Passing on pass rusher may be hard

SEAHAWKS: There are several scenarios where Seattle might be tempted to turn to defensive lineman

BY ERIC D. WILLIAMS, The News Tribune | • Published April 23, 2009

Comments (0)

RENTON – After picking up defensive tackle Colin Cole in free agency and defensive lineman Cory Redding through trade, the Seattle Seahawks seem to have enough depth on the defensive line.

However, coming into 2009 with a defensive front that had trouble getting consistent pressure on the quarterback, the Seahawks might consider a defensive end with their first selection – the fourth overall – in Saturday’s NFL draft, particularly if they succeed in trying to trade down.

One potential player moving up on the draft board is LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson.

Jackson comes from a school noted for putting quality defensive linemen in the pros, including the fifth overall pick in last year’s draft, Kansas City’s Glenn Dorsey.

“Once I get with an NFL coach and understand what’s expected on the NFL level, and get the right moves for the NFL level I think I will be very effective, apply a lot of pressure on the quarterback and help our defense, especially our secondary,” Jackson said during the NFL Scouting Combine.

Jackson, a three-year starter for the Tigers, is considered a better fit as a defense end in a 3-4 alignment. However, Jackson played left defensive end for LSU in the school’s 4-3 defensive front, and could also move to the inside as a rush specialist at defensive tackle.

Rob Rang, senior analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, likes Jackson because of his versatility.

“There’s just so very few of the big guys who have that kind of flexibility and have that kind of consistency on tape,” said Rang, who has Jackson going to Kansas City at No. 3 overall in his latest mock draft. “He may never be a superstar, but he’s the kind of guy for a 3-4 team that you can build around … and know he can hold up.”

Another player whose stock is improving and whom the Seahawks could consider is Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji. Seattle filled the role of a runstuffing tackle with the addition of Cole, so Raji seems like a luxury in the first round. However, teams can never have too much depth at that position. Furthermore, Raji is considered the best defensive tackle prospect in the draft, and would pair nicely with Seattle defensive tackle Brandon Mebane.

However, a more likely scenario for the Seahawks is to take a defensive line prospect who can rush the passer later in the draft, then groom him as a potential replacement for Patrick Kerney, who has needed shoulder surgery the last two seasons. Seattle would like to add depth to a defensive end rotation that currently consists of Kerney, Redding, Lawrence Jackson, Daryl Tapp and Baraka Atkins.

However, Rang said it might be hard for Seattle to get a productive pass rusher later in the draft, with the talent at defensive line thinning out after the first two rounds.