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 Seahawks might view that position heading into the draft.
Player rankings from NFLDraftScout.com
Today: Tight end and offensive line
Tuesday: Linebacker and defensive line
Tight end
1. Eric Ebron, North Carolina
2. Jace Amaro, Texas Tech
3. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington
Seahawks prospectus: Zach Miller agreeing to a restructured deal was a big, if not splashy, offseason move. By keeping Miller and re-signing Anthony McCoy, the Seahawks avoided going into this draft with second-year player Luke Willson and little else at tight end. Even so, Miller is likely on the back end of his prime — unless he found Tony Gonzalez’s tight end fountain of youth — and McCoy is coming off a serious injury. So adding talent here would make sense, possibly even in the early rounds. Washington’s Seferian-Jenkins is one of several prospects who could interest the Seahawks, though his value could fall right between Seattle’s first- and second-round picks. If Seattle traded back from pick No. 32, however, perhaps ASJ or another tight end would be a good value in the middle of the second round.
Tackle
1. Greg Robinson, Auburn
2. Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
3. Taylor Lewan, Michigan
Seahawks prospectus: With Breno Giacomini leaving in free agency, Seattle’s right tackle job is open, and could be filled by one of Seattle’s early picks, maybe even their first rounder. That being said, the Seahawks liked what they saw when Michael Bowie filled in for an injured Giacomini last season. And Alvin Bailey also had a strong rookie campaign, so Seattle won’t reach for a tackle just because it lost a starter.
Guard
1. Zach Martin, Notre Dame
2. Xavier Su’a-Filo, UCLA
3. Joel Bitonio, Nevada
Center
1. Weston Richburg, Colorado State
2. Marcus Martin, USC
3. Travis Swanson, Arkansas
Seahawks prospectus: While the Seahawks are in good shape at center thanks to the presence of Max Unger, they are very unsettled at guard, particularly on the left side. J.R. Sweezy appears to have solidified himself on the right side — though nothing is a given in head coach Pete Carroll’s hyper-competitive world. But after rotating left guards all season last year, the Seahawks would love to have somebody take control of that spot. Paul McQuistan, who shared the job with James Carpenter last year, signed with the Browns, but Carpenter will still have to prove he deserves the job. Adding a rookie or two to the competition would make sense, especially if that rookie has the versatility to play multiple positions, which was one of McQuistan’s biggest strengths.
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