A look at the Seattle Seahawks’ seven picks from the NFL draft over the weekend:
1) LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest (4th overall)
Should be an immediate starter, and his presence is even more important now that OLB Leroy Hill had his franchise player designation removed, thereby making Hill a free agent. Curry is said to be the most NFL-ready defensive player in the entire draft, and the Seahawks could sure use the help.
2) C Max Unger, Oregon (49th overall)
The decision to trade back into the second round and take Unger means two things: 1, the Seahawks’ offensive line needs help; 2, center Chris Spencer had better watch his back. Unger should eventually compete for the starting center job; some scouts viewed him as the top prospect at his position in this draft. Two other centers — Alex Mack of Cal and Eric Wood of Louisville — went in the first round Saturday.
3) WR Deon Butler, Penn State (91st overall)
Because of his size (5-10) and alma mater (Penn State), people are comparing Butler to former Seahawk Bobby Engram. He’s got more speed (4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and broke Engram’s school record for career receptions while playing for the Nittany Lions. The Seahawks could use some young hands, and Butler has time to develop.
6) QB Mike Teel, Rutgers (178th overall)
The Seahawks may have passed on a quarterback in the first round, but Teel’s intangibles made him attractive in the later rounds. He is the Scarlet Knights’ all-time leading passer and helped the program go from one of the worst in the country to a perennial bowl team. Teel isn’t likely to challenge for a starting position anytime soon, but he’s got a good shot of beating out Jeff Rowe for the job of No. 3 quarterback.
7) S Courtney Greene, Rutgers (245th overall)
Greene could add depth at the safety position, where starters Deon Grant and Brian Russell are beginning to show signs of age. According to scouting reports, Greene had a better junior year than he did a senior year at Rutgers. Pro Football Weekly’s Draft Preview believes that the 6-foot-1 safety can benefit from stability on a coaching staff.
7) DE Nick Reed, Oregon (247th overall)
The undersized pass rusher (6-foot-1, 247 pounds) was productive in college but might have to add size if he wants to make it at the next level.
7) TE Cameron Morrah (248th overall)
Seattle expects John Carlson to be the team’s tight end of the present and future, but the Seahawks are always looking for depth. Morrah could be a better receiver than some of the Seahawks’ current backups, as John Owens and Will Heller are better known for their blocking ability.
Also: Denver’s first-round pick in 2010
Seattle gave up an early second-round pick for the Broncos’ top choice in 2010. Considering the rebuilding process going on in Denver, that pick might be a good one. This, almost as much as the decision to draft Aaron Curry fourth overall, might be a cornerstone of Seattle’s future.
Trades:
Saturday
>Seahawks traded their second-round pick, No. 37 overall, to Denver for the Broncos’ first-round pick in 2010.
UPDATE: Denver took Wake Forest CB Alphonso Smith with Seattle’s pick.
>Seahawks traded their third- and fourth-round picks to Chicago, through Denver, for a second-round pick (No. 49 overall).
UPDATE: Seattle chose Oregon C Max Unger; Chicago took San Jose State DE Jarron Gilbert with the Seahawks’ third-round pick and Texas DE Henry Melton with Seattle’s fourth-round pick.
Sunday
>Seahawks traded their fifth- and seventh-round picks, as well as a third-round choice in 2010, to the Philadelphia Eagles for a third-round pick (No. 91 overall).
UPDATE: Seattle chose Penn State WR Deon Butler with the Eagles’ third-rounder; Seattle’s fifth-round pick eventually went to Chicago, which chose WR Johnny Knox. Denver took Arizona State G Paul Fanaika with the seventh-round pick, No. 213 overall.
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