The Seattle Seahawks are known for trading back and out of the first round in the 2020 NFL draft.
2011 was the last time the Seahawks actually used their original first round pick, when they took left guard James Carpenter. So, you can understand the surprise when Seattle didn’t move away from pick No. 27 in the 2020 NFL draft – and instead took linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
However – Seattle’s decision not to trade back wasn’t entirely up to them, as general manager John Schneider revealed in his zoom press conference after the first round of the NFL draft.
“I was speaking with [Packers general manager] Brian Gutekunst,” Schneider said. “He was cool he was like ‘hey sorry man we got a better deal’ and then all the sudden, they were on the clock. It happens.”
The Packers had the 30th overall pick, but managed to move up four spots to No. 26 overall, a pick they used on quarterback Jordan Love, the apparent successor to Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.
No matter for the Seahawks, who remained confident that Brooks was the best player available. Schneider had no problem pivoting and making him the selection once they found out a trade wasn’t going to happen.
Seattle almost certainly would have been able to pick Brooks at No. 30 overall, and they would have added a pick in the middle rounds in the meantime, but things don’t always work out that way – and while the fans may have some questions, Schneider and Carroll got the guy they wanted.
Rounds two and three of the NFL draft will commence on Friday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m. PT.
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