The 2020 NFL draft is in the books, and the Seattle Seahawks' draft class is complete.
The draft, which had been scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, was successfully completed virtually from the homes of coaches, general managers and other front-office staff because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth charts
Round 1, No. 27 overall: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
My take: Taking Brooks at No. 27 was every bit the Seahawks first-round surprise as James Carpenter in 2011, Bruce Irvin in 2012 and Rashaad Penny in 2018. Everything about it was a surprise, from even making a pick instead of trading down like usual and taking Brooks over LSU's Patrick Queen, a much-higher-rated linebacker by most, if not all, draft analysts (but not necessarily among most NFL teams). Say what you will about the Seahawks drafting a player you didn't expect them to, but you can't fault them for adding a speedy playmaker to a defense that struggled across the board in 2019.
No pass-rusher?: Yes, that was arguably the bigger need. But taking one at 27 like Yetur Gross-Matos or A.J. Epenesa would have meant -- in the Seahawks' eyes -- reaching for a prospect well ahead of where the team had them rated. GM John Schneider said Brooks was the highest-rated player left on their board, so they took him when a trade with Green Bay fell through. Linebacker is more of a need than you might think. K.J. Wright will be 31 in July and has only a year left on his contract. Irvin seems like a short-term option at the other linebacker spot. And the Seahawks' defense didn't just struggle to pressure quarterbacks last season. It allowed 6.02 yards per play and 4.85 yards per rush last season. Those were the worst and second-worst marks of the Pete Carroll era, respectively.
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Where Brooks fits: Schneider mentioned Brooks being briefly homeless in his youth as an example of his grit, a trait that carries significant appeal to the Seahawks. Brooks "blew us away" with his earnestness and "kicked ass" in his combine meeting with Seattle. On the field, the Seahawks say Brooks can play inside (which he did his final college season) or outside (which he did his first three seasons). The Seahawks timed him at 4.46 in the 40. That's the type of speed their defense seemed to lack last season. It would be better suited at weak-side linebacker, which in Seattle's defense plays in space. That's Wright's position. Jim Nagy, a former Seahawks scout who now runs the Senior Bowl, said Brooks reminded him of another speedy linebacker -- Bobby Wagner, his new teammate.
Round 2, No. 48 overall: Darrell Taylor, DE, Tennessee
My take: As much clamoring as there was for the Seahawks to take an edge rusher at No. 27, that would have meant reaching for a second-round prospect based on who was available. Taking someone like Taylor at 48 -- even at the cost of moving up -- made much more sense. Taylor combined for 16.5 sacks over his final two seasons in college as an outside linebacker for the Volunteers. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 267 pounds -- similar dimensions to Frank Clark coming out of college -- Taylor projects as an end in Pete Carroll's defense, likely more of a Leo (which plays on the weak side) than a five-technique.
Only six times in the past 10 years has a player drafted outside of the top 16 recorded eight sacks or more as a rookie, so reasonable expectations for Taylor in 2020 are more of a contributor than the primary pass-rusher the Seahawks are still seeking. But there was no way they were waiting until Day 3 to help their defense's biggest need.
Round 3, No. 69 overall: Damien Lewis, G, LSU
My take: QB Russell Wilson probably would have liked a wide receiver here. Instead he gets another offensive lineman to add to what will be a crowded competition there, especially on the interior. The Seahawks entered the draft with 18 offensive linemen and now have a 19th in Lewis, who started at right guard in both of his seasons at LSU and at junior college before that. His physical profile (6-2, 327 pounds) suggests he's in no danger of being moved to tackle. Center Justin Britt has long been considered a candidate to be released, as he comes off a torn ACL with an $11.4 million cap charge for the final season of his contract. With Lewis giving Seattle another interior player, right guard D.J. Fluker no longer seems like a lock, either. He's also entering the final year of his contract with a cap charge of just under $4.2 million.
Round 4, No. 133 overall: Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford
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My take: The Seahawks aren’t just loading up on offensive linemen. They're doing the same at tight end, where Parkinson joins what was already a crowded group consisting of Greg Olsen, Will Dissly, Jacob Hollister, Luke Willson and 2019 UDFA Justin Johnson. Olsen, Willson and Hollister (restricted free agent) are on one-year deals and Willson is competing for a roster spot, so this was more of a need than it might have seemed. At 6-foot-7 and 252 pounds, Parkinson gives Russell Wilson another big target in the passing game. He ran 4.77 at the combine after catching 48 passes with only one drop his final season at Stanford, which has been a tight-end factory of late, with seven drafted since 2012.
Round 4, No. 144 overall: DeeJay Dallas, RB, Miami
My take: It was almost certain the Seahawks would take a running back at some point with Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny coming off season-ending injuries and with Carson entering the final year of his rookie deal. Dallas began his college career as a wide receiver, which suggests he might have the skills to help out on third down right away as long as he's sound enough in pass-protection. He also returned kicks and punts at times in college, so that's another way he might be able to contribute with Seattle always looking to take some return duties off Tyler Lockett's plate. The Seahawks drafted another Miami running back last year (Travis Homer, sixth round), who was one of only four running backs on their roster (2019 UDFA Adam Choice was the other). So depth was a big need.
Round 5, No. 148 overall: Alton Robinson, DE, Syracuse
My take: The Seahawks’ pass-rush as a whole is still a question mark with no Pro Bowl-caliber player like Jadeveon Clowney as a primary threat, but they have no shortage of edge-rushing prospects. Robinson and second-round pick Darrell Taylor join a young mix that includes L.J. Collier, Rasheem Green and Shaquem Griffin behind veteran additions Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa. Robinson’s physical profile at 6-3 and 264 pounds suggests the Seahawks see him as a Leo, the smaller and quicker of the two end positions in Pete Carroll’s defense. Robinson’s 4.69 40 was the third-fastest time among defensive linemen at the combine. He had 32 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in three college seasons, so this isn’t merely a projection pick based on athleticism; there’s some production behind it as well.
Round 6, No. 214 overall: Freddie Swain, WR, Florida
My take: More than a few projections had the Seahawks getting someone from this historically-deep-for-wide-receivers draft earlier than Day 3, but Swain was the choice with the final pick of the sixth round. He has a nice combination of size (6-feet, 197 pounds) and speed (4.46 at the combine), but some underwhelming production over his first three years before a stronger senior season (38 catches, 517 yards, seven touchdowns in 2019) after moving into the slot. He’ll be fighting with John Ursua and others for one of the final spots at receiver behind Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, David Moore and Phillip Dorsett II. It’s hard enough for rookie receivers to contribute right away. It’s even harder for those drafted at the end of the sixth round in an abnormal offseason that will limit on-field work. In other words: Don’t expect a ton from Swain in 2020 even if he does make the team. His ability to return punts could help his chances, though.
Round 7, No. 251 overall: Stephen Sullivan, TE, LSU
My take: Along with offensive line, tight end seemed like a position the Seahawks didn’t necessarily have to address in this draft with the numbers they already had. They did anyways, opening Day 3 with Stanford’s Colby Parkinson in the fourth round, then finishing it off by trading into the seventh for another tight end, Sullivan. He also played wide receiver in college but worked at tight end at the Senior Bowl and the combine. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Sullivan has nice speed for his size (his 4.66 40 was second-fastest among tight ends at the combine) but not a ton of college production, with 46 catches for 712 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons. He’s a developmental prospect.
While tight wasn’t an immediate need, Seattle only had Will Dissly and 2019 UDFA Justin Johnson under contract beyond this season with Greg Olsen, Jacob Hollister (restricted free agent) and Luke Willson all on one-year deals. Sullivan will compete with Willson and Johnson for what might be one roster spot.