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2015 NFL Mock Draft: Todd Gurley right pick for Seattle Seahawks?

By Nick Ziegler

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The Seattle Seahawks are fresh off a Super Bowl loss that is certainly stinging still, but the organization must try move forward. In ESPN’s Todd McShay’s latest 2015 NFL Mock Draft, the Seahawks could be making a major switch in their backfield.

According to McShay the Seahawks will be selecting Georgia Bulldogs’ running back Todd Gurley with the 31st overall pick.

Gurley has had a fantastic career in his three seasons with the Bulldogs in the always competitive SEC. In three seasons, Gurley rushed for 3,285 rushing yards on 510 carries for a great 6.4 yards per carry average with 36 touchdowns.

2014 was a productive season for Gurley, but unfortunately it was a short season. In six games, Gurley rushed for 911 yards on 123 carries for a ridiculous 7.4 YPC. The production from Gurley would have put him in the Heisman race last season if he was able to play a full season, but those stats in just six games show the greatness of Gurley.

Gurley missed time because was suspended for four games during the regular season for taking $3,000 dollars for autographed memorabilia. Upon his return, Gurley would suffer some bad luck as he tore his ACL in the game against the Auburn Tigers.

The main reason for Gurley being projected to go so late in the draft is due to the torn ACL, as if healthy he would have easily been higher in the draft. The value of Gurley can defiantly change one way or the other depending on how Gurley’s ACL is.

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Gurley isn’t the only running back who is projected to go in the first-round, as also Wisconsin Badgers’ RB Melvin Gordon is projected to go in the first-round. In the past few seasons teams have been staying away from running backs in the first-round, but this year looks to be the year we see at least one taking in the first 32 picks.

If McShay’s mock draft is accurate, it will likely mean the end of Marshawn Lynch’s career in Seattle. Lynch as had a great career in Seattle after joining the Seahawks in 2010 during the season from the Buffalo Bills.

In his four full seasons with the Seahawks, Lynch has been a consistent RB with over 1,200 yards rushing in each of those years. He has also been consistent at finding the end zone with double-digit touchdowns in each season.

Lynch has been the identity of the Seahawks’ offense since he arrived from the Bills, but Lynch’s future with the team is very up in the air. According to head coach Pete Carroll on an appearance with ESPN 710 in Seattle there are talks ongoing. “We’ll see,” Carroll said. “We’ve been in the midst of negotiations for a long time for the future, so we’ll see how that goes.”

Replacing Lynch seems like an impossible thing to do, but Gurley seems to have a similar running-style like Lynch. They are both north-south runners, but what could separate him for Lynch is the fact that he is a bit quicker.

Seeing what happens with Lynch in Seattle will be one of the more followed stories in the NFL this offseason, but if he is no longer a Seahawk in 2015 they seem to have a good backup plan if they draft Gurley.

Next: Where do the Seahawks rank in the best all-time franchises?

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