Round 2 (59): Josh Uche, EDGE, Michigan
Uche is one of the more difficult edge defenders to evaluate in this class. His athleticism is through the roof, and his burst, tackling and variety of pass rush counters make him a tantalizing pass rushing prospect, one that should appeal to coach Carroll straightaway.
However – he also has very limited experience, not starting until his senior season at Michigan. He’s also a tweener, having played some outside linebacker and some defensive end in college, and some scouts aren’t sure what his position will be at the next level.
Still, the Seahawks love their versatile, lengthy athletes off the edge, and Uche is just the type of player they could mold into a schematic fit for their 4-3 attack.
Whether they are willing to gamble on a player that needs some development remains to be seen, but Uche could end up among the best edge defenders in this entire class, and it’s worth the risk at pick No. 59.
Round 2 (64): Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
Okay so here’s the wild one. The Seahawks have taken exactly one quarterback since Russell Wilson was the 76th overall pick in 2012: Alex McGough, a seventh round dart throw in 2017 who never made the active roster, getting replaced by veteran Brett Hundley late into the summer.
Yet – perhaps it makes sense for the Seahawks to buck tradition this year? Jalen Hurts, if he’s around at No. 64 overall, would make an excellent backup to Wilson. He’s a pure dual-threat quarterback, throwing for over 9,400 yards and rushing for 3,274 yards and 43 touchdowns while at Oklahoma.
Scouts have given him comparisons to RGIII and Dak Prescott, and while there are some concerns about his skill set translating to the NFL – it’s not hard to imagine he’d be more prepared to lead an NFL team than say Hundley or Geno Smith or McGough, should anything happen to Wilson.
Wilson’s durability and the team’s pressing needs at other positions would certainly make this a controversial pick, but there’s reason to believe adding a talent like Hurts as their backup quarterback would prevent them from churning over veteran after veteran every season, and might give them a better chance of winning games if Wilson actually needs some time off.