Getty A Seahawks-Vikings draft day trade could make sense.
The Seattle Seahawks continue to be the talk of the NFL, fueling speculation about what the team will do with the ninth pick in the NFL draft. But CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora has offered some potential insight about the Seahawks’ intentions based on his discussions with NFL executives.
He hinted that Seahawks fans should watch for a potential trade that would send the ninth pick to another team, possibly the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota holds the No. 12 pick, which would allow the Seahawks to keep a high draft position while being able to add more ammunition for later in the draft.
“If both of the top quarterbacks are gone by the time the Seahawks pick at 9, several execs told me they believe the odds of a trade down are very high,” La Canfora wrote on April 15. “The Vikings are clearly in the market for a top corner, and jumping up to 9 would likely allow then to secure one of the top two (Gardner or Derek Stingley Jr.), and Seattle at 12 could very likely still land one of the top pass rushers on the board plus keep securing much needed additional draft capital (even after the Russell Wilson trade). It’s a potential draft scenario to keep an eye on.”
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NFL Execs Expect the Seahawks to Consider a QB at No. 9
It is also notable that NFL execs expect the Seahawks to consider a quarterback at No. 9, despite the team’s insistence that they are comfortable with Drew Lock and Geno Smith. La Canfora’s report projected a scenario in which “both of the top quarterbacks are gone” by the ninth pick, which would a trigger a trade down by the Seahawks. Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett are expected to be the top quarterbacks selected in the upcoming draft.
The Seahawks have plenty of additional holes to fill on the roster if the team opts to pass on a quarterback in the first round. Cornerback, pass rush and the offensive line are all potential needs for the Seahawks at No. 9 or wherever they end up selecting on day one. The Seahawks have rarely picked high in the first round during the 12-year John Schneider-Pete Carroll era, but the front office has shown a preference for trading down to acquire more draft picks.
LSU CB Derek Stingley Is a Possible Target for the Seahawks
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler projected Mississippi State tackle Charles Cross, LSU corner Derek Stingley and Florida State pass rusher Jermaine Johnson as the top non-quarterback options for the Seahawks at No. 9. In his latest mock draft, published April 14, Brugler predicted the Seahawks would land a lockdown corner in Stingley, a player once projected to be a top-five pick.
“Another rebuilding franchise, the Seahawks, could go in a number of different directions such as offensive tackle (Charles Cross) or pass rusher (Jermaine Johnson), and quarterback should never be ruled out,” Brugler wrote. “But Stingley is another logical option both in terms of talent and team need.”
Stingley’s production at LSU waned after he snagged six interceptions in 2019. In the past two seasons, the cornerback failed to register a pick. Given Carroll’s connection to former LSU head coach Ed Oregeron from their time together at USC, the Seahawks could have plenty of intel on Stingley.
Despite Carroll’s affinity for secondary players, the Seahawks have tended to address the secondary positions in the later rounds.