6. Eric Berry, S: Seattle needs a safety and Berry is so good, he could seduce Carroll outside of his scheme. Ok, maybe not. Unless the cupboard is bare, offensive tackle seems like the more likely pick, but let's entertain this route. Berry can play in the box and received rave reviews from Monte Kiffin. I like everything about Berry, from his frame to his athleticism to his performance to his projection to his intelligence.
No trade.
14. C.J. Spiller, RB: Spiller reminds me of Clinton Portis. The comparison is not made too terribly much because Portis later bulked up and became a feature back, but like Spiller, Portis weighed in at 196 at the NFL Combine. Portis was unstoppable to start his career, and Spiller has that same potential. He is not yet a cut-and-go rusher, but he's not hopeless, and I think his ability to evade tackles while keeping his shoulders square and his momentum moving forward is underappreciated. Spiller improves the 2010 team, and though some see Seattle as rebuilding, I think Carroll wants to win now and establish himself.
60. Ed Wang, OT: Seattle may have to reach a little if it misses out on drafting an offensive tackle early. Wang is a stocky but athletic tackle that is average to below average tools-wise for the position, and would need some epic coaching up to start in week one. In other words, he's Duane Brown.
104. Dorin Dickerson, WR: Dickerson lacks the size to play tight end in any meaningful capacity, but with true tight ends fading into irrelevance, and Seattle's transparent interest in big, box-out receivers, why not draft the misfit Dickerson and complete the transformation? Dickerson could fill Stanley Havili's position in Jeremy Bates offense and see snaps at wide receiver, tight end, H-back and fullback.
127. O'Brien Schofield, SDE: Seattle needs talent at linebacker and stand up end, but more the former than the latter. So why do I keep giving them stand up ends instead of linebackers? Because Curry just might not cut it, and by insuring one vital position, Seattle creates a damn good fallback for another lesser position. A player can rise through the pre-draft process or be crushed by it. Schofield tore his ACL during Senior Bowl practices. Even though ACL tears and the subsequent repair is common, teams nevertheless heavily downgrade injured players, both because they are not likely to contribute in their first season and because, with injuries, you never know. By recognizing his value and stashing him on IR, Seattle might fill its need for a stand up end in 2011.
133. Joe Webb, WR: Seattle missed out on Brandon Marshall and is pretty desperate for talent and depth at wide receiver. Webb played quarterback at UAB, but as a pro he's an athlete in need of a position. Webb is how Carroll does Jordan Kent.
139. Arthur Jones, DT: Jones has the talent of a second-tier defensive tackle prospect, but the injury history and uncertain future of a fifth-round pick. He turns 24 in June. Players like Jones are called bargains on draft day, and drafting a recently injured player is one way to find value, but given his ability, this class, and his recent injury history, fifth round is about perfect.
176. Jevan Snead, QB: Seattle adds another high-upside athlete with good arm strength but not much ability to play quarterback.
245. Jeff Byers, OG: The injury theme continues. Byers has good potential and is a perfect fit for Gibbs system, but has slipped way down boards because of injuries and so-so tools. Pete Carroll said it best himself: "The attitude he brings, the work ethic he brings are perfect. He has very high expectations for himself. He won't settle for anything but the best. He's got all the ingredients to be a great player."
"We like his athleticism, his intensity and the intangibles that he brings. His downfield blocking sets the tone for the style of play that we like. He flies to his blocks better than anyone we've ever had, making use of his legs and his guts to finish plays. He creates such an attitude about the way we play."