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Not counting quarterback, offensive tackle is the Seahawks’ greatest need heading into the 2022 NFL draft.
Not counting quarterback, offensive tackle is the Seahawks’ greatest need heading into the 2022 NFL draft. With Duane Brown and Brandon Shell both free agents, they may need to add a couple players at this position.
Here are the top 10 prospects in this draft class according to the consensus big board.
The Cowboys may need to go into the draft with a mission of finding a future starting offensive tackle. @TimLettiero reviews the possibilities.
If the Dallas Cowboys want to keep their $40 million quarterback Dak Prescott upright, preventing edge pressure is essential. All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith is an elite talent, but hasn’t played a full season since 2015 and is not getting any younger. On the right side, usual starter La’el Collins dealt with injury, inconsistent play and a maddening suspension over avoiding drug testing which ultimately saw his stint in Dallas run its course
Terence Steele showed solid development after being a liability in 2020, proving he is worth a look as a starting caliber tackle in 2022. With only young and unproven OTs Josh Ball and Aviante Collins remaining on roster, this should be the year Dallas finally decides to address the tackle position with a long-term vision in mind. Here are several players from the 2022 NFL draft who provide value at various points of the weekend.
Washington State OT Abraham Lucas is up next in Unpacking Future Packers, a countdown previewing the 2022 NFL draft for Packers Wire.
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Green Bay Packers have had a lot of success drafting offensive linemen on day three of the NFL Draft. David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton, T.J.Lang, Corey Linsley, and JC Tretter were all day three selections.
A player that Brian Gutekunst could target on day three of the 2022 NFL Draft is Abraham Lucas. The Washington State offensive tackle checks in at No. 49 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
Lucas arrived at Washington State as a three-star recruit and left as a 42-game starter at right tackle.
Playing in Washington State’s air raid offense, Lucas has plenty of reps in pass protection. According to Pro Football Focus, Lucas had 477 pass-blocking reps this past season and gave up zero sacks and just eight hurries. Some of that can be attributed to Washington State’s quick-strike attack, but there is no denying that Lucas is one of the most seasoned pass blockers in this class. For his career, Lucas finished with 2,195 pass protection reps.
There may be an adjustment period at the next level, but with his length and athleticism, he’s a high upside pick early on day three or late on day two of the draft.
“Pass blocking is his greatest strength,” Jamey Vinnick, the Washington State reporter for Cougfan.com, said. “Part of that is his experience in doing it, but he’s also exceptional in it. You can essentially count on one hand how many times Lucas got beat in his career.”
Lucas has impressive length and size for the position (6-6, 315 pounds). He has quick feet to mirror pass rushers. He has patient, strong hands and does a good job of not oversetting. The 42-game starter has a strong core and is able to anchor down against power rushers.
“He’s very quick and has fantastic footwork for being a giant,” Vinnick said. “That’s all good weight. He’s not 315 pounds of pizza and beer. It’s 315 pounds of protein and muscle. His length and physicality help too. He’s also really, really good at readjusting.”
Lucas is a good athlete. In Washington State’s air raid offense he wasn’t asked to run block a ton, but he has the movement skills to easily climb to the second level and hit his landmarks. He showcased that short-area quickness when he posted a 1.77 10-yard split at the combine.
A couple 40-yard dash times that caught my eye: Braxton Jones (5.03) and Abraham Lucas (5.00).
Jones is a great athlete with massive 36-inch arms. Tons of potential. Lucas is also an underrated mover in space. Can really get downfield and pave open lanes.
— Ian Cummings (@ian_cummings_9) March 4, 2022
“He grew in that phase of the game for sure,” Vinnick said. “He even said it was an adjustment but that he enjoys being able to go and hit someone. There are probably some technical kinks to be worked out but he’s good enough as a player that he made himself a solid run blocker pretty quickly.”
The Packers have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. However, they’ll likely be missing Elgton Jenkins when the 2022 season begins.
With Jenkins sidelined, there are questions on what the starting offensive line will look like for the Packers when the season kicks off in September.
It’s reasonable to project that the Packers will roll out a starting five of, David Bakhtiari (left tackle), Jon Runyan (left guard), Josh Myers (center), Royce Newman (right guard), and Billy Turner (right tackle).
However, what if the Packers opt to cut Turner? Even if Turner is still on the team, a team can never have enough quality offensive linemen.
Lucas has all the tools in the shed to develop into a quality starting right tackle in the NFL. If he’s on the board when the Packers are on the clock in the third or fourth round, Gutekunst could add yet another quality lineman to what’s an already impressive group.
“Work ethic for one,” Vinnick said. “He absolutely works his tail off and with the NFL transitioning more and more to pass-centric offenses, he’s a perfect fit. He’s as good as anyone in the country in pass pro and his athleticism translates really well to the next level.”
If Turner is cut, Lucas could battle for starting reps at right tackle as a rookie. If Turner is back for the 2022 season, Lucas could take a redshirt, while Adam Stenavich works out the kinks in his game with an eye on making him the starting right tackle for 2023 and beyond.
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Friday was the day for the offensive linemen to get on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. Which linemen stood out at the scouting combine?
Remember Thursday night at the scouting combine, when the receivers were running all kinds of crazy 40 times, and it held up fairly well even when the times were made official? That extended to Friday’s offensive line drills, when we saw a display of pure speed from the big men we’ve never seen before.
There were six linemen with official sub-5.0 40-yard dash times in the first group, and six in the second. The previous record was six, and there were 11 sub-4.5 40-yard dashes overall in the last three combines.
There were officially 12 offensive linemen to run a sub-5.00 40-yard dash at the 2022 #NFLCombine
Not only is that the most such offensive linemen at a single combine since 2003, it DOUBLES the next-most (6 in 2013) and is more than the last 3 combines combined (11)
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) March 5, 2022
The 10-yard splits were just as impressive, meaning that we have a group of offensive linemen who can get on the hoof to a highly impressive degree. Many of those linemen also looked great in the position drills, with natural movement and agility.
NFL teams should be going away from these drills excited about the talent available in the 2022 draft, and that’s without two of the best linemen — Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal and Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum — choosing to pass on the activities for now.
A couple more names have trickled in since then.
Truth is practically every NFL team meets with every meaningful prospect during the run up to the draft. So, “meetings” with college players don’t mean much, especially at an event like the Combine. Nevertheless, it’s always interesting to hear which players the Seahawks are talking to.
Yesterday we learned that they’ve spoken with Washington tight end prospect Cade Otton, who’s projected to be a third-round pick. A couple more names have trickled in since then.
According to Corbin Smith at Sports Illustrated, the team has also met with Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas.
Washington State tackle Abraham Lucas just told me he has met with #Seahawks.
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) March 3, 2022
Lucas played right tackle for the Cougars but could make sense at guard. He might fit for the Seahawks in that starting RT Brandon Shell is about to become a free agent and they also need to find someone who can potentially take over for Dune Brown at left tackle when he retires.
Smith is also reporting that Seattle has met with Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks.
Only two I heard about today were Cade Otton and Treylon Burks. But there were some players who weren't able to make interview times, so… there should be more that come to light next few days. https://t.co/fSagpFJJcw
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) March 3, 2022
Burks is the same size as D.K. Metcalf (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and he posted over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. However, he’ll be long gone before the Seahawks are on the clock at No. 41, so this is just due diligence.
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Draft Wire’s latest NFL mock draft has the Broncos going LB, DL, OLB, OT and RB in the first three rounds.
Before on-field workouts begin at the NFL combine later this week, Luke Easterling of Draft Wire released a new three-round mock draft.
In the first round, Easterling has the Denver Broncos selecting Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd with the ninth overall pick. It’s worth noting that Easterling’s mock was published before news broke that the Broncos hope to re-sign LB Josey Jewell before the start of NFL free agency.
In the second round, Easterling has Denver beefing up the defensive line with Texas A&M’s DeMarvin Leal (No. 40) before using a pick from the Von Miller trade (No. 64) to add a Miller replacement in Oklahoma’s Nik Bonitto.
In the third round of Easterling’s mock, the Broncos add a long-term solution at right tackle with Washington State’s Abraham Lucas (No. 75) and a Javonte Williams backfield partner in Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III (No. 96).
Easterling’s mock seems to assume that Denver will address the QB situation outside the draft (perhaps via trade?), and drafting a running back in the third round would likely only happen if Melvin Gordon is not re-signed.
To view Easterling’s complete three-round mock, visit Draft Wire.
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Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
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Here’s how a recent three-round post-Senior Bowl mock from Luke Easterling at Draft Wire played out for Seattle.
The Seahawks once again won’t have a first-round pick in this year’s NFL draft. This one left in the Jamal Adams trade with the Jets, who wound up getting the No. 10 overall pick in 2022 on top of the first-rounder they already got last year. While the Rams have proven that you can actually trade your way to a Super Bowl, it’s a frustrating state of affairs for Seattle fans who prefer the organization to build for the long haul through the draft.
It is what it is and it’s hardly the first time that Pete Carroll and John Schneider have squandered No. 1 picks in highly questionable trades. Here’s how a recent three-round post-Senior Bowl mock from Luke Easterling at Draft Wire played out for Seattle.
Draft Wire’s latest three-round NFL mock draft has the Broncos going LB, QB, OT, OT, DL in 2022.
In his latest three-round 2022 NFL mock draft for Draft Wire, Luke Easterling has the Denver Broncos selecting a quarterback, just not in the first round.
Easterling’s mock predicts the Broncos will select Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd with the 14th overall pick. Given that Alexander Johnson, Josey Jewell and Kenny Young are all scheduled to become free agents in 2022, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver target a linebacker in the draft. If they do it in the first round, though, the Broncos might miss out on a lot of QB prospects.
Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman (No. 9) was the only quarterback who went off the board before Denver’s first pick in Draft Wire’s mock draft. Mississippi’s Matt Corral (No. 19), Pitt’s Kenny Pickett (No. 25), Liberty’s Malik Willis (No. 27), North Carolina’s Sam Howell (No. 34) and Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder (No. 45) are then picked before the Broncos go back on the clock in the second round.
Easterling has Denver then landing Nevada QB Carson Strong with the 48th overall pick. He’s the seventh QB selected in Draft Wire’s mock.
After that, the Broncos land UCLA offensive tackle Sean Rhyan (No. 59), Washington State offensive tackle Abraham Lucas (No. 79) and Clemson defensive lineman Tyler Davis (No. 91) with their remaining picks.
To view Easterling’s complete 2022 NFL mock draft, visit Draft Wire.
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Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
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Aside from the rare hit like landing D.K. Metcalf at the end of the second round, the results have for the most part been a wasteland of busts and missed opportunities in the post-Scot McCloughan era.
The Seattle Seahawks haven’t had much luck in the NFL draft over the last several years. Aside from the rare hit like landing D.K. Metcalf at the end of the second round, the results have for the most part been a wasteland of busts and missed opportunities in the post-Scot McCloughan era. Seattle once again won’t have a first-round pick next year. Wherever it falls, that selection will go to the Jets as part of the Jamal Adams trade.
At the moment, that would be the No. 12 overall pick. Fortunately, our friends at Draft Wire have cooked up a three-round 2022 NFL mock draft this week, so the Seahawks are involved.
In the second round of the mock, Seattle gets to work fixing its defense, selecting Alabama cornerback Josh Jobe with the No. 43 overall pick. Jobe (6-foot-1, 192 pounds) certainly has the look of a prototypical Pete Carroll cornerback. He’s posted one interception and 16 pass breakups so far in 31 games under Nick Saban.
With their next pick in the mock (No. 74 overall) the Seahawks take Washington State offensive tackle Abraham Lucas.
Lucas (6-foot-7, 324 pounds) has been starting at right tackle for the Cougars since 2018. In his sophomore year (2019) he was rated as the best pass-blocking OT in the nation and last season he graded out as the fourth-best offensive tackle in the Pac-12 by PFF. This year, he’s played the most pass-blocking snaps without allowing a sack.
Most pass-blocking snaps without allowing a sack:
💥 Abraham Lucas, Washington State – 264 pic.twitter.com/lsd8gjWYpV
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 13, 2021
Lucas has performed well against good competition, too. Watch Lucas put in some solid work against Oregon EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, expected to be the first overall pick next year.
Abraham Lucas vs. Kayvon Thibodeaux pic.twitter.com/caQ5yD1oiI
— Chris Trapasso (@ChrisTrapasso) August 27, 2021
Seattle’s current starting right tackle Brandon Shell will become a free agent next year. If the Seahawks don’t re-sign him, Lucas could make for an upgrade.
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The Seattle Seahawks are unlikely to snag one of the top few tackle prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft, but these five could be steals.
Offensive tackle will be a clear position of need for the Seattle Seahawks in 2021, with both Cedric Ogbuehi and Chad Wheeler set to hit free agency after the 2020 season. In Draftwire’s most recent way-too-early mock draft, the Seahawks make their first selection at No. 24, which likely puts them out of the range of top tackle prospects Penei Sewell (Oregon) and Walker Little (Stanford).
Although Texas’ Samuel Cosmi and Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood may well be available by the time that Seattle is on the clock, the Seahawks have other needs that they could potentially address in Round One.
Fortunately, the 2021 draft class contains a number of tackles that are flying under the radar and could end up as dark-horse pickups on day two or day 3 of the draft. Here are five lesser-known players that could be steals for the Seahawks
