NFL Draft Results: Seahawks select C.J. Prosise with 3rd round pick, 90 overall

The Seattle Seahawks have selected Notre Dame running back C.J. Prosise with the first of their three 3rd round picks, 90th overall in the NFL Draft.

This pick adds depth a the running back position and gives Seattle a potential third-down option. Prosise is a receiver-turned-running back and excels in the passing game. I like the pick a lot.

Here's a scouting report on Prosise from NFL.com's Lance Zeirlein.

STRENGTHS Has every­-down size for the position. Patient, gliding runner with a sense for when it's time to hit the gas and go. Has late cut ability to create new yards for himself. Has effective open-field spin move to elude and the play strength to power through lesser tackle attempts. Efficient runner between the tackles. Runs with desired pad level maintains balance through contact. Falls forward in his finishing. Has enough play speed to turn the corner as outside runner. Experience as receiver gives him upgraded route ability as running back. Has opportunity to be effective on all three levels as receiver if matchup avails itself.

WEAKNESSES Only one year as full-­time running back. Urgency as runner needs an upgrade. Can be slowed waiting for zone-­read mesh­-point, but indecisiveness flowing outside caused some lost yardage. Fumbled five times in 156 carries losing two. Needs to secure the rock against scavengers looking to rip it away at the end of a run. Recognition of blitzes injuries late.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 3

SOURCES TELL US "He's talented and caught all of us off-­guard to start the season. He looks like he has no idea what he's doing at times in protections and that is what could keep him off the field early in his career." -- NFL West area scout

NFL COMPARISON Fred Jackson

BOTTOM LINE Ascending running back prospect with the physical build to handle a workload, the athleticism to create for himself and the hands to keep stacking total yardage up. While Prosise has the acceleration and play strength to fit into an NFL offense, he needs to become a shade more decisive and has to improve in protections if he is to become a three-­down option. Prosise looks like an immediate "committee" runner with future starter potential.

Here's what Dane Brugler at NFLDraftScout.com had to say.

STRENGTHS: Well-distributed body mass with the desired physical ingredients. Able to absorb and maintain balance through congestion, picking yards after contact. Refuses to go down, showing the body strength and leg drive to fight forward.

Fluid lateral agility in his cuts and controls his momentum well, shifting his weight without slowing. Follows and trusts his blockers to weave through traffic. Natural at resetting his vision on the move. Patient run style to quickly scan and go. Speed to be a big-play threat and eliminate pursuit angles when he hits the turbo button. Has a fifth gear downfield to separate from the secondary. Strong stiff arm and runs with physical finish.

Natural receiving traits and experience, displaying reliable focus and hands as a pass-catcher. Stand out on special teams coverages - earned the Notre Dame Special Teams Player of the Year honors in 2014. Highly productive in 2015 (his first season at running back), averaging 6.6 yards per carry and 11.8 yards per reception.

WEAKNESSES: Upright runner with inconsistent pad level, presenting a large target for tacklers. Hesitant at times and still learning the difference between patience and being indecisive. Will get himself in trouble with too much east-west. Tends to slow at the contact point, bracing himself for hits.

Lacks ideal experience at the running back position and still learning techniques at the position. Lacks nuance in pass protection.

Wasn't a return man at Notre Dame. Ball security needs addressed (five fumbles in 2015). Durability was an issue in his one season at running back, missing almost all of Notre Dame's final five games - entered concussion protocol with a neck/head injury followed by a high left ankle sprain (Nov. 2015).

IN OUR VIEW: A safety and wide receiver his first two seasons, Prosise proved to be a quick study at his new position in 2015, running with natural vision, feel and athleticism. Although he's still developing his run tempo, pad level and instincts, especially between the tackles, Prosise has sharp cutting ability and ball-skills to impact the offense in several ways.

Prosise isn't a running back by trade and that shows at times, but he's a very encouraging prospect who should continue to get better with added reps at the position.

Here's what Tony Pauline had to say.

Positive: Started nine games last season posting a career-best 1032 yards rushing and 11 TDs. Also added 26 receptions for 308 yards. Struggled with concussions late in the season. Nice sized ball carrier with a developing game. Displays terrific vision, good short area quickness and follows blocks everywhere on the field. Finds the open seam, keeps his feet moving on contact and breaks tackles or falls forward for the extra yardage. Possesses a burst and darts around piles or defenders. Patient, waits for blocks to develop and helps the quarterback sell ball fakes. Competent receiver out of the backfield. Gives effort blocking.

Negative: Not a creative ball carrier that strings multiple moves together during runs. Lacks great corner speed. Must improve his ball security.

Analysis: Prosise upped his game last season after becoming Notre Dame's full-time feature runner and offers the size and skill to do much the same at the next level if he holds onto the ball and stays healthy.

Here's tape.

The Seahawks now have 9 selections total in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Round 1, Pick 26 (26): Germain Ifedi, OL Texas A&M
Round 2, Pick 18 (49): Jarran Reed, DL Alabama
Round 3, Pick 27 (90): C.J. Prosise, RB Notre Dame
Round 3, Pick 31 (94):
Round 3, Pick 35 (97) (Comp pick):
Round 5, Pick 34 (171) (Comp pick):
Round 6, Pick 40 (215) (Comp pick):
Round 7, Pick 4 (225) (From Cowboys):
Round 7, Pick 26 (247):