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll. Then again, we ought to know by now that conventional wisdom doesn’t always apply when it comes to the current regime.
Running back
1. Carlos Hyde, Ohio State
2. Bishop Sankey, Washington
3. Tre Mason, Auburn
Seahawks prospectus: This position, and more specifically last year’s second-round selection of Christine Michael, serve as a good reminder that the Seahawks aren’t afraid of the unconventional if they see a special player there for the taking. No, Michael didn’t fill an obvious need, not with Marshawn Lynch around, but in Schneider and Carroll’s eyes, he was just too good to pass up with their first pick of last year’s draft. So while this is another position where depth and talent look plentiful for now, the Seahawks still could look for future help in the mid-to-late rounds. Late-round value won’t be a label that applies to Washington’s Sankey, who helped himself with a standout combine after a brilliant UW career, and will be one of the first backs taken.
Receiver
1. Sammy Watkins, Clemson
2. Mike Evans, Texas A&M
3. Odell Beckham Jr., LSU
Seahawks prospectus: Last year’s leading receiver, Golden Tate, left in free agency, and while the Seahawks re-signed Sidney Rice after releasing him, there is still a good chance Seattle will look to add to the position. This is considered a talented and deep draft at receiver, and if a good one is sitting there at the end of the first-round, especially a big-bodied target, that could be a pick that makes a lot of sense for the Seahawks. The Seahawks may think twice about looking for that big receiver in the middle rounds, however, after missing on Kris Durham (2011) and Chris Harper (2013) with fourth-round picks.
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