Post-Free Agency Mock Draft: Seahawks Go Berserk With Trades, Add Dozen New Players
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Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins reels in a reception and turns upfield during a regular season game. Credit: Jayden Higgins/Instagram [/caption]
During the course of his 15 previous drafts as general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, John Schneider has never shied away from moving up or down the board, whether moving down 10 spots to recoup a pick or two in the first round or trading four picks to move up for Tyler Lockett in 2015.
Last year, Schneider only made on deal during draft weekend, sending a fourth-round and seventh-round pick to the Broncos in a trade down to add an additional day three selection. But in the past, with 33 total draft weekend trades from 2010 to 2023, he’s been far more active working the phones and navigating the board, including orchestrating seven separate deals during the 2019 draft alone.
Now armed with 10 total picks for the 2025 NFL Draft following pre-free agency trades of quarterback Geno Smith and receiver DK Metcalf to acquire a second and third-round selection, which gives the Seahawks four selections on day two, Schneider has far more ammo at his disposal to be aggressive moving up for a desired prospect than he has had for several years. Could that stockpile lead to a 2019-like trade bonanza?
With free agency now slowed to a crawl and basically done until next month’s draft, I put on my general manager cap eager to replicate Schneider’s wheel-and-deal frenzy, ultimately orchestrating four different trades to turn 10 picks into 12 new players in my latest seven-round mock draft, including moving up in the first round for a coveted offensive lineman.
- Seahawks trade picks No. 18 and No. 52 to Falcons for picks No. 15, No. 118, and No. 218
- Seahawks trade pick No. 50 to Ravens for picks No. 59 and No. 136
- Seahawks trade pick No. 136 to Raiders for picks No. 143 and No. 180
- Seahawks trade picks No. 218 and No. 223 to Commanders for pick No. 206
How did the draft play out with a quartet of trades - two moving up and two moving down - and a dozen players brought on board? Here’s my latest stab at a Seahawks seven-round mock draft with no shortage of fireworks:
Round 1, Pick 15: Will Campbell, T/G, LSU*
*Acquired from Falcons
A day one starter as a true freshman at left tackle for the Tigers, Campbell hit the ground running against top-notch SEC competition, allowing just 14 pressures and two sacks in 12 starts in his first year on campus. He continued to be a stalwart protecting future NFL star Jayden Daniels in 2023, allowing 17 pressures and no sacks in 13 games with a fantastic 98.2 percent pass block efficiency rate, and he nearly equaled those numbers in his final year in Baton Rouge, earning First-Team All-SEC honors and Consensus All-American distinction.
A fantastic athlete with natural movement skills and more than enough punch to be a body mover at the line of scrimmage, Campbell rarely got beat off the edge by speedy rushers and he’s elite at mirroring defenders who try to cross his face in pass protection, though speed to power moves did cause some issues for him at the college level. Both quick and nimble, he’s an outstanding zone blocker in the run game who consistently beats his opponent to his spot and excels at hooking defenders on reach blocks. Lack of length shows up on film at the tackle position at times and may create more problems for him trying to keep his hands connected with NFL speed off the edge, making him a candidate to slide inside to guard for some teams. The Seahawks would certainly check off that box, as his mix of power and athleticism would provide a dramatic upgrade with All-Pro potential at left guard in a perfect system for his strengths.
Round 2, Pick 59: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State**
**Acquired from Ravens
Somehow slipping through the cracks and landing at FCS program Eastern Kentucky to begin his college career, Higgins scored 10 touchdowns in his sophomore season with the Colonels before entering the transfer portal, taking his overlooked talents to the Big 12 with Iowa State. It didn’t take long for him to adjust to the big jump in competition, as he finished his junior campaign with 983 receiving yards and six touchdowns while averaging more than 18 yards per catch, and he wrapped up a fantastic collegiate career with 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns to earn Second-Team All-Big 12 honors and receive a Senior Bowl invite.
Boasting elite size at 6-4, 214 pounds coupled with outstanding athletic traits, including sub-4.5 40-yard dash speed, Higgins has all of the goods to be a dynamic downfield threat at the next level, as he can create separation consistently out of his breaks and sky over smaller defenders to bring in jump balls on go routes or fades for chunk plays. He has some limitations in terms of what routes he can run with below-average change of direction skills for a wideout, but he can do damage in the short and intermediate game as a possession target who occasionally breaks a tackle to pick up extra yardage and plays tough as a blocker in the run game. After losing DK Metcalf, the Seahawks replace their former star with another big-bodied, speedy target who can torch opponents vertically.
Round 3, Pick 82: Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Stuck in the shadows behind future NFL draft picks such as Seahawks 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy and T'Vondre Sweat, Collins didn’t receive the attention he probably deserved for most of his time in Austin, where he played significant snaps as a rotational defender until becoming a full-time starter in 2024. With those extended reps, he starred for a stout defensive line that guided the Longhorns to a College Football Playoff berth, posting a gaudy stat line with 55 tackles, six tackles for loss, 18 pressures, and six batted passes, making his presence felt as a pass rusher despite lackluster sack numbers.
Compared to Murphy, Collins' game lacks flash and sizzle, but he's a force to reckon with as a run defender at 332 pounds. Tough to move off his spot due to his massive size and length with nearly 35-inch arms, he plays with excellent leverage and throws cement blocks for hands, allowing him to control the fight from the onset and get his hands on backs for plenty of tackles. His lack of pass rushing production in terms of sacks and quarterback hits department may mean he's limited to early downs in the league, but the Seahawks would love to add him to the mix in a reunion with Murphy to slow down NFC West rushing attacks, as he could instantly replace Johnathan Hankins as the primary nose with some positional flexibility.
Round 3, Pick 92: Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech
After seeing significant snaps as a true freshman, Strong became a full-time starter for the Hokies in 2021, producing an interception and seven pass breakups in coverage with 10 starts. Unfortunately, an injury limited him to four games the following season, but he bounced back with a tremendous redshirt junior campaign, holding opposing quarterbacks to an ugly 11.8 passer rating when targeting him while picking off three passes with seven additional pass breakups. He wasn’t quite as dominant in his final season in Blacksburg, but he still only allowed one touchdown in coverage with two picks and six pass breakups, garnering Honorable Mention All-ACC honors.
Though Strong doesn’t have the longest arms for a cornerback, he offers quality size at 6-1, 185 pounds and hits harder than his weight class, as he exhibited improved tackling effectiveness cutting his missed tackle rate to under six percent in 2024. He’s an instinctive player whose aggressiveness undercutting routes has paid major dividends in the ball production department, but teams have burned him and taken advantage of his average speed from time to time with double moves, as he gave up three receptions of more than 40 yards last season. Capable of playing press or off coverage from the boundary and a physical enough run defender, he fits the mold of the type of corners Mike Macdonald has preferred in the past and his ability to turn the ball over frequently makes a third round selection well worth the investment for Seattle.
Round 4, Pick 118: David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas*
*Acquired from Falcons
Lightly recruited out of high school, Walker joined the Bears and feasted on FCS competition, starting with a 12-sack season as a sophomore in 2022. Following a strong junior season, he put himself squarely on the NFL map with 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and five swatted passes as a Consensus FCS All-American, earning a spot in the Senior Bowl and holding his own against elite competition in Mobile. He further bolstered his stock with a strong showing at the NFL combine, including a lightning quick 7.15 3-cone drill time showcasing his elite change of direction skills for a player of his size.
Short and stocky at 6-1, 263 pounds with short, sawed-off 31 7/8-inch arms, concerns about Walker’s measurables remain and he will have to prove he has enough juice to consistently win as a pass rusher in the NFL while dealing with a dramatic upgrade in competition. But his vicious bull rush and non-stop motor already have teams intrigued with his potential after he held up quite well against the best of the best in the Senior Bowl, giving him enough tools to contribute right away as a rotational edge while developing into a more well-rounded defender with starter upside. The Seahawks would be a great landing spot, as he would be afforded proper time for growth behind Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, and Demarcus Lawrence with the door open for him to start as early as 2026.
Round 4, Pick 137: Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse
Despite throwing 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions in his first season as a starter at Ohio State, McCord wound up transferring with the Buckeyes bringing Kansas State transfer Will Howard on board, taking his talents to Syracuse with a chip on his shoulder. The former top recruit smashed records in his lone season with the Orange, establishing a new single season ACC passing mark tossing for 4,779 yards and 34 touchdowns while finishing 10th in Heisman Trophy voting. An ugly performance with five interceptions against Pittsburgh, including a trio of pick sixes, dropped his draft stock a few pegs at the time, but he demonstrated substantial growth as a processor from the pocket after the game and threw only one interception in the final six games compared to 15 touchdown passes.
In an era where teams covet duel threat quarterbacks, McCord won’t wow with his mobility or scrambling talents, and he still has a tendency to lock onto his first read rather than transition into his next progression. However, he has improved managing pressure in the pocket and has the arm talent to make every NFL throw, as evidenced by his FBS-best 11 big time throws against pressure last season. He will need time for continued development, but sitting behind new starter Sam Darnold for a year or two could be the right situation for him to blossom into a future starter in Seattle, where he should be a strong fit for Klint Kubiak’s system.
Round 5, Pick 143: Charles Grant, T, William & Mary***
***Acquired from Raiders
A four-year starter for the Tribe, Grant enjoyed a remarkable collegiate career at the FCS level, allowing a grand total of 32 pressures and four sacks on more than 1,100 pass blocking reps. He also made tremendous strides over the course of his five seasons with the program as a run blocker, benefiting from a zone-heavy approach to take advantage of his athleticism, including earning a 90.4 run blocking grade from Pro Football Focus as a senior. After yielding just nine total pressures in 2024, he earned First-Team FCS All-American honors from the Associated Press and AFCA and received an invitation to participate in the Senior Bowl in Mobile.
On the lighter side at 6-5, 311 pounds, Grant lacks the strength and power to consistently win as a drive blocker at this stage of his football career, which will limit the number of teams with interest due to schematic concerns on that front. However, he has long 34 3/4-inch arms to go with light, smooth feet in pass protection, boasting the tools necessary to be able to step in and succeed against NFL rushers. He likely will need time in the weight room before he’s ready to be a starter, but with Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas entering the final year of their respective rookie deals, a mid-day three flier on him as a potential heir apparent at either spot offers great value for the Seahawks.
Round 5, Pick 172: Jake Majors, C, Texas
Following limited action as a true freshman, Majors jumped into the Longhorns’ starting lineup in 2021 and didn’t look back, starting 56 games as the anchor of the offensive line during his time in Austin. Impressively, he didn’t allow a single sack in three of his four seasons as a starter, with his best year coming in 2023 when he surrendered a grand total of seven pressures and posted a 99.3 percent pass block efficiency rate. Helping Texas reach back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, he was named as a finalist for the Campbell Trophy to wrap up his illustrious career before turning his attention to preparation for the NFL Draft.
At 306 pounds with sub-31-inch arms, Majors won’t wow as a drive blocker, as he can have issues holding up against stronger, more powerful interior defenders in the run game. He has adequate enough athleticism to handle zone blocking concepts, however, capable of executing reach blocks and climbing to the second level to get his hands on linebackers and defensive backs. He also has a surprisingly firm anchor against bull rushes, playing with sound leverage and technique to mitigate strength disadvantages in pass protection. A high floor prospect with a somewhat limited ceiling, he has enough polished skills to push for a starting job right away in a zone-centric system and the Seahawks would throw him into a competition with Olu Oluwatimi and Jalen Sundell right off the bat.
Round 5, Pick 175: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
Another prospect who started at the FCS level before jumping to a power four program, Tuten initially played two seasons as North Carolina A&T, rushing for 1,370 yards, 6.6 yards per carry, and 13 touchdowns in 2022 before transferring to Virginia Tech with two years of eligibility remaining. Not skipping a beat in the ACC and continuing to be an explosive force out of the backfield, he rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in two seasons with the Hokies, totaling a whopping 25 touchdowns on the ground with 32 designed runs of 15-plus yards, receiving Second-Team All-Conference distinction as a senior and turning heads with a dynamic combine performance in Indianapolis.
A compact 5-9, 206 pounds, Tuten has elite 4.32 speed that shows up on film with him blowing by defenders at the second level, including an 83-yard touchdown run against Boston College. He also can play bully ball bulldozing over tackles and shrugging off defenders at the point of attack, averaging more than 4.4 yards per carry after contact last season with 64 missed tackles forced. He has limitations as a receiver with nine career drops and fumbled nine times in two years at Virginia Tech, so he could tumble in a deep running back draft class, but he’s a day two, early day three talent who could push Ken Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, and Kenny McIntosh right away in a loaded Seahawks backfield with future starter potential.
Round 6, Pick 180: Kitan Crawford, S, Nevada***
***Acquired from Raiders
A top recruit who committed to Texas, Crawford never could break through as a starter in a deep, talented secondary in four seasons in Austin, opting to transfer for his final year of eligibility at Nevada to finally earn significant playing time on defense. Though the Wolfpack didn’t win a single game in Mountain West play, he shined for a struggling program with a change of scenery, racking up 62 combined tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups without giving up any touchdowns in coverage. If he had played on a better team, he likely would have been an All-Mountain West performer, instead being listed as honorable mention only before participating in the Hula Bowl all-star showcase.
Rewarded the opportunity to show what he could do in front of scouts at the combine after impressing in Hawaii, Crawford put together one of the best all-around workouts for a defensive back in Indy. Finishing among the top three safeties with a 4.41 40-yard dash, he also ranked second in the vertical jump (41 1/2 inches), third in the broad jump (128 inches), and second in the 3-cone drill (6.81). Seeing nearly a 50/50 split between free and strong safety at Nevada last season, he possesses the interchangeability Macdonald covets at the position on top of elite athletic traits and in time, he could play his way into snaps as a rotational third safety in sub packages while being a standout on special teams for the Seahawks.
Round 6, Pick 206: Willie Lampkin, G/FB, North Carolina****
****Acquired from Commanders via Bills
A suddenly not-so-rare five-year starter thanks to COVID, Lampkin logged an average of 800 snaps per season in three years at Coastal Carolina before transferring to North Carolina, instantly bolstering the Tar Heels lineup starting games at both tackle spots and even moonlighting briefly at center. Over the course of half a decade, he allowed a grand total of three sacks in pass protection, including none in his two years in Chapel Hill, while consistently thriving as a run blocker in front of standout back Omarion Hampton. Finishing his career on a strong note, he garnered First-Team All-ACC honors and enjoyed a stellar week against top competition at the Senior Bowl.
One of the smallest offensive linemen to enter the NFL draft discussion in decades, the 5-10, 270-pound Lampkin uses his short stature to his advantage, thumping opponents with powerful 10 3/8-inch hands and consistently winning the leverage battle to get underneath defensive tackles. Going against NFL size, it may be difficult for that success to translate with him giving up 50 or more pounds to most of his competition. But he’s a well-rounded pass protector who surprisingly doesn’t get bullied often by bull rushes and has the quicks to handle athletic interior rushers, giving him an outside shot to beat the odds and compete for playing time in the trenches. The Seahawks present an interesting opportunity for Lampkin, as he could begin his career as an H-back/fullback hybrid in Kubiak’s offense with the possibility to play guard down the line.
Round 7, Pick 234: Isas Waxter, CB, Villanova
Receiving limited scholarship offers, Waxter committed to join the Wildcats and played 326 defensive snaps as a true freshman, producing 25 tackles and two pass breakups. He battled frequent adversity over the next three years, as the FCS season was moved to the spring in 2020 due to the pandemic and sat out the entire 2022 season with a significant injury, but he bounced back with his best season yet in 2023. All three of his career interceptions came during that breakout campaign and he added six pass breakups for good measure as he limited opponents to a 30.8 passer rating when targeting him. He wrapped up his college career with another decent season in 2024.
One of the bigger corners in this year’s draft class, the 6-1, 209-pound Waxter uses his size effectively as a press cover corner and displays the willingness to throw his helmet into the fight as a run defender, though he has left more tackles on the field than desired. His lack of juice speed-wise left him in the dust a handful of times in coverage at Villanova, including two touchdowns allowed of 59 or more yards, and most of his ball production came in one season. Still, he allowed just a 50 percent completion rate when targeted and contributed a handful of pressures as a blitzer, leaving the door open to stay at corner or potentially switch to safety to be developed while excelling on special teams, something the Seahawks have done plenty of times with players in the past with late round selections.
