:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/10979821/20130223_jrc_bs1_156.0.jpg)
The Seattle Seahawks have quickly ascended in three years under Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider. After taking over for Jim Mora and Tim Ruskell in 2010, coming off of a 5-11 season with an aging and past-their-prime roster, the new duo started overhauling the roster and doing whatever they could to find a youth infusion that would be successful in a five-year plan.
It appears to be working.
The Seahawks finished 7-9 in both of Carroll's first two years as head coach, but through the draft were able to find talents such as Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Russell Okung, and Earl Thomas. The pinnacle of their draft success came last year with the selection of quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round. Now, after an 11-5 2012 season that ended just short of the NFC championship game, the Seahawks seem to be soaring again. Seattle's biggest needs were finding a touchdown-scoring playmaker on offense at receiver and a pass-rushing specialist at defensive end. Check and check.
The Seahawks traded their first-round pick to Minnesota for Percy Harvin and signed free agents Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett to rush the quarterback. At this point, it does not appear any starting positions are available, but that goes against the very principle of "Always Compete" stressed by Carroll, and certainly rookies will be given the opportunity to play next season. One possibility to find a new starter could come at right tackle, where Breno Giacomini had some inconsistencies and boneheaded penalties last season. Seattle might select a tackle, or a versatile lineman that could play both tackle and guard, in the second round of the draft and give him the chance to vie for a starting position, or at least be next on the depth chart.
In Walter Football's latest mock draft, that's exactly why they project Seattle to select offensive tackle Terron Armstead out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The 306-pound tackle stunned everyone with a 4.71 40-yard dash at the combine, the fastest ever for an offensive lineman. Despite coming from a small school, Armstead has moved up draft boards and could be considered a high-ceiling prospect that could fill a need for a team like Seattle, and be an upgrade over Giacomini.
We already know that the Seahawks have most of their roster set, but we have yet to find out who is going to come in after the draft and begin to compete.
More from SB Nation:
• NFL mock draft: Two rounds -- with trades!
• Ryan Tannehill's response to TomBrady
• Another former Eagle lands in New York
• Do Bears fans want Brian Urlacher back?
• NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation bloggers are on the clock