The Seahawks had two of the most-discussed picks in this year’s NFL draft, taking pass rusher Bruce Irvin 15th overall and quarterback Russell Wilson 75th overall. Unsurprisingly, they disagree with those who call both picks reaches.
Seahawks General Manager John Schneider told Adam Schein of Sirius XM NFL Radio that Irvin was one of the three best defensive players on his board, along with linebacker Luke Kuechly and safety Mark Barron, and that Seattle couldn’t have traded down any lower than No. 15 and felt confident about getting Irvin because there was a good chance that Irvin would have gone to the Jets at No. 16 if the Seahawks didn’t take him.
“We thought there was a good chance the Jets were going to take him at 16,” Schneider said. “If we walked out without him, it would’ve hurt.”
Schneider also said other NFL personnel people were upset when the Seahawks took Wilson, because they were hoping he’d fall to them.
“You can see Russell do everything. It blew me away. There’s nothing he can’t do. He’s just short. But that’s it,” Schneider said. “Two guys I respect called me right after the Wilson pick to cuss me out.”
Some Seahawks fans wanted to cuss Schneider out after the draft, but he’s not second-guessing anything. The Seahawks drafted two players they love, and they don’t think they’re alone in loving Irvin and Wilson.