The Seattle Seahawks NFL draft picks 2023 is the list of players that the Seattle Seahawks selected in the 2023 NFL draft, which was held from April 27 to April 29, 2023. The draft is an annual event where NFL teams select eligible college football players to join their rosters. The Seahawks had 10 picks in the 2023 draft, including two first-round picks and two second-round picks. The Seahawks traded their original first-round pick (No. 21 overall) to the Denver Broncos for their first-round pick (No. 5 overall) and second-round pick (No. 37 overall). The Seahawks also acquired a fifth-round pick (No. 151 overall) from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for tight end Will Dissly.
History: The NFL draft was first proposed by Bert Bell, the co-owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, in 1935 as a way to distribute talent more evenly among the teams and prevent bidding wars for college players. The first NFL draft was held in 1936 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, where 90 names were written on a blackboard and teams took turns selecting players. The draft has evolved over the years, with changes in the number of rounds, the order of selection, the eligibility rules, and the introduction of supplemental drafts and compensatory picks. The draft also faced competition from rival leagues such as the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the American Football League (AFL), which forced the NFL to adopt measures such as territorial picks and common drafts to secure top prospects. The draft became a televised event in 1980 and moved to different locations across the country since 2015. The draft is now one of the most popular and anticipated events in the NFL calendar.
Here is a breakdown of the Seattle Seahawks NFL draft picks 2023:
Round 1, No. 5 overall: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Witherspoon is a speedy and athletic cornerback who can play both man and zone coverage. He has excellent ball skills and instincts, as well as good size and length. He led the nation with seven interceptions in 2022 and was named a consensus All-American. He is compared to Hall of Famer Deion Sanders by Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
Round 1, No. 20 overall: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Smith-Njigba is a dynamic and versatile receiver who can line up anywhere on the field. He has great hands, route running, and yards after catch ability. He was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 2022, when he caught 92 passes for 1,478 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Round 2, No. 37 overall: OLB Derick Hall, Auburn
Hall is a fast and explosive outside linebacker who can rush the passer and drop into coverage. He has a high motor and a knack for making big plays. He had 10 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2022 and was named first-team All-SEC.
Round 2, No. 52 overall: RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
Charbonnet is a powerful and elusive runner who can break tackles and catch passes out of the backfield. He has good vision and balance, as well as durability and toughness. He led the nation with 1,862 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns in 2022 and was named second-team All-American.
Round 4, No. 108 overall: G Anthony Bradford, LSU
Bradford is a massive and strong guard who can dominate in the run game and hold his own in pass protection. He has good footwork and leverage, as well as experience playing both left and right guard. He was a key part of LSU’s offensive line that won the national championship in 2021.
Round 4, No. 123 overall: DT Cameron Young, Mississippi State
Young is a quick and disruptive defensive tackle who can penetrate gaps and create havoc in the backfield. He has good agility and hand usage, as well as a high ceiling for development. He had eight sacks and three forced fumbles in 2022 and was named second-team All-SEC.
Round 5, No. 151 overall: DE Mike Morris, Michigan
Morris is a long and athletic defensive end who can bend around the edge and pressure the quarterback. He has good burst and flexibility, as well as potential to improve his technique and strength. He had seven sacks and two forced fumbles in 2022 and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten.
Round 5, No. 154 overall: C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan
Oluwatimi is a smart and solid center who can anchor the middle of the offensive line and make the calls. He has good awareness and communication, as well as decent mobility and power. He was a three-year starter for Michigan and was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2022.
Round 6, No. 198 overall: S Jerrick Reed II, New Mexico
Reed is a rangy and instinctive safety who can play both free and strong safety. He has good ball skills and tackling ability, as well as leadership qualities. He had six interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 2022 and was named first-team All-Mountain West.
Round 7, No. 237 overall: RB Kenny McIntosh, Georgia
McIntosh is a speedy and shifty runner who can provide depth and special teams value. He has good acceleration and elusiveness, as well as receiving skills. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns in 2022 for Georgia.
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the NFC West division. The Seahawks have won one Super Bowl title and three NFC championships in their history.
The NFL draft is an annual event where NFL teams select eligible college football players to join their rosters. The draft order is determined by the previous season’s standings, with the worst team picking first and the Super Bowl champion picking last. Teams can also trade their picks with other teams for players or other picks.
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The Seahawks have made some notable selections in the last five NFL drafts, from 2019 to 2023. Here are their top draft picks in each year:
2019: L.J. Collier, DE, TCU (No. 29 overall)
Collier is a defensive end who can play both inside and outside positions. He has good power and explosiveness, as well as a variety of pass rush moves. He was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2018, when he had six sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.
2020: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech (No. 27 overall)
Brooks is a linebacker who can play both inside and outside roles. He has great speed and range, as well as tackling ability and coverage skills. He was a second-team All-American and a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2019, when he had 108 tackles and three sacks.
2021: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan (No. 56 overall)
Eskridge is a wide receiver who can also return kicks and punts. He has elite speed and acceleration, as well as good hands and route running. He was a first-team All-MAC selection in 2020, when he had 33 receptions for 768 yards and eight touchdowns.
2022: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State (No. 9 overall)
Cross is an offensive tackle who can protect the quarterback and open lanes for the running back. He has excellent footwork and agility, as well as strength and balance. He was a first-team All-SEC selection and a second-team All-American in 2021.
2023: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (No. 5 overall)
Witherspoon is a cornerback who can play both man and zone coverage. He has excellent ball skills and instincts, as well as good size and length. He led the nation with seven interceptions in 2022 and was named a consensus All-American.
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FAQs
Q: Who are the Seattle Seahawks NFL draft picks 2023?
A: The Seattle Seahawks NFL draft picks 2023 are the players that the Seahawks selected in the 2023 NFL draft, which was held from April 27 to April 29, 2023. The Seahawks had 10 picks in the 2023 draft, including two first-round picks and two second-round picks. The Seahawks traded their original first-round pick (No. 21 overall) to the Denver Broncos for their first-round pick (No. 5 overall) and second-round pick (No. 37 overall). The Seahawks also acquired a fifth-round pick (No. 151 overall) from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for tight end Will Dissly.
Q: Who is the best player that the Seahawks drafted in 2023?
A: This is a subjective question, but one could argue that the best player that the Seahawks drafted in 2023 is cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who was their first pick at No. 5 overall. Witherspoon is a speedy and athletic cornerback who can play both man and zone coverage. He has excellent ball skills and instincts, as well as good size and length. He led the nation with seven interceptions in 2022 and was named a consensus All-American. He is compared to Hall of Famer Deion Sanders by Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
Q: Who is the most surprising player that the Seahawks drafted in 2023?
A: This is also a subjective question, but one could say that the most surprising player that the Seahawks drafted in 2023 is running back Kenny McIntosh, who was their last pick at No. 237 overall. McIntosh is a speedy and shifty runner who can provide depth and special teams value. He has good acceleration and elusiveness, as well as receiving skills. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns in 2022 for Georgia. However, some might wonder why the Seahawks drafted another running back when they already have Zach Charbonnet, who was their second-round pick at No. 52 overall.
Q: How did the Seahawks improve their team with their draft picks in 2023?
A: The Seahawks improved their team with their draft picks in 2023 by addressing some of their key needs and adding some playmakers on both sides of the ball. The Seahawks improved their secondary with Devon Witherspoon, who can be a shutdown corner and a ball hawk. They also added some pass rushers with Derick Hall and Mike Morris, who can pressure the quarterback and create turnovers. They also boosted their offense with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who can be a dynamic and versatile receiver, and Zach Charbonnet, who can be a powerful and elusive runner.
Q: How do the Seahawks compare to their division rivals after the draft in 2023?
A: The Seahawks compare favorably to their division rivals after the draft in 2023, as they have added some talent and depth to their roster. The Seahawks still have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Russell Wilson, who can make plays with his arm and his legs. They also have one of the best linebackers in the league in Bobby Wagner, who can lead the defense and make tackles all over the field. The Seahawks will face tough competition from the San Francisco 49ers, who have a balanced team with a strong defense and a potent offense led by Trey Lance, who was their first-round pick in 2021. The Los Angeles Rams will also be a threat, as they have a star-studded defense with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, as well as a revamped offense with Matthew Stafford, who was acquired from the Detroit Lions in 2021. The Arizona Cardinals will also be a challenge, as they have an explosive offense with Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, as well as an improved defense with J.J. Watt, who was signed from the Houston Texans in 2021.
