1st Round (#15) DE Bruce Irvin, West Virginia 2nd Round (#47) ILB Bobby Wagner, Utah State 3rd Round (#75) Russell Wilson, Wisconsin 4th Round (#106) RB Robert Turbin, Utah State 4th Round (#114) DT Jaye Howard, Florida 5th Round (#154) ILB Korey Toomer, Idaho 6th Round (#172) CB Jeremy Lane, Northwestern State (LA) 6th Round (#181) SS Winston Guy, Kentucky 7th Round (#225) DE J.
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Sweezy, North Carolina State 7th Round (#232) DE Greg Scruggs, Louisville Analysis of Notable Selections: Bruce Irvin: Seattle stunned many by "reaching" for Bruce Irvin with the 15th pick overall.
There is a method to Pete Carroll's "madness".
Irvin has the best first step in the 2012 NFL draft of any pass rusher.
He also has terrific lateral quickness and transitions from moving outside to an inside path to the quarterback seamlessly.
Irvin has surprising strength for an undersized (6' 3" and 245 lbs) defensive end.
He has the potential to be another Fred Dean with hard work.
Seattle has a good, young secondary, but a poor pass rush.
The Hawks recorded only 33 sacks last season and the pass rush was absent at critical times.
The NFL is a pass-happy league and the best way to limit a strong passing attack is to harass the quarterback.
Pro football is becoming increasingly specialized.
Irvin may be just a situational pass rusher, but that is a critical position.
Pete Carroll plans on using Irvin's skills the way San Francisco utilized Fred Dean and Charles Haley.
The former West Virginia star has the talent and drive to develop into a double-digit sack artist.
Bobby Wagner: David Hawthorne signed with the Saints and Seattle has a need at middle linebacker.
Wagner was unheralded playing at Utah State, but he is the real deal.
He combines a passion for the game with terrific speed and athleticism.
Wagner also is a very sure tackler who excelled at both inside and outside linebacker in college.
Seattle found a future productive starter at most likely the middle linebacker position.
Russell Wilson: This was another surprise selection by Seattle and speaks volumes about Tavaris Jackson's future (or lack thereof) with the team.
Matt Flynn was brought to Seattle to provide the team with a better decision-maker at quarterback.
Jackson repeatedly comes up short in clutch situations and is notoriously inconsistent.
Seattle's passing attack was listless with him as the starter last season.
Jackson also does not possess ideal qualities (high football IQ, strong work ethic or some leadership traits) to be a good backup.
Russell Wilson is only 5 foot 11, but possesses a good arm and is a smart player with natural leadership traits.
Wilson has to become more comfortable in the pocket, but that may come with experience.
The Seahawks envision Wilson as having a long-term role with the team as a backup and possibly more.
Robert Turbin: Marshawn Lynch deserved his new contract because he has emerged as one of the NFL's better backs in Seattle.
The Seahawks are committed to a productive ground game and Lynch needs to be spelled some.
Robert Turbin would be a bigger and more powerful backup to Lynch than Justin Forsett.
A combination of Lynch and Turbin provides Settle with a couple of big backs that do not go down easily.
They both can catch the ball out of the backfield, as well.
Robert Turbin flew under the radar during most of the draft process, but this was a good draft choice by Seattle.
Jaye Howard: The Seahawks add an athletic defensive tackle with the ability to penetrate due to his quickness.
Howard has work to do in the weight room and with using leverage more consistently.
His long arms can be a weapon to defeat blockers, but he has to learn to use them better.
However, he made sense in the 4th round and Howard could provide Seattle with an inside pass rush on passing downs.
2012 NFL Draft Grade: B+ Bottom Line: The Seahawks had probably the most controversial draft of any NFL team.
Pete Carroll is looking to establish himself as a successful pro coach and he did not play it safe with this draft.
Carroll wanted to dial up the pass rush and add speed to his defense to take it to another level.
He may have achieved this with the draft choices of Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner.
The Seahawks added a big and strong running back (Robert Turbin) to not let defenses off the hook when Marshawn Lynch needs a rest.
Seattle found value in the 4th round with Jaye Howard who is a quick defensive tackle that can penetrate.
The team also may have solved its long-term backup quarterback situation with the bright and athletic, Russell Wilson.
Seattle may have the last laugh with a draft class that was widely criticized by most.
R.
Sweezy, North Carolina State 7th Round (#232) DE Greg Scruggs, Louisville Analysis of Notable Selections: Bruce Irvin: Seattle stunned many by "reaching" for Bruce Irvin with the 15th pick overall.
There is a method to Pete Carroll's "madness".
Irvin has the best first step in the 2012 NFL draft of any pass rusher.
He also has terrific lateral quickness and transitions from moving outside to an inside path to the quarterback seamlessly.
Irvin has surprising strength for an undersized (6' 3" and 245 lbs) defensive end.
He has the potential to be another Fred Dean with hard work.
Seattle has a good, young secondary, but a poor pass rush.
The Hawks recorded only 33 sacks last season and the pass rush was absent at critical times.
The NFL is a pass-happy league and the best way to limit a strong passing attack is to harass the quarterback.
Pro football is becoming increasingly specialized.
Irvin may be just a situational pass rusher, but that is a critical position.
Pete Carroll plans on using Irvin's skills the way San Francisco utilized Fred Dean and Charles Haley.
The former West Virginia star has the talent and drive to develop into a double-digit sack artist.
Bobby Wagner: David Hawthorne signed with the Saints and Seattle has a need at middle linebacker.
Wagner was unheralded playing at Utah State, but he is the real deal.
He combines a passion for the game with terrific speed and athleticism.
Wagner also is a very sure tackler who excelled at both inside and outside linebacker in college.
Seattle found a future productive starter at most likely the middle linebacker position.
Russell Wilson: This was another surprise selection by Seattle and speaks volumes about Tavaris Jackson's future (or lack thereof) with the team.
Matt Flynn was brought to Seattle to provide the team with a better decision-maker at quarterback.
Jackson repeatedly comes up short in clutch situations and is notoriously inconsistent.
Seattle's passing attack was listless with him as the starter last season.
Jackson also does not possess ideal qualities (high football IQ, strong work ethic or some leadership traits) to be a good backup.
Russell Wilson is only 5 foot 11, but possesses a good arm and is a smart player with natural leadership traits.
Wilson has to become more comfortable in the pocket, but that may come with experience.
The Seahawks envision Wilson as having a long-term role with the team as a backup and possibly more.
Robert Turbin: Marshawn Lynch deserved his new contract because he has emerged as one of the NFL's better backs in Seattle.
The Seahawks are committed to a productive ground game and Lynch needs to be spelled some.
Robert Turbin would be a bigger and more powerful backup to Lynch than Justin Forsett.
A combination of Lynch and Turbin provides Settle with a couple of big backs that do not go down easily.
They both can catch the ball out of the backfield, as well.
Robert Turbin flew under the radar during most of the draft process, but this was a good draft choice by Seattle.
Jaye Howard: The Seahawks add an athletic defensive tackle with the ability to penetrate due to his quickness.
Howard has work to do in the weight room and with using leverage more consistently.
His long arms can be a weapon to defeat blockers, but he has to learn to use them better.
However, he made sense in the 4th round and Howard could provide Seattle with an inside pass rush on passing downs.
2012 NFL Draft Grade: B+ Bottom Line: The Seahawks had probably the most controversial draft of any NFL team.
Pete Carroll is looking to establish himself as a successful pro coach and he did not play it safe with this draft.
Carroll wanted to dial up the pass rush and add speed to his defense to take it to another level.
He may have achieved this with the draft choices of Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner.
The Seahawks added a big and strong running back (Robert Turbin) to not let defenses off the hook when Marshawn Lynch needs a rest.
Seattle found value in the 4th round with Jaye Howard who is a quick defensive tackle that can penetrate.
The team also may have solved its long-term backup quarterback situation with the bright and athletic, Russell Wilson.
Seattle may have the last laugh with a draft class that was widely criticized by most.