Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft Prospects

The NFL Combine concluded on Monday and now it’s up to the teams to decide who is worth a pick in the NFL draft and who isn’t.

Coaches watched closely inside Lucas Oil Stadium for the hidden star who could complete their team. For Seattle, the 26th pick in the NFL Draft could go multiple ways. The shaky offensive line is in need of a solid player to rally around, as J.R Sweezy and Russell Okung’s futures with the team are in question. On defense, the Seahawks are looking solid overall despite the question mark above Bruce Irvin and Michael Bennett. The Combine shed light on multiple players John Schneider and Pete Carroll should take a closer look at. Here are a few standouts:

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Jack Conklin- Michigan State Offensive Tackle

A former walk-on, Conklin enters the NFL draft as a junior. Standing at 6 foot 6 inches and weighing 308 lbs, the Offensive Tackle plays with powerful hands. He’s technically sound when it comes to pass blocking and delivers a strong first hit. His exceptional strength is countered by his lacking speed. Conklin had trouble getting beat on the rush and many are questioning his ability to handle the NFL edge speed. In the end, he’s a multiple time All-American who will have a successful NFL career with the proper coaching.

A’Shawn Robinson- Alabama Defensive Tackle

Robinson is the definition of what a Defensive lineman should look like. At 6 feet 4 inches, 307 pounds and a pair of tree trunk legs, he’s a human wrecking ball. Robinson has the power to toss aside a one-on-one block and rarely misses a tackle when he’s locked in. The only drawback for this SEC menace is his pad height. Robinson tends to get beat when he plays too upright and doesn’t make his base wide enough to handle the oncoming runners.

Jaylon Smith- Notre Dame Linebacker

After a devastating injury in the Fiesta Bowl that tore Smith’s MCL and ACL, many don’t believe he will be at full capacity for his rookie season. Smith was unable to participate in the combine, but he achieved enough in his time at Notre Dame to prove his worth for the NFL Draft next month. His current knee injury will surely drop him a few rounds in the draft, as coaches won’t be risking the possibility of a wasted top round pick. Ideally, the Hawks should look to pick up Smith in the 5th or 6th round and focus on rehabilitating the dominating linebacker.

Shaq Lawson- Clemson Defensive End

The top performer in the 40 yard dash and 20 yard shuttle for defensive ends in this year’s NFL Draft, Lawson provides devastating power with the quick feet of a defensive back. The Clemson Lineman recorded an impressive 25.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in his final collegiate season. Lawson controls the line of scrimmage with powerful punches and handles double teams with quick hands. Although similar to Robinson, he has trouble keeping his pads low after the initial contact. Overall Lawson seems to be the best bet for the Seahawks 26th pick.

Next: Should the Seahawks sign (familiar name)?

The combine showed us an arsenal of players who seemed NFL-ready. In the end, the Seahawks coaching staff has proven their ability to take young players in the NFL Draft and turn them into the elite. No matter which players receive the phone call from the Seattle front office, you can be sure they will make their mark.