And just like that, the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. Per usual, it was a wild and unexpected ride, starting with all the Round 1 action. Day 2 and Day 3 delivered surprises of their own. Some teams capitalized on the opportunity, while others came up short. Let’s take a look at the 2023 NFL Draft recap, analysis, and grades for the Seattle Seahawks. NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

• NFL Draft Grades for Every Team
• Thor’s Draft Grades (AFC | NFC)
• NFL Draft Day 1 Winners & Losers (Day 2 | Day 3)
• Fitz’s Round 1 NFL Draft Picks: Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook (Day 2 | Day 3)
• Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft

2023 NFL Draft Recap, Analysis & Grades: Seattle Seahawks

NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

Thor Nystrom’s Overview & Grades

Seattle Seahawks | Draft Grade: C+

In my “talent added” metric, the Seahawks finished No. 5 in the NFL. But they spent the third-most equity to get there.

Still, how are you going to argue with the CB Devon Witherspoon and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba picks? I cannot. Witherspoon is one of my favorite corners to enter the NFL in my five years evaluating the draft. It’s a testament to how dominant Witherspoon is that the corner-length-obsessed Seahawks took him 1.5 in the longest cornerback class to ever enter the NFL.

Smith-Njigba is essentially exactly what this offense needed – a stud slot to take advantage of the space that DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett open up. He’s going to level-up the offense.

I loved RB Zach Charbonnet as much as anyone – he was my RB2 – but boy was that a confusing pick. The Seahawks just took Kenneth Walker in Round 2 last year. The team’s brass explained in a presser that Charbonnet was awesome in the screen game. Which, yeah, agreed. But you’re not using the No. 52 pick to improve your screen game. You could have done that with a Day 3 specialist. So what gives?

I liked Seattle’s upside shot on athletic freak OG Anthony Bradford in Round 4. But I thought the Seahawks were inefficient with their other picks on Saturday. That, in conjunction with the EDGE Derick Hall mini-reach in Round 2, dinged the final grade.

Andrew Erickson’s Overview & Grades

Seattle comes with a surprise at pick 5, selecting CB Devon Witherspoon over both Tyree Wilson and Jalen Carter. Impossible to knock it too much based on Witherspoon’s projection as a top-tier cover cornerback, but an edge rusher fits Seattle’s need more. Witherspoon will start opposite Tariq Woolen in the Seahawks revamped secondary.

But I am in love with the Jaxon Smith-Njigba pick. The value of getting the No. 1 WR in the class at pick 20 is “chef’s kiss.” His addition allows Seattle to run more 3WR sets, which Geno Smith should find success with. Smith was one of the better QBs passing from 11 personnel in 2022, ranking 10th in yards per attempt (7.2), seventh in TD-INT ratio, and sixth in passer rating. But Seattle ran it at the seventh-lowest rate without any worthwhile third-receiving option. That changes with the addition of No.3 WR JSN.

Seattle is putting the NFC on notice as a low-key playoff contender to make a run in a conference with major question marks outside the Eagles. The 49ers are also facing major question marks at QB (along with a lackluster draft) making my favorite offseason bet on Seattle winning the NFC West at +300 per BetMGM.

They added additional defensive firepower on the edge in the form of Derrick Hall in Round 2, which might seem like a slight reach to some. However, I like Hall’s profile a lot. He brings speed off the tackle with a 4.55 40-yard dash (94th percentile) and 93rd percentile broad jump weighing at an extremely light 254 pounds. With 84th percentile arm length to boot, Hall finished last season 12th in QB hits and 16th in pressures among his draft class as a strict outside edge rusher.

But the good times did not keep rolling for Seattle as they selected a running back with the 52^nd overall selection. Not ideal for Zach Charbonnet because he won’t see a full workload with Kenneth Walker entrenched as the team’s starter. And it just doesn’t make any sense for Seattle to draft a running back AGAIN in Round 2, after doing so last season. They easily could have waited to draft a different RB with pass-catching chops (which they did in Round 7) or just sign somebody dirt-cheap in free agency. As a team that looks poised to make a legitimate playoff run, I really wish they didn’t blow the 52^nd pick on a luxury position. They really could have drafted one of the top centers in the draft with John Michael Schmitz instead.

They eventually would select LSU’s Anthony Bradford to bolster the interior guard position, but he doesn’t project to be a center. Bradford is a strong run blocker, finishing first in the class in positive run rate generated when run behind (64%) per Sports Info Solutions.

Seattle went back to edge with Mike Morris in Round 5, to double down on pass rushers. Morris’ 22% true pressure rate tied for first in the 2023 edge class. The sheer production is impressive considering Morris’ size — 77th percentile weight, 87th percentile height.

The Seahawks potentially landed a starting center in Round 5, with another Michigan Wolverine, Olusegun Oluwatimi. Oluwatimi spent 2019-2021 with the Virginia Cavaliers finishing as a finalist in the voting as the best center in the country during his last season. He then transferred to Michigan as a graduate student and was recognized as the nation’s best center/interior offensive lineman with two separate awards. It was well deserved as his .6% blown block rate tied for second-best in the nation. He also operated as a mauler in the run game, creating holes for his RBs to charge through. The former Wolverine generated the most yards before contact to their gap per game (57.6) per Sports Info Solutions.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B

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