Despite all the angst and anger over the Seahawks not doing enough to improve their offensive line in recent years, no team has drafted more blockers in the last seven years.
Expect Seattle to add to that total of 16 in this week’s draft, too.
There are questions at four of the five starting spots on the Seahawks’ line entering 2018. Only center Justin Britt is a semi-sure thing up front beyond this year. Plus, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said improving the running game is his top priority.
So who’s available for new line coach Mike Solari, who is replacing the fired Tom Cable after Cable’s seven years running and largely picking the Seahawks line?
We’ll start with the best prospects in each position, and then list the later-round prospects likely to be available for the Seahawks. They have six of their eight picks in rounds five and seven.
TACKLE
1. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame. At 6-feet-8, 312 pounds, McGlinchey is the best run blocker in the draft. He’s a former basketball player considered ready to start in the league today.
2. Connor Williams, Texas. Williams is considered a prototype pass blocker. Some say he may be better at guard. He’s coming off a knee injury last year
3. Orlando Brown, Oklahoma. An anemic combine showing, with fewer bench presses than snappers and running backs, may scare off some teams. But he’s mammoth, with a nearly 7-foot wingspan, and devoured college guys he blocked.
Possible later-round options for Seahawks:
1. Brett Toth, Army. Seattle scouted his Pro Day at West Point, which in itself was remarkable. His two-year commitment as an Army officer means he’d be a layaway pick.
2. Alex Cappa, Humboldt State. Yes, Cappa is from Division II. But he impressed at the Senior Bowl against the big-school guys. A four-year starter and D-II All-America pick, Cappa has the nasty demeanor Solari loves.
3. Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T. Parker is another lower-division prospect who impressed at the Senior Bowl. His college line coach, Ron Mattes, was a Seahawks draft pick in 1985 and played in 75 games for Seattle from 1986-90.
GUARD
1. Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame. Nelson is so polished that he could go in the top 10. With him and McGlinchey side-by-side, how did the Irish lose games?
2. Will Hernandez, Texas-El Paso. Hernandez is very quick and agile for being 6-2 and 348. He logged 49 consecutive starts at left guard for UTEP. He’s the best run-blocking guard in this class.
3. Isaiah Wynn, Georgia. Wynn played left tackle last year, but at 6-3 has NFL-guard height. He’s likely to be gone by the end of round one or early round two.
Possible later-round options for Seahawks:
1. Austin Corbett, Nevada. Corbett has the versatility Seahawks love — he was a college left tackle who moved to guard at Senior Bowl and excelled. He’s tough, athletic, a former walk-on who loves to scrap.
2. Skyler Phillips, Idaho State. Phillips, 6-3, 324, has started at left tackle, left guard, right tackle, right guard and center.
3. Timon Parris, Stony Brook. Teams will be scared by the fact that Parris suffered a broken leg last season. He was invited to the Senior Bowl, but couldn’t play. At 6-5, 312, he moves well. He’s played both tackle spots, too.
CENTER
1. Billy Price, Ohio State. Price was an All-American at center last season and at left guard in 2016. He was named the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year. He pulls and traps exquisitely. He started an OSU-record 55 games.
2. Frank Ragnow, Arkansas. Ragnow just mauls dudes inside while run blocking. Many think he can start in the NFL right now.
3. James Daniels, Iowa. Daniels is fast and athletic. He’s still 20 years old, so he has room to grow and improve on already impressive skills.
Possible later-round options for Seahawks:
1. Austin Golson, Auburn. Golson is Ethan Pocic-like. Last season Golson played at left tackle, left guard, right tackle, right guard and center. Are you sensing a trend?
2. Coleman Shelton, Washington. Shelton, 6-3, 295, was an all-Pac-12 selection for the Huskies last season. His quickness would be great for zone-blocking schemes, which the Seahawks may not use as exclusively under Solari.
3. Brian Allen, Michigan State. Allen is a rugged tough guy. He played left guard, right guard and center for the Spartans.
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