2014 NFL Draft Rumors: Should Seattle Seahawks Trade First-Round Pick?
By Todd Pheifer
Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the NFL shield logo and main stage before the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
The Seattle Seahawks have a first-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Should they keep it?
Granted, the pick is at the very end of the round. Hardly a pick that is going to get all the analysts excited. Most of the “marquee” names that have been discussed for months will be long gone by then.
This is not to say that the Seahawks cannot get a talented player when they are on the clock. The Seahawks have shown over the few years that they can find impact players, regardless of the round.
Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com, quoting Mike Mayock of NFL.com and the NFL Network, writes about a scenario that might involve the pick being traded away. Mostly it involves teams that might be looking for a quarterback, and who feel like they have to trade up in order to get their desired player.
When you think about it, trading the pick is not a terrible idea. Yes, the Seahawks have some areas of need that should be addressed. The first round may be the time to get an impact player, particularly for the offensive line. Russell Wilson must be protected and Marshawn Lynch will continue to need big bodies that can open holes. However, the team has shown that they do not need a bevy of first-round selections in order to improve the team.
Quite the contrary.
There seems to be an ongoing enamorment with first-round picks, despite a long history of players who have failed to live up to the hype. It is almost like teams believe that the moment the second round starts, there will be a major drop in player talent.
If the Seahawks can trade the first-round pick for a second-round selection and another pick down the board, they may want to think about pulling the trigger. The Seahawks aren’t going to sit back and settle after winning the Super Bowl, but they do have some flexibility to add depth in the later rounds through the use of multiple picks.
Perhaps the Seahawks make a selection in the first round this year. Then again, perhaps the phone will ring before the Seahawks are on the clock. Don’t be shocked if that first-round pick goes to someone else.