Seattle Seahawks Trade-Up Targets 2020 NFL Draft

With 7 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks have an excellent opportunity to move up and draft a game-changing college prospect in the first round.

The Seattle Seahawks have done a phenomenal job of staying competitive in recent history. Despite the player turnover, head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson have been able to lead the team on playoff runs nearly every season they have been together.

Since Carroll took over as head coach in 2010 the Seahawks have been to the playoffs eight times, including two Super Bowl appearances. And seven of the last eight seasons have seen the team win 10 or more games each season.

Part of their success lies in how the roster is constructed. General manager John Schneider has done a good job building the roster through free agency and drafting for value. Before the start of last year’s draft Schneider put on a clinic on what it means to be a pro-active drafter, trading Frank Clark for draft picks and then trading those picks for more picks.

Schneider turned Clark and a small collection of draft picks into 11 draft picks last year. Along with trading the twenty-first pick to the Green Bay Packers for three picks, which they then flipped for a grand total of six picks. All so the Packers could move up nine draft spots in the first round.

This year we are sure to see more Schneider draft moves, as the team has a solid collection of picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. They have four picks in the first 101 selections, setting themselves up nicely for a chance to either trade up or trade back, depending on what they are looking for.

In this year’s draft, there are multiple indications to suggest the Seahawks may try and use their draft picks to move up. Unlike last year’s draft, the Seahawks roster is much more stable and needs far less than in recent years. That being said, while they have a good history of maximizing their draft picks, the players they have drafted in recent years have not always been game-changing prospects.

The Seahawks’ recent history of draft picks in the first round have been especially ghastly. Last year’s first-round pick edge defender L.J. Collier had a rough rookie season, playing in just 14 percent of defensive snaps, according to Sports Reference. And in 2018 they drafted running back Rashaad Penny, who had just five rushing touchdowns in two seasons and missed multiple games in that time.

Schneider has the ability to turn a few picks into several but can’t seem to find the talented, game-changing players the roster need in the draft. Schneider may want to switch course and attempt a move up in the 2020 NFL Draft, to secure a top-ranked player that will be effective right away.

In this article, we explore what position groups the Seahawks should be looking to move up for and which prospects the Seahawks may consider in the 2020 NFL Draft. We’ll discuss team needs, what these prospects did well in college, and what kind of draft capital Schneider would need to give up to make it happen.

For more articles on the 2020 NFL Draft, make sure to check back with NFL Mocks, as we are adding analysis and information up to and during this year’s draft. We’ll also be providing instant analysis of every team’s draft picks starting Thursday night, so you won’t want to miss our team’s take on this year’s draft selections.