Solid Starter
Christian Haynes, G, UConn – Round 3 
The offensive line was the biggest problem part of the roster for the Seahawks in 2023 and many expected Seattle to take a lineman to address the unit in the first round. Surprisingly, Seattle went back to the defensive tackle position on the opening night of the draft. The Leonard Williams trade cost Seattle their second-round pick, but they were able to come away with a potential guard upgrade in Haynes in the third round.
There were other teams that had Haynes in consideration for their third-round pick so Haynes was a solid choice at that spot in the draft. The 6-foot-3, 317-pounder has power as a run blocker and really plays with physicality. After starting four seasons in college, Haynes should be able to compete quickly in the NFL and he gave that further proof at the Senior Bowl.
Right away Haynes should compete to start at right guard. The Seahawks brought veteran Laken Tomlinson over in free agency to start at left guard and have second-year pro Olu Oluwatimi projected to start at center. Haynes will compete with the likes of Anthony Bradford, Nick Harris, and Tremayne Anchrum Jr. for the starting right guard spot. It would not be surprising if Haynes won that competition. After some development, Haynes has the ability to become a solid starter for Seattle.
2023: Devon Witherspoon, CB
2022: Kenneth Walker, RB
2021: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR
2020: Darrell Taylor, DE
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
A.J. Barner, TE, Michigan – Round 4 
The Seahawks did not have a big need at tight end entering the draft and they used a fourth-round pick on Barner to give them more depth. Barner has limitations as a receiver and looks like a blocking tight end only at the pro level. He could be a solid blocker, but might top out as only a third tight end at the pro level.
2022: Derick Hall, DE
2022: Boye Mafe, DE
2021: None
2020: Damien Lewis, G
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
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas – Round 1 
The Seahawks have invested heavily in interior defensive linemen over the past few offseason. They gave a huge contract to Dre’Mont Jones, traded a second-round pick for Leonard Williams and re-signed him to a massive contract. They also have established veterans in Jarran Reed and Johnathan Hankins on the roster. Thus it was surprising that they used the 16th-overall pick on another interior pass rusher with Murphy.
The ability that stands out the most and gets NFL evaluators excited is Murphy (6-0, 308) is very dangerous in the pass rush. He is a quick defender at the point of attack with the ability to fire his gap to get penetration upfield. With natural pad level, Murphy does a phenomenal job of fighting through guards and making it difficult for them to sustain blocks. While Murphy lacks some size, he is built strong in the upper and lower body. That allows him to drive block and bull rush through offensive linemen. Murphy has heavy hands to jolt offensive linemen with the power to knock them to the side with an impressive club move. In a one-on-one, offensive linemen can really struggle to keep Murphy from breaking into the pocket. Murphy has loose and slippery hips that allow him to change direction to dart past offensive linemen. With his speed off the ball, slippery change of direction, and his leverage, Murphy is difficult to stand up as he just keeps churning up field.
For an interior pass rusher, Murphy is dangerous with special quickness and athleticism. Murphy closes on the quarterback in a hurry and shows good vision, instincts, and awareness to adjust to a moving signal caller. With natural and functional strength, Murphy can push through blocks and can close in an instant on the quarterback. Murphy has an impressive set of pass rushing moves along with being able to win with shear power and speed.
Murphy is a solid run defender, too. He has a strong, thick lower body to hold his ground at the line of scrimmage. He fills his gap and can be tough to move. Murphy is able to eat up his block, prevent holes from opening up, and maintain gap integrity. Murphy plays hard and gives a second effort if he’s initially blocked. He also will give an effort to make tackles in the ground game downfield through his steady motor.
While the Seahawks have a lot of veterans in the short-term, over the next year or two they will probably move on from a lot of those players and Murphy will be the focal point next to Leonard Williams. Lining up next to Williams and Boye Mafe, Murphy should get a lot of single block opportunities. Murphy has a lot of upside and could end up being a boom pick for Seattle.
2023: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR
2022: Charles Cross
2021: None
2020: Jordyn Brooks, LB
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
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn – Round 5 
The Seahawks are set with one of the best young cornerback tandems in the NFL with Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. However teams always need depth and Witherspoon is a very physical player that could hit himself into some injury issues. Pritchett is a big press man corner that is a well-rounded player with upside. While he could be blocked on the depth chart, Pritchett has the potential to be a good backup and rotational player for Seattle.
2023: Cameron Young, DT
2022: Coby Bryant, OT
2021: Stone Forsythe, OT
2020: Colby Parkinson, TE
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
