It appears Richard Sherman’s time with the Seattle Seahawks may be coming to an end.
According to Rob Condotta of the Seattle Times, the outspoken cornerback has just two years remaining on his contract, and given the recent turn of events there can obviously be no guarantee his career in Seattle lasts beyond the 2018 season, assuming it gets that far.
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All of which might seem to make it even more of a priority for the Seahawks to dip into what is considered an exceedingly deep class of cornerbacks in the draft April 27-29.
For now, the cornerback and secondary are not the most pressing need on this team. That may not mean the team doesn’t reach for one in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. There was talk before free agency the team may be open to trading Sherman, leading to speculation he is not part of this team’s long-term future. The talk of Sherman joining another team has died down some as the team approaches the Draft.
The Seattle Seahawks will be in the market for offensive line help as well as potentially depth at wide receiver. Seattle signed offensive lineman Luke Joeckel in free agency from Jacksonville to add depth at both tackle and guard. Joeckel is an oft-injured lineman. If he stays healthy, this is a low risk, high reward move that should pay off.
This team still doesn’t have a top-tier wide receiver that scares any defense.
Here’s a look at the Seattle Seahawks first three rounds as I see it breaking down.
Round 1, Pick 26 – Garret Bolles, Guard, Utah – A big body and instant starter. The Seahawks’ Achilles heel last season was pass protection.
Bolles was a one-year starter for the Utes, during which time he absolutely dominated Pac-12 edge defenders. While not an overpowering presence at left tackle, he shows tremendous athleticism and movement abilities for his size.
The offensive line depth in this draft is thin. This is a solid but unspectacular pick.
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Round 2, Pick 58 – Fabien Moreau, Cornerback, UCLA – This move could mean the end of Sherman sooner than later. Moreau is a solid cover corner who the Seahawks had a chance to watch often at UCLA.
Former running back with a thick frame and great speed. Showed off his ability to jam and reroute receivers at Shrine Game practices. Patient from press
At 6-foot and 209 pounds, he has nice size to match up with opposing wide receivers.
Round 3, Pick 90 – Antonio Garcia, Tackle, Troy – Small school talent who has plenty of upside.
The Seattle Seahawks could still use more depth at tackle and add a player who could be a starter in a year. Garcia is one of the guys on my list of high-upside offensive tackles. Hailing from a school not known for producing tons of NFL-caliber talent, the former Trojan has earned the NFL’s interest with his impressive mix of athleticism and aggressiveness.
There are some concerns about his relatively slender frame but he can add to it on the next level.