The 2024 NFL draft is almost upon us. In a little over two weeks we will settle in for what amounts to three Super Bowls in a row for all 32 teams as they pick their next generation of players.
What the Seahawks do in Round 1 is up in the air. Right now it seems the most likely scenario is that they will trade down from the No. 16 spot – and they’re reportedly talking to three different NFC teams about those scenarios. However, if they do decide to pick a prospect at that spot the odds say that they will select an offensive lineman.
Here’s how the odds for Seattle’s first pick breaks down by position, per BetMGM.
- Offensive lineman: -150
- Defensive line/Edge: +150
- Quarterback: +1200
- Cornerback: +1800
- Tight end: +3000
- Wide receiver: +3000
- Safety: +6600
- Linebacker: +10000
- Running back: +25000
This makes sense, as Seattle’s greatest roster needs right now are probably guard, another guard, and then somebody who can play either center or guard.
Of course picking a guard in Round 1 of the draft is a great way to lower your projected win total in the long run. However, the Seahawks may not have much of a choice. Right now the team has around $1 million in cap space and that doesn’t count what it will cost to sign their draft class. Unless they make a significant roster cut or two in the coming days so they can sign a veteran like Gren Van Roten, Laken Tomlinson or Cody Whitehair they will have to draft for this need.
The best path forward if they are picking somebody at 16 is to take a prospect who played tackle in college but might project as an interior offensive lineman in the pros. That way they could take over eventually for either left tackle Charles Cross or right tackle Abe Lucas.
The one prospect who best fits the description and also has experience with Ryan Grubb and Scott Huff is Washington OL Troy Fautanu. While he’s played almost his entire college career at left tackle he does have some experience at left guard, which is the team’s most-dire need right now. Some analysts believe he would be better at center, though.
Wherever he might project in the long run, Fautanu is the most-logical target for this team among OL and our best guess as to who will be the eventual pick. The one possible exception is Fautanu’s teammate, Michael Penix Jr. – who seems unlikely to still be available at No. 16 overall. However, far weirder things have happened in the draft every single year.
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