I wanted to give my readers first dibs on my final mock draft. Coach Owens will be pleased that it is devoid of swearing. I encourage you to check out the full mock, with picks from Doug Farrar, Scott Eklund and Kyle Rota at Seahawks.net.
1. Sam Baker, OT, USC
“Lying simply is part of our business in April.” Chargers GM AJ Smith
I’ll have to get my Bill Hicks on to make this make sense, but follow me. Baker has the most impressive resume of any draft eligible offensive lineman. He looks awesome on tape. Awesome. He looks awesome playing left tackle. Awesome. And those who watch college football seriously have awarded him 3 consecutive All-America nods. When asked why he drafted Lofa Tatupu, Tim Ruskell answered “He’s a guy that brings intensity, he’s tough…he’s a leader, he’s productive. Everything that was asked of him at USC, he did. He doesn’t have the greatest size, he doesn’t have the greatest speed, but he has a big heart…”. One could say the same thing about Baker. In late February Tim Ruskell told the media that he anticipated taking an offensive lineman in the draft, specifically an offensive tackle. Since that time, Seattle’s been linked with (by my count) just 5 offensive linemen, and only 2 offensive tackles: Baker and Carlton Medders. Baker sat out the combine, and ran either a confident or apathetic 5.50/40 at USC’s Pro Day. In a class as stacked at offensive tackle as this year’s, one would think that even a player as accomplished as Baker couldn’t afford to be so nonchalant about the pre-draft process. Yet Baker seems almost disinterested. My guess is that Baker has already spoken privately with a team or teams. Given need, draft position, history and a little conspiracy theory nuttery, I think that team is Seattle.
2. Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame
Before the Senior Bowl, Trevor Laws was a certain late round pick. Before the Combine, Laws was a certain second day pick. Over the last month, Laws has shot from the undifferentiated third class of defensive tackles to the third or fourth best defensive tackle in the draft. Now, is that realistic or the product of hype? Probably somewhere in between. Laws has no doubt improved his stock, but I find it very unlikely he sniffs the first. I say all this to validate Laws being available in the second.
My readers know, I’m high on Trevor Laws. He excelled on an abysmal line, something even Julius Peppers couldn’t do. He’s lightning fast off the snap and tears through garbage like a disposal. “Leverage” has become a bit of buzzword this draft, but among so many purported masters, Laws is Archimedes. He’s driven and won’t-tell-you-so humble. Rescued from the corpse of ND’s front 3, and onto a talented line, within a one gap system, Laws is day one contributor with Pro Bowl potential.
3. Tashard Choice, RB, Georgia Tech
Julius Jones has a heavily front loaded salary. If Jones can have a reasonably productive bounce-back season, the Hawks will have a very valuable trading chip in 2009. That is, if they have a back on board who can provide the “Lightning” compliment to TJ Duckett’s “Thunder”. Seattle recently hired Mike Solari, a proponent of a power rushing attack. That’s a bit of a nebulous term, but needless to say, the Seahawks back of the future must be able to mix it up between the tackles. Tim Ruskell obviously saw something about Georgia Tech’s rushing attack he liked, because in 2007 he drafted guard Mansfield Wrotto. Tashard Choice is a well rounded rusher without the wear and tear of so many of this draft’s vast second class of backs. He’s nimble, strong, can block a little and has a nose for the end zone.
4. Craig Stevens, TE, Cal
If Marcus Pollard proved anything, it’s that Ruskell doesn’t put the same kind of emphasis on the tight end position as the Seahawks’ fan base. And, for the second straight year, Ruskell has plugged the hole with a free agent retread. Is Jeb Putzier the answer? Good God no! But, then, I’m not certain any tight end in this class is either. Craig Stevens likely maxes out as a #2, primary blocking/red zone tight end. But in that role, he’s unlikely to fail. Stevens is built like a brick outhouse. He loves to block and does it like a champ. Not a tantalizing pick, but a solid pro and a player that contributes beyond his numbers.
6. Adrian Arrington, WR, Michigan
Adrian Arrington is long on potential, but short on polish. Not a burner, but a physical receiver who can work the middle and fight for the jump ball. His lack of speed is somewhat mitigated by his height and large frame. Arrington does the little things right, dragging his feet inbounds, making the tough catch and coming back for the ball on broken plays. Plus, knocks on his route running are a bit overstated, his cuts are a little loose, but he convincingly sells the juke and moves laterally and diagonally without losing significant speed. Nevertheless, he’ll need to ripen on the practice squad.
7. Jonathan Hefney, DB, Tennessee
Two things sell me on Hefney. One, he stays deep. John Marshall and Jim L. Mora demand that from their safeties, and the inability to maintain discipline in the soft shell was part of Michael Boulware’s undoing. And two, he’s versatile. If Jordan Babineaux did anything to earn his surprisingly large contract, and he didn’t though his helmet did, it’s that he’s been able to play any spot in the secondary. A former corner, Hefney can do likewise. He’s also known for playing smart in the soft shell, but unlike incumbent Brian Russell, Hefney has range and run stopping ability. Hefney isn’t tall, an eighth under 5’8”, and he’s not a Bob Sanders like physical phenom, but he’s a solid, athletic and heady safety with value added in kick coverage and on punt returns. You can’t ask for much more from a 7th round pick.