My Thoughts Regarding the Turnover of the Seahawks Offense

In what has been a busy offseason for Seahawks GM John Schneider, the Seahawks have already started completely revamping their offense.  Gone are Tyler Lockett, Geno Smith, and DK Metcalf.  In is Sam Darnold, and likely a receiver from the draft or free agency (ended up being Cooper Kupp!).  I'm going to make some bullet point overriding thoughts I have about these moves for each player, go into further detail, and then talk about the outlook for the Seahawks this coming season, despite the rest of free agency and the draft needing to happen.

• We knew Tyler Lockett was going to be cut
  Unfortunately, the NFL is a business, and Lockett was making too much for the production he was providing.  It was inevitable.  There is still a small chance they bring him back on a team-friendly deal, especially since Tyler's real estate business is centered here.  His veteran presence will be missed, but perhaps the Seahawks will bring a cheaper veteran in to training camp.
  
  
• Geno's gone because he overvalued himself
  Sounds like the two sides were far apart in negotiations.  Sure, you can try to find a middle, but it seemed like neither side wanted to compromise that much.  Geno's TD/Int ratio was only 1.4 last season.  That's below league average for a starting quarterback these days.  I wonder if there was any chance of waiting until after next season was over.  But, the rumor is because they couldn't reach a deal, Geno wanted a deal with someone else, then.  I think we had seen Geno's ceiling, which was a winning QB, but not a QB with success in the playoffs.  Might as well try something new.
  
  
• DK Metcalf is a great talent, but has his flaws
  Fortunately for the Steelers and Mike Tomlin, DK's problems are primarily mental.  He sometimes lets his emotions get the best of him.  DK also doesn't have great ball security and occasionally will drop a pass.  That stuff can be fixed.  The Steelers will either make or break the rest of DK's career.  I wish we could've gotten a first for him, but a 2nd will have to do.  Hopefully, we can get a good player from it--more of a Bobby Wagner than a Marquise Blair (Both 2nd round picks by the Hawks).  I'll miss DK's freakish athleticism, but I won't miss his immature attitude.
  
  
• Sam Darnold, the next Matt Flynn?
  Interesting how history sometimes repeats itself.  The Seahawks signed Matt Flynn in 2012 after he had one good game after being mostly a backup.  The Seahawks signed Sam Darnold after he had one good season after being a backup for the last few years.  Perhaps we will take a QB in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft who may be our next Russell Wilson.  I'll certainly be watching out for that.  But Darnold likely is the starter at first, regardless of who we take in April's draft.  But we also thought that about Flynn after we signed him.  I think Darnold will do okay, but the key will be protecting him and establishing the run.  So our next focus has to be offensive line.  

Next season will certainly be interesting.  I, for one, am optimistic.  I just really hope that we get at least two starter-quality interior linemen.  I'm not worried about the defense, which I believe will be even better in 2025.  The offensive side of the ball will largely determine the team's success in 2025.  Funny, no one thought the Vikings would win 14 games under Sam Darnold, yet they did.  I know most in the rest of the country will largely be counting the Hawks out in 2025, but that's fine with me.  They could use a chip on their shoulder.  But first, the draft in April will be huge now that we have a couple extra picks.  I don't think I'll be doing a post before the draft, but I'll do one after, possibly grading the picks and talking about how they might fit into the team.  

What's Wrong with the Seahawks?

The Seahawks are 4-5, which isn't too bad, but when you consider they started 3-0 and have lost 5 of 6, and four straight at home, you realize there are some problems with the team.  Clearly, they were buoyed by their easy start, which involved facing: A rookie QB in his first game, a rebuilding Patriots team they barely beat, and a Dolphins team on their 3rd string QB.  Most competent teams would go 3-0 in that stretch, just as the Seahawks did.  But when they finally started facing teams built to win now, they started losing.  They even lost to a Giants team at home that still only has one other win, over the struggling Browns.

So, what's the issue?  On offense, it's pretty clear the offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL.  Geno Smith has one of the highest pressure rates and total number of pressures in the NFL, and it's not because he's always holding onto the ball too long, although I will admit he does that on occasion.  But I think the bigger issue is not being able to establish a running game.  To establish a running game, you need four things: A good running back, an offensive line that can create holes, a run-blocking scheme and coaching that will allow this to happen, and an offensive coordinator who will not abandon the run too quickly.  The Seahawks have the first one.  But they are largely missing the other three.  The offensive line has been unable to open holes in the A or B gaps.  Most of Kenneth Walker's big runs have been outside the tackles, where he has used his speed to get around the edge.  The run-blocking scheme also seems to be largely not there.  The Seahawks recently faced a 4th and 1 in Overtime against the Rams and could not get one yard.  And lastly, I'm not sure Ryan Grubb is the right fit for an offense that needs to be balanced in today's NFL.  He does seem to abandon the run after it doesn't work in game.

But that's just the offense.  The defense is actually not performing too poorly.  They've certainly shown to be dominant at times.  But they are inconsistent and lacking a bit of discipline.  I think, with time, they can develop into a dominant unit more consistently.  Perhaps not "Legion of Boom" dominant, but maybe close to it.  The pass rush could be improved, but the run defense seems better.  The pass defense is inconsistent, seemingly dependent on the aerial attack they face.  The defense has some above-average players in Leonard Williams, Devon Witherspoon, Julian Love, and Ernest Jones, but that's about it.  They could use a bit more talent.

I must also talk about starting quarterback Geno Smith.  Geno has a lot of people calling him to be benched.  I can see where they're coming from, but our other option is Sam Howell, who led the league in interceptions last season.  Sure, a change at quarterback can spark an offense, but it can also cause division.  Geno has a lot of close friends on the team, namely receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, and his benching would certainly upset them, especially if it's somewhat unwarranted.  We'd also be asking a second-year quarterback to be successful when the Seahawks, as I stated above, have one of the worst pressure rates allowed in the NFL.  It's very likely the people who are calling for Geno to be benched would then be calling for him to come back.  I do not believe Geno will be our quarterback for too much longer, as his age will likely lead to us looking for a younger option soon.  Just not this season.

Safe to say, coach Mike Macdonald has his work cut out for him.  I hate that I'm hearing people calling him to be fired already.  Like, come on, people.  This was not a team ready to make a Super Bowl run when he took over.  Pete was let go because there were struggles with the team that, unfortunately, still exist today.  Therefore, I think the issues with this team are largely due to the construction of the roster by General Manager John Schneider.  I could do an entirely separate post about him, but the point I want to make here is that he's likely been overvalued as a GM and should, therefore, be held accountable for the team's struggles.   He's not been a good GM with trades, he's only had two or three good drafts out of 14, and he overvalues some positions (wide receiver) while undervaluing others (interior OL).  

If the Seahawks really want to make a run at a Super Bowl in a few years, two things need to happen.  One, they need to find the next franchise quarterback.  Geno is a good holdover quarterback, but he will likely start declining soon (if he hasn't already), and the Hawks will need to find a younger option.  The second thing the Hawks will need to do is either replace John Schneider, or he has to change his philosophy on roster construction.  I don't see the latter happening, as people that high on teams don't tend to be malleable and are set in their ways.  Yes, he put together a team that won us a Super Bowl in 2014.  However, the NFL has changed in the last ten years, and I think he's failed to realize this.  I still like Schneider as a team-builder more than Jerry Dipoto on the Mariners, but it's starting to get close.  Like Dipoto, I feel a championship might not be possible under his reign.  

The thing Seahawks fans most have to understand is this is a team in transition.  We aren't going to make a Super Bowl run this year or even next.  Some legitimate holes on this team still need to be filled, and Macdonald still has to install his system and way of doing things.  This team still feels like it has remnants of Carroll's philosophy, so that needs to change.  Nothing against Carroll, but he's not the coach anymore.  This is Macdonald's team now, whether fans like it or not.  Let's all be patient.

Organized Thoughts about the Russell Wilson Trade

I'm still in shock from the trade that was announced earlier today: Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.  It seems like today's a dream that I need to wake up from.  I thought of all the ways I could have put my thoughts into words, and I decided the best way would be to ask myself (and answer) questions regarding this trade and the impact it will have on the future.

Hey there, future Brian here (Nov. 2023).  I thought I'd comment on my takes about this trade now that we've seen 1.5 seasons out of Russ and seen the Seahawks without him.

Who do you think will win this trade in the long run?

Honestly, the Broncos.  Usually, the team that acquires the star player wins the trade.  The times that they don't win the trade are because the star player completely flops on his new team or has off the field issues.  That will not happen with Russell Wilson.  

And given the Seahawks track record for drafting, it's unlikely they'll draft anyone in the next few years that has near the impact that Russ had in Seattle.  And it's unlikely any of the players the Seahawks acquired (Lock, Fant, Harris) will improve their game enough to give the Seahawks an edge.

Yikes!  Well Russ for the most part has "flopped".  And the Seahawks drafting has gotten a lot better in the last couple of years.  We got Charles Cross, Boye Mafe, and Devon Witherspoon out of the draft from those draft picks, among others.  I think the Hawks win this trade now.

How well do you think Russell will do in Denver?

It's hard to say.  I've only ever seen Russell in Seattle.  I don't think he's going to have a crazy amount of success, especially given the division and conference he will play in.  I see him having one, maybe two seasons where he and the Broncos make a legitimate run at a Super Bowl.  But seeing as he will likely command a new contract in a year or two, I don't see the Broncos being able to keep a bunch of talent around him (the problem the Seahawks would have ended up facing).

First off, Russ re-signed with the Broncos before even playing a snap.  Anyway, it's getting harder to see a Super Bowl run from him and the Broncos, especially considering their stiff competition in the AFC.  

What will the Seahawks do at quarterback?

The Seahawks did acquire Drew Lock from the Broncos, but he has been lackluster so far.  He will be given a shot in training camp, but the Hawks will very likely bring another (or two) quarterback in to compete with him.  The Hawks do now have the 9th overall pick, and they could take Kenny Pickett with that selection, or they could wait until next year's draft, when the QB class is supposed to be even better.  

I think the Hawks will acquire a veteran free agent to compete with Lock and try to rely upon the running game in 2022.  

I'm laughing at the idea of the Hawks taking Kenny Pickett with the 9th overall pick last year.  So glad we didn't.  I didn't even mention Geno Smith, who I assumed was leaving and had not re-signed at that point yet.  YIKES again.

Are the players the Seahawks got any good?

Kind of.  As I mentioned, Drew Lock has been lackluster, but was a first round pick who could benefit from a change of scenery.  He's a solid backup at the very least.

Noah Fant is an above average tight end who does a bit of everything pretty well.  He is still young and could develop into one of the better tight ends in the NFC.

Shelby Harris isn't young for an NFL player (30), but he's a borderline pro-bowl defensive lineman who will instantly become a starter and could start for a few seasons.

They've been solid.  Lock hasn't really had much opportunity, but Fant has done well with limited targets.  I wish we'd target him more.  Harris only played one year for us.  

Why did the Hawks trade Wilson?

Was Russ unhappy?  Not really.  But he wasn't the happiest he could be.  Slowly over the past 7-8 years, the Hawks have regressed, particularly on defense and the offensive line.  Russ knew if he had more talent around him, he'd have multiple Super Bowls instead of just the one.  The Hawks front office failed to surround him with even an average offensive line in the last 5-7 seasons and the defense has regressed every year in the past five.  

But the reason the Hawks traded Wilson largely comes down to money.  He had two more years left on his contract, and the rate for a top-flight quarterback was getting extremely steep.  We saw Aaron Rodgers just re-sign with the Packers for $50 million a year.  Russell would have commanded just as much if not more.  I'm not sure if the Hawks currently have the room for that, but they certainly don't have room to keep all of their stars AND Russ.  

Unfortunately, the NFL is a business.  The Hawks, realizing that they were sinking millions into Wilson and not getting championships, decided to cut their losses.  Wilson, essentially, was a sunk cost.  He was a part of a business that was requiring too much money, and the Seahawks decided to trade or "sell" their asset and start over.  I understand the move from a business perspective, but the problem I also see is that Wilson is more than an "asset".  12s everywhere had emotional ties to him, and trading him is more than selling an asset.

I also want to say that I bet Pete, John, Shane, and the rest probably saw the start of Russ regressing.  I think they figured he would not be able to retain his level of play into his mid to late 30's.  They really traded him at the perfect time, because I bet his 2022 season in Seattle, had he not been traded, would not have gone well.

Do the Hawks even have a chance of winning in the near future?

I mean, any team theoretically does.  But the Hawks chances did get slimmer.  The offseason is still very young, and we will have to wait and see what Pete and John do the rest of this offseason, particularly at the quarterback spot.  If they can get a quick fix at the quarterback position, there's hope.  

I'm leaning towards the Hawks not trying too hard to win in 2022 (also known as "tanking") and try to get a high draft pick in 2023 to use on a quarterback.  If Schneider wheels and deals effectively enough, the Hawks could go through a re-build in just a couple years.  They have a lot of trade-able assets that they could get even more draft capital from.  

YIKES again.  Actually, our chances got better in 2022 and we made the playoffs.  We might make it again in 2023.  I keep thinking the Hawks are going to draft a quarterback, when they really don't need to.  Even if Geno gets hurt or struggles, we have Lock, who is at least capable.

What will happen to Pete Carroll?  Is he going to stick it out much longer?

Hard to say as I can't read his mind, but given that he's the oldest coach in the league, he has to be thinking of retirement as a possibility after every season.  He does have the most youthful energy of any coach in their 60s or older, to say the least.

Pete had to have been in on the discussions with Schneider on the trade of Wilson.  And he's likely already thought of how trading Wilson affects his future.  

Don't forget that 2021 was the hardest of Carroll's Seahawks career, and it might depend on how 2022 goes to see if he will even coach one more season after that.  

Pete obviously knew he had a good chunk of years left.  He's found the fountain of youth, at least concerning his energy.  I think he'll coach until he feels he can't summon the energy anymore, which could be into his mid-70s if not late 70s.  

How can John Schneider save his reputation now?  Is there any way his tenure with the Hawks has a happy ending?

If Schneider is in this for the long run, there's definitely a chance.  And if he's in it for the long run, he will likely be tasked with finding Carroll's successor and using this draft capital he just acquired effectively.  

If he can never recover and build the Seahawks into a perennial playoff team like they were with Wilson, he will not have a happy ending.  He would then likely leave the team with many Hawks fans holding resentment towards him stemming back to this trade.  

We can't also forget the Jimmy Graham and Jamal Adams trades, two trades he made that at this point we can safely call failures.  He risked draft capital for star players, and it hurt the Hawks. 

Now he's done the opposite, trading a star player for draft capital.  If he can use that draft capital successfully, that will help the Hawks immensely in the coming years and he could save face and leave with his head held high.  It's all on him.

I think I can say the Wilson trade makes up for the lackluster trades of the past like Harvin, Graham, and Adams.  Schneider's reputation is fine, and whenever he leaves, he'll likely leave having been the most successful front office executive in team history.

What about the rest of the players on the Hawks?  One, are they at risk of being traded, and two, are their morales hurt after this trade?

To answer the first question, it depends on if the Hawks are fully rebuilding or not.  If they are, then one could argue any of them are at risk of being traded.  If Russ can be traded, anyone can.  

To answer the second question, they likely will feel a sting from this, but if Schneider brings in a respectable leader at the quarterback position, morale may not take too big of a hit.  But the ones that have been with Russ the longest (Bobby, Tyler) will certainly not feel the same anymore.

Turns out, Geno's leadership abilities are more than enough.  No one else was really at risk of being traded since they weren't tanking.  

How will we look back on this trade?

It will depend on the outcome for the two teams in the coming years.  I'll go through all four scenarios:

If the Broncos and Hawks both find success in the coming years, it'll be a win-win.  Schneider and the Broncos will both be heralded for the trade, as it will have seemed that Russell Wilson just needed a fresh start, and the Hawks were handicapped by his immense salary.

If the Broncos have success but the Hawks do not, the Broncos will be heavily lauded for the move, and Schneider and the Hawks will be ridiculed.  Everyone will realize that trading star quarterbacks is almost never a wise move, and the Hawks were foolish to do so, even if it saved them money.  Schneider will go down in Seahawks infamy.

If the Seahawks have success but the Broncos do not, Schneider will be considered a genius.  He would have gotten out of an even larger contract with Wilson and would have managed to rebuild the Hawks once again.  Meanwhile, Russ will be looked at the guy that won a Super Bowl while having the Legion of Boom, but couldn't at any point after, definitely lowering his legend status.  

If neither team finds success, the trade will be looked it as a push.  The Broncos will be thought of poorly for mortgaging their future for a QB that couldn't even get back to the NFC championship game after 2014-15, and the Hawks will look bad as well for having traded their star quarterback for a bunch of okay players and draft capital.  

Ultimately, this trade is going to take time.  Time to figure out who won the trade, but first off, time to digest and comprehend what has really happened: that Russell Wilson is no longer a Seahawk.

I think right now the option of the Seahawks having success but the Broncos not is the option we have in reality.  Russ is starting to maybe look like a QB that won a Super Bowl with a legendary defense, but that's it.  Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer also did that.  

My Thoughts on the Jamal Adams Trade

The Seahawks recently acquired safety Jamal Adams from the Jets in exchange for two first round picks, a third round pick, and Bradley McDougald.  I have very mixed thoughts on this trade, with my gut telling me we will regret this trade down the line.  I hate that the Hawks basically mortgaged their future just to upgrade at a position, and a position that's not even one of the most important, like quarterback, offensive line, or pass rusher.  

Most consider Jamal Adams the best safety in the NFL.  But you know how often there is a new best player at a position?  About every 2 or 3 years on average.  Some safeties, I will say, have long and lengthy careers that lead them to the Hall of Fame.  Guys like Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu played well into their 30s.  The only way this trade works in the Hawks favor is if Jamal Adams has a career like those guys, and leads the Hawks to at least one Super Bowl.  I wouldn't say the odds of that happening are high.

There is a huge underlying problem with the Hawks which has caused this team to be top-heavy in talent and have a lot of holes on its roster.  John Schneider, Pete Carroll, and the rest of the Seahawks management and scouts can no longer draft well.  They can't.  They have drafted just two players who made the Pro Bowl with the Hawks since 2013, and both (Lockett and Dickson) made it for special teams.  Guys like Germain Ifedi, Malik McDowell, and Ethan Pocic (all first or second round picks) did not pan out.  And there are a ton of doubts with Rashaad Penny and LJ Collier.  

It's because of this lack of ability to find talent in the draft which has forced the Hawks to spend money; to keep their star QB, middle linebacker, and wide receiver.  It's forced them to make these kinds of trades that don't help the team in the long run.  Remember the Percy Harvin trade?  The Hawks did not win a Super Bowl because of that, they won in spite of that.  The Jimmy Graham trade was the start of the dismantling of the offensive line, as Max Unger was traded away.  And then Jadeveon Clowney was acquired for a third round pick (and a couple players), and it's looking like may only get one (injury-plagued) season out of him.  

This trade for Jamal Adams is another transaction in a series of moves that reek of desperation.  The Hawks are still criticized for having one of the worst (if not the worst) combinations of offensive and defensive lines in the NFL.  Pete and John hope that the stellar play of their QB, receivers, running backs, linebackers, and secondary can make up for the struggles the lines will undoubtedly have.  But as the saying goes, "the game is won in the trenches".  And without competent line play, we may just get a lot more of the same thing we've seen the last five years: 9-10 win teams that rely on Russell Wilson magic too much and get knocked out of the playoffs early.

Rating the Seahawks Drafts, 2013-2018

The Seahawks have drafted fairly well in the Pete Carroll/John Schneider era, but that’s mostly counting the early part of this decade.  But how have they been since then?  I’m going to look at the six drafts from 2013-2018 and see how they have done.  It’s too soon on 2019, but I can go over the previous six drafts.  I’ll give each a letter grade, and a forewarning, I am not going to be easy on them.

2013: Something you’ll be hearing quite often: The Seahawks traded their first-round pick.  This time, it was for Percy Harvin.  I don’t think he was worth a first-round pick, especially since with that pick the Vikings selected future Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes.  Yikes.  The Seahawks first selection, Christine Michael, was expected to succeed Marshawn Lynch but never could.  Guys like Jordan Hill, Chris Harper, Jesse Williams, and Tharold Simon are no longer in the league.  Luke Willson and Spencer Ware were drafted, but Ware has had most of his success with the Chiefs.  This was not a particularly good draft to follow 2012.
Grade: D+

2014: Again, the first-round pick was traded, this time for more picks.  The notable names taken in this class were Paul Richardson, Justin Britt, Cassius Marsh, and Kevin Pierre-Louis.  A very meh draft if there ever was one.  Britt is the only one still on the team.  He has developed into a borderline Pro Bowl center, so there is that.  But the rest have not really lived up to expectations, although KPL is doing well… in Chicago. 
Grade: C-

2015: Yet again the first-round pick was traded, this time it was included in the Unger/Graham deal.  I’d say that trade was not a particularly good one.  The Saints took Stephone Anthony with the pick, and he’s bounced around the league a bit and he’s back with the Saints.  Meanwhile, the Hawks took Frank Clark and Tyler Lockett with their first two picks, and also Mark Glowinski in the 4^th round.  Everyone else is out of the league or on another team.  Glowinski has had more success in Indianapolis than he did here.  Good first two picks, but the trade hurt the Hawks and no one else contributed.
Grade: C+

2016: Hey the Hawks used a first-round pick!  On… Germain Ifedi.  He sure took a long time to develop, but he’s finally starting to limit the penalties and missed blocks.  He’s about average for a right tackle right now, I’d say.  But the Hawks also took Jarran Reed, CJ Prosise, Quinton Jefferson, and Joey Hunt, all who are still with the team.  Alex Collins did well… with Baltimore.  Rees Odhiambo struggled.  Not a bad draft, but the only real legit player taken was Reed.
Grade: C

2017: Ah yes, the Malik McDowell draft.  He wasn’t a first round-pick, but he was the Hawks’ first pick.  The Hawks traded their first-round pick for more picks.  The first pick still on the team is Ethan Pocic, who has been a backup offensive lineman only.  Shaquill Griffin and Tedric Thompson were taken, two guys who have been fairly decent starters in the secondary.  David Moore was also taken in the seventh round, and he’s been a fairly decent contributor.  And who could forget Chris Carson, who has now put together two separate 1,000-yard seasons?  The Carson pick was a steal, but no one else can really be considered a great pick.  The Carson pick basically cancels out the McDowell pick.
Grade: C

2018: A very mixed bag in this draft.  The first pick, Penny, has been a decent backup to Carson, but was a stretch as the first-round pick.  Rasheem Green, Shaquem Griffin, and Tre Flowers have been decent but unspectacular contributors on defense.  Will Dissly has been a nice find, if he could only stay healthy.  And Michael Dickson was actually a great pick as a fifth rounder as he could be the Hawks’ punter for many years.  Yet again a draft where there doesn’t seem to be any Pro Bowl caliber players.
Grade: C-

GPA: 1.83 (C-)

As you can tell, the Hawks haven’t drafted horribly because I didn’t give them an F grade, but they certainly haven’t drafted particularly well, either, because I didn’t even give out any B or A grades.  Pete and John draft a lot of just okay players.  They don’t seem to be able to find diamonds in the rough anymore.  When Pete first came to the Hawks in 2010, he was able to draft a lot of the guys he recruited and scouted while head coach at USC.  He knew their strengths and weaknesses better than perhaps anyone, and he knew who would fit into his system with the Hawks.  Now having been out of the college ranks for almost a decade, Pete is no longer quite as in touch with the college players and it’s a bit more of a guessing game for him.  And he and John aren’t guessing particularly well. 

Here’s something that ought to stand out.  From 2010 to 2012, Pete and John drafted eight players who have made a Pro Bowl.  From 2013 to 2018, in twice as many years, Pete and John drafted just two players who have made a Pro Bowl (Lockett and Dickson).  And each of those guys only made it once.  If you count Pro Bowl appearances, the numbers are TWENTY-EIGHT Pro Bowl appearances to just two.  Clearly, the drafts since then did not go quite as well.  They are relying on Wilson and Wagner to carry the team, but they are failing to support them with other Pro Bowl caliber players.  And that is why the Hawks will not get to another Super Bowl under Carroll and Schneider, unless they start drafting better.

    

My Thoughts on the Seahawks 2019 Draft

I haven't done one of these in a while: A review and recap of the Seahawks draft.  The reason I'm doing it is because I'm pretty stoked about this draft class.  I'll go through each of the picks and give them a letter grade.  The letter grade will be based on when the Seahawks selected the player, and how well I think he fits our team.  Let's go!

Round 1: LJ Collier, DE, TCU
Grade: C
The reason the grade is a C is because he was yet another first round reach for the Hawks.  He could've been taken in the 2nd or maybe even 3rd round.  Nevertheless, he's been described as a Michael Bennett-type D-lineman, able to move along the D-line wherever, depending on the down and distance.  Bruce Irvin was also a first round reach and he didn't turn out half bad.  If LJ is anywhere near Michael Bennett's capability, I'll call this a win.  But for now, I stand pat with a C grade.

Round 2: Marquise Blair, S, Utah
Grade: C+
This was also called a reach.  But Marquise has some upside, many see him as a Kam Chancellor-lite.  He'll probably end up backing up McDougald for the time being and playing special teams.  Hopefully he'll blossom and become a starter for years to come.

Round 2: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
Grade: B+
The first draft pick the Hawks made that I was legitimately excited for.  He's a big-bodied and strong receiver like a Terrell Owens or Josh Gordon, but has speed that beats both of them.  He has the potential to be an elite #1 receiver.  However, he has injury concerns (who doesn't?) and he ran slower cone drills at the combine than Tom Brady.  I kid you not.  So he's not an agile receiver.  But if the Hawks can use him effectively and he stays healthy, he's going to be an elite receiver.

Round 3: Cody Barton, LB, Utah
Grade: B
The Hawks drafted two defensive players from Utah in their first four picks, so Blair and Barton should be able to help each other out and pull for each other in training camp.  Barton will be an excellent special teamer, but could he possibly start if need be?  Time will tell.

Round 4: Gary Jennings Jr., WR, West Virginia
Grade: A-
I just found out Gary Jennings Jr. has known Russell Wilson since childhood as Russ coached him at the YMCA he went to.  That's awesome.  Russ will instantly have a rapport with this guy.  Not only that, but Gary has very few if any glaring weaknesses and has less bust potential than Metcalf.  If I had to pick who has the longer and more consistent career right now (between Metcalf and Jennings), I'd say Jennings.

Round 4: Phil Haynes, G, Wake Forest
Grade: B+
Solid pick who will most likely be groomed to play guard.  With Iupati and Fluker as the current starters, it works out perfectly to have Haynes sit behind them and learn and take over in case of an injury.  Keep in mind we still have Roos, Simmons, and Pocic.  This is the first time in a while I can say I am happy with our O-Line depth.

Round 4: Ugo Amadi, S, Oregon
Grade: C+
He's a bit undersized, but will be used on special teams and in some nickel packages.  Also... he's a Duck... Nevertheless, he's a decent mid-round selection, but my gut says I don't think we'll see him on the team in 3 years.

Round 5: Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington
Grade: B-
Don't think we really needed to draft two middle linebackers, but it certainly doesn't hurt.  And it's a local kid from UW!  I'm excited to see who will do better between Barton and Burr-Kirven, both were Pac-12 middle linebackers.  Good to have depth in case something happens to Bobby *knock on wood*.

Round 6: Travis Homer, RB, Miami
Grade: B+
This kid has the fight and tenacity that Schneider and Carroll love.  He's an-all around back, too, can block, catch passes, can even play special teams.  I would like to see him in the preseason get a bunch of carries to see how he does there.  Could be a dark horse pick that gets some carries in the regular season (Think Phillip Lindsay of Denver last year).

Round 6: DeMarcus Christmas, DT, Florida State
Grade: C+
It's Christmas in Seattle!  Literally.  I'm going to be honest, it could be fairly tough for him to make the roster, but with Shamar Stephen gone there's a chance.  He's like Poona Ford a bit, not quite as short though.  I could see him backing up Ford and Reed when they need a breather on rushing downs.

Round 7: John Ursua, WR, Hawaii
Grade: C+
Good-looking kid, but he'll find it tough making the roster, even if Doug isn't able to play.  Ahead of him are Lockett, Brown, Moore, and the two other Wide Receivers we drafted in Metcalf and Jennings.  If he's able to excel on special teams, he could make the roster, but as a fairly-undersized wide receiver that'll be tough to do.

Overall GPA: 2.77 (+.5) = 3.27 or B+
I gave John and Pete an extra .5 because they started with only four picks (before trading Frank Clark) and ended up with 11.  Wow.  Just the way they were able to trade down and not lose much value was impressive.  So I give their draft a B+ as a whole.  They did well for the most part, but time will tell how well they did based on the careers of these young men.  Hopefully this'll be a draft class like 2011 or 2012 where we can look back on it and say they hit it out of the park.

My Extensive Super Bowl Prediction

The big game is just three days away, and I am going to make quite a few predictions when it comes to the game.  In fact, I will predict how each quarter goes, who will be the MVP, even what happens at the halftime show.  Some of these predictions might be a bit out there, but others will be spot on. 

Pregame
Alicia Keys has stated she will not sing the traditional version and instead perform it as it were "a brand new song".  This will cause many fans in the Superdome to boo her, mainly those 30 and older.  She won't forget the lyrics, but she will be criticized for her runs and her notes she holds way too long.

Coin Toss
The Ravens are the away team and will call Tails, as ravens have tails.  It will be tails.  Why?  Because I voted for Tails at Papajohns.com.  If I'm right, I win a free pizza.  Who doesn't want free pizza?  Oh, and the Ravens will receive the ball to start the game.

First Quarter
The game will get off to a slow start, scoring wise.  San Francisco has shown in these playoffs to be a team that takes a while to get warmed up.  Neither team will score on its first possession, but Baltimore will get a field goal to make it 3-0.
After 1 Quarter: 3-0 Ravens

Second Quarter
The most exciting play of the first half will happen with an Ed Reed pick six off of Colin Kaepernick, about midway through the 2nd quarter.  However, just before the half, the 49ers drive for a last-second field goal that David Akers does not shank, surprisingly. 
After 2 Quarters: 10-3 Ravens

Halftime
Beyonce will perform, obviously.  Midway through her performance, her husband, rapper Jay-Z, will come on stage and perform.  They will kiss on stage, which will cause a bit of backlash after the game from some pretentious mothers who say the kiss scarred their child. 

Third Quarter
The 49ers receive the ball and drive down the field, but again have to settle for a field goal.  The Ravens score another touchdown after Flacco hooks up with Torrey Smith for a 30-something yard touchdown. 
After 3 Quarters: 17-6, Ravens

Fourth Quarter
With the ball and driving, Colin Kaepernick takes off on a run but gets decked by a Raven (possibly Ray Lewis... my vision is a little cloudy).  He is helped off the field and has to leave the game.  Alex Smith comes into the game, and hooks up with Vernon Davis for a touchdown.   After a back-and-forth possession swing, the 49ers get the ball with 3 minutes left and Alex Smith leads them to a game-winning touchdown (although Gore will score it), proving to be the hero.  The Ravens do get the ball back with less than a minute left, down by 3, but Justin Tucker's 64 yard field goal attempt to tie falls short. 
Final Score: 20-17, 49ers

Super Bowl MVP: Frank Gore, 49ers
Even if Alex Smith takes over, I don't think playing for less than a quarter qualifies for MVP.  Frank Gore will have a decent game and take home MVP honors.  I'll say 105 yards, 1 touchdown. 

Postgame
There are 30+ cameras rolling on the Harbaughs as they shake hands and embrace at midfield.  Jim, the 49ers coach, will finally take off his stupid sharpie necklace and toss it aside, poking Ray Lewis in the eye as he is giving a tearful interview. 

So there you have it.  20-17 49ers is my prediction.  Ray Lewis does not get to retire on a high note, and the 49ers remain perfect in the Super Bowls, getting their 6th ring in their famed history.