Final Seven-Round Mock Draft: Seahawks Trade Up to Get Two Top-40 Picks
It’s finally here. It’s NFL Draft week. It’s the first major football event since the Super Bowl over two months ago. Teams will decide their present and future this week.
Already having eight picks heading into the start of the new league year, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider acquired two additional day two selections by trading quarterback Geno Smith and receiver DK Metcalf to the Raiders and Steelers in separate March deals, giving the front office five total picks in the first 92 selections at their disposal. In his first 15 seasons at the helm, Schneider has never made five picks in the first 92, so this year’s draft presents a unique opportunity for him to cash in on a class that offers great depth and talent at several positions of need, including guard, receiver, and edge rusher among others.
With that plethora of picks on day two, one might assume Schneider will pull the trigger on a trade to move up to snatch extra talent and go for quality over quantity. In this mock draft, that is exactly what happened. The Seahawks traded their No. 50 pick, along with picks 82 and 175 to the Tennessee Titans, in exchange for pick No. 35 to climb back into the first few selections of the second round.
What will the Seahawks do with two top-35 picks in this scenario? Let’s find out.
Round 1, Pick 18: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
If it is possible to “win” the NFL Combine, Emmanwori did so. He made NFL Combine history in fact, becoming one of just four players 6-3 or taller reach 40 inches in the vertical jump and run a sub-4.4 time in the 40-yard dash since 2003. Bryce Ford-Wheaton (2023), Tariq Woolen (2022) and DK Metcalf(2019) are the others, according to ESPN research.
Interesting that two of the previous three were drafted by Seattle. How about three out of four?
No, safety is not the biggest positional need on Seattle’s roster. This is strictly a best-player-available situation. And it’s not like the Seahawks couldn’t use him. He got his nose dirty in the box plenty, but also can get out in space and cover any receiver or tight end with his size and speed. He would be a true weapon in the secondary. Imagine pairing him with Devon Witherspoon, as both bounce around the defense to optimize the matchups. Mike Macdonald would be beaming like a kid on Christmas morning.
Round 2, Pick 35*: Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
*Acquired from Titans
Of course, the Seahawks can’t go too far into this draft without taking an offensive lineman. In this scenario, they traded up to get a prospect that is getting some late draft season first-round hype. Jackson turned heads this year at Ohio State. Not only was he a solid left guard for basically three straight seasons, but he showed elite versatility. Not just any lineman can go from guard to left tackle and not only survive, but thrive. When Josh Simmons went down for the Buckeyes, Jackson slid out to left tackle for the stretch run on their way to a national title.
After one game of an adjustment period that included facing Penn State’s Abdul Carter, a likely top five pick, Jackson settled in and did not allow a single sack in the final eight games of the season, including all playoff games. That kind of versatility, selflessness, and pure physical ability does not grow on trees. Jackson is worth mortgaging a little of the quantity of picks to increase in quality.
With Seattle’s first two picks, they have true versatile weapons along the secondary and offensive lines.
Round 2, Pick 52: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
It’s hard to discredit elite production in the sport’s toughest college conference. At Ole Miss, Umanmielen notched 17.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss over his final two years in Oxford after starting his college career at Florida. He is explosive, bendy, athletic, and has a high football IQ. The more I dive into him as a prospect, the less I believe he will even be available at 52. If he is, he has the pure physical gifts to be an early contributor rushing the passer as a rookie. He will likely need to add a bit more mass to be a true three-down threat, but the upside is all there.
Round 3, Pick 92: Joshua Farmer, DT, FSU
Farmer has length for days as an interior lineman. He is explosive out of his stance, as shown by his impressive broad jump that ranked in the 87th percentile. His ceiling could be that of Seattle’s first round pick last year, Byron Murphy. That is, if he can play with a consistently low pad level and not lose leverage. Whatever cons counteract Farmer’s pros, they are coachable. Getting another rotational piece to add to the talented defensive line would be a huge coup late on day two.
Round 4, Pick 137: Chase Lundt, OT, UCONN
It feels like the Seahawks need to come out of this draft with at least two new offensive lineman. Lundt is a massive presence at 6-8 and used his length to stifle pass rushers out of the right tackle spot. Last season, he did not allow a single sack in 449 pass blocking snaps. Given his length and lack of elite mass, he likely projects as a tackle prospect only. Perhaps he can be Seattle’s swing tackle and insurance policy in case Abe Lucas can’t stay healthy. He wouldn’t be a day one starter like Donovan Jackson might be, but with some seasoning and filling out his frame more, he could become a fine right tackle in the NFL.
In addition, if Lundt ever does wind up starting, putting him back next to Christian Haynes, who started alongside him at Connecticut for two seasons, would bring much-needed continuity to the offensive line in Seattle.
Round 5, Pick 172: Nick Nash, WR, San Jose St
Thanks to the signings of former All-Pro Cooper Kupp and the lengthy, speedy Marquez Valdes-Scantling, along with Seattle’s now No. 1 receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the need at receiver isn’t as dire as it once was. However, the need for depth and youth is still very much there. Nash caught 16 touchdowns with over 1,300 yards and was a Biletnikoff Award finalist (given to college football’s top receiver). He appears to have the route-running savvy of a Kupp while offering a solid 6-3 frame. He was one of the most reliable receivers in all of college football in 2024. Adding him to the mix would make Seattle’s receiving corps once again a strength instead of a question mark and with a prior quarterback background, trick plays may be back on the menu.
Round 7, Pick 223: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
The Seahawks need to think down the road at tight end. Noah Fant enters his final year of his deal. A.J. Barner had a nice rookie campaign but he would be the only tight end on the roster in 2026 without any draft picks or deals handed out. Lachey put together a solid career at Iowa. He has plenty of size at 6-6. His height and wingspan offer an elite catch radius. He never put up eye-popping numbers with the Hawkeyes, as many rarely do. (How did George Kittle only have 737 career receiving yards at Iowa?) He is a fluid athlete, but can work to become more physical.
Lachey logged over 400 snaps as an in-line tight end, given Iowa’s pro-style offense. He showed a willingness to do the dirty work. A truly “you got to block if you want the rock” kind of guy.
Round 7, Pick 234: Isas Waxter, CB, Villanova
If you want a late-round flyer on a long, athletic corner with untapped upside, Waxter is your man. Normally, corners coming out of the FCS ranks are undersized. Waxter is anything but. At 6-1, 209 pounds, with 31 3/4-inch arms, you’d think he was coming out of the ACC, not the Coastal Athletic Association. He is a willing tackler in the run game as well. The Villanova alum does not possess elite, top-end speed. However, his technique, combined with his courage, length, and size should get him a job in the NFL. At the very least, Waxter could provide solid special teams production.
Draft Summary
Any draft where the Seahawks come away with two solid offensive linemen in the first four rounds would be a success to most fans. Plus, they nab the biggest physical freak of the entire draft in Emmanwori. The defense gets several new pieces for Macdonald to dream up play designs for. The trenches get a much-needed boost of youth and talent on both sides. A few offensive skill players are added to the mix that should fit Klint Kubiak’s new system in Seattle as well.
