Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft picks 2023: Grades, fits and scouting ...

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The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2023 NFL Draft on April 27 with 10 picks over the three-day event, including two in the top 20 and five in the top 83.

Seattle’s selection of Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon at No. 5 overall represents the highest pick made by general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll in 14 drafts together. With every defensive player in the draft available to them except for Will Anderson Jr. after quarterbacks went with three of the first four picks, the Seahawks are betting on the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and his impressive competitive streak. With their second pick of the first round, the Seahawks took slot weapon Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 20 overall, adding the electric Ohio State receiver to help take pressure off DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

On Day 2, the Seahawks made a much-anticipated move to shore up their defensive line by selecting Auburn DE Derick Hall at No. 37 overall. The pick was the final selection they received from Denver through the Russell Wilson trade.

The Seahawks have plenty of picks to fill holes. Their primary needs are defensive tackle, edge rusher, linebacker and interior offensive line.

Keep coming back here throughout the draft for analysis and grades for each Seahawks pick.

Round 1 No. 5 (from Broncos): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois How he fits

The first real surprise of the first round, as CB1 is off the board, a bit earlier than many anticipated. Devon Witherspoon, not Oregon corner Christian Gonzalez, goes No. 5 overall to Seattle, and his tenacity and fearless competitive nature should be a perfect fit with everything the Seahawks are about defensively. Witherspoon will join a secondary with Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant, as the young Seahawks just get better. And tougher.

Witherspoon over Gonzalez is a surprise, though it’s not shocking. Gonzalez is the better overall athlete, though many believe Witherspoon is the tougher — and perhaps better — overall football player. The Seahawks also pass on Georgia DT Jalen Carter and edge Tyree Wilson. Witherspoon is legit, though. A very good player. — Nick Baumgardner

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Witherspoon, who loves the challenge of man-to-man, has excellent read-and-drive reaction quickness and uses his eyes and physicality to shut down passing windows (26 passes defended in 22 games the last two season). Although he doesn’t carry an ideal weight, he has functional length and competes much bigger than he looks both in coverage and run support. Overall, Witherspoon needs to walk the fine line of being aggressive without drawing flags, but his fiery play personality is a positive, along with his cover athleticism, ball skills and finishing toughness. He projects as an immediate NFL starter with scheme versatility.

Michael-Shawn Dugar’s analysis: Instant-impact Illinois CB is the complete package

Scott Dochterman’s grade: B-minus No. 20: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State How he fits

Seattle’s offense broke out in 2022 with a well-balanced skill position group and a pair of promising tackles, but adding a slot receiver was a clear opportunity to put the finishing touches on the passing game, and Smith-Njigba is too perfect a fit to pass up. Smith-Njigba boasts the best hands in this class, has excellent feel for soft spaces in coverage, has experience taking up a large target share and brings the change-of-direction skills to separate from slot defenders of all kinds.

One of the few questions Smith-Njigba has to answer is his durability following a hamstring injury that cost him all of his 2022 season, but the receiver did well for himself by running a 4.53 at his pro day. He’s not going to block like Cooper Kupp and prime Robert Woods from the slot, but Seattle will do just fine with him in spread sets. Seattle’s offense will be a problem to deal with next season. — Diante Lee

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Although he played in a favorable offensive situation in Columbus (including alongside first-round receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave), Smith-Njigba is a crisp, controlled route runner with the hand strength to focus and snatch the football. He doesn’t have the speed to run away from coverage, but he skillfully throttles his speeds and uses different sink/body techniques to leverage defensive backs out of position and create pockets of separation. Overall, Smith-Njigba isn’t an elite size/speed athlete and won’t be an ideal fit for every role, but he is a crafty route runner with smooth short-area quickness and tracking talent to be a sure-handed target. He projects as an early NFL starter who is at his best in the slot.

Michael-Shawn Dugar’s analysis: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett have help coming in the slot

Scott Dochterman’s grade: A Round 2 No. 37 (from Broncos): Derick Hall, DE, Auburn How he fits

Seattle starts its day two by addressing its front, specifically pass rush on the edge. Hall isn’t so much a run stopper as he is an all-gas, all-twitch pass rusher off the edge. One of the fastest on-field players, regardless of position, at the Senior Bowl — Hall ran a 4.55 at more than 250 pounds. There is plenty of stiffness to his game and questions about versatility, but his speed off the corner — and the effort he plays with, getting everything his body has — is legit. — Nick Baumgardner

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Only two pounds and nine ounces when he was born, Hall grew into a long, rocked-up defender who wears down blockers with aggressive stabs and speed-to-power moves. He can set a physical edge versus the run, but hints of stiffness leave him tardy to disengage and work off contact. Overall, Hall doesn’t have fully fleshed-out counter maneuvers, but he is an urgent, hard-charging pass rusher with linear athleticism and power in his hands. He will be attractive to multiple schemes and projects as a potential NFL starter, similar to the Denver Broncos’ Jonathan Cooper.

Scott Dochterman’s grade: B

No. 52

Round 3

No. 83

Round 4

No. 123

Round 5

No. 151 (from Steelers)No. 154

Round 6

No. 198

Round 7

No. 237

(Photo: Brandon Sumrall / Getty Images)