Updated Seahawks top-20 big board: A new number 1, the OT class begins to clear up, a shocking WR inclusion!
A draft class that is sure to keep us guessing and shocked throughout the process
Many of you have asked me over the years, “When are you going to do another podcast with Rob Staton?” Hit subscribe. Find out very soon.
Seaside Joe is having an incredible month. We hit record numbers on Tuesday and another subscriber milestone on Wednesday. Guess where on this timeline that Russell Wilson was traded to the Broncos:
Many of you have been with me on this journey for over three years of Seaside Joe. Thank you! We can do something really special with this newsletter and take it right to the top of Substack’s sports genre.
I have SO MANY ARTICLES backlogged right now simply because the NFL keeps doing things! There is so much left to get to and the 2022 NFL Draft is only five weeks away.
Today’s Regular Joes post is an updated Seattle Seahawks 2022 NFL Draft Big Board. What’s a big board?
My Seahawks big board is an evaluation of all the prospects in the draft class, their position, what the Seahawks need, but mostly, what Pete Carroll and John Schneider tend to do. I’ve been watching Seattle’s drafts for decades, like many of you have, but extensively covered the lead-up to and aftermath of every draft class since Carroll’s first with the Seahawks in 2010.
Here’s what you can expect with the Big Board Project:
Create an initial top-10 big board (DONE)
Update the top-10 post-free agency and increase to top-20 (TODAY)
Update the top-20 and increase to top-30 (NEXT)
Update the top-30 and increase to top-40 (AFTER THAT)
Take the top-40 big board and apply it to different mock draft scenarios, giving fans a clear VISUAL example of how to “Trust the board” (SOON)
The Seahawks have made some moves in free agency and lost some players in the process. Ones they wanted to keep, ones they didn’t. This helps me form a much clearer picture of what Carroll is looking for in the top-10 of the draft.
Another important factor is that I’ve had more time to look into each prospect and that’s why my top-10 big board will look much different than the first one:
1. OT Evan Neal, Alabama
2. DE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
3. DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
4. OT Ikem Ekwonu, NC State
5. DE Travon Walker, Georgia
6. DT Jordan Davis, Georgia
7. OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
8. S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
9. C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
10. OT Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan
Immediate Changes Needed Because:
Kyle Hamilton falls off the board after re-signing Quandre Diggs; Seattle would have to be targeting Hamilton as a box linebacker/safety to even consider this selection and that’s not happening in the top-20 picks.
Jordan Davis must be dropped too, as the Seahawks have already gone heavy on the defensive line with the Al Woods and Quinton Jefferson reunions.
Evan Neal is not the best player in this class and even if he’s a good pick for the Seahawks at nine, he couldn’t possibly be number one on the board overall.
I’m ready to put a cornerback in Seattle’s top-10.
That AND MORE.
Now for my updated Top-20 Seahawks 2022 NFL Draft Big Board.