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Seahawks fleece Jim Harbaugh, Chargers by trading down in this 7-round mock draft

There will be a ton of great prospects available when the Seahawks are on the clock at No. 16 overall in in Round 1 of the draft 10 days from now. While their position might put them out of reach for the top quarterbacks around the country and most of the elite defenders, they could still land difference-makers on either side of the line of scrimmage or take a chance on a second-tier QB.

However, the best use of that pick is in a move down in order to add more capital – especially the second-rounder they lost as part of the Leonard Williams trade. We know that Seattle is talking with at least three different teams about trade-down scenarios. As far as we know, the Chargers aren’t one of them, but in our latest seven-round mock draft they made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. Here’s how it went down.

Every move the Seahawks have made in the 2024 offseason

Pick No. 16: Trade down with Chargers

Apr 2, 2024; Costa Mesa, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh speaks at press conference at Hoag Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Several teams sent us offers for the 16th overall pick in the draft, but LA’s package was by far the best. In exchange for that first-rounder we got back pick Nos. 37, 69 and 105 overall. Additionally, we added second and third-round picks for the 2025 NFL draft. All together, we doubled up the value of that original No. 16 pick.

Pick No. 37: Georgia WR Ladd McConkey

Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) makes a catch and runs for touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half in the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

When we are on the clock again both Michael Penix and Bo Nix were still on the board and in real life the Seahawks should take Penix in that scenario and not look back. For variety’s sake we decided to go in a different direction, gambling on Georgia wideout Ladd McConkey. In 39 games with the Bulldogs he put up 119 catches, 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns. If McConkey lives up to his potential Seattle would be set up to dominate at this position for a long time to come.

Pick No. 69: NC State LB Payton Wilson

Oct 28, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack linebacker Payton Wilson (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on an interception during the second half against the Clemson Tigers at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

One of several long-term needs Seattle will have to address is inside linebacker, where their projected 2024 starters will both be playing on one-year deals. Payton Wilson is the best linebacker in this draft class and offers a supremely diverse skillset. Over the last two seasons he totaled 10.5 sacks, 30 tackles for a loss, four interceptions and nine pass breakups. Wilson would take over as the quarterback of Mike Macdonald’s defense next season.

Pick No. 81: Trade down with Cardinals

Nov 6, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) leaves the field after defeating the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

At this spot we decided to trade down again, sending pick Nos. 81 and 235 overall to the Cardinals in exchange for Nos. 90 and 138 overall.

Pick No. 90: Trade down with Eagles

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 18: DK Metcalf #14 of the Seattle Seahawks catches a pass in the fourth quarter at Lumen Field on December 18, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Here we pulled off the trade down hat trick with frequent trade partner Philadelphia. At this spot we sent pick No. 90 overall plus a 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for pick Nos. 120, 161, 171 overall in 2024.

Pick No. 102: Texas DT T'Vondre Sweat

Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat (DL25) works out during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

A tantalyzing mix of size and athleticism, nevertheless T’Vondre Sweat looks to fill the how-far-will-his-stock-tank-before-the-draft role in 2024. Up until now he had been projected as a second-round pick, but the recent DWI combined with the previous off-field issues means he’s likely in for a plunge. It wouldn’t be the first or the second time that the Seahawks drafted a problematic defensive lineman, and in any case to land Sweat this late is a steal.

Pick No. 105: TCU CB Josh Newton

TCU Horned Frogs cornerback Josh Newton (2) celebrates a thread down stop against Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, November. 11, 2023, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

Cornerback shouldn’t be a huge need for the Seahawks this year, as they have arguably the strongest unit in the NFC at this position. If they were to add another quality starter in the draft they might have the best cornerback room in the league for years. TCU’s Josh Newton posted seven interceptions and 36 pass breakups in 59 total college games, including his time at Louisiana-Monroe.

Pick No. 118: Ohio State TE Cade Stover

Nov. 25, 2023; Ann Arbor, Mi., USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Cade Stover (8) is tackled by University of Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder (30) during the first half of SaturdayÕs NCAA Division I football game at Michigan Stadium.

Adding another pass-catching option at tight end should also be on Seattle’s to-do list. Here they take Ohio State’s Cade Stover, who’s one of the better prospects who fit that description in this class. Last season he posted 41 catches, 574 yards and five touchdowns.

Pick No. 120: Notre Dame RB Audric Estime

Nov 18, 2023; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Audric Estime (7) runs the ball as Wake Forest Demon Deacons safety Malik Mustapha (3) defends in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve been ignoring running back in practically all of our mock drafts for a few reasons. For one thing, Seattle is already loaded at this spot, having spent second-round picks each of the last two years. However, running backs tend not to last long and we haven’t seen enough from Zach Charbonnet to hand the reins over in case Ken Walker has a serious injury. Adding Audric Estime to the picture gives more depth and a strong receiver out of the backfield. Estime scored 30 total touchdowns over the last two seasons at Notre Dame.

Pick No. 138: Arkansas C Beaux Limmer

Jan 31, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; American offensive lineman Beaux Limmer of Arkansas (55) signals at the line during practice for the American team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Guard has rightfully gotten the most attention but truthfully the Seahawks should also be looking to draft a center and a tackle, as well. Here they check the first box by taking Beaux Limmer (6-foot-5, 307 pounds) out of Arkansas. Limmer earned strong overall grades from PFF each of the last three years and has put in time at all three interior positions.

Pick No. 161: Miami (FL) G Javion Cohen

Sep 23, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Javion Cohen (70) lifts wide receiver Xavier Restrepo (7) after his first quarter touchdown against the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lewis-USA TODAY Sports

With the next pick we addressed the guard issue, adding another option behind Laken Tomlinson and McClendon Curtis at left guard. Javion Cohen (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) put in over 2,300 total snaps at that spot during his time at Miami. For his work in 2023 he earned a good grade in pass protection (75.8) which should be Seattle’s priority when looking for linemen.

Pick No. 171: Northern Iowa DT Khristian Boyd

Northern Iowa defensive lineman Khristian Boyd (99) poses for a photo during the Panthers football media day, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Taking T’Vondrew Sweat is a good start but the Seahawks need to double down on their interior propsects. Here they take Khristian Boyd out of UNI, who is one of the defenders who they met with at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. Boyd (6-foot-4, 317 pounds) earned elite overall grades from PFF (89.0 and 88.5) the last two years. Eventually Boyd might compete for the right to replace Jarran Reed at the starting nose tackle spot.

Pick No. 179: Texas OT Christian Jones

Oct 21, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Christian Jones (70) in action during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Here we check the third box for offensive linemen by adding more depth at tackle. Christian Jones (6-foot-6, 321 pounds) has the requisite size to stay at tackle in the pros and has experience playing on both ends of the offensive line. Last season PFF gave him strong grades in both pass blocking (78.1) and run blocking (75.2).

Pick No. 192: Utah S Sione Vaki

Oct 21, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Utah Utes receiver Sione Vaki (28) scores on a 53-yard touchdown reception against Southern California Trojans defensive end Braylan Shelby (34) in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Utah produces some of the best defensive backs in the sport, so with our last pick we took a flyer on safety Sione Vaki (6-foot-0, 208 pounds). To start he would project for a special teams only role, assuming no injuries for Julian Love, Rayshawn Jenkins or K’Von Wallace at the top of the depth chart. Vaki lined up all over for Utah’s defense and could be a valuable chess piece for Mike Macdonald once he’s ready to join the back end of his defense.

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