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2012 SEAHAWKSAL.COM MOCK DRAFT

1st round, 12th pick (12th overall): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Pete Carroll needs a pass rushing defensive end. He needs an outside linebacker. He loves versatile players who can fill multiple roles. Ingram fits all these requirements and gives the Seahawk defense a badly-needed playmaker in the front seven. He has excellent closing speed, a good burst off of the snap and is solid enough against the run to be able to play all three downs at linebacker or defensive end, and even log a few snaps at DT on obvious passing downs.

Ingram is not as good of a pure pass rusher as North Carolina DE Quinton Coples, but Coples’ inconsistent motor makes him a much riskier pick at #12. Stanford guard David DeCastro is another option at this pick if still on the board, as is Boston College MLB Luke Kuechly. However, this is a deep draft class at linebacker and offensive line and value can be had at these positions at later rounds. The Seahawks don’t have any glaring needs heading into draft weekend but they have to find another pass rusher to pair with DE Chris Clemons, and Ingram’s skill and versatility make him the best option at this pick.

2nd round, 11th pick (43rd overall): Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin

Seattle passes on a guard in the first round but Zeitler’s blocking ability and near-obsessive drive for perfection are too much to pass up in round 2. Zeitler is a good fit for Seattle’s zone blocking scheme and is pro ready enough to start on week one if needs be. LB Mychal Kendricks is another possibility at this pick, but his size and small frame might keep him from being an effective middle linebacker at the professional level.

3rd round, 12th pick (75th overall): Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa

Sometimes you feel like McNutt, sometimes you don’t. Bad puns aside, McNutt would give incoming quarterback Matt Flynn another big (6’3”, 216 pounds) receiving target. McNutt may not have blazing speed, but he is a good athlete who runs routes well and can make plays in the clutch. The Seahawks can’t count on Sydney Rice to stay healthy or count on Mike Williams to bounce back from a dismal 2011 campaign. Flynn needs more weapons and McNutt is the best available at this pick.

4th round, 11th pick (106th overall): Mike Martin, DT, Michigan

Martin is a lot like current Seattle DT Brandon Mebane in that he is undersized at 6’2”, but his size allows him to get greater leverage on opposing blockers. Martin excels at collapsing the running lane, and while he lacks the explosiveness to provide a consistent inside pass rush, he could bolster Seattle’s run defense when paired with Mebane or Alan Branch on running downs.

6th round, 11th pick (181st overall): Vontaze Burfict, MLB, Arizona State

No member of this year’s draft class has made a worse showing of himself over the past three months than Burfict. His interviews were poor, his showing at the Combine was miserable, and he has plummeted all the way off several team’s draft boards. So why spend a pick on him? Because if Pete Carroll can motivate Burfict to keep his mouth shut, mind his temper, and do his job on the field, the Seahawks will be getting a linebacker whose size, strength and athletic ability match up against almost anyone in this year’s draft class. And if not, it’s only a sixth round pick. High bust potential, but the potential steal of the draft.

7th round, 18th pick (225th overall): Broderick Green, RB, Arkansas

Green gives Seattle the big (6’2”, 248 pounds) bruising running back they need to take some of the load off Marshawn Lynch, and could also block for Lynch out of the fullback position.