2013 NFL Draft Part 3: The Mock

Round 2, Pick 56   Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern State, 6’1, 335

At pick 56 it is extremely difficult to know who will be available, let alone who the Seahawks will be interested in. I could make a list of my top 50 players in the draft and have not a single one available at the ‘Hawks first pick. So with this pick I decided to go with a small school prospect who will fit in at the Hawks biggest area of need.

Williams is a monster tackle at nearly 340 pounds, but has good speed and quickness considering his frame. He gets off the ball relatively quickly and is able to generate some push as an interior pass rusher. He certainly would be an upgrade to Alan Branch as a pass rusher. He doesn’t have ideal lower body strength though, despite his massive upper body.

Williams would need to have his snaps monitored due to limited endurance. He would likely be able to play somewhere around 20-30 snaps a game as a rookie and hopefully develop into a 35-40 snap player in the NFL.

Round 3, Pick 87   Brennan Williams, OT, North Carolina, 6’6, 318

One of the ‘Hawks biggest needs coming into this upcoming draft is to strengthen up their offensive line. Breno Giacomini will be entering his contract year and isn’t a good enough player to warrant a big money contract. Picking a tackle like Brennan Williams to sit his rookie year and eventually move into the right tackle spot could provide big value for the Seahawks down the road.

This short paragraph from ESPN’s evaluation of Williams perfectly describes what the Seahawks look for in offensive linemen:

Aggressive and physical and plays with a nasty demeanor. Will mix it up. Flashes a mean streak and looks to finish.

Williams is first and foremost an aggressive and physical, “road grader”, run blocker, which is what Tom Cable likes to see from offensive linemen. Williams doesn’t have elite quickness and footwork to consistently mirror speed rushers in the NFL, but with some work on his footwork, could develop into a better pass protector than Giacomini.

Williams would likely spend 2013 on the bench and get his first real shot in 2014, when Giacomini is a free agent. Williams could likely develop into an above average young starter at right tackle for the Seahawks.

Round 4, Pick 123   Matt Scott, QB, Arizona, 6’2, 213

While I believe the Seahawks have bigger needs (such as Weakside linebacker) with this pick, I fail to see any player at linebacker that has the potential as a quarterback such as Matt Scott. It’s very important when you have a good starting QB to also have a quality backup. None of the two backups to Russell Wilson on the roster right now (Brady Quinn and Josh Portis) are too fantastic right now.

Scott showed his athleticism at the combine, timing at 4.63 seconds in the 40 yard dash. While at Arizona, Scott played in a spread offense that utilized that read option, and would be able to play in the zone-read elements of the Seahawks offense. As a thrower, Scott has slightly above average arm strength and above average accuracy and touch. He was only a starter for one year in Arizona, though, and will need to learn to make the reads that a pro style offense demands.

Scott would be brought in to compete with Brady Quinn and Josh Portis for the backup quarterback job. If he won, he would be stuck on the bench for his whole Seahawks career unless something unfortunate happened to Wilson. Still, Scott is the type of reliable backup the ‘Hawks need behind their young star.

Round 5, Pick 138   Malliciah Goodman, DE, Clemson, 6’4, 276

Pete Carroll talks about how you can never have too many pass rushers. Goodman would just be another pass rusher added to that defensive line. I still believe the Seahawks defensive line needs work, even after free agency. Michael Bennett is only signed for one year and Cliff Avril for only two. Red Bryant was much less effective in 2012 after a great season in 2011. Chris Clemons is 31 and coming off major knee surgery. Bruce Irvin, though entering just his second season, is already 26 and far from an elite player. Adding a couple young defensive linemen in the draft would be smart.

Malliciah Goodman has the type of length (6’4) that John Schneider loves in his defensive linemen. He is an above average edge rusher, with a mix of speed and power necessary to get to the passer on a consistent basis. He has a frame similar to Jason Jones and Michael Bennett, which leads one to wonder how Goodman could do in a role where he rotates between the tackle and end positions, like Jones and Bennett.

It isn’t unconceivable that in 2015, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Red Bryant, and Chris Clemmons could all have moved on from the Seahawks. Adding a young player like Goodman with tons of athletic talent could help the Seahawks defense after losing many key pieces.

Round 5, Pick 158   Zaviar Gooden, OLB, Missouri, 6’2, 234

As I mentioned in part 1, the role of the weakside linebacker in 2013 is likely going to be reduced due to additions of players such as Antoine Winfield and Cliff Avril. Because of this, I think John Schneider will wait to take a linebacker until the mid rounds of the draft.

Zaviar Gooden is a linebacker with a ton of athletic talent that will be intriguing to the Seahawks. Gooden ran the fastest 40 time of all linebackers at the combine, in addition to the fastest cone drill, shuttle, second longest broad jump, and tied for the fifth most reps on the bench press of all linebackers. At 6’2, 234 with those measurables, Gooden is a player Schneider will drool over in the war room.

Round 6, Pick 195   Ryan Otten, TE, San Jose State, 6’5, 230

Zach Miller and Anthony McCoy both offer little in terms of speed and athleticism at the tight end position. One position I’d like to see the Seahawks target is an athletic ‘joker’ like Otten who can bring different skills to the Seahawks’ tight end group.

Otten has a lankier frame than either Miller or McCoy, and creates more separation from his defender than either of those two. He also is an above average route runner and displays a good catch radius. Otten is not the blocker that either of the other two is, but would be used as more of a receiver in the Seahawks offense.

Round 7, Pick 220   Mark Harrison, WR, Rutgers, 6’3, 231

By this point in the draft, the ‘Hawks would likely be looking for value picks. Harrison is a long receiver with a large catch radius, similar to Sidney Rice. He has the top-end speed to beat defensive backs deep, and is able to move inside to the slot as well. Harrison will have tough completion to make the roster as a rookie.

Round 7, Pick 231   Latavius Murray, RB, Central Florida, 6’3, 224

Latavius Murray isn’t quite the small, shifty scat back I suspect the ‘Hawks will target in the draft, but he possesses qualities that make me think he can be a quality NFL runner. He isn’t a super elusive athlete, but has straight line speed to run past defenders. He is a bigger back and if the ‘Hawks drafted him would likely be asked to play both halfback and fullback.

Round 7, Pick 241   Gary Walker, FS, Idaho, 5’11, 190

Walker is a small-school prospect with speed and athleticism. He would be able to compete to backup Earl Thomas.

Round 7, Pick 242   Jeremy Harris, CB, New Mexico State, 6’2, 181

Harris fits the mold of a big cornerback who can play press coverage. He would compete with Byron Maxwell for a spot on the roster. The Seahawks had a private visit with