If the Seahawks had drafted according to Mel Kiper’s ESPN’s mock draft

On Monday, a remark from Bigmarinerfan within the Mel Kiper/Area Yates mock draft article caught my consideration.

These mock drafts are usually pointless (however innocent and generally enjoyable!) workouts. What wouldn’t it seem like in an alternate world the place the Seattle Seahawks went with Kiper’s picks one hundred pc of the way in which? There’s a clear butterfly impact at play when altering these picks over, however droop that portion of actuality for a bit and play alongside.

To maintain according to the above remark, we’re sticking to the final 10 drafts and solely to first-round picks and/or the highest choose of the second spherical. These are all from the final mock drafts Kiper did earlier than the precise draft. I’ll current my opinion as to which choose was higher.

2014 (No. 32)

Kiper’s choose: Stephon Tuitt, DT, Notre Dame (Really picked: Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 46)

Seahawks choose: Paul Richardson, WR, Colorado (Traded right down to No. 45)

Higher choose: Tuitt. Sadly, Richardson was injury-prone in school and stayed that manner within the execs. Tuitt by no means made a Professional Bowl however he had a career-high 11 sacks in 2020 earlier than private tragedy and damage led to an early retirement.

2015 (No. 63)

Kiper’s choose: Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State (Really picked: Buffalo Payments, No. 50)

Seahawks choose: Frank Clark, DE, Michigan

Higher choose: Clark. Darby has been a principally tremendous, if not unspectacular cornerback. Clark not solely was very productive in his first run with Seattle, he landed the Seahawks an additional first-round choose in a commerce.

2016 (No. 26)

Kiper’s choose: T.J. Inexperienced, S, Clemson (Really picked: Indianapolis Colts, No. 57)

Seahawks’ choose: Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M

Higher choose: Ifedi. That is by default, as a result of Inexperienced was unhealthy out of the gate and by no means improved. For all of Ifedi’s faults, the Seahawks had a beginning proper deal with for 3 years, whereas Inexperienced solely had 12 profession begins as a journeyman security.

2017 (No. 26)

Kiper’s choose: Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU (Really picked: Buffalo Payments, No. 27)

Seahawks’ choose: Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State (Traded right down to No. 35)

Higher choose: White. Earlier than the accidents, White was thought of among the finest corners within the NFL. He’ll try to revive his profession with the Los Angeles Rams. McDowell… yeah.

2018 (No. 18)

Kiper’s choose: Marcus Davenport, OLB, UTSA (Really picked: New Orleans Saints, No. 14)

Seahawks’ choose: Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State (Traded right down to No. 27)

Higher choose: Davenport. The method for taking Penny apart, Rashaad’s profession has been injury-riddled and he didn’t even emerge as a starter till the back-end of 2021. Davenport coincidentally had one robust nine-sack 2021 marketing campaign, however barely performed in his one 12 months with the Minnesota Vikings. PFF graded Davenport very extremely in New Orleans, and Marcus has been according to hurries and pressures to make up for the dearth of sacks.

2019 (No. 21 and No. 30)

Kiper’s picks: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State (Really picked: Washington Commanders, No. 26); Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State (Really picked: Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 83)

Seahawks picks: L.J. Collier, DE, TCU (Traded down from No. 21 to No. 29) ; Marquise Blair, S, Utah (Traded down from No. 30 to No. 47)

Higher picks: Sweat and Blair. Notice that my “butterfly impact” remark from earlier meant that the Seahawks not buying and selling down from No. 30 almost definitely means they don’t draft DK Metcalf. As erratic and injury-riddled as Blair was, Layne gave the Steelers solely 145 defensive snaps and 0 begins. Kiper did admit Layne was a attain, and he wasn’t mendacity. No want to debate Sweat vs. Collier. One of many few draft picks that was ridiculous on the time and worse in apply.

2020 (No. 27)

Kiper’s choose: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson (Really picked: Cincinnati Bengals, No. 33)

Seahawks’ choose: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech

Higher choose: Hmm… Higgins? Understand that Kiper made this choose after the Seahawks had already drafted Metcalf and Tyler Lockett had his rookie contract prolonged. That will’ve been one thing. Higgins is fifth in his draft class in receptions, behind CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Michael Pittman Jr, and Brandon Aiyuk. How a lot of Higgins’ success tied to Ja’Marr Chase being the primary receiver? I believe that’s a sound query. Brooks’ greatest season was 2022 proper earlier than his ACL tear, however weighing positional significance I believe I might’ve reasonably had Higgins. This isn’t to discredit Brooks, though it’s a private bias towards valuing huge receivers.

2021 (No. 56)

Kiper’s choose: Joseph Ossai, OLB, Texas (Really picked: Cincinnati Bengals, No. 69)

Seahawks’ choose: Dee Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan

Higher choose: Ossai. It’s definitely not by a lot. Ossai missed his whole rookie season with a knee damage, however in 2021 he discovered a job as a rotational move rusher, recording 3.5 sacks and scoring a landing on a fumble return. Sadly, his declare to infamy is committing the roughness penalty on Patrick Mahomes that helped ship the Chiefs to the 2022 Tremendous Bowl. He had his function lowered in 2023 and is properly behind Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard within the depth chart. Dee Eskridge had that cool jet sweep that one time and a pleasant kick return that different time. Add within the accidents and he’s been one of many least productive receivers drafted in Rounds 1-2 within the historical past of the NFL.

2022 (No. 9)

Kiper’s choose: Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU (Really picked: Houston Texans, No. 3)

Seahawks’ choose: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

Higher choose: TBD. If we in contrast the 2 gamers at their respective positions, Stingley ought to have the sting after his spectacular second season. DSJ was out of Seattle’s attain anyway, however I’m nonetheless happy with the Cross choice and dread the alternate actuality the place Seattle ignored the left deal with place. Cross had an injury-shortened second 12 months, so he’ll actually must step it up in 12 months three to present the Seahawks one thing to consider so far as choosing up his fifth-year possibility.

2023 (No. 5 and No. 20)

Kiper’s picks: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia (Really picked: Philadelphia Eagles, No. 9); Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson (Really picked: Cincinnati Bengals, No. 28)

Seahawks’ picks: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Higher picks: TBD. I want Witherspoon and JSN over the Carter/Murphy combo, however it’s too early to definitively name. In the intervening time, it must be Witherspoon and JSN by way of productiveness. Carter had a robust rookie season, whereas Murphy was so-so in Cincinnati.

Recap

The Kiper Drafts

Stephon TuittRonald DarbyT.J. GreenTre’Davious White (2x Professional Bowl, 2x All-Professional)Marcus DavenportMontez Sweat (1x Professional Bowl)Tee HigginsJoseph OssaiDerek Stingley JrJalen Carter Myles Murphy

The Schneider/Carroll Drafts

Paul RichardsonFrank Clark (3x Professional Bowl, all with Chiefs)Germain IfediMalik McDowellRashaad PennyL.J. CollierMarquise BlairJordyn BrooksDee EskridgeCharles CrossDevon Witherspoon (1x Professional Bowl)Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The one gamers Kiper mocked who have been out of Seattle’s attain have been Stingley, Darby, and Davenport.

I don’t assume that is tremendously lopsided on this hypothetical world, however the final two drafts are performing some heavy lifting for the Seahawks. Those the place I want Seattle would’ve gone with Kiper are Sweat over Collier, Tuitt over Richardson, White over McDowell, and Higgins over Brooks. Everybody else is both a wash or I aspect with what Schneider did.

You’ll have a distinct opinion! Reply within the ballot under and pontificate within the feedback.