I'm not necessarily one to put much stock into what mock drafts say because so many different things could happen come draft day, but the idea that Seattle could be targeting a linebacker in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft is hardly far fetched. While it would likely scare some fans to take another athletic linebacker so high (bitten by Aaron Curry), Pete Carroll explicitly said several times in his season ending press conference that the Hawks would like to get faster at the linebacker position. That's why I sat up an took note of a recent mock draft by Draft Tek.
Here's what they had to say when they projected the Seahawks would select OLB Zach Brown out of North Carolina:
The Hawks defense while stout (7th overall in pts allowed) could still use a few upgrades in certain areas. 29 year old soon-to-be free agent Leroy Hill was particularly inept at his duties at WILL LB and the Hawks will be looking to correct this issue in 2012. Zach Brown is an athletic dynamo who could come in and takeover at the WILL, and provide the Hawks with the ability to lock down the edge and keep those speedy and elusive scat-backs from slipping through the cracks for big gains.
Brown is a bit undersized (6'2, 230) and while his freakish athleticism is drawing comparisons to rookie Pro-Bowler Von Miller those same buzz words were used to describe everyone's former favorite Seahawk Aaron Curry as well. If he is indeed drafted by Carroll, I think its safe to assume all of Seahawks nation will be praying for the former. That being said, Brown has the physical tools to succeed and would be well worth the risk as a mid 1st round BPA selection.
I have to say, the idea is intriguing. Here is a great scouting video from the people over at DraftBreakdown that gives you an idea of what Brown can do.