The Seahawks arguably had a better 2023 NFL draft class than any team outside of Philadelphia. The team’s grades for their work during the draft have been overwhelmingly positive, as well as signing the undrafted free agents they picked up afterwards.
Acclaim for this draft class has been pouring in over the last two weeks and today we have even more to share. Yesterday, ESPN put out a ranking of the top 100 picks in the draft. Seattle managed to get the No. 1 spot on the list, two of the top five and four of 100.
Here’s who they are, where they ranked and what Matt Miller had to say about each of them. Stay for our own overall analysis at the end.
No. 1: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
“The Seahawks grabbed my No. 5 overall player and WR1 at pick No. 20, one of the best values of the first round. On top of that, JSN is an ideal fit in the slot — where he dominated at Ohio State — and can complement DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in what could be a very good offense this season. I also think Smith-Njigba will seamlessly slide into the WR2 role down the road, once Lockett is no longer there.”
No. 5: CB Devon Witherspoon
“Sometimes a great draft pick isn’t based on need but rather value and team fit. Cornerback wasn’t the Seahawks’ biggest weakness, but Witherspoon’s grade as a player and what he brings to Seattle stand out. With Witherspoon (and Tariq Woolen), the Seahawks are on their way to building yet another elite secondary. He is a silky-smooth cover man with good ball skills (three interceptions in 2022) and toughness.”
No. 84: DE Mike Morris
“The Seahawks needed speed and power at defensive end in this draft and got it with Derick Hall in Round 2 and Morris in Round 5. At 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds, Morris will be a 5-technique in the team’s three-man front but also has experience standing up and rushing over the tackle, too. He is a scheme fit who fills a need while also having developmental upside.”
No. 98: G Anthony Bradford
“Bradford makes the top 100 because he could be starting very soon in Seattle despite coming off the board on Day 3. He has the mauler mentality in the run game that coach Pete Carroll loves, and he could quickly push Phil Haynes for playing time at right guard.”
Analysis
While virtually everything we have heard about Seattle’s draft class has been good, it’s important to keep perspective. Yes, on paper this is another very strong draft. However, on paper at this time last year the Seahawks were supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league.
We are pretty certain that both Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon will be solid starters at the very least. That said, no prospect is a guarantee to work out at this level – even those taken in Round 1.
Then again, even if only those two work out that’s still an excellent draft. Most teams consider themselves lucky to get two quality starters each year. The Seahawks got at least four last time – but fans can’t expect that to be the bar every draft.
Now that all the cautious nonsense is out of the way, we are low-key thrilled about this draft and the UDFA class. If they’re collectively as good as most analysts believe, Seattle should very soon be back in the NFC contender conversation.
Our one regret in this cycle is that they didn’t pick up a top quarterback prospect, but we can’t blame them as the board just didn’t fall their way – and they were right not to reach for a Hendon Hooker or Will Levis. Once Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson were all off the board it made more sense to pick a blue-chip defensive piece. Even with all the baggage we would have preferred Jalen Carter, but that takes exactly nothing away from Witherspoon and his potential.
If there’s one thing we still feel they need to address, it’s their edge rush rotation. Adding Morris and Derick Hall helps in theory. However, neither are proven and the same can be said about every other outside linebacker on the depth chart except Uchenna Nwosu.
The x-factor in the bunch is former Michigan center Olusegun Oluwatimi. The Seahawks could hit on every other pick in this class but if they don’t get a significant upgrade in interior pass protection they will likely run into the same brick wall they did last season – that being the 49ers defensive line. If Oluwatimi looks like a better pass blocker than veteran Evan Brown then head coach Pete Carroll shouldn’t hesitate to start him Week 1 – even if it’s a tough job for a rookie. He won’t learn what he needs to from the sidelines and the more experience he gets early on the better. If Oluwatimi hits the ground running, the sky could be the limit for Geno Smith this year.
