Solid Starter
Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State – Round 1 
Seattle’s team hasn’t been the same since the decline of its rushing attack. Marshawn Lynch aged out and lost effectiveness, while the offensive line has been a critical weakness. The Seahawks are hoping that injecting a talented runner like Penny restore balance to their offense and return them to the postseason. Penny may not become one of the best running backs in the NFL, but he is a talented athlete who looks like a safe pick to become a quality starter.
Penny (5-10, 224) is a thickly built downhill runner. He has a surprising burst to hit the hole and accelerate to the second level. Penny is fast for a big back and can run away from the defense when he gets to the open field. His second gear is very impressive and makes him dangerous to rip off long runs on any carry. Penny combines quick, feet, good balance, and decisive running to be a dangerous ball-carrier for a zone-blocking system. That kind of system would be his best fit in the NFL.
As a receiver, Penny is a great fit for the current offensive systems in the NFL. He runs good routes, has soft hands, and is able to find soft spots in the defense for his quarterback.
“Penny is super talented,” said a NFC director of college scouting. “He is a smooth runner, athletic, has some [speed], [and] is good in the pass game and a returner. His makeup and work ethic isn’t great. He has learning issues, so he might need to start with a 7-8 touches per game role until he learns to enough to gradually expand it.”
Penny could start out in a rotation for Seattle, but he should develop into a three-down starter who is a solid player for the Seahawks.
2017: Ethan Pocic, C
2016: Germain Ifedi, OT
2015: Mark Glowinski, G
2014: Cassius Marsh, DE
2013: Chris Harper, WR
Most Likely To Bust
Will Dissly, TE, Washington – Round 4 
Typically, I don’t have third-day picks as most likely to bust because the odds are against third-day picks panning out in the NFL. Only 50 percent of second-round picks stick in the NFL, and the odds decrease significantly the lower you go. Thus, it isn’t much of a prediction to say a pick from Day 3 will be a bust in the NFL. In this case, the Seahawks were without a second-round pick, so my options were limited.
For the NFL, Dissly is a limited player to being a blocking tight end. The 6-foot-4, 262-pounder projects as a blocking Y tight end and could help Seattle to reestablish its rushing attack. Dissly does not have much receiving potential and is a limited player; blocking Y tight ends are a dime a dozen. Many times, teams get frustrated with a player being limited and one-dimensional, so they end up looking for an upgrade with a more well-rounded contributor.
I think Dissly could be a role player with Seattle, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the team is looking for a true three-down starter at tight end in the near future with Dissly just being a limited backup.
2017: Shaquill Griffin, CB
2016: Jarran Reed, DT
2015: Frank Clark, DE
2014: Justin Britt, OT
2013: Jesse Williams, DT
Potential Boom Pick
Rasheem Green, DE, USC – Round 3 
A year ago, I selected Malik McDowell as a potential boom pick because there was no doubt that McDowell had a ton of athletic ability with size, speed and upside. Unfortunately, an ATV accident ended his career before it started, but Seattle was fortunate to come away with a similar athlete in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft as Green has a ton of upside for the NFL.
Green totaled 6.5 sacks as a sophomore followed by 10 sacks as a junior. Clearly, Green is at his best when he is using his speed to fire his gap and cause disruption in the backfield. That makes him a dangerous interior pass-rusher. Green has a quick get-off with the speed to close. He displays active hands when chasing the quarterback and uses them to work through blocks. Green gives a second effort and rushes with good leverage. A fast interior pass-rusher is a tough commodity to find, and Green has a ton of upside to develop into a quarterback hunter.
As a run defender, Green can really struggle to hold his ground at the point of attack when runs come downhill straight at him. He can get pushed back off the line of scrimmage, struggles to disengage from blocks, and can get rolled around the field. He should have returned for his senior year and gotten stronger before coming out. If he would have done that, he could have been a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Green has amazing speed for his size, and some time in a pro strength and conditioning program could turn him into a well-rounded player. If he works hard and develops, Green has the potential be a phenomenal pro defensive lineman and a possible Pro Bowler.
2017: Malik McDowell, DT
2016: C.J. Prosise, RB
2015: Tyler Lockett, WR
2014: Paul Richardson, WR
2013: Christine Michael, RB
Future Depth Player
Shaquem Griffin, LB, Central Florida – Round 5 
Unless you boycotted the NFL over the past year and are just getting back into the league, you probably know Griffin’s story well, so we don’t need to rehash it. Putting the great human interest story to the side, the fact remains is that Griffin is a good football player. The 6-foot-1, 223-pounder was a dynamic defender for Central Florida over the past couple of seasons, using his shocking speed to fly around the field. For the NFL, Griffin projects as an outside linebacker and designated pass-rusher because he is a dangerous blitzer off the edge. With his instincts, speed and physicality, he also should be an asset on special teams. Griffin may not become a three-down starter, but he should be a good rotational player on defense, a core special teams player, and an asset in the locker room.
2017: Nazair Jones, DT
2016: Nick Vannett, TE
2015: Tye Smith, CB
2014: Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB
2013: Tharold Simon, CB
Walt’s 2018 NFL Draft Grades:
26. Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State D Grade
The Seahawks are clearly eager to replace Marshawn Lynch, but this is not a good decision. Rashaad Penny was seen as a second- or third-round prospect among teams. I know one team in the early 40s that was targeting him, and I imagine they’re surprised that he was taken.
I almost gave this a Millen grade – I would’ve gone with Kielbasa-Mode – but the Seahawks don’t have a second-round choice and almost certainly wouldn’t have gotten Penny in the third. So, I understand this pick … sort of. The Seahawks could’ve traded down once more to get Penny.
79. Rasheem Green, DE/DT, USC B Grade
Rasheem Green is a nice upside pick for the Seahawks. He has starting ability, but he needs to bulk up for the pros. He also has some medical concerns. There’s probably a high-percentage chance that Green flops, but he could also be a dynamic defensive lineman in the future.
120. Will Dissly, TE, Washington C- Grade
Will Dissly will help Russell Wilson’s blocking. That makes this pick not worthless. However, blocking tight ends grow on trees, so I don’t think taking one in the fourth round presents good value.
141. Shaquem Griffin, LB, Central Florida A- Grade
People were wondering if Shaquem Griffin fell, but I had him at this very exact spot in my 2018 NFL Mock Draft. The Seahawks liked him all the way as a sub-package linebacker who will make an instant impact on special teams. Seattle had major problems when Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright got hurt, so they desperately needed strong depth like this.
146. Tre Flowers, S, Oklahoma State C- Grade
This pick isn’t as exciting as Seattle’s other fifth-rounder, and it’s not as good either. Tre Flowers is a stiff-hipped safety who doesn’t seem like he’ll pan out in the NFL. Maybe he can be good on special teams.
149. Michael Dickson, P, Texas C Grade
The Seahawks moved up … for a punter!? OK, so this isn’t nearly as dumb as taking a punter in the third round, over Russell Wilson, no less, but I’m not a fan of trading resources for a punter. Still, Michael Dickson projects as a great punter, so I don’t hate this.
168. Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State C Grade
Jamarco Jones is an awkward projection, as he’s not athletic enough to play tackle and he’s not strong enough to play guard. That said, I can’t strongly criticize the Seahawks trying to improve their blocking.
186. Jacob Martin, DE, Temple B Grade
Jacob Martin might have made more sense in a 3-4, but he could fit in with the Seahawks as a rotational pass-rusher. He’ll be killed in run support if he has to play in that role, but he’ll be able to get some sacks every year if he performs up to expectations.
220. Alex McGough, QB, Florida International B+ Grade
This seventh-round quarterback pick isn’t nearly as surprising as New England’s choice of Danny Etling. Alex McGough generated lots of late interest. He’s an accurate quarterback with mobility, and he could develop into a solid NFL backup.
2018 NFL Draft Team Grade: D . Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
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