The Seattle Seahawks recently moved on from two of the most productive wide receivers in franchise history, trading DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers and releasing Tyler Lockett. Even after signing Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency, the team needs more help at wide receiver.
Fortunately for the Seahawks, they have 10 selections in the upcoming 2025 NFL draft, including five of the first 100 picks. This should allow the team to address the offensive line and add another weapon for quarterback Sam Darnold.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper released a new two-round projection that has Seattle taking an offensive lineman, cornerback and wide receiver with its first three picks. In Round 1, the team was projected to draft Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks.
While the Seahawks need more help on the interior of their offensive line, Kiper believes the Seahawks could kick Banks inside to guard.
"The Seahawks have Charles Cross at left tackle, so Banks would help elsewhere on this lackluster offensive line," Kiper explains. "Right tackle Abraham Lucas has played in just 13 games over the past two seasons. The guard spots are both issues. Banks could fit in at any of those spots."
In the second round of ESPN's mock, the Seahawks take East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. with pick No. 50 before adding Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins two picks later. Kiper believes Higgins has the size and physicality to replace Metcalf.
"Higgins could bring a little of the physicality that Metcalf brought -- with one of the draft picks that came back to Seattle in the Metcalf trade," wrote Kiper. "He's 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds and showed his explosion at the combine with a 39-inch vertical. Higgins caught 87 passes last season for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns."
The Seahawks drafted Metcalf in the second round (pick No. 64) of the 2019 NFL draft. Despite having a track record of success over six NFL seasons, the team was only able to get a second-rounder back in return due to his contract situation.
Finding another player who could have an instant impact like Metcalf is highly unlikely, but there's a lot to like about Higgins. The Iowa State standout dropped just two passes on 129 targets last season.
However, Seattle doesn't need someone to replicate Metcalf's production right away. That was the point of bringing in Kupp and Valdes-Scantling. Plus, the team already has an ascending star at the position in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Finding the next DK Metcalf would be great, but the Seahawks must prioritize protecting Darnold at all costs if this team is going to be successful in 2025.
