Coming off their first non-playoff campaign in six years, the Seattle Seahawks have had a massive makeover this offseason.
Most of the coaching staff and some high-profile veterans, including Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett, are gone.
That turnover leaves a lot of issues when it comes to depth – at cornerback and defensive line, not to mention ongoing glaring needs on the offensive line and at running back (Eddie Lacy, anyone?), as well as tight end with the departures of Jimmy Graham and Luke Willson.
But Seattle only has one pick in the first three rounds (18th overall, 1st round). That and their history of trading down (the last time they used their own first round pick was for offensive lineman James Carpenter in 2011) leaves a lot of prognosticators, including ESPN’s Brock Huard, believing the Seahawks will trade down out of the first round again. They would do it to pick up more draft choices, ideally stocking up picks in the second or third rounds.
Trading safety Earl Thomas is still an option, but while he’d bring back a nice haul, that would leave the team’s defense even more bereft of top-line talent.
The draft will be at an NFL stadium for the first time -- Dallas' AT&T Stadium. The first round is Thursday and the second and third rounds are Friday. The final four rounds are Saturday.