Rebuilding Seahawks Lay Their Foundation Today

Russell Okung

The Seattle Seahawks, as presently constructed, suck. They won just five games in 2009, and if anything have gotten even suckier in the offseason. Today, the Seahawks start to get better, when they pick sixth and fourteenth in the first round of the NFL draft (4:30 p.m.). The names the Seahawks call out today won't just be the cornerstones of new coach Pete Carroll's rebuilding project; the Hawks' picks will also tell you what style of house he's going to build.

Jimmy Clausen

Rambler-style: Will Carroll go the simple, uncomplicated, non-flashy route and pick two lineman? The Hawks have a need at the critical position of left tackle (The Most Important Player in Football, because he protects Sandra Bullock), left empty by the assumed retirement of future Hall-of-Famer Walter Jones--who, coincidentally, was the sixth pick of the 1997 draft. Oklahoma State's Russell Okung is no Jones, according to draft experts, but is still the top lineman in the draft. Building low and slow would be my preference, as it's tough to win with bad linemen, but Carroll doesn't seem like the rambler type.

Eric Berry

Modern-style: Contemporary pro football is based on passing and complicated, attacking defenses. With Matt Hasselbeck on the decline, would Carroll choose a passing prodigy? Speculation has centered on Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, who Carroll tried and failed to recruit to USC. And, for the defense, Tennessee safety Eric Berry, who opens up the defensive playbook because he's big enough to take down a quarterback on a blitz and skilled enough to cover opposing receivers?

C.J. Spiller

Cribs-style: Carroll, who invited Will Ferrell* and Snoop Dogg to USC practices, doesn't shy away from flashy. He spent yesterday Tweeting draft clues, for God's sake. Would he go for PR value by drafting O'Dea kid and former USC star Taylor Mays? The other blingy player on the draft board is Clemson running back C.J. Spiller, a quick but strong back in the Barry Sanders mold (here's Spiller making some defenders look just ridiculous).

Split-level: Most likely, I think you'll see a combination of approaches. It strains credulity to think that a team as thin as the Hawks are on the offensive line wouldn't pick a big ugly to protect their quarterback, whoever he is. But I also think Carroll will try to make a splash with one of his picks. He's a major believer in the power of positive thinking, and no one, from fans to players, will be exited about a guy who only touches the actual football in emergencies. My prediction: One offensive lineman, one "game-changer"--be it a cornerback, receiver, running back, or QB.

A note on the coverage: The draft is in prime-time for the first time this year. This is a great decision as it means you can actually watch the thing; previously it was on Saturday, when you had inevitably made plans with your ladyfriend, and had to surreptitiously check your phone during brunch.

I suspect this event will eventually become a new rite of spring, and in my other life as editor of ManTestedRecipes I've suggested a few NFL Draft recipes for any party you may be having. I'm cooking for one, it's going to be a blast. If you plan to watch, full coverage is on NFL Network and ESPN. For Seahawks-focused coverage, Northwest Cable News will be simulcasting ESPN 710's draft broadcast, live from Seahawks HQ, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

WHO THE MOCK DRAFTS SAY THE SEAHAWKS WILL PICK AT #6 AND #14

Rob Rang, CBS Sports: Okung; Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Peter King, CNN-SI: Okung; Clausen
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com: Berry; Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
Danny O'Neil, Seattle Times: Okung; Spiller
Todd McShay, ESPN**: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
Mel Kiper, ESPN**: Okung; Earl Thomas, S, Texas

* Can you imagine former Hawks coach Chuck Knox getting in a conversation with Ferrell? "Funny guy, eh? We had a funny guy with us in Korea. A tailgunner. They blew his brains out all over the Pacific. There's nothing funny about that." #seinfeld)

** Pay-gated