Worst kept secret?

Eagles / Packers / Redskins all discussing trade up scenarios with Seahawks

— Chad Forbes (@NFLDraftBites) April 4, 2024

Building on this recent post from Chad Forbes, I decided to try a mock draft that focused on a single (two part due to simulator limitations) pre-draft trade with the Commanders.

In this trade, the Seahawks send R1:16, R4:102, and R6:179 with ED Darrell Taylor and CB Michael Jackson to the Commanders for R2:36, R2:40, R3:78, and R5:152. Breaking down this trade, it is basically a straight up trade down from the first round for the two second round picks, then trading back R4:102 and R6:179 acquired in the Howell trade with Jackson and Taylor for the Seahawks' original picks of R3:78 and R5:152. For salary cap purposes, this trade will free up $6,232,000 in space.

There was one trade down during the draft, which I will cover with the picks.

As always, I like to show the draft from pick one until the Seahawks pick. For the purposes of this mock, I will just show the complete first round, then we will get into the Seahawks draft.

NOTE: This mock draft is done using the PFF mock simulator, so players positions do not necessarily agree with the consensus big board. To mitigate this, I tried comparing PFF big board positions with consensus big board positions and NFL.com grades when making my selections.

The Seahawks Draft Slate -

To start the draft, the Seahawks have R2:36, R2:40, R3:79, R3:81, R4:118, R5:152, R6:192, and R7:235.

The First Round -

1. Chicago Bears select QB Caleb Williams (USC)
2. Washington Commanders select QB Drake Maye (UNC)
3. New England Patriots select WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)
4. Arizona Cardinals select OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame)
5. Los Angeles Chargers select WR Rome Odunze (Washington)
6. New York Giants select WR Malik Nabers (LSU)
7. Tennessee Titans select TE Brock Bowers (Georgia)
8. Atlanta Falcons select ED Dallas Turner (Alabama)
9. Chicago Bears select DI Jer'Zhan Newton (Illinois)
10. New York Jets select DI Byron Murphy II (Texas)
11. Minnesota Vikings select CB Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo)
12. Denver Broncos select QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)
13. Las Vegas Raiders select QB J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)
14. New Orleans Saints select OT Troy Fautanu (Washington)
15. Indianapolis Colts select CB Terrion Arnold (Alabama)
16. Washington Commanders select OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State) [Seahawks original pick]
17. Jacksonville Jaguars select ED Laiatu Latu (UCLA)
18. Cincinnati Bengals select OT Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State)
19. Los Angeles Rams select ED Jared Verse (FSU)
20. Pittsburgh Steelers select OT Amarius Mims (Georgia)
21. Miami Dolphins select CB Cooper DeJean (Iowa)
22. Philadelphia Eagles select CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama)
23. Minnesota Vikings select WR Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU)
24. Dallas Cowboys select OT Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma)
25. Green Bay Packers select CB Nate Wiggins (Clemson)
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select OT Graham Barton (Duke)
27. Arizona Cardinals select OT JC Latham (Alabama)
28. Buffalo Bills select ILB Payton Wilson (NC State)
29. Detroit Lions select S Tyler Nubin (Minnesota)
30. Baltimore Ravens select WR Adonai Mitchell (Texas)
31. San Francisco 49ers select CB Mike Sainristil (Michigan)
32. Kansas City Chiefs select C Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon)

Three-year starter who displayed his resilience and work ethic by coming back and playing good football after suffering a torn ACL late in the 2022 season. Morgan is both fluid and flexible in space, with the ability to help spring running plays with second-level blocks and play-side lead blocking. He fails to secure back-side cutoffs too frequently, but improving his pad level and landmarks might fix that issue. His punch approach diminishes his pass protection length and causes him to lose connection at the top of the rush. He will need to get his hands and feet synced up in order to improve his balance and consistency against athletic rushers. He’s a capable run blocker and pass protector, and he features projectable upside with more work. Morgan has the traits and talent to become a solid starting left tackle.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jordan-morgan/

Sweat is a massive space-eater whose size and skill set will have him plugged into a role as a run-plugger for odd- or even-front defenses. He’s not quick off the snap or explosive into first contact, but it takes a village to try to uproot him and move him out of the way. The attention he will require from blocking schemes should help unlock the playmaking potential of speedy inside linebackers who won’t have to contend with as much traffic climbing into the second level. He offers more rush than expected for a man his size and could play more snaps than most at his position. Sweat’s area of impact will be narrowly focused, but it could create a much larger impact on the defense overall.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/t-vondre-sweat/

Corley is a big, physical wideout who has been asked to carry a heavy workload for Western Kentucky using his talent after the catch. Corley’s highlight reel will be full of broken tackles and general carnage left in his wake. He’s an average route-runner with the tools to improve, but a disappointing drop rate and contested-catch rate are concerns relative to the way he plays the game in space. Like Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel when they were prospects, Corley has had a heavy percentage of his targets schemed around him and he will need to prove he can become more than just a quick-game bully or gadget guy. He’s good at what his team asked him to do, which is a great jump-off point for evaluators considering him as a Day 2 selection and future starter.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/malachi-corley/

Inside linebacker who plays with dogged determination and a nose for the football that helps him pack out the stat sheet. Trotter comes from NFL bloodlines and operates with consistency, play strength and a willingness to do the dirty work. He’s quick to diagnose and moves with exceptional body control and footwork to play around bodies and get to the rock. He’s not very big or long, but his football IQ makes it a moot point. He has adequate pursuit speed with good short-area burst and real talent in getting to the quarterback as a blitzer. Trotter can get to the ball with clear eyes and above-average efficiency and has a chance to be a long-time starter in the league.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jeremiah-trotter-jr/

Wide-bodied guard who has been a model of consistency over the last four years, dialing in a very firm brand of football. While hand placement can be a little inconsistent, Beebe is still a bulldozer in cleats who jolts smaller players and moves big ones against their will. A lack of arm length will test him in certain interior matchups in the pros, and he will need to improve his technique to bolster his block sustain. He's slow of foot and is likely to be pigeonholed into downhill-oriented rush attacks, but that has never prevented him from doing his job in pass protection. Beebe's experience, girth and drive-blocking talent should make him a long-time starter who can step in right away.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/cooper-beebe/

Solomon doesn’t have prototypical size as an NFL edge rusher, and longer tackles can irritate his play at times, but there is plenty to like in the production and the tape. His frame is chiseled, with extremely powerful hips. It’s tough to sustain blocks against him due to his base strength and low center of gravity, which explains why he’s always around the ball at the whistle. He’s an instinctive rusher with a variety of moves and counters that he can string together to put tackles on the ropes. He’s a capable run defender but can be engulfed by size, so he might need to play as a stand-up linebacker. Solomon’s strengths tend to align with what we see from NFL edge defenders with rotational and potential-future-starter value.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/javon-solomon/

Oladapo possesses classic strong safety traits and play attributes, which should help evaluators define him more easily. He has very good size, with the play strength and toughness to tackle near the box and enough cover skills to line up over tight ends in man. While he can play some split safety, he can be a little inconsistent in big space, so playing forward is his best bet. There is room for improvement as a tackler, but he generally pursues with leverage and takes his role as last line of defense to heart. He has "make it" size and attributes. He's likely to come in as a backup with special teams duties but has a pretty good shot of becoming an eventual starter.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kitan-oladapo/

Johnson brings plus size to the tight end position, ranking above the 70th percentile in height and weight. His long arms are an advantage when he is blocking edge rushers and hauling in passes. He has decent build-up and long speed when getting vertical up the seam, but he lacks the difference-making change-of-direction ability, which limits his route tree.

He makes his money from an inline spot as a versatile blocker and pass catcher in heavier formations. He is a strong blocker when he targets defenders between the shoulders, but he can sometimes get crossed up (another area where his limited lateral ability shows).

Theo Johnson NFL Draft profiles | PFF

Sixth-year senior who plays like he loves football and never wants the game to end. Jackson is a productive, effort-based pass rusher who wins with motor and force but is missing much-needed moves and counters to beat NFL tackles with skill. He plays with good bend and powerful hips to drive his way through a blocker's edge against run or pass blocks. Jackson is salty at the point of attack and will shed or spin off blocks to find his way to the football. Despite some limitations, Jackson is constantly near the football, thanks to his strength, effort and toughness, and he could become a reliable pro as a 4-3 end or 3-4 rush linebacker.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/brennan-jackson/

For me, I feel like whatever team is going to get me is going to get a winner. I’m used to winning. I’ve been bred to win. I help teams win. I work hard to eliminate the weaknesses of our defense. I turn negatives into positives.

I make the team better wherever I go. It’s about my leadership style and how I carry myself in the locker room. They’re going to get somebody whose goal is to win the Super Bowl next season. I’m not going to slouch. I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen for the team.

You won’t find a prospect with a better mindset. I’m the ultimate leader coming into our locker room.

Trey Taylor Draft Networking Interview: 'I’m The Ultimate Leader' (thedraftnetwork.com)