On NFL draft Saturday, lady luck smiled on the Seattle Seahawks and allowed sure-thing LB Aaron Curry fall into their laps at #4 (which I had predicted earlier in the week). Suddenly, the 4-12 Seahawks had the right piece to plug into their ailing defense. This new piece would benefit the team both in the immediate as well as long term; allowing Jim Mora to cover for the loss of Julian Peterson. With one of their larger holes filled, Mora raved to the national media that the Seahawks had the best LB corp in the NFL - 2 pro-bowl caliber linebackers and the top-rated LB coming out of college in perhaps the last 5-10 years.
In the 2nd round, Ruskell made what might become the best trade in Seahawks history. Trader Tim swapped the Hawks 2nd round pick in exchange for Denver's 1st round pick in 2010. If the Broncos record is similar to last year's, that pick is somewhere around the middle of the first round. However, given the Broncos' trade/loss of franchise quarterback Jay Cutler combined with one of the worst defenses in the NFL, some think the Seahawks pick might be in the top 5. Most analysts feel that the 2010 draft is loaded with talent and superior to 2009. In short, the Seahawks will go into the 2010 draft armed with two 1st round picks giving them the opportunity to add impact players to re-stock their team.
And Ruskell wasn't done. He traded back into the 2nd round to grab C Max Unger and moved into the 3rd to get Deon Butler, a deep threat WR with 4.38 speed from a legitimate college football powerhouse. The net resultof the draft? Two players that will see significant time and a 3rd player that adds depth and something unique to the receiving corp. An impact player-to-be-named in 2010 -- a franchise QB? A stud RB? Taylor Mays?
Just when everything seemed to fall into place, Timmy did the unthinkable. He reached back into the past and pulled out the ghost of Steve Hutchinson. By removing the franchise tag from Pro-Bowl LB Leroy Hill (one year $8.3m), Ruskell is gambling that other NFL teams have blown their wads on free agency and the draft, and therefore, won't have the cash to pay Hill better than the package that the Hawks can put together. Unfortunately that gamble failed to pay off with Hutch and will also fail when teams that are under the cap (Philadephia, Tampa Bay, Miami, Tennessee, or Kansas City) line up with suitcases of cash. Given that Hill is only 26 and undoubtedly in his prime, there will be no shortage of teams willing to spend top dollar to land him.
Suddenly, without Hill the draft doesn't look as rosy. The LB group is down one pro-bowl player, a rookie, and no adequate 3rd option. I'm not buying Ruskell's response to the media that by letting Hill sign elsewhere the $8m will be used to bring in some great free agents that will cover the teams other problems. Today's signing of CB Ken Lucas adds yet another 30 year old to the aging secondary. The NFL is a young man's game. Keep in mind that the recent AFC Pro Bowl roster included 5 players in the secondary whose average age was 27.5:
CB Nnamdi Asomugh (Oakland) - 27
CB Cortland Finnegan (Tennessee) - 25
S Chris Hope (Tennessee) - 28
S Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh) - 28
S Ed Reed (Baltimore) - 30
Let's just say, as of right now, I'm only mildly pleased with the results of the draft. I don't, however, think that the Hawks improved much. You don't swap a Pro-Bowl LB in exchange for a rookie and expect better results. Also, you don't swap a hall of fame coach and replace him with Mike Vick's caretaker. Don't expect to make a Superbowl run with a weak team of RBs, aging secondary, and a QB whose health is questionable. Unless the pieces unexpectedly come together, the Hawks don't look much better than 8-8.
In the 2nd round, Ruskell made what might become the best trade in Seahawks history. Trader Tim swapped the Hawks 2nd round pick in exchange for Denver's 1st round pick in 2010. If the Broncos record is similar to last year's, that pick is somewhere around the middle of the first round. However, given the Broncos' trade/loss of franchise quarterback Jay Cutler combined with one of the worst defenses in the NFL, some think the Seahawks pick might be in the top 5. Most analysts feel that the 2010 draft is loaded with talent and superior to 2009. In short, the Seahawks will go into the 2010 draft armed with two 1st round picks giving them the opportunity to add impact players to re-stock their team.
And Ruskell wasn't done. He traded back into the 2nd round to grab C Max Unger and moved into the 3rd to get Deon Butler, a deep threat WR with 4.38 speed from a legitimate college football powerhouse. The net resultof the draft? Two players that will see significant time and a 3rd player that adds depth and something unique to the receiving corp. An impact player-to-be-named in 2010 -- a franchise QB? A stud RB? Taylor Mays?
Just when everything seemed to fall into place, Timmy did the unthinkable. He reached back into the past and pulled out the ghost of Steve Hutchinson. By removing the franchise tag from Pro-Bowl LB Leroy Hill (one year $8.3m), Ruskell is gambling that other NFL teams have blown their wads on free agency and the draft, and therefore, won't have the cash to pay Hill better than the package that the Hawks can put together. Unfortunately that gamble failed to pay off with Hutch and will also fail when teams that are under the cap (Philadephia, Tampa Bay, Miami, Tennessee, or Kansas City) line up with suitcases of cash. Given that Hill is only 26 and undoubtedly in his prime, there will be no shortage of teams willing to spend top dollar to land him.
Suddenly, without Hill the draft doesn't look as rosy. The LB group is down one pro-bowl player, a rookie, and no adequate 3rd option. I'm not buying Ruskell's response to the media that by letting Hill sign elsewhere the $8m will be used to bring in some great free agents that will cover the teams other problems. Today's signing of CB Ken Lucas adds yet another 30 year old to the aging secondary. The NFL is a young man's game. Keep in mind that the recent AFC Pro Bowl roster included 5 players in the secondary whose average age was 27.5:
CB Nnamdi Asomugh (Oakland) - 27
CB Cortland Finnegan (Tennessee) - 25
S Chris Hope (Tennessee) - 28
S Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh) - 28
S Ed Reed (Baltimore) - 30
Let's just say, as of right now, I'm only mildly pleased with the results of the draft. I don't, however, think that the Hawks improved much. You don't swap a Pro-Bowl LB in exchange for a rookie and expect better results. Also, you don't swap a hall of fame coach and replace him with Mike Vick's caretaker. Don't expect to make a Superbowl run with a weak team of RBs, aging secondary, and a QB whose health is questionable. Unless the pieces unexpectedly come together, the Hawks don't look much better than 8-8.
Graham Harell goes undrafted? Huh? Guess the Hawks really believe in Wallace.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of your analysis.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if we manage to sign Hill this weekend with the additions of Lucas and Griffith then Ruskell will shine.
Two number one draft picks next year will quell any concern for a new QB after Hasselhoff is done.