The Seahawks Hold Pick 32, and NFL Insiders Are All Over the Map on What's Next

One week until the NFL Draft, and the mock drafts are flooding in. The Seahawks are sitting with the 32nd overall pick to close out the first round, and the consensus is starting to form around a few specific needs. But there's also some wild cards being thrown into the mix. Let's break down what the pundits are actually predicting, plus what it all means for Seattle's offseason.

Edge Rushers, Corners, and Running Backs Lead the Predictions

Most of the mock drafts have the Seahawks targeting three areas: edge rusher, cornerback, and running back. These are the biggest holes Mike Macdonald's team needs to fill heading into the season.

Nate Tice and Charles McDonald from Yahoo Sports are sending Zion Young, an edge rusher from Missouri, to Seattle at 32. They love the fit. Young's heavy hands and pocket-pushing ability align perfectly with how Macdonald wants to build his defensive line. Young would be a natural replacement for the departed Boye Mafe and fits the profile of defensive talent the Seahawks' coach craves.

Mike Renner at CBSSports.com is going a different direction with cornerback Colton Hood from Tennessee. Hood is 6 feet, 193 pounds, and a physical, competitive player who addresses the void left at the position. Renner also has the Seahawks taking Pittsburgh's Kyle Louis, a weakside linebacker, in the second round and Iowa's Gennings Dunker, an offensive lineman, in the third round. The Seahawks know Dunker well, having drafted his Iowa teammate Mason Richman in the seventh round last year.

The Wild Cards and the Trade-Down Scenario

Rhett Lewis from NFL Network is calling for edge rusher Cashius Howell from Texas A&M. Howell put up 27 sacks in college but has a smaller frame and sub-31-inch arm length, which gives Lewis some pause. That said, Howell was reported to have visited the VMAC late last week, so the Seahawks are definitely kicking the tires.

Here's where it gets interesting. Bradley Locker at Pro Football Focus thinks the Seahawks could actually trade down. Locker envisions Seattle moving their pick to Arizona, which would allow the Cardinals to grab Alabama QB Ty Simpson. The logic: John Schneider has made at least eight picks in each of the last four years, and Seattle currently owns just four. Moving down a couple of spots could help another team and reload Seattle's draft capital.

What's at Stake

The Seahawks hold picks in the first, second, and third rounds (32, 64, and 96), plus another in the sixth round at 188. However you slice it, this is a critical draft class for a team trying to get back to winning football. Pick 32 sets the tone.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.