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Since the draft started on Thursday evening, the Seattle Seahawks have been a box of surprises, taking running back Rashaad Penny in round one and then adding a run blocking tight end in round four. Hawk fans were still on cloud nine in the fifth round after the team had taken linebacker Shaquem Griffin, the twin brother of 2017 Seahawks third round pick Shaquill Griffin, however, that cloud quickly dissipated when Pete Carroll and John Schneider traded up in order to draft a punter.
Yes, you read that correctly, Pete and John used one of their seventh round picks to trade up in order to select punter Michael Dickson out of the University of Texas.
Now, I’m certain that Dickson is a great guy, and he’s probably a really good punter, but this definitely counts as a surprise. And while the fifth round has pretty low expected values in terms of future outcomes and the probability of a player sticking on the roster, it still seems early to be taking a punter. In any case, as you can imagine, Seahawks Twitter was not happy with the selection, and they let the word know through their social media bullhorn.
Here’s a sampling of some of the reactions.
I mean if your plan is to run it nonstop then a punter makes a ton of sense
— *AHEM* LIFELONG PUNTING FAN (@zjwhitman) April 28, 2018
The most efficient way to make sure you punt on 4th down is to run on 1st and 2nd down https://t.co/RJgpe96MOf
— ben (@guga31bb) April 28, 2018
the seahawks picked griffin first so they could soften the blow of drafting jon ryan's replacement
— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) April 28, 2018
Real talk tho... Jon Ryan has been bad and Seattle has had terrible punting DVOA for years now. A punter was a need.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) April 28, 2018
Trading up for one is weird.
Michael Dickson, #Seahawks' 5th-round pick, is the first kicker or punter Pete Carroll/John Schneider have drafted. Seventh punter drafted in team history, first since Ryan Plackemeier in 2006. Has to be 1st team to trade up seven spots to draft a punter.
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) April 28, 2018
most exciting punter pick i can remember
— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) April 28, 2018
THEY TRADED UP FOR A PUNTER ALRKJEALGJKLJBKLA JAKSDFB
— *AHEM* LIFELONG PUNTING FAN (@zjwhitman) April 28, 2018
and now we’re back to the wyd seahawks
— John Fraley (@johndavidfraley) April 28, 2018
As a fan of a team that drafted a punter in the 5th round, I would like to celebrate this pick even more. Welcome to the stupidity.
— Lorena M. (@lmnfldraft) April 28, 2018
Jon Ryan’s reaction after hearing Seahawks drafted a punter pic.twitter.com/vW7ZmH8ZZL
— B (@ThatTallGuyB) April 28, 2018
The Seahawks are so stupid. They have been the dumbest of the 4 NFC West teams in this draft by a huge margin. Crosby? Nah, trade up Punter time. F an OLine
— Russ (@CrenshawRams) April 28, 2018
Trading up for a punter especially in the 5th rd can’t be good news for Jon Ryan.
— WGR 91 (@Jayboy1616) April 28, 2018
The Seahawks went from getting a steal In Shaquem Griffin to probably the most head scratching and dumbest decision to trade up for a punter. But hey what do I know
— Tony Simms (@R33S33) April 28, 2018
In the 5th!!! Seriously bad move!! Save money anyway...build a sustainable offense, don’t need a punter
— njfan (@therealnjfan) April 28, 2018
And now we all have to pretend to like the pick just to not be in agreement with Pete Prisco.
Trading up for a punter is nothing I would ever do — or draft one
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) April 28, 2018
After making one of the most inspirational draft picks in memory... The #Seahawks draft a punter. #GoFigure https://t.co/LFC2LeENbt
— Victor Chimenti (@VicChimenti) April 28, 2018
You need a punter if you have big holes in your roster, duh!
— (@examplezero) April 28, 2018
And, well, you get the picture. Fans aren’t real excited.