The Seattle Seahawks have the need. This draft has the players.
The 2018 NFL draft is deep in cornerbacks, though not as deep as last year in quality safeties — when three became first-round picks.
The league drafted 56 defensive backs in 2017, the second-most in the past 18 years. Today’s NFL is all about passing and having defenders who can sack the passers and knock down their passes. So another long, deep run on DBs is likely in this draft, too.
That’s all good for Seattle, which needs cornerbacks and safeties.
Here are the top cornerbacks and safeties in this draft, followed by those that are likely to be available when Seattle chooses most. That’s on the last day, Saturday. Seven of the team’s eight scheduled picks are in rounds four (one choice), five (four picks) and seven (two selections):
CORNERBACK
1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama: Last year’s Bednarik and Thorpe award winner as college’s top defender and defensive back, respectively. He is athletic and versatile. He has played safety for the dominant program of his time and will go quickly at the top of round one.
2. Josh Jackson, Iowa: Jackson led the nation with eight interceptions last season. At 6 feet, 196 pounds, he’s long and lanky. Jackson attacks balls in the air and has been likened to Richard Sherman because both were college wide receivers considered not fast enough (4.56 40 for Jackson). But — crucial in the past for the Seahawks — Jackson doesn’t have 32-inch arms.
3. Denzel Ward, Ohio State: Freaky fast, with a zooming 4.32 40. Ward is under 6 feet, but plays taller because he’s so aggressive. He can out-run passes and make up ground in coverage while the ball is in the air. Another first-round pick.
Possible later-round options for Seahawks:
1. Isaiah Oliver, Colorado: His press-coverage skill fits what the Seahawks like to do most at the line of scrimmage. 6-foot height and 33 1/2-inch arms check other Seattle boxes. Seahawks have hosted him for a pre-draft visit.
2. Holton Hill, Texas: Another corner the Seahawks have hosted. Hill has had some off-the-field concerns, including failed drug tests, that GM John Schneider may be emphasizing in importance this year.
3. Simeon Thomas, Louisiana-Lafayette: Thomas is not even on many teams’ draft boards. But he’s on Seattle’s — because he is 6-4 1/2 inches tall with pterodactyl-like arms that are a whopping 35 inches long.
SAFETY
1. Derwin James, Florida State: A safety, cornerback and linebacker at FSU, James excelled at all three. The slight concern about a 2016 torn meniscus in his knee is trumped by sheer talent and athleticism as maybe the best defensive player in the draft.
2. Justin Reid, Stanford: The Seahawks have had him in for a visit. But it’s unlikely this versatile free safety, strong safety, cornerback, do-everything DB is going to last that long in this draft.
3. Ronnie Harrison, Alabama: The best run-stopping strong safety in this class. A former high-school quarterback, so he can read offenses well. Harrison played like a linebacker often at Alabama.
Possible later-round options for the Seahawks:
1. Tray Matthews, Auburn: Another hitting strong safety. He also played free safety but he was much more accomplished in the SEC at strong safety against the run. Some think he won’t get drafted after off-the-field issues got him kicked out of Georgia’s program.
2. Marcel Harris, Florida: The 6-1, 216-pound, hard-hitting strong safety had a visit with the Seahawks.
3. Chris Cooper, Stony Brook: Cooper weighs 202 pounds. He has run a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. Many see him as an undrafted free-agent option. The Seahawks hosted him, too.
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