A (semi-educated?) guess at how Seahawks draft may go

Pete Carroll put the Seahawks’ draft approach toward the rest of us best.

“We’re not gonna tell you anything,” Seattle’s coach said two days before the NFL draft begins Thursday in Chicago.

So that leaves us to estimate what Carroll and general manager John Schneider are going to do with the nine picks they currently have beginning at No. 26 overall in Thursday’s first round.

Sensing the Seahawks will listen intently to late offers for their top pick. But instead of trading down and out of the first round for the fourth consecutive year the depth of this year’s talent coming out of college will prompt Seattle to keep its pick and ... chose a fast, attacking defensive tackle.

Say, Robert Nkemdiche from Mississippi, if the troubled, top-five talent is still available, that is.

Here is one beat writer’s guess-timate of how the Seahawks’ draft will go Thursday through Saturday, Carroll and Schneider’s seventh running the franchise. (As always in this crapshoot, your guess really may be as good as mine).

1^st round (No. 26 overall): Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Mississippi*: So talented off the ball and through gaps. Falling stock because of falling four stories out of a hotel window and arrest for marijuana possession in December.

*If not a trade down, out of the first round

2^nd round (No. 56): Joshua Garnett, G, Stanford: Outland Trophy winner from Puyallup’s dream may come true -- if he’s around for his hometown team this late. Tacoma draft expert Rob Rang says he’s one of few “plug-and-play” interior linemen for NFL because of Stanford’s pro-style offense with actual, drive-the-man run blocking.

3^rd round (No. 90): Caleb Benenoch, OT, UCLA: Athelticism, long arms are Seahawks’ favorite traits. Son of two Nigerian ministers. Mom signed him up for football by accident thinking it was soccer when family moved to Texas when he was 9.

3^rd round (No. 97): Max Tuerk, C, USC: Great athlete. Likely upper second-round pick until season-ending knee injury in October. Carroll knows his SC talent and inside scoops. If he’s on path back to full recovery Seattle sure could use depth at center.

4^th round (No. 124): Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas: He, Herschel Walker, Darren McFadden only SEC rushers with three straight 1,000-yard season. Bullish runner, but only one season as full-time starter. He may not last thing long. Maybe should be going to the Celtics: He’s been doing Irish dancing lately to improve footwork.

5^th round (No. 171): Rashard Robinson, CB, LSU: Kicked off LSU’s team early last year. Hasn’t played since end of 2014. Only 20 years old. Raw talent. Tall (6-1), long reach Seahawks love in cornerbacks.

6^th round (No. 215): Devon Cajuste, WR, Stanford: Big (6-4, 234), strong with glue-like hands. Not fast, but haven’t Seahawks receivers not named Tyler Lockett) heard that before?

7^th round (No. 225): Terenn Houk, TE, BYU: Enumclaw native has worked out for Seahawks. TE/WR-hyrbid type. Physical tools could lead to Seattle taking a low-risk chance.

7^th round (No. 247): Alex McCalister, DE, Florida: Another skilled “red flag.” Considered Gators’ best pass rusher, then missed final three regular-season games with foot injury and got kicked off team for bowl game in December for “violation of team rules.” Chance to take another flyer on physical talent.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 11:51 PM with the headline "A (semi-educated?) guess at how Seahawks draft may go."