Seattle Seahawks: 5 Biggest needs to address in 2020 NFL Draft
By Samuel Teets
3. Cornerback
After two mediocre seasons, Shaquill Griffin finally delivered on his athletic promise. In 14 games, the UCF product defended 13 passes. He did not record an interception but still set a new benchmark for his career. Griffin made his first Pro Bowl appearance, replacing New Orleans’ Marshon Lattimore.
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While Griffin elevated his play this past season, the Seahawks still need another quality cornerback. Seattle might not use a first-round pick on a corner, but the team should still expend a selection on a corner. The secondary is flawed.
Tre Flowers played safety at Oklahoma State. When the Seahawks selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 draft, they moved Flowers to cornerback. While Flowers emerged as a surprising contributor, teams began targeting him last year. Next to the emerging Griffin, Flowers became a liability.
Besides worrying about Flowers’ development, the Seahawks also need to take a long look at their cornerback depth. Akeem King, Neiko Thorpe and Kalan Reed will all enter free agency this spring. Fellow cornerback, Jeremy Boykins, is an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA).
If the Seahawks don’t re-sign any of those corners, Brian Allen, Flowers and Griffin would be the only remaining cornerbacks on the roster.
If the Seahawks chase a corner in the first round, they could land Trevon Diggs, Jaylon Johnson or A.J. Terrell. Finding a corner in the later rounds will be difficult, but this is the franchise that took Richard Sherman in the fifth round nine years ago.