My review of the Seahawks 2008 NFL draft. Seattle was very active with trades on day 1 of the draft.
1st round pick #28 (via Dallas): Lawrence Jackson DE University of Southern California.
Review: The Seahawks traded there 1st round pick 25th overall to the Dallas Cowboys for there 1st round pick 28th overall, 4th round pick and 5th round pick. The pick of Jackson was a little bit of a surprise to me. We all knew that the Seahawks we coming into the draft looking for defensive line help. Jackson is not a quick pass rushing defensive end. The upside to Jackson is the he has long arms to swat down balls. He is also versatile in that he can play defensive end and defensive tackle. The smart side of this pick is that the Seahawks defensive coordinator John Marshall likes to rotate players in and out and create different schemes.
2nd round pick 38th overall (via Baltimore Ravens): John Carlson TE Notre dame.
Review: The Seahawks traded there 2nd round pick and there 3rd round pick to the Ravens to move up and draft TE John Carlson. The Seahawks came into the draft with tight end as one the there biggest holes to fill. The Seahawks have never had a tight end that has worked on Mike Holmgren’s offence. Jeremy Stevens was a 1st round bust, the missed out on Daniel Graham who signed with the Denver Broncos and also missed out on Alge Crumpler this off-season who signed with the Tennessee Titans. A lot of people thought that Dustin Keller out of Purdue was going to be drafted by the Seahawks but Mike Holmgren said that Carlson fit the bill just right in that he can block and stretch the field. So this was a great pick for the Seahawks.
4th round pick 121st overall: Red Bryant DT Texas A&M.
Review: As I stated before with Lawrence Jackson the Seahawks came into this draft looking for a big run-stopping defensive tackle and that’s what the got with this pick. At 6′4 318 pounds Bryant fit the Seahawks wishes perfectly. Bryant will go right next to Rocky Bernard,Patrick Kerney and Darryl Tapp on the defensive line. So this was a great pick for the Seahawks.
5th round pick 163rd overall (via Dallas Cowboys): Owen Schmitt FB West Virginia.
Review: Fullback was not a need for the Seahawks but Schmitt will take the place of Mack Strong who retired during the season. If Schmitt will run the ball it would be in the short yard category. Schmitt will open up holes for Julius Jones and Maurice Morris (RB) that Leanard Weaver wouldn’t. So this pick is good and safe.
6th round pick189th overall: Tyler Schmitt LS San Diego State.
Review: Drafting Tyler Schmitt from SDSU makes a lot of sense because the Seahawks could never fine the right Long Snapper and they never could. But drafting Tyler Schmitt will give them a very talented and young long snapper. FYI a long snapper is the player that hikes the ball to punter.
7th round pick 233 overall: Justin Forsett RB California.
Review: Drafting Justin Forsett was a smart and safe pick because after bringing in Julius Jones from Dallas, T.J Duckett from Detroit and already having Maurice Morris adding Forsett give the Seahawks more younger legs in the backfield that struggled last season. Plus he will fill the reserve hole that happened after Alexander got cut. So this was a great pick.
7th round pick 235th overall: Brandon Coutu K Georgia.
Review: Drafting Coutu was smart because after letting Josh Brown go to the Rams in free agency will give us a young Josh Brown in that he has not missed a field goal in 109 attempts. That will help the Seahawks a lot. So this was a great pick by the Seahawks.
