Solid Starter
Darrell Taylor, DE, Tennessee – Round 2 
The Seahawks needed more edge-rush talent, and Taylor was a sleeper defensive end who could end up being a nice value pick from the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft. Over the past two seasons, Taylor was one of the most consistent pass rushers in the SEC, but he went under the radar some because of playing at Tennessee while the Volunteers program tries to rebuild itself into a top team in college football’s toughest conference. With his experience and caliber of play, Taylor could step in and compete quickly for Seattle.
Taylor went a little unnoticed in 2018, but he had a breakout year for the Volunteers, logging 36 tackles with eight sacks and three forced fumbles. He followed up on that by notching 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble, four passes batted and 46 tackles in his senior year. The 6-foot-3, 259-pound Taylor has some natural ability to get after the quarterback even though he isn’t the biggest or fastest edge rusher.
Seattle has done a nice job of finding defensive linemen who fit its system and getting the most out of them. Taylor is a good fit for Pete Carroll and could be successful in the Seahawks’ scheme. They need defensive end talent to contribute quickly as Jadeveon Clowney, who is still a free agent, left a big void on the defensive line. Taylor could compete quickly to be the starting end across from L.J. Collier, and in time, Taylor has the potential to emerge as a solid starter.
2019: L.J. Collier, DE
2018: Rashaad Penny, RB
2017: Ethan Pocic, C
2016: Germain Ifedi, OT
2015: Mark Glowinski, G
2014: Cassius Marsh, DE
2013: Chris Harper, WR
Most Likely To Bust
Damien Lewis, G, LSU – Round 3 
Lewis looked to me like a good college offensive lineman last fall, but I believe physical limitations could lead to him being just a backup quality player at the NFL level. At 6-foot-2 with 33-inch arms, Lewis has a serious lack of length for the NFL, and I think that is going to be problematic when facing powerful nose tackles and fast interior rushers. Lewis was dominated by Auburn’s Derrick Brown in the matchup against Auburn, exposing that issue among others in 2019. While Brown is a superb player, Lewis is going to see tough defensive tackles on a weekly basis in the NFL.
The Seahawks also don’t have a great track record for offensive linemen panning out. Germain Ifedi, Justin Britt and others did not work out after being drafted. I think Lewis could be a similar disappointment in Seattle, but the majority of third-round picks don’t make it in the NFL, so that would not be a huge blow to Seattle if Lewis is unable to develop into a starter.
2019: Marquise Blair, S
2018: Will Dissly, TE
2017: Shaquill Griffin, CB
2016: Jarran Reed, DT
2015: Frank Clark, DE
2014: Justin Britt, OT
2013: Jesse Williams, DT
Potential Boom Pick
Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech – Round 1 
During the leadup to the 2020 NFL Draft, there were zero projections of the Seahawks taking a linebacker in the first round. With Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright returning, nobody was expecting Seattle to devote its first-round pick to the position. However, the Seahawks are looking further into the future and felt that Brooks was too good to pass on.
There is no doubt that Brooks has serious speed as he can really run. He has no problem getting to the perimeter and eats up space in a hurry. He has good length and weight to him as well, so that makes him versatile enough to play Mike – middle – linebacker, but that is not his best fit. Team sources believe Brooks would be better off as a Will – weakside – linebacker.
In the ground game, Brooks is a good tackler who wraps up ball-carriers and is reliable at getting them to the ground. He has sideline-to-sideline speed and does well to shut down the perimeter. For the next level, he needs to get better at taking on and shedding blocks. Brooks really struggles to get off blocks already, so he is going to have a hard time holding his ground against from the 315-pounders of the pro game. Thus, Brooks is not a great fit as a middle linebacker until he develops his ability to take on and shed blocks. However after some time in the NFL, that could definitely happen.
Brooks functions well in pass coverage as well. Team sources like his athleticism and coverage ability in zone. He covers a lot of ground in zone coverage, is a smooth mover in space, and does a nice job of disrupting throwing lanes. His quickness and athleticism allow him to have the potential to play some man coverage on tight ends and backs out of the backfield. On dump-off passes to the flat, Brooks can close quickly to hunt down backs and is a steady tackler in space. He has the speed to run down the middle seam as well. Brook’s skill set and read-and-react ability make him a capable spy to help neutralize a mobile quarterback as well. He also is a decent blitzer.
The Seahawks obviously have a plan for Brooks to be their lead linebacker when Wright and Wagner are done. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Brooks has a skill set with a lot of upside. He could be a boom pick for Seattle’s defense.
2019: D.K. Metcalf, WR
2018: Rasheem Green, DE
2017: Malik McDowell, DT
2016: C.J. Prosise, RB
2015: Tyler Lockett, WR
2014: Paul Richardson, WR
2013: Christine Michael, RB
Future Depth Player
Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford – Round 4 
The Seahawks could use some depth and competition at tight end, so Parkinson comes into a good situation to make the team in Seattle. Veteran Greg Olsen was signed in free agency, but clearly Olsen is nearing the end of an excellent career. The 6-foot-7, 252-pound Parkinson has a nice skill set to be a No. 2 tight end in the NFL. He has the size to be a functional blocker, so he could develop those skills to help see the field in two tight end sets. While Parkinson lacks speed, his height and size make him a dangerous red-zone tight end. That was clear in 2018 when he had seven touchdowns for the Cardinal. I think Parkinson is not dynamic enough to be a three-down starter, but I think he could become a solid backup and rotational tight end for Seattle.
2019: Gary Jennings, WR
2018: Shaquem Griffin, LB
2017: Nazair Jones, DT
2016: Nick Vannett, TE
2015: Tye Smith, CB
2014: Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB
2013: Tharold Simon, CB
Walt’s 2020 NFL Draft Grades:
27. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech – C Grade
What an upset! The Seahawks didn’t trade down from their first-round pick for the first time in nine years! Jordyn Brooks is someone the Seahawks could’ve obtained by trading down a bit, but not too far, as we know that a team was considering him early in the second round. However, the Seahawks really needed to bolster both sides of the trenches. Linebacker is not an immediate need, so I’m not in love with this pick. I definitely don’t hate it, however.
48. Darrell Taylor, DE/OLB, Tennessee – O’BRIEN Grade
The Seahawks moved up 11 spots and gave up a compensatory third for Darrell Taylor!? This is a head-scratcher. Had the Seahawks remained at No. 59 and took Taylor, I would’ve been OK with it. Taylor is an explosive edge rusher, but is a raw player and needs development. He’s more of a third-round prospect, so this is a reach. This has to get an “F” because Seattle surrendered a valuable resource unnecessarily.
69. Damien Lewis, G, LSU – A Grade
I almost didn’t grade this as an “A,” but I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t do so. I’ve pleaded for the Seahawks to get offensive line help for Russell Wilson for ages. They finally spent a pick that wasn’t a reach on a blocker, so I have to be in favor of this choice. Wilson must be thrilled.
133. Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford – C- Grade
I like Colby Parkinson as a pass-catching tight end prospect, so that saves this grade. But how many tight ends do the Seahawks need!? Sorry, I’m just mad about this dumb musical performance on ESPN. ESPN is trash.
144. DeeJay Dallas, RB, Miami – B Grade
Some expected the Seahawks to add a running back in the first round, and they definitely could have. I think this makes more sense, so they don’t have to give up on Rashaad Penny. DeeJay Dallas is a very shifty runner with decent upside. This is a solid pick.
148. Alton Robinson, DE, Syracuse – C Grade
This is a bit of a reach, as I had Alton Robinson in the seventh round. He’s just a middling talent who has a lot of work to do to make an NFL roster. Seattle could’ve done better, but at least this might fill a need.
214. Freddie Swain, WR, Florida – C+ Grade
Freddie Swain has some decent athleticism and size, but he’s a horrid route runner. I get that the Seahawks needed some receiving depth, but they could’ve done better than this.
251. Stephen Sullivan, TE, LSU – C- Grade
Another tight end!? Did the Seahawks learn from the Drafting for Dummies book written by Ryan Pace? I don’t understand why these need so many tight ends, and how Stephen Sullivan will fit into the roster. I don’t dislike Sullivan, but just stop it with the tight ends, Seattle.
2020 NFL Draft Team Grade: C . Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
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