Will 2023’s double set of first-round draft picks be the best in Seattle Seahawks history?
Let’s have some fun and speculate wildly (as writers and bloggers do) about how awesome a couple of our second-year players could be. For the purposes of this article, let’s just look at the years the Seattle Seahawks made multiple picks in the first round. Run down memory lane with me:
1997
GM Randy Mueller and coach Dennis Erickson traded QB Rick Mirer and draft picks around to obtain picks #3 and #6 in the 1997 NFL Draft:
Pick 3 – Shawn Springs – CB - Ohio State
Pick 6 – Walter Jones – OT - Florida State
2000
In the year 2000, Mike Holmgren was the ship’s captain, and he purged Joey Galloway to the Dallas Cowboys for two first-round picks.
Pick 19 – Shaun Alexander – RB – Alabama
Pick 22 – Chris McIntosh – OT – Wisconsin
2001
Holmgren took Koren Robinson with the second of Dallas’ first-round picks in the Joey Galloway trade in the 2001 draft.
Pick 9 – Koren Robinson – WR – North Carolina State
Pick 17 – Steve Hutchinson – G – Michigan
2010
We’ve arrived at Pete Carroll’s first draft with the Seattle Seahawks, which – at the time – drew a little controversy because USC Trojans safety Taylor Mays was a little peeved at Pete for selecting Earl Thomas ahead of him. It turned out that Pete was right to do so, of course.
Pick 6 – Russell Okung – OT – Oklahoma State
Pick 14 – Earl Thomas – S – Texas
2023
And finally, we come to Pete Carroll and John Schneider’s final draft together with the Seattle Seahawks. And, in my humble opinion, it was a dandy.
Pick 5 – Devon Witherspoon – CB – Illinois
Pick 20 – Jaxon Smith-Njigba – WR – Ohio State
This list of multiple first-round picks is shockingly good for how many draft whiffs I have memories of. Our 2023 first-round draft picks might have stiffer competition than I originally intended when I began this article.
Here’s how everyone’s career worked out:
1997 picks:
Shawn Springs
In 1997, the Seattle Seahawks made Shawn Springs the highest-drafted cornerback in NFL history (pick 3). He played the bulk of his career in Seattle but also joined the Washington Redskins and New England Patriots.
· 723 total tackles
· 8.5 sacks
· 6 forced fumbles with 6 recoveries
· 111 pass deflections
· 33 interceptions
· 4 TDs
· 1998 Pro Bowl
· 2004 second-team All-Pro
· In the Inventors Museum for developing car foam technology in infant seats
Walter Jones
The Seahawks selected LT Walter Jones with their sixth pick in the 1997 draft. He played his entire career in Seattle… and started every game.
· 180 consecutive games played.
· 3 fumble recoveries
· Member of the 2005 Super Bowl team
· 4x first-team All-Pro
· 2x second-team All-Pro
· 9x Pro Bowl
· NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
· NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
· Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
· Seahawks Ring of Honor
· Number 71 retired
· Quite possibly the greatest Seahawk of all time
2000 picks:
Shaun Alexander
With their 19th overall pick, the Seattle Seahawks selected Alabama standout running back Shaun Alexander. Alexander basically played for Seattle his entire career, save four games for Washington at the end of his career.
· 9,453 rushing yards
· 4.3 ypc
· 100 rushing touchdowns
· 12 receiving touchdowns
· 2005 MVP
· Member of the 2005 Super Bowl team
· Madden cover
· 2005 first-team All-Pro
· 2006 second-team All-Pro
· 3x Pro Bowl
· 2000s All-Decade Team
· Seahawks Ring of Honor
· Has a great smile
Chris McIntosh
The Seahawks selected Wisconsin Badger offensive tackle Chris McIntosh with the 22nd overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, McIntosh suffered a neck injury in the Seahawks’ 2001 training camp and never fully recovered. He retired from the NFL in 2003.
· 24 career games
· 13 starts
· Named Wisconsin’s third athletic director in 2021
2001 picks:
Koren Robinson
With their second first-round draft pick from the Joey Galloway trade and 9th overall pick, the Seahawks selected NC State wide receiver Koren Robinson. Robinson played for the Seahawks, Vikings, and Packers.
· 294 receptions
· 4,244 receiving yards
· 19 touchdowns
· 2,070 return yards
· 2005 first team All-Pro
· 2005 Pro Bowl
· Went on to play in the UFL
Steve Hutchinson
Okay, this one hurts a little. With the 17th overall pick in the 2001 draft, Holmgren selected Michigan guard Chris Hutchison. Hutchison played his first five incredible years in Seattle before signing with the Minnesota Vikings, where he went on to start in 59 straight games.
· 169 games played
· 6 fumble recoveries
· 5x first-team All-Pro
· 2x second-team All-Pro
· 7x Pro Bowl
· Member of 2005 Super Bowl Team
· NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
· Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
· Surprisingly active on Instagram
2010 picks:
Russell Okung
New head coach Pete Carroll and first-time general manager John Schneider used their first pick (6th overall) on Oklahoma State left tackle Russell Okung. Okung played for the Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers, and Panthers.
· 131 games played
· 2 fumble recoveries
· Seahawks Super Bowl champion
· 2x Pro Bowl
· Frightened Earl Thomas in college
Earl Thomas
Texas free safety Earl Thomas fell to the Seattle Seahawks at pick 14. Thomas played for the Seahawks and Ravens.
· 713 total tackles
· 2 sacks
· 12 forced fumbles
· 6 fumble recoveries
· 30 interceptions
· 4 touchdowns
· Seattle Super Bowl Champion
· 3x first-team All-Pro
· 2x second-team All-Pro
· 7x Pro Bowl
· NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
· Member of Seattle’s Legion of Boom
This brings us to our 2023 first-round picks, Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They are both in their second year of what we hope will be long careers in Seattle. We’ve been talking about both of them extensively lately, and none of us have crystal balls, so forget about them for the moment.
As it stands now, which first round was our best?
Poll
What year had our best multiple first-round picks?
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1997
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2000
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2001
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2010
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0 votes total Vote Now
And to be discussed in the comments, could 2023’s picks possibly be better?