Cornerback seems to be a point of emphasis for the Seattle Seahawks in 2011 NFL mock drafts lately and Monday is no different. Last week, it was Jimmy Smith, a cornerback out of Colorado, as a potential pick for the Seahawks. This time around, it’s Brandon Harris, an exceptional defensive back out of Miami.
In SB Nation’s latest 2011 NFL mock draft, Harris is projected as the Seahawks pick. Seattle needs help almost everywhere, but cornerback is a clear area of need, with Marcus Trufant and Kelly Jennings each possessing glaring weaknesses in the pass game.
The NFC West champions still need help everywhere, but quarterback, the offensive line, the pass rush and the defensive backfield are of chief concern. Harris is the best prospect available out of those four positional groups, and could push for a starting gig right away.
If Harris is, indeed, the best player available, this pick would make sense. Often times, general managers jump at the best of what’s left, regardless of position need. But with the Seahawks, there are a few personnel groups that clearly need to be addressed in the draft, including those listed above, making the early-round picks of the utmost importance.
So far we’ve seen cornerbacks, quarterbacks, offensive linemen and defensive linemen connected to Seattle as mock drafters try to nail down a pick. It’s a daunting task, especially considering the glaring needs Pete Carroll has to address. Would the Seahawks take a corner over one of the quarterbacks likely to be available in the first round? We’ll find out in April as the 2011 NFL Draft kicks off.
For more on the draft, check out the rest of our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream.