Will it be an offensive lineman, defensive lineman or quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. It’s been the question of the day as the draft approaches, but we still don’t have a clear idea of what the Seahawks may do. If Mel Kiper is to be believed, the answer is quarterback, and the Seahawks will take Andy Dalton at No. 25. But if Todd McShay, Kiper’s ESPN counterpart, is correct, the Seahawks will take talent up-front, bolstering the offensive line with a guard.
McShay’s final 2011 NFL mock draft provides plenty of fun fodder, but deviates quite a bit from the norm. Only two quarterbacks are in McShay’s first round, and Jake Locker is the second round, heading to Arizona with the 38th pick in the draft. And when it comes to the Seahawks, McShay likes Danny Watkins, an offensive guard from Baylor.
Watkins is the best available player at a position of need. He is a tough, nasty player with good strength who is NFL-ready.
We do know the Seahawks need interior line depth. But is it the biggest position of need? I’d argue it’s third on the list, behind defensive line and quarterback. Either way, Watkins is a talented prospect and could provide immediate depth in the trenches for Seattle. It’s a safe pick, in some ways, and allows the Seahawks to side-step the risks associated with every top-flight quarterback in this draft.
For more on the draft, stay with our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream. Be sure to head over to our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream for the latest news and rumors on draft day. Head over to Field Gulls, SB Nation’s Seahawks blog, for even more draft analysis.