Russell Okung and Earl Thomas seem like players that will start for the Seahawks for the next 5-10 years and have Pro Bowl potential. If that turns out to be true, this was a successful first round.
That said, my immediate reaction to the first round was disappointment that we didn’t trade back and acquire more picks. I really believe we need a third rounder, and would have loved to see another 2nd rounder somehow. Watching the 49ers build a potentially devastating offensive line by selecting a tackle and a guard in the 1st round was tough. That’s an example of drafting for depth to create a strength versus drafting breadth to fill holes in multiple parts of the team.
Granted, the Seahawks have so many holes, it’s hard not to try and fill them all. To be a great team down the road, we will need a great line. Why not build it now? Great lines take years to develop, so I’m a bit impatient.
Okung is extremely talented, so I’m thrilled to get him. Thomas will struggle to make a major impact at the safety position in his rookie year, but we don’t need him to be great yet. It’s unlikely any draft bounty would lead to a winning season next year. Let’s see if we can get some additional picks and additional talents tomorrow.