The NFL Draft isn't necessarily about plugging holes on your roster. It's more about getting good value for your pick. For instance, running backs have been devalued in recent seasons due to their low cost, short shelf lives and the abundance of talent at the position. That's why no running back has been drafted in the first round in the past two seasons.
For the Seattle Seahawks, value is especially important because they don't have a first-round pick this year. Head coach Pete Carroll traded it and center Max Unger away for New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham and a fourth-rounder (good trade in my opinion). So the Seahawks have to be sure to nail their second-round pick. It's an issue that was brought up to ESPN Seahawks reporter Terry Blount in his weekly mailbag.
@TerryBlountESPN Is an OL or DL a better value at pick 63?
— Mike O'Connor (@MAOC_642) April 14, 2015
"This is a great question, but not an easy answer," Blount wrote. "Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has said this is a great draft for offensive linemen, but that's about depth, not necessarily who is the best pick at No. 63. Most draft boards have 11 or 12 offensive linemen ranked in the top 63 picks and about the same number of defensive linemen, so it really depends on which guy falls to them. If you consider the five spots that come before them on most draft boards, it appears the best linemen who might fall to them are Auburn center Reese Dismukes or Florida State guard Tre' Jackson. The best defensive linemen in that range look like defensive tackle Michael Bennett of Ohio State or defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy of UCLA. If I'm choosing and he's still there, I'd take Jackson, but don't rule out the possibility of them taking wide receiver here. One possibility is Dorial Green-Beckham of Oklahoma, extremely talented guy but a bit of a checkered past."
The Seahawks allowed the 11th most sacks (42) and 12th most QB Hits (91) last season, though some of that has to do with Russell Wilson's scrambling. Still, it was clear to anyone who was watching that Seattle could improve in pass protection. That is even truer today after Unger was traded and starting guard James Carpenter signed with the New York Jets in free agency.
On the flip side, the Seahawks ranked just 21st in sacks (37) last season. The pass-rush against Tom Brady in the Super Bowl evaporated after Cliff Avril went down with an injury. Bennett could help in that department as he notched seven sacks last season and has drawn favorable comparisons to Green Bay Packers DL Mike Daniels.
