Seventh Round: Chris Carson
It takes until the seventh round for Seattle’s top selection in the past two decades to not be a member of the team’s Legion of Boom era – a testament to just how absurdly good the Seahawks drafted in that time frame.
While linebacker Malcolm Smith, who was the MVP of Super Bowl XLVII, was a seventh round pick in 2011, the best seventh rounder of the past 20 years for Seattle is no doubt running back Chris Carson.
Carson, 25, has already dealt with multiple injury issues in his young career. However, when he’s on the field he has proven he is among the league’s best running backs, having rushed for over 1,100 yards in each of the past two seasons.
While the Seahawks may be behind the times analytically, they proved that running back talent can be found in the later portions of the NFL draft – a trend they immediately didn’t follow when they selected Rashaad Penny in the first round the following year.
Smith is Seattle’s second most successful seventh round pick, but the team also nabbed guard J.R. Sweezy and running back Justin Forsett in the seventh round this millenium, as well as wide receiver David Moore.