Way-too-early Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft preview

The 2023 NFL Draft is April 27-29 in Kansas City. Here is the projected first-round order, per Tankathon. (Picks 1-18 are locked in.)

2022 record: 9-8 | First-round picks: No. 6 and 20 (projected) | Team needs: QB, DT, edge defender

Snapshot: The Seahawks find themselves in an interesting spot, making the playoffs but having two first-round draft picks -- perhaps both in the top 20. Their roster is good enough to sneak into the playoffs, but Seattle needs difference-makers on both sides of the ball. The big question: Are the Seahawks confident veteran QB Geno Smith, who had an outstanding season, is the guy?

Potential first-round picks: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama; Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia; Jared Verse, edge defender, Florida State

Young is the obvious choice, ranking as the top player in the draft. This would require a trade-up with the Bears, who own the No. 1 overall pick, but Seattle has the ammo for a deal.

Young passed for 8,200 yards and 86 touchdowns in the past two seasons. His TD passes dipped from 47 in 2021 to 32 in 2022, but his receiving corps wasn't up to the usual Alabama standards.

Some may be against this pick given the resurgence of Smith, but he seems more of a bridge QB than a franchise guy.

Seattle could also build up its trenches. Carter, the top defensive lineman in the class, would be a fantastic addition to Seattle's veteran interior line. This move might require a trade-up, too.

The Seahawks also need a dominant edge threat. Verse, who had 51 tackles, nine sacks, and a forced fumble in 2022, could form a great pass-rushing duo with Uchenna Nwosu, who had a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2022.

Pro Football Focus called Verse, a transfer from Albany, a "revelation" for Florida State. A member of a state champion high school 4x400 relay team, he had no scholarship offers coming out of high school, per ESPN.com.