It’s common knowledge among Seattle fans that – when the Seahawks do use their first round pick – they don’t select cornerbacks.
The last time the team took a corner in the first round was in 2006 when the team took Kelly Jennings – long before the John Schneider and Pete Carroll era began.
However, with mock draft season in full effect and the team’s relatively poor performance at corner, outside of Pro Bowler Shaquill Griffin, it seems many pundits either aren’t aware or don’t care about Seattle’s apparent policy regarding cornerbacks in the first round.
The latest comes from NFL.com analyst and former running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who mocked Kristian Fulton of LSU to the Seahawks with the No. 27 overall pick.
“Fulton has size and is good in press coverage,” Jones-Drew wrote. “His best attribute is the fact that he doesn’t shy away from contact.”
At least MJD understands Seattle’s preferences for their defensive backs, as Fulton does have decent size at six feet and 200 pounds. His length is only average though, a huge part of Carroll’s MO when it comes to cornerbacks, and he has been praised more for his man coverage than his work in zone.
Still, Fulton does have a ton of physicality and athleticism, and would likely immediately take over for Tre Flowers opposite Griffin for the Seahawks.
It doesn’t look on paper like a great fit for Seattle, but with a struggling defense last year and a weak class of pass rushers, it could be time for the team to buck tradition and look for help in the secondary early in the 2020 draft.
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