This Seattle Seahawks 2022 Mock Draft leans into the notion that the team may be due for a rebuild, as they fall to 3 and 7 through Week 10.
The Seattle Seahawks have stumbled their way into a 3 and 7 record and are currently at the bottom of the standings in the NFC West heading into Week 12. Through 10 games, the Seahawks rank 27th in passing, 23rd in rushing, and their defense is allowing over 400 yards per game to opposing offenses. When you combine this rough start with the constantly circling Russell Wilson trade rumors, it’s hard not to entertain the notion that the Seattle Seahawks may be due for a potential rebuild as fans start to shift their focus to the 2022 NFL Draft.
Seattle Seahawks Mock Draft
Unfortunately for the Seattle faithful, the team doesn’t have a first-round pick in their possession at the moment, as they sent theirs away in the 2020 blockbuster trade for Jamal Adams. That just makes every pick they do have that much more important, as they will need immediate contributors on both sides of the football if they want to take a step forward next season.
That being said, let’s take a look at some pieces that would make sense as Seattle looks to build for the future in this Seattle Seahawks 2022 mock draft.
Round 2, 37th Overall: Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
This rebuild starts in the trenches as I have the Seahawks taking advantage of a deep and talented tackle class with the selection of Nicholas Petit-Frere out of Ohio State. The redshirt junior has the perfect blend of power and finesse as he has shown some downright violent reps on tape and he pairs that with really fluid movement skills in space.
A former five-star prospect out of Tampa, FL, Petit-Frere began his career with the Buckeyes at right tackle but has since made the transition to left where he’s really begun to hit his stride in 2021. That versatility makes him even more valuable for a team like the Seahawks, whose offensive line outlook for the future is unclear.
With Duane Brown, Brandon Shell and Jamarco Jones are all on expiring contracts, the offensive tackle position is potentially the biggest need on the team. Landing a guy with the potential of Petit-Frere could be just the perfect building block for a team looking to enter a new era of Seahawks football.
Round 3, 71st Overall: Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
The Seattle Seahawks have put plenty of emphasis on pass rushers in the last few drafts, however, they’ve yet to get the production they expected from them thus far. Both L.J. Collier and Darrell Taylor were taken with top 50 picks in the 2018 and 2019 drafts respectively but each have had trouble staying healthy to begin their careers.
So with their third-round pick in this Seattle Seahawks 2022 Mock Draft, I have them continuing their rebuild by adding some much-needed depth to a thin edge unit with the selection of Arnold Ebiketie out of Penn State.
A former transfer out of Temple, Ebiketie has enjoyed the change of scenery with the Nittany Lions on his way to a breakout year as a senior. With 9.5 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss on the season, Ebiketie’s length, power, and twitch have been on full display. He is quickly climbing up draft boards and would be a great get at this stage of the draft for a team desperate for more production off the edge.
Round 4, 104th Overall: Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
Opposing quarterbacks have been feasting on the Seattle secondary all season long, and if it weren’t for the impressive play of rookie cornerback Tre Brown, it could be much worse. The depth at corner outside of Brown consists of Sidney Jones IV, D.J. Reed, and Bless Austin; all of which are on expiring contracts.
So in the fourth round of this Seattle Seahawks 2022 Mock Draft, I have them getting some much-needed help at the cornerback position with the selection of Coby Bryant out of Cincinnati.
Bryant is a longtime starter for the Bearcats with plus instincts, vision, and ball skills. In four years as a starter, Bryant has come down with an impressive nine interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown against UCF this season.
A player with Bryant’s ability and experience would allow him to immediately contribute in the secondary for the Seattle Seahawks. This would be a quality addition to begin day three of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Round 4, 108th Overall: Sam Hartman, QB, Wake Forest
With the extra fourth-round pick they netted from the Jamal Adams trade, I have the Seattle Seahawks making an interesting addition by selecting quarterback Sam Hartman out of Wake Forrest.
We don’t know what the future holds for Russell Wilson in Seattle but no matter what becomes of his situation, the Seahawks could use a young, developmental option in their QB room. Their depth behind Wilson is currently Geno Smith, whose contract is up after the season, and Jacob Eason, who the team claimed off waivers in October.
Sam Hartman doesn’t have any exceptional traits as a passer but he is above average in just about every aspect of the position. He is an accurate thrower of the football, with a good enough arm, and has shown plenty of mobility in and out of the pocket. He’s not the biggest guy (listed at 6-foot-1 and 208 pounds), but neither was another certain quarterback the Seahawks drafted in the middle rounds not too long ago.
The top of the 2022 quarterback class is pretty underwhelming, so letting more desperate teams reach on the value of others allows the Seahawks to land Hartman with appropriate value on day three.
Round 5, 147th Overall: Tre Turner, WR, Virginia Tech
The Seattle Seahawks have one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL today with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, however, they could use some extra depth outside of those two. Freddie Swain is a pretty underwhelming option as the third pass catcher and 2021 second-round pick, D’Wayne Eskridge, has struggled to stay healthy to start his career.
So with the team’s fifth pick of this Seattle Seahawks 2022 mock draft, I have them adding some extra competition to the unit by selecting Tre Turner out of Virginia Tech.
Tre Turner is a do-it-all guy for the Virginia Tech Hokies and has shown the ability to make a play at all three levels of the field. In four seasons in Blacksburg, Turner has scored 14 touchdowns as a pass catcher and has added four more on the ground. He’s got good speed, plucky hands, and is sudden when the ball is in his hands. He has the ability to be an instant contributor in Seattle.
Round 6, 186th Overall: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
The top two centers on the Seahawks depth chart are Kyle Fuller and Ethan Pocic. Both players have struggled in Seattle and are each set to be free agents by season’s end. That being said, the team should look to add some young talent to the position in the 2022 NFL Draft and I think John Michael Schmitz would be a fantastic get this late on day three.
The redshirt senior from Flossmoor, Illinois is an experienced starter with plus athleticism and a mean streak as a finisher. A three-time Academic All-American, Schmitz is a heady player in the middle that could develop into a starter at the next level over time.
Round 7, 227th Overall: Trey Dean III, S, Florida
With the final pick of this Seattle Seahawks 2022 Mock Draft, I have them rounding things out with Trey Dean III out of Florida. Dean is a former four-star recruit that took a while to earn a starting role in the Gators secondary but his athletic tools make him an intriguing player to nab at the latter stage of the draft. He’s pretty scheme-dependent considering his limitations in man looks but he has some moldable traits that could make him an intriguing project late in the seventh.