Seahawks $500,679.45 All-Star Player Has Been Sent Off Season Due To A Brutal HC/Player Combat On…
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Seahawks bringing in 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year for top 30 vists
The Seattle Seahawks know a thing or two about drafting Mississippi State players. Could they have interest in another one?
Nathaniel Watson was the AP’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, and he is set to meet with the Seahawks in a top 30 visit.
Watson played six (!) years at Mississippi State. He redshirted in 2018 and had an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hence his long collegiate career. After earning second-team All-SEC honors in 2022 with 113 tackles and 6 sacks, Watson leveled up in 2023 with 102 tackles (35 solo), 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception on his way to first-team All-SEC (in addition to the aforementioned SEC DPOY award).
It should be noted that Watson has had a couple of off-the-field incidents, including a drag racing incident in 2018 and a DUI arrest last year.
Getting back to football, Watson did attend the NFL combine, measuring 6’2 and 233 pounds, with a 40-yard dash of 4.62 seconds. He was not an exceptional tester based on the Relative Athletic Score, but that’s also not a make-or-break factor for someone’s NFL prospects.
The Seahawks have drafted Mississippi State players in each of the last two seasons: Cameron Young in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, and Charles Cross with their first-round pick in 2022. Of course, the last Miss. St linebacker the Seahawks drafted was none other than K.J. Wright in 2011.
Watson is projected as a late Day 3 pick. Take a look at some of his highlights in the videos below:
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Seahawks GM Says Team Will Address ‘Obvious’ Need
The Seattle Seahawks have the core pieces intact to compete in the NFC, though they’ll need some help upfront to protect Geno Smith.
The Seahawks saw five of their own offensive linemen leave in free agency including starters like center Evan Brown as well as guards Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes.
So far, Seattle has signed George Fant, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., and Nick Harris though they’ll need more talent and depth in the O-line room for the 2024 NFL season.
Fortunately for the Seahawks, the 2024 NFL Draft has numerous offensive tackle prospects that should be able to come in immediately and start.
There are also some solid options left in free agency that didn’t get signed during the first wave.
Seattle general manager John Schneider acknowledged that the team will look to address their offensive line needs through multiple avenues via Around The NFL.
We’re going to be bringing a couple of veteran offensive linemen through in this second phase of free agency, and then comparing that to what the draft looks like,” Schneider said on Seattle Sports 710, via the team website.”
Schneider and the rest of the organization are well-aware of what they need to do to bolster the roster and it sounds like they have a clear plan in place.
With new head coach Mike Macdonald leading the team, getting him offensive linemen that can keep Smith upright will be crucial to their success.
For now, though, it’ll be interesting to see which players Schneider and company target before the draft rolls around next month.