2019 NFL Mock Draft: Defensive line dominates as quarterbacks fall
By Randy Gurzi
21. Seattle Seahawks: Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi St
The season ended for the Seattle Seahawks after the Dallas Cowboys beat them in the Wild Card round. The two franchises are mirror images of one another as they both rely on defense and a strong running game to win. The difference in that game happened to be the Cowboys ability to stop the run and the Seahawks inability to slow Dallas’ rushing attack.
While they could go for an offensive lineman to help their own ground game — and help Russell Wilson who is constantly under duress — Seattle has shown reluctance to do so. They draft a lot of O-linemen, but not in the opening round. What they don’t mind doing is going for the defensive line, which is what they do here by taking Jeffery Simmons.
The kid from Mississippi State is a great run stuffer and would have come in very handy against Dallas — especially when another Mississippi State alumni named Dak Prescott ran straight up the gut on a critical 3rd-and-14. During his time with the Bulldogs, Simmons recorded 163 tackles and seven sacks.
He didn’t generate a ton of pressure on the quarterback but he’s still not bad in this area and is still developing. With that being said, he’s going to make his mark right away as a punishing tackler for a team that prides itself on being a physically dominant defense.