The NFL combine is over, so we’re into another chapter of mock draft SZN.
And Todd McShay’s latest ESPN mock draft addresses the Russell Wilson trade that sent a boatload of picks and some players to Seattle and the star QB to the Denver Broncos.
The Seahawks now have the No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 draft. Will they draft the QB of the future to replace Wilson?
According to McShay’s mock that dropped on Wednesday, no! But Seahawks fans might be excited to see him select … Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Oregon defensive end who some have much higher in their mocks.
Here’s what he wrote:
Well the rebuild is officially on in Seattle after Tuesday’s agreement to send Russell Wilson to Denver. And because the Seahawks are left with Drew Lock — who was part of the return — as their current quarterback, you have to think they will take a very close look at this draft class’ signal-callers. Do they start over with Pitt’s Kenny Pickett? Do they draft Liberty’s Malik Willis and bet on his upside? Both options are possible at No. 9, but I think Seattle looks to free agency for a short-term complement to Lock and focuses in on Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud in the 2023 draft.
Part of that reasoning is this year’s weaker QB class. The other part is Thibodeaux still being on the board. He has 4.58 speed, the ability to walk blockers back and a great arsenal of pass-rush moves at his disposal. I’ve mentioned that I still want to see a little more fire out of him on a down-to-down basis, and that’s still true. But there’s no doubt he has the talent to be a difference-maker on an NFL defense. And Seattle’s unit could use that: Its 34 sacks tied for No. 22 last season, while its 38.7% pass rush win rate ranked No. 20. Thibodeaux, who had seven sacks and 46 pressures last season, gets a new era of Seahawks football rolling.
Interesting! Check out Christian D’Andrea’s mock draft from before the combine, where he has Thibodeaux going third overall.
