The Seattle Seahawks are arguably in the best position of any team heading toward the 2023 NFL Draft. They have two picks in the first round and will have the chance to address their biggest needs. Seattle can be aggressive, moving up the board should they find an opportunity to do so or taking a risk on a high-risk, high-reward kind of prospect.
One of the biggest areas of need for the Seahawks this offseason is their defense. Seattle struggled mightily on that side of the ball, ranking 25th in points allowed and 26th in yardage. The team was especially poor against the run, ranking 30th in rushing yards allowed.
The front office has done a wonderful job of upgrading its defense at every level. Dre’Mont Jones is a big upgrade along the defensive line, while Devin Bush was signed at linebacker, along with Bobby Wagner returning after one season with the Los Angeles Rams. In the secondary, Julian Love is a great addition to the safety position.
The No. 5 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft could also be used on some more pass-rushing help. If the team wants a more seasoned veteran to add to their pass-rushing group, the Seahawks could turn to free agency and bring back a familiar face.
One player that would be a good fit for the team is Frank Clark, who was released by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this offseason. Clark began his career with the Seahawks, playing the first four seasons of his career with them before he was traded to the Chiefs in 2019 for three draft picks.
Clark was very productive in Kansas City, earning a Pro Bowl nomination his first three seasons with the team. He remains a force getting into the opponent’s backfield and making plays whether it is sacks, tackles for loss or quarterback hits.
While injuries have sometimes hampered Clark, he can still produce a force in stretches for a team. His performance in the postseason en route to the Chiefs winning a second Super Bowl in four seasons proves that. In three games, he had 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits.
That kind of production is exactly what the Seahawks could use, as they like having a veteran pass rusher as part of their rotation. Clark is a familiar face and could fill that role, similar to what Bruce Irvin did on his third stint with Seattle of his career in 2022.
