Seattle Seahawks: Recent first round draft picks have disappointed
By Samuel Teets
2011 – James Carpenter
Alabama offensive linemen are usually reliable, but Carpenter failed to become the inside force Seattle needed. The tackle, who switched to the guard spot, spent just four years with the team before he became a free agent. He’s spent the last four seasons with the New York Jets.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Carpenter was the 25th overall selection in 2011. All things considered, drafting a guard was a smart decision. The offensive line has always been a problem for Seattle, save for Duane Brown, Max Unger and maybe Okung. And the Seahawks still haven’t found long-term answers at either guard position.
Both of the team’s 2018 starters, D.J. Fluker and J.R. Sweezy, are free agents this offseason. So, I’ll give Carroll and company credit for at least drafting at the right position. Unfortunately, it was the wrong player.
If Seattle was looking for a guard, there weren’t many good options. The team did try to get a true guard in the third round when they took John Moffitt, but he lasted just three years in the NFL. If the team initially intended to use Carpenter as a tackle, then they missed out on players such as Orlando Franklin (46th overall) and Marcus Cannon (138th overall).
Really though, the best offensive linemen were already gone by Seattle’s selection. Tackles Tyron Smith (ninth overall), Nate Solder (17th overall), and Anthony Castanzo (22nd overall) had already been selected. The guard class was horrible with the exception of Rodney Hudson (55th overall), who switched to center and became a Pro Bowler, and Clint Boling (101st overall). The Seahawks drafted for a position of need, they just made the selection in a year with very little depth at that spot.