As a lead-up to the 2023 NFL draft, we've broken down the current depth chart of every NFL team and identified the biggest draft and team needs for the Seattle Seahawks.
You can find additional team-by-team draft needs articles and other draft content on our 2023 NFL Draft hub.
Who did the Seahawks pick in the NFL Draft?
The Seattle Seahawks selected Devon Witherspoon (CB, Illinois) with the 5th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Seahawks added Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Ohio State) with the 20th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seattle selected Derick Hall (EDGE, Auburn) with the 37th pick and Zach Charbonnet (RB, UCLA) with the 52nd pick.
Seahawks Draft Needs: Top Positions of Need in 2023
- EDGE
- Interior Offensive Line
- Wide Receiver
What Picks do the Seattle Seahawks have in 2023?
The Seattle Seahawks have 10 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, including:
- Round 1 (5)
- Round 1 (20)
- Round 2 (37)
- Round 2 (52)
- Round 3 (83)
- Round 4 (123)
- Round 5 (151)
- Round 5 (154)
- Round 6 (198)
- Round 7 (237)
Seattle Seahawks Draft Capital Stats
Our Sharp Draft Value Rank is a valuation of draft capital based on a combination of average performance delivered and average dollars earned on second contracts.
This is based on two public models: performance delivered based on draft slot (the AV model created by Chase Stuart) and contractual earnings in non-rookie deals based upon draft slot (the OTC model created by Brad Spielberger and Jason Fitzgerald).
- Seahawks Sharp Draft Value Rank: 2 of 32 teams
- Seahawks AV Model Draft Value Rank: 2 of 32 teams
- Seahawks OTC Model Draft Value Rank: 2 of 32 teams
Seattle Seahawks Draft Value vs Other Teams:
The Seahawks' draft value is 64% higher than the league average of all 32 teams. Only one team has a higher draft value entering the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seattle Seahawks Draft Prediction:
The Seahawks are predicted to draft Jalen Carter (DL, Georgia) with their No. 5 overall pick and Myles Murphy (EDGE, Clemson) with their No. 20 overall selection in the first round according to the most recent mock draft from Ryan McCrystal.
Another mock draft expert, Brendan Donahue, has the Seahawks predicted to draft Tyree Wilson (EDGE, Texas Tech) with the fifth pick and Zay Flowers (WR, Boston College) with the 20th pick according to his most recent mock draft.
Seattle Seahawks Strength of Schedule, 2023
The Seattle Seahawks have the 16th hardest NFL strength of schedule for the 2023 NFL season.
Seattle Seahawks Offense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs
Rich Hribar breaks down the offensive depth chart by position for the Seattle Seahawks, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
2022 Seattle Seahawks Offensive Rankings
Quarterback Depth Chart, Seahawks:
- Geno Smith
- Drew Lock
Geno Smith was one of the best stories of the 2022 season.
At age 32, Smith led the NFL with a 69.8% completion rate, throwing for 4,282 yards and 30 passing touchdowns. Over his previous eight seasons in the league, he had just 34 touchdown passes.
There was some regression along the way as Seattle went 3-6 over their final nine games after opening the season at 6-3.
Over the opening nine games, Smith completed 73.1% of his passes for 7.8 yards per pass attempt. He had a 48.0% success rate as a passer (seventh) while averaging 0.05 expected points per dropback (ninth).
Over the final nine games, Smith completed 67.0% of his passes for 7.2 yards per attempt. He had a 44.9% success rate (11th) while averaging -0.05 EPA per dropback (21st).
At the end of the day, Smith earned a three-year contract extension this offseason, but Seattle insulated themselves here since Smith played above expectations and the team fizzled a bit to close the year.
Smith will carry a $27.3M dead cap charge this season, but that dead cap hit drops down to $17.4 million in 2024 and $8.7 million in 2025.
The shortened story is Seattle has outs if Smith fails to roll over his production while still being under the market should Smith continue his 2022 success.
This deal also gives Seattle plenty of leeway in the draft should one of the quarterbacks they love be available at pick No. 5 or they want to add a developmental quarterback on day two. Seattle has met with all four of the passers expected to go in the first round.
The team also retained Drew Lock on a one-year extension should they choose to kick the can at the position altogether and reassess things for 2024 and beyond.
I would not label quarterback a true need or even a luxury for Seattle, but pursuing one of the top options is more than on the table given their situation.
Running Back Depth Chart, Seahawks:
- Kenneth Walker
- DeeJay Dallas
- Darwin Thompson
- Nick Bellore (FB)
Seattle selected Kenneth Walker with the 41st pick last year. After Rashaad Penny was ruled out for the season in Week 6, Walker took over this backfield and delivered on his investment.
From that time forward, Walker was third in the NFL in carries (205), fifth in rushing yards (904), and tied for fifth with eight rushing scores while even missing a game.
Coming out of Michigan State as a boom-or-bust runner, Walker was exactly that as a rookie.
12.7% of his runs gained 10 or more yards, 17th out of 66 running backs to have 50 or more carries. His 31.1% success rate ranked 60th while 23.7% of his carries failed to gain yardage (63rd).
Behind Walker, there is not much here at all after both Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer changed homes this offseason via free agency.
DeeJay Dallas is in the final season of his rookie contract, and the team does not have another back besides Walker signed beyond this season.
The team could add a discounted veteran to the mix here, but adding another rookie contract on day three in a rich draft class is a logical move.
Wide Receiver Depth Chart, Seahawks:
- DK Metcalf
- Tyler Lockett
- D’Wayne Eskridge
- Dareke Young
- Cade Johnson
- Easop Winston
- Connor Wedington
- Cody Thompson
The Seahawks once again were a top-heavy wide receiver room in 2022.
DK Metcalf received 141 targets while Tyler Lockett soaked up another 117. The next closest wide receiver on the team received 42 targets.
At the end of the season, Metcalf and Lockett combined for 46.7% of the team targets, 43.6% of the receptions, 48.6% of the receiving yards, and 50% of the receiving scores.
Marquise Goodwin was the third-leading target among the wideouts. He signed with the Browns this offseason, leaving the door open once again for another player to come in and push Metcalf and Lockett for targets while also providing insurance should either of the top options miss any action.
Seattle has been fortunate that Metcalf has not missed a single game to this point in his career while Lockett has missed just three games over his eight years in the league.
When Lockett did miss Week 16 this past season against Kansas City, Seattle scored just 10 points and Geno Smith threw for a season-low 5.4 yards per attempt.
Lockett is still signed through 2025, but he will turn 31 in September.
Seattle has a host of young wideouts in the fold with little to no production thus far.
The team selected D’Wayne Eskridge in the second round in 2021, but he has just 17 catches through 20 games played in two seasons.
Dareke Young is an athletic marvel but caught just two passes and played 13% of the snaps as a seventh-round rookie.
As a late-round pick based solely on measurables, Young remains a flyer the Seahawks are hoping makes a significant jump moving forward.
Seattle should entertain a wide receiver with one of their top four picks in this draft.
Tight End Depth Chart, Seahawks:
- Noah Fant
- Will Dissly
- Colby Parkinson
- Tyler Mabry
The Seattle tight ends were a productive sum of parts last season.
The Seahawks targeted their tight ends 24.6% of the time, which was seventh in the NFL. Their tight ends collectively combined for 136 targets (fifth), 110 receptions (third), 1,164 yards (third), and 10 touchdowns (tied for fourth).
Noah Fant led the group, catching 50-of-63 targets for 486 yards and four touchdowns. His 2.9 receptions per game were his fewest since his rookie season, and his 28.6 yards per game were the fewest he has averaged over his four years in the NFL.
Fant is playing this season on his fifth-year option and will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
Will Dissly is the only Seattle tight end signed beyond this season. Although he is used primarily in the run game, he snagged 34-of-38 targets for 349 yards and three touchdowns.
Colby Parkinson was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 draft and enters this year in the final year of his rookie contract.
He only played 41% of the snaps this past season. When pressed into action over the team’s final three games due to an injury, Parkinson caught 10-of-16 targets for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Seattle does not have an immediate need since the group was so collectively productive, but they could use a pick here since they only have one tight end signed after this season.
Offensive Line Depth Chart, Seahawks:
LT: Charles Cross/Stone Forsythe
LG: Damien Lewis/Greg Eiland
C: Evan Brown/Joey Hunt
RG: Phil Haynes/Jake Curhan
RT: Abraham Lucas/Jalen McKenzie
The Seattle offensive line finished eighth in ESPN’s pass block win rate (63%), but Pro Football Focus had them 20th in collective pass blocking grade.
The run blocking was more closely correlated, with Seattle ranked 24th in run block win rate at ESPN (71%) and 18th in run blocking grade at PFF.
The Seahawks invested their first- and third-round picks a year ago into tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas.
Cross was thrown right into the fire and played in all 18 games, allowing a pressure on 7.2% of his plays in protection (70th out of 95 qualifying tackles).
Lucas was at 4.7% over his 17 games played, which came in at 26th.
Damien Lewis is in the final season of his rookie contract and was really solid a year ago.
Lewis allowed a pressure on just 3.3% of his protection snaps (20th among guards) and was 21st out of 98 qualifying guards in collective grade at Pro Football Focus.
Starting center Austin Blythe retired this offseason, and Seattle signed Evan Brown to a one-year deal to replace him. Brown played 700 of his 768 snaps at right guard for the Lions last season.
Right guard Phil Haynes was the lowest-graded lineman from the projected starting unit in 2022.
Filling in for Gabe Jackson for 397 snaps a year ago, Haynes was the 90th-graded guard at Pro Football Focus. He also is only signed for the 2023 season.
With the lack of contractual depth here in the middle, interior offensive line is a big area of need for the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks Defense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs
Dan Pizzuta breaks down the defensive depth chart by position for the Seattle Seahawks, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
2022 Seattle Seahawks Defensive Rankings
Interior Defensive Line Depth Chart, Seahawks:
- Dre’Mont Jones
- Bryan Mone
- Jarran Reed
- Myles Adams
- Jarrod Hewitt
Al Woods and Shelby Harris were the main interior defenders for Seattle last season but neither will be on the roster in 2023.
Dre’Mont Jones was sixth among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate for the Broncos last season, per ESPN, and finished the year with 6.5 sacks on 10 quarterback hits.
He also tied for 17th among all defensive linemen in run stuffs, tackles against the run for negative or no yards.
The Seahawks were 26th in EPA per play against the run in 2022, per TruMedia.
Jarran Reed returns to the Seahawks after two years away.
Reed has been a disruptive presence against the pass with 26 quarterback hits over the past two seasons but has been hit or miss against the run.
His play in Green Bay last season was not his best, but lining him up next to Jones could help.
Poona Ford is still a free agent and could return.
EDGE Depth Chart, Seahawks:
- Uchenna Nwosu
- Darrell Taylor
- Boye Mafe
- Alton Robinson
- Tyreke Smith
- Joshua Onujiogu
- Chris Garrett
Seattle got by creating pressure without a dominant No. 1 pass rusher. The Seahawks ranked 15th in pressure rate last season, per TruMedia.
Uchenna Nwosu and Darrell Taylor both finished with 9.5 sacks on the season but got there in very different ways.
Nwosu had a high pressure rate with 26 quarterback hits, which tied for ninth among defenders.
Taylor had just 13 hits — a 73% hit-to-sack conversion rate — and a 10.0% pressure rate.
Boye Mafe was on the field for 36% of Seattle's defensive snaps, but his impact was limited as a pass rusher. He rushed on 80% of his pass snaps but had only four quarterback hits and a 5.7% pressure rate.
This could easily be a place the Seahawks go for an impact player with either of their two first-round picks.
Off-ball Linebacker Depth Chart, Seahawks:
- Bobby Wagner
- Jordyn Brooks
- Devin Bush
- Jon Rhattigan
- Vi Jones
The Seahawks brought Bobby Wagner back after he spent the 2022 season with the Rams. The Rams figured out a way to cover up some of Wagner’s deficiencies as an older linebacker, but the results were undoubtedly positive.
Wagner was ninth in tackles that produced a positive play for the defense and also spent a little more time as a pass rusher. He was also second among linebackers in yards allowed per coverage snap.
Wagner’s presence could help Jordyn Brooks, who has continued to develop as a former first-round pick.
Brooks played 88% of the defensive snaps in 2022 and was fifth in tackles that produced a positive play for the defense. However, Brooks was just 54th in yards allowed per coverage snap.
Seattle signed Devin Bush in an attempt to get some of the promise of the former first-round pick. Bush never really progressed into the player that was hoped with the Steelers, but he’ll provide decent enough depth as a third linebacker.
Cornerback Depth Chart, Seahawks:
- Tariq Woolen
- Coby Bryant
- Mike Jackson
- Tre Brown
- Chris Steele
- Isaiah Dunn
There were few revelations better across the league than the instant impact of fifth-round pick Tariq Woolen.
Woolen immediately stepped in as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. He ranked third among outside corners in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap. By the end of the season, opponents were avoiding his side of the field altogether.
Mike Jackson, a 2019 fifth-round pick of the Cowboys, also had a breakout year on the opposite side of Woolen.
In his first full season as a starter, Jackson ranked 23rd among outside corners in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap while playing 93.6% of the defensive snaps.
2022 fourth-round pick Coby Bryant worked his way into the slot role and played 65% of the defensive snaps.
He was 35th among slot corners in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap while seeing more passes funneled toward him as opponents threw less often to the outside.
This is a fairly young top three at cornerback with the potential to get better with more experience.
Safety Depth Chart, Seahawks:
- Quandre Diggs
- Jamal Adams
- Julian Love
- Joey Blount
Quandre Diggs has played well as the team’s deep safety.
Even as the Seahawks have raised their rate of two-high coverages, they still played a league-average rate of single-high last season, and Diggs was responsible for that role.
Seattle was the fourth-best team by EPA per play when opponents attempted a pass of 20 or more air yards, per TruMedia.
Jamal Adams has been a force in the box when on the field, but he was on the field for only 15 defensive snaps in 2022. His status for the start of 2023 is still unknown.
The Seahawks signed Julian Love in free agency to a two-year deal.
Love has the versatility to play all over the defensive backfield including every safety spot and the slot. He was also an outside corner in college, though that is the role he is least likely to fill for the Seahawks.
Love’s addition could allow the Seahawks to have a replacement without Adams on the field while also bringing more versatility to the defense when all three safeties are available.
The only hangup at the position is the number of bodies currently on the depth chart. It is quality at the top, but more depth could be added.
