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Seattle Seahawks, Dorial Green-Beckham a fit?

By Kevin Parvizi

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The Seattle Seahawks came into the offseason knowing that they needed to give Russell Wilson some help, since they forced their franchise QB and superstar running back Marshawn Lynch to carry an offense with Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse as the team’s top two receivers. Baldwin is a solid possession guy who is versatile and efficient, and he can be a legit No. 2 wideout. However, Kearse is more of a No. 4 wideout and situational deep threat, and, with Chris Matthews emerging, the Seahawks seem to have too many of those guys to go around.

Now, the ‘Hawks are in a much better situation when it comes to pass-catching talent, as they made the aggressive, shocking move to acquire elite tight end Jimmy Graham from the New Orleans Saints. Graham is now the unquestionable top weapon in Wilson’s arsenal, and he and Luke Willson should form one of the league’s most dangerous TE duos.

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If Paul Richardson can make strides as a second-year pro after an unsurprisingly quiet rookie campaign (he was seen as a raw, high-upside playmaker coming out of college), then the Seahawks shouldn’t have any problems at the wide receiver position. Wilson has consistently shown that he can do a lot with precious little around him, because he is an elite decision-maker with an uncanny arm talent (both in accuracy and strength) and impressive vision and legs.

That said, the Seahawks have their eyes set on a second Super Bowl victory, and perhaps adding another wide receiver would do wonders in their pursuit of another ring. Byron Maxwell‘s departure and the loss of Max Unger via the Graham trade took two key players away from the Seahawks, but they did at least help fill their CB need by signing Cary Williams. The line might be Wilson’s biggest concern next season, especially since even the hard-nosed Lynch will suffer without Unger, but the Seahawks could still use another receiver.

Now without their first-round pick following the Graham trade, the Seahawks will have to look to second and third-day options to fill their biggest needs. According to Yahoo! Sports’s on-point Charles Robinson, the Seahawks showed interest in Dorial Green-Beckham before pulling the trigger on the Graham blockbuster, but even though they acquired the star TE, Robinson repots that the Seahawks are still a team to watch on the DGB rumor mill. Robinson’s report was confirmed by CBS Sports’s Dane Brugler, so there’s plenty of legit smoke here.

Of course, the Seahawks could only select DGB in the second round, since there’s only a very small chance of him slipping into the third round. Most analysts believe he is a sure-fire first-round prospect, so the feeling is that some team will take him high in the draft, perhaps in the first round.

It’s hard to remember a more polarizing wide receiver prospect than Green-Beckham, because he’s as boom-or-bust as it gets. His character concerns are real and extremely worrisome, since he could end up being the next talented WR to completely flame out of the NFL. However, his 6’5″, 237-pound frame, ball skills, insane athleticism, and 4.5 speed give him ridiculous upside, as he is the type of physical specimen who could become a massive weapon in the NFL if all goes well for him.

If any team can get the most out of Green-Beckham, then it would be the Seattle Seahawks. Head coach Pete Carroll has proven that he can work with players who have red flags, and the entire Seahawks coaching staff excels at getting the most out of players with freakish physical tools. Kearse’s size-speed combo makes him a freak of sorts, and the Seahawks have a few rotational receivers who fit that profile.

Green-Beckham, of course, isn’t a rotational receiver, and he brings even more athletic ability to the equation for the Seahawks. He’s definitely raw in his own right, as his off-field issues have also cut into his ability to develop as a receiver, which is a bit concerning. That said, he is a huge upside guy, and DGB’s ability to stretch the field and win on contested catches could make him a perfect fit in a Seahawks offense that loves WRs who can do these things.

Jan 3, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (15) reacts during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2014 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Missouri won 41-31. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

For as good of a fit as DGB could be in the Seattle offense and for as much upside as he possesses, it’s hard to see him landing in Seattle when the draft rolls around.

First of all, I have a feeling he’ll be off the board before the Seahawks are on the clock in the second round, and, if that’s the case, I don’t see them trading up.

If he’s available for the ‘Hawks at the bottom of the second round, then they have every reason to take a flier on him despite their needs elsewhere; DGB fills a need in his own right and is too good to pass up.

The problem is that he’s also a raw receiver and might not be able to make much of an impact as a rookie. This is a franchise that is already waiting on Richardson in the hopes that he can be a top weapon and YAC monster. DGB is a much different player than Richardson (for starters, he’s way bigger) and a better prospect overall, but he’s also a raw playmaking wide receiver.

The Seahawks have plenty of time to wait and would most likely be willing to develop him, but I wonder if they would be more interested in pursuing a more polished receiver or a more realistic option at the tail end of the second round.

Considering how good the Seahawks are at drafting, it’s hard to see them packaging some picks to move up in the second round after already being aggressive at the position in last year’s draft with Richardson (Kevin Norwood was not an aggressive move, but he should be mentioned).

Remember, Richardson was the 45th overall pick in last year’s draft, so the Seahawks paid a pretty good price for him and are likely high on his ability to make a big impact.

Dorial Green-Beckham is such a talented prospect and has upside worth gushing over, and, again, his skill-set would make him a long-term asset for the Seahawks. However, they wouldn’t be justified in trading up for him, unless if they are completely sold on him (which is hard to believe, but it is conceivable), because they traded up for a WR in the second round last year.

Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) rushes for a touchdown during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Seahawks won 35-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Addressing the position should be of concern to the Seahawks, but they should also look at upgrades on the line and at other positions if they feel there are better options. DGB is definitely worth considering, but “upside” is a dangerous word despite the fact that the Seahawks are able to develop players better than most organizations.

There’s no way the Seahawks trade up for him, but as long as they are fine with him as a person and player, the fit, value, and upside will likely be too good for them to pass up on at the bottom of the second round.

If he falls into their laps, then I think the Seahawks will scoop him up. But if that isn’t the case, then the Seahawks will have to look elsewhere for their next young addition to the WR corps.

Next: 5 Questions for the Seahawks

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