The Seattle Seahawks 2013 draft class consisted of an impressive 11 picks.
With a pre-draft roster already worthy of Super Bowl-contending status, however, one should not expect a whole lot of instant production from this class.
Similarly, Seattle did not pick until No. 62 overall in Round 2. First-round prospects are generally the ones guaranteed to play extensively in Year 1 of their NFL careers. And the Seahawks simply didn’t draft this player in 2013.
Yet, if we were to count Percy Harvin—the dynamic wideout acquired in a trade with Minnesota—as the team’s first-round draftee, then Seattle would certainly receive ample production from it’s top pick.
For the purposes of this article, though, we’ll evaluate only the players chosen in the actual draft.
Let’s now delve into those 11 selections and outline what kind of production one should expect for the upcoming season.
Round 2 (No. 62 Overall): Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M
Luxury pick or not, general manager John Schneider targeted the best player on the board with the team’s No. 1 selection.
Christine Michael could very well be the most talented running back emerging from this class. He is a powerful back at 5’10’’, 220 pounds who runs with great speed, balance and agility. He is ultra competitive and consistently flashes a mean streak.
The former Aggie also showcased his proficiency as a goal-line weapon with 34 career rushing touchdowns, including double-digit totals in both 2009 and 2012.
Working against Michael is Seattle’s deep and established backfield. Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin and dual-threat quarterback Russell Wilson led the NFL’s No. 3 rushing attack last season. Michael’s durability issues (two season-ending injuries in college) and character concerns may also reduce his playing time.
At the end of the day, he will provide the Seahawks with an even deeper and more powerful running back contingent.
But one should equate Michael with future star rather than Year 1 producer. Best-case scenario is an output similar to Turbin’s last season if he beats out the second-year back in training camp (60-80 carries for 250-350 yards and one touchdown).
Round 3 (No. 87 Overall): Jordan Hill, DT, Penn State
Round 4 (No. 123 Overall): Chris Harper, WR, Kansas State
Lower-depth chart rotational bodies are the name of the game when it comes to these two picks.
Jordan Hill is a solid 3-technique defensive tackle on the interior of a 4-3 front. He is extremely quick and closes well to the ball carrier. Amassing 16.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in two years at Penn State gives an indication of those abilities.
Hill lacks overall power and the ability to anchor, though. He must bulk up and develop a deeper skill set before consistently making contributions on the NFL gridiron.
As such, Hill offers good depth behind Brandon Mebane, Tony McDaniel and others currently on the Seahawks roster. He fills a need, but won’t have much statistical production in his first year.
Chris Harper faces a tough road ahead if he’s to see much action this season.
Seattle already has Harvin, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin as its top four receivers on the roster. This is also a team that features a heavy rushing attack.
Harper possesses the frame (6’1’’, 229 pounds), ball skills and sure handedness to eventually develop as a future possession receiver. Look for him to make the squad as the No. 5 wideout and establish himself on special teams.
Round 5 (No. 137 Overall): Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
Round 5 (No. 138 Overall): Tharold Simon, CB, LSU
Again, as a contending team with a stacked roster, Seattle continued to draft for depth.
Jesse Williams is a fairly massive man at 6’3’’, 323 pounds. He was and never will be much of a pass-rusher, but that’s certainly okay with his new NFL team.
The Seahawks needed another run-stuffer on the interior of their d-line. Williams will use his big frame and provide just that, especially against division rival San Francisco 49ers. Like fellow defensive tackle Jordan Hill selected before him, freeing up surrounding playmakers rather than racking up stats should be expected of the former Alabama stalwart.
Tharold Simon measures up to exactly what the Seahawks look for in their cornerbacks.
Simon stands at 6’2’’, 202 pounds with long 32.6’’ arms and very good top-end speed. He runs well and has the requisite ball skills, evidenced by his four interceptions and 13 pass breakups during his junior campaign at LSU.
Sitting behind fellow tall corners Richard Sherman (6’3’’), Brandon Browner (6’4’’) and slot-man Antoine Winfield, Simon will serve as a quality No. 4 CB. He’ll develop behind established stars and earn his stripes playing on special teams.
Needed depth security—and not stats—will result from this draft pick. We apologize for the broken record.
Round 5 (No. 158 Overall): Luke Wilson, TE, Rice
Round 6 (No. 194 Overall): Spencer Ware, RB, LSU
Round 7 (No. 220 Overall): Ryan Seymour, G, Vanderbilt
There isn’t a whole lot to say about the first or last pick in this trio of selections.
Luke Wilson is a prospect that could easily have gone undrafted. He has some pass-catching skills, but is an extremely long-term developmental project. Seattle also has Zach Miller and Anthony McCoy entrenched as its top-two tight ends, to boot.
Not to sound overly harsh, but don’t look for Wilson to contribute much of anything in 2013.
Spencer Ware, on the other hand, flashed some legitimate ability during his time at LSU.
Ware is a big-bodied back at 5’10’’ and 228 pounds. He is an absolute grinder who operates with unabated competitiveness and power. He even showed some prowess as a pass-catcher in college, compiling 39 receptions for 404 yards and two touchdowns.
The former Tiger’s best year as a running back came in 2011 when he totaled 177 carries for 707 yards and eight scores. Ware won’t produce anything close to that for Seattle this season—especially with the depth chart ahead of him—but he does have an opportunity to shine on special teams.
Ryan Seymour is another long-term project. To be fair, however, he is a seventh-round pick.
Seymour is undersized (6’4’’, 297 pounds) and grades out as average in pass protection, run blocking and most other categories for NFL offensive linemen. He’ll have the opportunity to learn behind James Carpenter, Paul McQuistan, John Moffitt and J.R. Sweezy, who all logged snaps at guard in 2012.
Instant production just isn’t in the cards for these guys.
Round 7 (No. 231 Overall): Ty Powell, LB, Harding
Round 7 (No. 241 Overall): Jared Smith, G, New Hampshire
Round 7 (No. 242 Overall): Michael Bowie, T, N.E. State (OK)
Ty Powell has the greatest upside of Seattle’s final six draft picks.
He is a converted safety who played both defensive end and rush outside linebacker during his senior year at Harding. He possesses both pass-rushing skills and the experience and talent to maintain himself in coverage. Powell can tackle, has all the physical attributes and may prove a huge steal someday being selected all the way in Round 7. We wouldn’t be surprised if he sees some on-field action in 2013.
Jared Smith played defensive tackle at New Hampshire and often outshined the competition.
Smith is adept at getting into the backfield and shows good quickness and active hands. He also has the prototypical measureables at 6’3’’, 302 pounds. It remains to be seen if the Seahawks keep him on defense or convert him to an offense guard for a future role.
Michael Bowie rounds out the Seahawks 2013 draft class. He is a big-bodied tackle/guard prospect at 6’4’’, 330 pounds. He’ll find himself on the practice squad for the foreseeable future.
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