4 CB's Seahawks should go after in draft

A quick look at four players in the 2017 NFL Draft that have the traits the Seattle Seahawks look for, including not requiring a first round pick to acquire them.

With the NFL season officially wrapping up Sunday it’s time to turn our focus towards improving the Seattle roster for 2017. Today we’ll take a look at who the Seahawks might want to target at the corner position in the upcoming draft.

Obviously, the defensive secondary has been a strength for this team, but the last two seasons have revealed a lack of depth. The Legion of Boom still is lead by elite talent, but it lacks the guys behind them that they once had.

With good depth, this draft might be able to help the team address that issue. While this draft class is weak at offensive tackle, it is strong in players in the defensive secondary.

There might even be a possibility that Seattle looks at finding someone to compete for the number two corner spot opposite of Richard Sherman.

Let’s take a look at some candidates.

Nov 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive back Adoree Jackson (2) celebrates during a NCAA football game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Adoree’ Jackson, USC

Possibly the best playmaker in this DB class, Jackson has a nose for the football and could be a nice fit in the Seahawks secondary. Last season at USC Jackson tallied five interceptions. At 5’11 Jackson isn’t as tall or long as a typical Seattle corner. However, the Jim Thorpe Award winner’s speed, athleticism and instincts allow him to stick with any receiver on the field.

Aside from his outstanding playmaking on defense, Jackson is also a home run threat as a punt and kick returner. That versatility is something the Seahawks drool over. With Tyler Lockett coming off a broken leg, it would be nice for the team to buy some insurance in Jackson. If the team felt corner was a top priority, they may consider using a 2nd or third round pick on the USC product.

Nov 25, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Kevin King (20) celebrates a play against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at Martin Stadium. The Huskies won 45-17. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin King, Washington

At 6’3” Kevin King is the prototypical Pete Carroll rangy corner. The Seahawks don’t even need to search beyond city limits to find a candidate that fits the mold. The University of Washington product has excellent anticipation and seems to have a knack for running routes for opposing receivers. King is rarely beat over the top and shows great quickness jumping on intermediate and underneath routes.

Aside from his coverage ability King is also a great tackler. He isn’t afraid to do the dirty work as he routinely puts his pads into the chest of running backs. This is somewhat of an unfair comparison, but his total package ability is reminiscent of Richard Sherman.

With major upside, King is worth a look for the Seahawks.

Sep 24, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon (23) intercepts the ball against Oregon Ducks wide receiver Darren Carrington II (7) at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Ahkello Witherspoon, Colorado

Another tall corner at 6’3″ Witherspoon has the potential to be a nice complimentary piece in the Seattle secondary. The senior out of Colorado has a nice combination of length and tenacity. Last season Witherspoon showed he is capable of mixing it up with any receiver he faces.

Witherspoon doesn’t quite have the same quickness or burst as Jackson and King, but he can more than hold his own as a defensive game changer. Witherspoon is very fluid for his size and doesn’t hesitate to get physical with receivers.

Witherspoon could be a nice match for the Seahawks, since they are likely to address the cornerback need in mid rounds or later. Witherspoon probably won’t be selected in the higher rounds giving the Seahawks a better chance to land the underrated talent should they be so inclined. Remember, Richard Sherman wasn’t selected until the 5th round.

Nov 26, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers cornerback Treston Decoud (14) knocks the ball from Oregon Ducks wide receiver Charles Nelson (6) in the first half at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Treston Decoud, Oregon State

Decoud is a player that is flying under the radar. The JC transfer played just two seasons at Oregon State. But in that time the 6’2″ 205lb corner proved he could play at a high level. Decoud saw a lot of talented receivers in the PAC 12 and shut down most of them on a regular basis. By the end of his Senior season opposing quarterbacks knew better then to throw to Decoud’s side of the field.

The physical corner would fit well in the Seattle scheme. He can beat guys up off of the line but he also has the quickness and closing speed to blanket receivers downfield. Like King, Decoud isn’t afraid to come up and lay his hat on ball carriers.

Decoud really has all of the tools to be a solid corner in the NFL. Given his limited national exposure while being part of a rebuild at OSU, Decoud could be an absolute steal for the Seahawks in the late rounds of the draft. This could potentially be one of those Pete Carroll, John Schneider late round/undrafted free agent magic tricks. If it works out that way, Seahawks fans should be excited.