Seahawks' draft outlook
An in-depth look at the Seahawks' needs heading into the 2007 draft:
1. Defensive tackle. The team needs someone with the size to stuff the run and the quickness to be disruptive in passing situations. Finding such a player is Job 1 because the front seven is undersized. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, there are a lot of other teams shopping for the same elusive player -- plus, after trading their first-round pick for Deion Branch, the Seahawks don't pick until late in the second round. Two possibilities are Florida's Marcus Thomas, who is undersized and comes with baggage but is tough against the run, and Tennessee's Justin Harrell, who could slide after missing much of last season because of an injury. Ohio State's Quinn Pitcock, a hard-nosed, high-effort player, and Utah's Paul Soliai, who was among the most impressive players at the East-West Shrine Game, are later-round options.
2. Defensive end. The team rotates its ends, and it could use another quick player who has speed off the edge and can rotate with free-agent addition Patrick Kerney, Bryce Fisher and Darryl Tapp, in effect filling a void created by the post-Kerney signing release of Grant Wistrom. The Seahawks like Florida's Jarvis Moss, but he's a first-round prospect. By the time they pick, they'll be looking at such players as Central Michigan's Daniel Bazuin, who is undersized but was the defensive MVP of the Shrine Game, and LSU's Chase Pittman.
4. Tight end. Mike Holmgren asks a lot of his tight ends, which makes this a tough position for a rookie. The Seahawks thought they had the right player in Jerramy Stevens, who hasn't produced consistently and is a free agent who has now run into more trouble off the field. Former Lion Marcus Pollard has been signed, but if they want some youth, they'll be looking at less-than-complete players later in the draft. Iowa's Scott Chandler has good size but plays like a wide receiver.
5. Outside linebacker. With Julian Peterson, last year's big free-agent addition, and Leroy Hill, a third-round pick in 2005, the Seahawks are set at the starting spots. But they could use some solid depth, especially considering the injury history of top backup D.D. Lewis, who still could leave as a free agent.
6. Guard. They made an aggressive move to try to get Chargers starter Kris Dielman, but in reality, the Seahawks are looking for depth here, so they'd like to get an offensive lineman who can play more than one position. They like athletic players with the footwork and speed to pull.
OUTLOOK
Because the Seahawks don't have a first-round pick and because they generally take the best player available, they'll continue to depend heavily on the free-agent market to fill needs. Two of their priority positions -- a run-stuffing defensive tackle and a versatile tight end -- might be better filled with free agents, anyway. Safety used to be a big need with Ken Hamlin as a free agent, but then the team signed two other free agents at the position, former Jaguar Deon Grant and former Brown Brian Russell.
Who the team drafts also will depend on whether it re-signs Stevens and offensive linemen Chris Gray and Floyd Womack. The team likely will look for a big defensive tackle, another pass-rushing defensive end and perhaps a tight end in the second and third rounds and early on Day 2. The club could then address depth at linebacker and on the offensive line in the later rounds.
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Seahawks' draft outlook
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