Mock roundup: Experts predict the Seahawks will focus on the trenches

Whether on offense or defense, people agree that this team needs competition up front.

The NFL Draft is so close that I can almost feel it. The Seattle Seahawks are about to make team history when they make their first selection under new head coach Mike Macdonald, which is as exciting as it is perplexing. Put simply, we really don’t know what to expect in terms of how the team will approach this draft. John Schneider and Jody Allen are still around, so we can’t discount their influence; the length of Macdonald’s “leash,” so to speak, will be worth speculating on.

With that in mind, the already unpredictable nature of predicting draft picks feels even less… predictable. So taking that into consideration, what are the experts predicting?!

Let’s start off with Michael-Shawn Dugar, who is predicting in The Athletic that the team is going to go the trade-down route with John Schneider’s acquaintances at the Green Bay Packers front office.

Round 1, No. 25 (from Packers): Graham Barton, IOL, Duke

Projected trade: Seahawks receive Nos. 25 and 58. Packers receive Nos. 16 and 118.

General manager John Schneider has a history of trading back with his former employer in the first round, so here he does it again, agreeing to move back nine spots in exchange for recouping a second-round pick. Barton spent three of his four years as a starter in college at left tackle but projects as an interior lineman at the next level in part because of his short arms (32 7/8 inches) and lack of foot quickness. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Barton 18th overall and the No. 1 center on his big board, but the 6-foot-5, 313-pounder can also play guard. Seattle’s current projected starters on the interior are left guard Laken Tomlinson, center Olu Oluwatimi (or Nick Harris) and right guard Anthony Bradford. Barton can come in and compete with any of them in Year 1.

Chris Trepasso of CBS Sports also predicts a trade-down scenario that ultimately lands Graham Barton. In his version, the team will find willing partners in the Atlanta Falcons, who trade picks 28 and 60 (which also involved a trade with the Buffalo Bills) to move up to 16.

Round 1, No. 28 (from Falcons): Graham Barton, IOL, Duke

This feels so Seahawks-y. Trade back, then land an offensive lineman from Duke who could play probably four positions up front. Love it.

Draft-expert Dane Brugler expects that the team will be in search of an interior offensive lineman, but not Barton.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, G/T, Washington

The safe bet might be a trade down by the Seahawks, but it would be tough to move away from Fautanu if he falls here. Though the Huskies’ left tackle can stay on the outside if needed, his skill set could be maximized inside and would give the Seahawks appealing versatility across the offensive line.

Troy Fautanu remains a popular selection for the Seahawks; in addition to Brugler, several other analysts are sticking with this prediction, including Eric Edholm of NFL.com.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, G/T, Washington

I think there’s a strong case for Fautanu being the best-case scenario at this pick. He can start out at guard and move to tackle eventually if the Seahawks want. Mike Macdonald will have to wait a bit for defensive help, but he adds a quality blocker. If Michael Penix Jr. was still on the board, I was going to consider him here.

Jordan Reid of ESPN is going with Fautanu, as well, but he is also predicting that the team will trade down to 20 before doing so. In this version, the Pittsburgh Steelers would send picks 20 and 84 to Seattle in order to slide up four spots.

20. Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

This is a great outcome for the Seahawks, who trade down four spots and still get one of their targets. Fautanu projects as a tackle, but he could also play guard — and that’s where Seattle needs help right now. He’d join Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas to form an exciting young nucleus up front. Coming from the nearby University of Washington, Fautanu is an agile and aggressive blocker. His awareness, physical hands and active feet help him stay in position.

Pro Football Focus is going a different route, with the team electing to go for a high-upside defender.

16. Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama

Turner posted a top-10 pass-rush win rate among edge defenders in 2023, and he brings top-end measurables. He should be a solid piece alongside Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu.

Other experts, such as Corbin Smith, took a look at some of the defenders who the team could be looking at, honing in on Jared Verse (who was in for a top-30 visit), Dallas Turner, and Laiatu Latu. He also noted that the team met with several edge defenders at the combine:

At the NFL combine, they had formal meetings with Alabama standout Dallas Turner as well as Washington standout Bralen Trice and Western Michigan star Marshawn Kneeland. Since then, projected first-round picks Jared Verse of Florida State and Chop Robinson of Penn State met with team brass at the VMAC on official top-30 visits.

So the consensus seems to be in the trenches… and I have no problem with that, whatsoever.