The Seahawks are getting ready for next week’s NFL draft. And they’re hoping it will yield better results than last year.
KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel talked about that with KNKX Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.
'Lost Draft Pick'
The Seahawks reportedly will waive last year's No. 1 draft pick Malik McDowell. Thiel said he didn't play last year due to a self-inflicted injury with an all-terrain vehicle.
"I think the Seahawks are just saying, 'We are going to part ways. Yes, we gave him a signing bonus.' Maybe they'll get a little bit of that back from an arbitration panel."
"But it's just a lost draft pick. It's one of the worst blows the Seahawks could have had, really, in their entire drafting history."
"They're really in a difficult spot for this year's draft - at the moment. Things can change."
'A Difficult Spot'
"Right now, they have their own No. 1 pick at 18 in the first round. And then they don't have a second-round pick because they traded that as part of the deal to acquire defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson from the New York Jets. And Richardson left in free agency. So, basically, they got nothing out of that deal."
"The third pick is also gone because they needed to acquire a left tackle on the offensive side, Duane Brown, at mid-season. So, he's back but the draft picks are gone and they don't have another pick until the fourth round."
"(Head coach) Pete Carroll hates that. He loves draft picks. He loves the whole drama of acquiring new players."
Goodbye Earl?
Thiel said acquiring new players could include the trade of star free safety Earl Thomas.
"Earl is among the few players the Seahawks can trade who's at the top of his career, is healthy and can bring some premium draft picks."
"The Seahawks reportedly are eager to get a first-round pick and a third-round pick for Earl and he might be able to get that. But so far, no action on that trade."
"They could still keep him and play him into his final contract year. But I think the Seahawks are going to settle either for a first or maybe a second and a third (-round pick) because they really need to fill those holes if they're going to get new players to try to revive the franchise that fell to 9-7 and missed the playoffs for the first time in six years last year."
"There's a lot going on. And, unless they get some draft picks next Thursday, it's going to be real difficult to be even a .500 team next year."
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