RealGM

As badly as the Seahawks needed another defensive difference-maker, they weren't necessarily intent on addressing that side of the ball with their first pick going in.

Their other top target, according to sources inside the draft room, was Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham, who would have slid inside to guard to fill what was arguably the team's top need.

For much of the pre-draft process, the Seahawks didn't think Murphy would even be available to them at 16, and with no second-round pick, they didn't have the draft capital to trade up and get him.

The first round began with 14 such selections, including Latham going No. 7 overall to the Tennessee Titans. In the meantime, the Seahawks were discussing trade-back scenarios with the Pittsburgh Steelers (who picked 20th), Philadelphia Eagles (22nd), Minnesota Vikings (23rd), Green Bay Packers (25th) and Atlanta Falcons (43rd), according to sources. While the Seahawks did not try to trade up with Atlanta to take quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8, they did field a later trade offer from the Falcons, who were looking to get back into the first round after taking Penix. The Packers bowed out as Seattle's pick approached, which is why Schneider only referred to having four opportunities to trade back from 16.

The ninth overall pick was a potential turning point for Seattle. According to sources, the Seahawks' pre-draft intel had left them certain that if Washington receiver Rome Odunze was off the board, then the Chicago Bears would take Murphy at that spot. But with Odunze still there, Chicago continued the run on offensive players.

That lasted until pick No. 15, where the Indianapolis Colts selected UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who would not have been a consideration for Seattle because of his past neck injury. Neither was Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu because of knee concerns, though, medical issues aside, the Seahawks preferred Murphy anyway over the player most commonly mocked to them at 16.

So then the decision had arrived -- either draft Murphy or trade out of that spot. Schneider's long history of trading back and the absence of a second-round pick made another move down the draft board seem like a strong possibility, if not a likelihood. And while Schneider gave it serious thought, a source said his decision to stay put was influenced by a belief that the Seahawks didn't need the extra draft capital as much as they might if they were in more of a rebuild.

bluejerseyjinx wrote:Does it get lonely talking to yourself?

Danny Darko wrote:Haynes was not one of the guards I had thought we would select