Best Draft Picks At Every Slot
ESPN’s Ben Solak lists best draft picks ever at every slot from No. 1 to 262 and five Seahawks made the list.
No. 6 Walter Jones, OT (1997)
A first ballot Hall of Famer and one of the best offensive linemen of all time, Jones just beat out a glut of receivers taken with the sixth overall pick (Tim Brown, Julio Jones, James Lofton and Torry Holt). I would hear arguments for the first two; I would not hear arguments for the latter two. Walter Jones is one of only four Seahawks with his number retired and is probably the greatest Seahawk in history.
No. 36 Kevin Mawae, C (1994)
A 16-year pro, Mawae sailed off into the sunset, blocking for Chris Johnson's 2,000-yard season in his final NFL campaign. Mawae was an All-Pro-caliber starter at center for three teams (Seahawks, Jets and Titans) and the only Hall of Famer at this spot. Easy pick.
No. 47 Bobby Wagner, LB (2012)
Wagner made an All-Pro list in 2014 and hasn't stopped making them since, spanning 11 straight seasons. Preposterous consistency and longevity. Wagner should end up a Hall of Fame player for his career success, but don't sleep on the fact that he's only 221 tackles behind Ray Lewis for the most combined tackles in NFL history. If Wagner plays two more healthy, productive seasons ...
No. 75 Russell Wilson, QB (2012)
Tough break for OT Terron Armstead, who is one of the best third-round picks ever but isn't better than this Super Bowl-winning, Walter Payton Man of the Year-winning quarterback. Wilson never collected a ton of All-Pros, which isn't surprising given the era of quarterbacking in which he plays, but he has been a decade-long starter who won a ring, and that's just too valuable at pick No. 75.
No. 85 Brandon Mebane, DT (2007)
As we approach the 100s, we slowly enter the territory of happy memories of solid role players -- "That Guy!" ville, as I like to call it. Mebane was a reliable, space-gobbling defensive tackle for the Legion of Boom Seahawks (oh yeah, that guy!), and has a Super Bowl ring for his efforts. Good pick!
No. 133 Kam Chancellor, S (2010)
No. 155 Michael Sinclair, DE (1991)
No. 170 Michael McCrary, DE (1993)
No. 225 J.R. Sweezy, G (2012)
No. 242 Malcolm Smith, LB (2011)