The Seattle Seahawks select…
2012 NFL DRAFT
Round 1: Thur., April 26, 8 ET
Rounds 2-3: Fri., April 27, 7 ET
Rounds 4-7: Sat., April 28, 12 ET
Radio City Music Hall, New York City
The Seattle Seahawks are at it again. In preparation for the 2012 NFL Draft and 2012 season, the team has gone out and signed a list of players as we have seen in this John Schneider and Pete Carroll era. With each signing, their priorities shift and you can clearly see it when they make their moves.
Over the last month, I have stepped into Pete and John’s shoes and chronicled my predictions for who the Seahawks will be selecting with their picks in the NFL Draft. I have put out a First Version and a Second Version so far, with this being the charming Version 3.0.
There are sure to be more changes afoot, but this mock draft reflects the current positions of need based on the team’s latest transactions.
So, without further ado, here are my predictions for the Seahawks 2012 draft choices. Each of my choices are linked to a YouTube video of some of their highlights.
I apologize for some of the music selections and poor video quality and language in advance.
Round 1
David DeCastro (Video) - OG – Stanford
DeCastro would be a huge lift with the 12th pick in the Draft
I’ve highlighted DeCastro before.
He is one of the most dominant offensive lineman in a long time, being named as the next best lineman since Steve Hutchinson. DeCastro paired with a healthy Russell Okung would yield similar results as Walter Jones and Hutch did for Shaun Alexander’s MVP award and the team’s Super Bowl run.
DeCastro not only blocked effectively for arguably the best QB in this year’s draft, but he also blocked for one hell of an underestimated rushing game.
2011 stats: Because offensive lineman stats are rarely recorded or heralded, let me give you the most telling stat there is to prove DeCastro’s worth.
Stanford passed for 278.7 yards per game (22nd in college football) and rushed for 210.6 yards per game (18th in college football) for a total of 489.3 yards total offensive yards per game.
(8th in college football) Stanford’s 43.2 points per game was 7th in college football.
Round 2
Andre Branch (Video) - DE – Clemson
Andre Branch is a monster. While he isn’t well-rounded as of yet, his strengths play to exactly what the Seahawks are looking for in a DE.
Branch does not have overpowering strength, but he has the ability to blow past lineman off the line and make one of the most disgustingly good end moves I’ve ever seen in my life to shake a backfield blocker.
What Branch lacks in strength and run defense ability, he more than makes up for as a pass rusher.
And that’s what the Seahawks need the most.
2011 stats: 77 combined tackles, 10.5 sacks, 1 pass defended, 1 fumble recovery
Round 3
Chris Polk (Video) - RB – Washington
I dubbed Chris Polk “Baby Beast Mode” after watching him decimate defenses with his run style. While Polk will not outrun most defenders, he will dish as much pain as they try to put on him. Polk is a hard nosed runner who will lower his shoulder and knock defenders on their asses.
He lacks breakaway speed, but hits his bursts at just the right time.
He can shed tackles, spin out of them, or bounce off them. And he does that repetitively.
It allows him to extend plays and gain valuable extra yardage.
One of his most underrated abilities, though, are his hands. Polk is one of the best receiver RB I have seen in a long time and can easily hurt a defense with his pass catching.
2011 stats: 293 rushes for 1,488 yards and 12 touchdowns. 31 catches for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Trumaine Johnson would be lethal in the Seahawks secondary (Photo Courtesy AP Dave Martin)
Round 4
Trumaine Johnson (Video) - CB – Montana
Trumaine Johnson is finally getting the recognition he deserves by draft “experts.” Johnson has the size and speed to be an effective ball hawk on defense. He can run down ball carriers with ease in most cases and can lay a hit on guys that they never saw coming.
Johnson has incredible hands and was known for his high interception numbers.
It makes him a dangerous, dual threat defender who will not only hit you as hard as he can, but he will go up like a receiver and steal the ball from you.
With ease.
2011 stats: 54 tackles, 2 interceptions, 12 passes defended
Round 6
Emmanuel Acho (Video) - LB – Texas
Emmanuel Acho has decent size and is a very versatile player. He is effective in coverage, attacking the line of scrimmage on run plays, and has the ability to be an effective pass rusher. He is a very physical football player.
He played both DE, LB in college
He has good instincts and is very tough. He will play through injuries.
Everything he does is good but not great. While he was not overshadowed at Texas, he wasn’t the featured player.
Played alongside fellow draftee hopeful Keenan Robinson.
2011 stats: 131 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 5 passes defended
Round 7
David Paulson (Video) - TE – Oregon
Paulson's athleticism was overshadowed by a powerhouse backfield
David Paulson is a very underestimated player. While he was highlighted at times during Oregon games, he was massively overshadowed by the talents of LaMichael James, D’Anthony Thomas, and Darren Thomas.
While those guys had the spotlight, Paulson snuck past defenses and made them pay.
Paulson has great hands for a tight end. He has been known to tip passes to himself or bobble a ball purposely to get a better grip or to keep it away from defenders.
He’s almost like a basketball player when it comes to ball handling.
He doesn’t have the speed to outrun your fastest defender, but he will not hesitate to lower his shoulder, spin, juke, or hurdle defenders to make plays.
And once he makes that play, he hits a burst of speed to get him as many extra yards as possible until he is finally brought down.
2011 stats: 31 catches for 438 yards and 6 touchdowns.
