The Seattle Seahawks’ 2022 Draft Class is looking like a golden one

The Seattle Seahawks rookie class of 2022 is trying like one thing particular. The staff drafted 9 gamers in April, and nearly all of them are making significant contributions to the team; Charles Cross and Abe Lucas seem like they are going to be bookend tackles for a few years to come back, Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant are impressing on an in any other case unimpressive protection, and Kenneth Walker III is making performs that may make Shaun Alexander proud. Boye Mafe has had ups and downs on a defensive unit that has largely had downs to date, and he seems to be an ascending go rusher from what I can see. Many of those guys have outplayed their draft place already, and we’re solely six video games into the season. So let’s have a look at how every participant has fared as we strategy midseason.

Charles Cross — 1.09

Cross has began all six video games for the Seattle Seahawks to date. Rookie tackles usually battle as they acclimate to the NFL, and he’s no completely different, however he has additionally regarded like an impactful blocker who will develop right into a long-term starter at an important place on the offensive line. He currently has a higher pass blocking grade than any of the tackles drafted ahead of him, according to Pro Football Focus. He seems each bit the a part of a franchise sort out for this staff.

Boye Mafe — 2.40

The previous Minnesota Golden Gophers go rusher has had his ups and downs to date, however he has picked up a sack taking part in in a rotational position, and has made two begins on the season to date. He’s nonetheless growing as a defender, however he has clearly had some moments of trying like a three-down participant, like this one:

Kenneth Walker III — 2.41

After taking part in second fiddle to Rashaad Penny, Walker lastly had a chance to begin following Penny’s unlucky season-ending harm. He responded by selecting up 110 yards from scrimmage and his second landing of the season. He seems like a particular operating again, resulting in this comparability to former Michigan Wolverines standout Aidan Hutchinson:

Abe Lucas — 3.72

Lucas has began each recreation to date and leads all rookie tackles with a pass blocking grade of 70.5 according to Pro Football Focus. The Seahawks should be thrilled that they appear to have discovered their bookend tackles in the identical draft, and hopefully they’ve the constructing blocks to area a formidable blocking unit for seasons to come back.

Coby Bryant — 4.109

Bryant was overshadowed by Sauce Gardner whereas taking part in for the Cincinnati Bearcats, however not at all was he missed solely; whereas his protection recreation remains to be a piece in progress, he has made one start on the season so far and leads the NFL in fumbles with 4. And he seemingly is getting higher every week.

Tariq Woolen — 5.153

Wow. Woolen is tied with Jordan Poyer in main the NFL in interceptions with 4 and is allowing a passer rating of 38.6 when targeted. Phrases can hardly describe how unimaginable Tariq has regarded on the sphere, shortly proving to be principally the whole lot that the staff and followers hoped he can be. He has even acquired reward from Richard Sherman, who isn’t shy to level out the eerie similarities of their respective NFL careers:

Tyreke Smith — 5.158

Smith is on season-ending IR and will unfortunately have to wait until 2023 to have an opportunity to make an impact.

Bo Melton — 7.229

The previous Rutgers receiver was waived and signed to the follow squad; he has but to be referred to as as much as the lively roster and has not performed any snaps in 2022.

Dareke Younger — 7.233

Young has been a healthy scratch in 3 games and sat out another with an injury; he has solely performed seven whole snaps and has but to see any targets or file any vital statistics.

I believe it’s truthful to say that the Seattle Seahawks should be completely thrilled to be seeing six of their 9 rookies not solely discovering taking part in time, however truly racking up begins and racking up stats. 4 of those guys are the first starters at their place (Cross, Lucas, Walker, and Woolen), and the opposite two (Mafe and Bryant) are key position gamers on the protection. After a number of seasons of hand-wringing over the declining returns on Pete Carroll and John Schneider’s draft magic, this group seems to have gotten again to their roots and located affect gamers at practically each level within the draft; even the three guys who haven’t performed (or at the least have barely performed) are nonetheless on the staff in some type or one other. Folks had been proper to imagine that the Seahawks can be “rebuilding” in 2022; however few anticipated them to be successful whereas they had been doing it. Having impactful rookies everywhere in the area is factoring closely into their success this season, and provides this group an enormous quantity of hope for the longer term.