The Seahawks made a couple of surprising picks in the 2012 NFL Draft, and many analysts from around the country have been quick to call them the 'losers' of the draft. I fail to see how any team's draft can be evaluated before any of the players even take the field to practice, but there's a time and place for everything I suppose. Anyway, the folks at NFL.com were not big fans of Seattle last week and gave their draft a 'C+' rating.
Here's a bit more on the Seahawks' picks:
Best pick: Robert Turbin, RB, Utah State (Round 4, 106).
The second of two Aggies the Seahawks picked this year (along with Wagner), Turbin's value in the fourth round was too much to pass on, despite the team's signing of Marshawn Lynch to a four-year, $31 million contract in March. He can carry the mail a few times per game if Lynch is still hitting his stride, or be a reliable 20-carry back if Lynch is ever sidelined due to injury.Questionable pick: Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia (Round 1, 15).
Irvin's ability as a pass rusher is well-documented, and the fact he had any success playing on a three-man front at 235 pounds is a tribute to his work ethic. He weighed 245 at the combine, but will need to prove himself either a capable every-down player in the 250-pound range or effective enough as a nickel rusher to warrant a top-15 selection (particularly when Melvin Ingram, Quinton Coples and Chandler Jones were still on the board). Staying out of trouble off the field will also help him win over doubters.
They also listed Florida DT Jaye Howard as the sleeper pick of the lot.
Given all the questioning of their selections last week, you can bet Irvin, Turbin and the rest of the 2012 draft class in Seattle will be playing with a chip on their shoulders. That can't mean good things for the rest of the NFC West.
For more on the Seahawks and their draft picks, please check out Field Gulls.