For years the Seattle Seahawks were top dog in the NFC West, taking home the division crown four years in a row, but the wheels fell off in 2008 and they finished with just four wins. However, injuries played a major role in that steep decline so with a little luck and a healthy roster perhaps Seattle can get back on track next season. It would be a mistake to lay all of the blame for that disaster of the season on injuries though and the Seahawks certainly had some issues to address this offseason. The Seahawks were active in both the free agent and trade markets, with the signing of T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a five-year, $40 million deal leading the way, but they still had holes to fill when Draft Day rolled around. Will this rookie class provide the final push they need to rebound in '09?
In the months leading up to the draft the Seahawks plans were very tough to get a read on, in large part because they simply didn’t have as many glaring needs as most teams picking at the top of round one usually do. In the end General Manager Tim Ruskell stayed true to his conservative ways and chose Wake Forest OLB Aaron Curry, a sure-thing who some had graded as the best player in the entire draft. Curry, who won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker as a senior, was a four-year starter for the Demon Deacons and is truly the total package. A great athlete with an ideal blend of size and speed to go along with first-rate intangibles, Curry is effective in every aspect of the game and is as good as any linebacker prospect to come along in years. Seattle traded veteran Julian Peterson in March which clears the way for Curry to step into the starting lineup on the strongside right away. In Curry, Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill the Seahawks now field arguably the premier set of linebackers in the league and with an average age of just 25-years-old it should stay that way for a long time.
Seattle traded their own second round pick to Denver in exchange for the Broncos first round pick next year but they were able to strike a deal to get back into round two. After sending third and fourth round picks to the Bears for #49 overall the Seahawks chose Oregon OL Max Unger, a guy some felt had a legitimate shot at sneaking into the latter portion of round one. An extremely versatile blocker who saw action at every position along the offensive line during his four seasons as a starter with the Ducks, Unger doesn’t necessarily stand out in any one area but he’s just a good all-around player. Initially Unger will compete with Mansfield Wrotto for the right guard job but even if he loses that battle it’s hard to imagine him not earning extensive playing time somewhere as a rookie. At the absolute least Unger is going to be a quality backup and provide valuable depth. In round three the Seahawks continued to overhaul the wide receiver position by selecting Deon Butler out of Penn St. A four-year starter who arrived in Happy Valley as a walk-on defensive back, Butler was often overshadowed by teammate Derrick Williams but he actually enjoyed a much more consistent and productive college career. Butler doesn’t have the ideal bulk that you look for but he is very quick with reliable hands and really opened some eyes at the Scouting Combine by running a 4.38 forty. With that said Butler was a reach in round three and his upside is probably that of a #3 or #4 / slot guy, which is the exact role he is slated to compete for as a rookie.
The Seahawks didn’t pick again until round six, at which time they chose Rutgers QB Mike Teel. A three-year starter for the Scarlet Knights, Teel had an up and down college career but he finished strong as a senior and that is what got him drafted. Teel has all the physical tools and intangibles you look for in a developmental signal caller and he will compete for the #3 job behind Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace. Seattle had three picks in round seven and they used the first on another Rutgers product, safety Courtney Greene. After a standout junior campaign Greene entered his senior season as a potential Day One pick but he struggled in 2008 and saw his draft stock take a big hit. A four-year starter with a nice blend of size (6-01/4, 212) and speed (4.54) to go along with top-notch intangibles, Greene will add depth at strong safety and could turn out to be a steal if he reverts to the form he showed earlier in his career.
With their next pick the Seahawks brought in a local product from the Pacific Northwest when they selected Oregon DE Nick Reed. An undersized but super productive pass rusher, Reed owns the Ducks records for sacks (29.5) and tackles for a loss (51.5). A high motor player who is capable of seeing action at either defensive end or outside linebacker, Reed will compete for a backup job but doesn’t profile as much more. Seattle may have gotten a steal in California TE Cameron Morrah, their final choice of the draft. Morrah only started one season at Cal but he surprisingly opted to go pro with eligibility remaining. An athletic pass catching threat with soft hands and good speed, Morrah is still developing but he might have been a Top 100 pick in next year’s draft had he gone back to school for his senior season. As a rookie Morrah will battle Joe Newton for the #3 spot on the depth chart.
Despite all of their on-field success in recent years the Seahawks have actually been pretty inconsistent on Draft Day, especially in round one. That shouldn’t be a problem this year though because Aaron Curry is about as safe of a pick as there is. This effort was a little top-heavy and will probably only produce one or two long-term starters but that is a respectable haul for a team that is much better than last year’s record would lead you to believe. It’s also important to factor the acquisition of Denver’s first round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, which has a chance to be a Top 10 selection, into their overall grade. Every year we see teams go from the cellar to the penthouse overnight and Seattle has the talent to be that team in 2009, in part due to this draft class.
