This is another team that ends up with an ideal scenario. Veteran left tackle Duane Brown is still unsigned, so Neal could start from Day 1. It just makes too much sense. I'm not a huge believer that Drew Lock will be Seattle's quarterback answer for the long term, but Neal could be a stalwart on the left side for years to come.
This pick just makes sense. Ahmad Gardner is a premier Cover 3 zone corner and the Seahawks and Pete Carroll are known for playing a primarily Cover 3 scheme. Gardner should bring a swagger and tenacity to the Seahawks' secondary that we haven't seen since Richard Sherman in his heyday when the Legion of Boom was leading this team to Super Bowl appearances.
Seattle has needs at cornerback, tackle and quarterback. After his strong pro day, Stingley is likely to carry the highest grade of the remaining talent at those positions.
The Seahawks found Russell Wilson in the third round which is why I think it would surprise me if they pulled on one here in a thin class. It would be hilarious if they drafted an OL with one of the picks they got for Russell Wilson after all his complaints about being sacked in the last few years.
Neal's 85.8 PFF grade ranked third among all Power Five tackles last year, and he allowed just one pressure per game on average. It was his second consecutive 80.0-plus PFF grade, too, as he posted an 83.7 mark at right tackle in 2020.
The Alabama product is the model of consistency. And his physical tools are off the charts, evidenced by his No. 1 ranking on Bruce Feldman's annual Freaks List. With the Seahawks having to replace both starting tackles in Duane Brown and Brandon Shell, this is a dream scenario.
With plenty of draft capital over the next two years following the Russell Wilson trade, the Seahawks have an opportunity to reshape the roster on both sides of the ball. Gardner fits well into the defensive scheme and has the traits of the prototype they have coveted in previous years.
With the potential to be a lockdown corner, he could land in a situation in which he will be relied upon early.
We've been upfront about Wills: we have a second-round grade on him based on his body of work in college, but that doesn't mean teams looking for a quarterback won't take one a round or so before they should. Willis had a great week at the Senior Bowl and he then interviewed well in Indy. He's built like Russell Wilson but obviously in much rawer form. It appears Drew Lock is the starter (for now) in Seattle, which means Willis can learn by watching. He has the physical tools to be the best passer in this class, all he needs is experience.
