SEATTLE — Five years ago, the Seattle Seahawks found themselves in a first-round predicament.
They had just traded away defensive end Frank Clark two days before the start of the 2019 NFL draft, leaving them without their top player at a position where they already lacked another viable secondary option.
With six edge rushers off the board within the first 26 selections, the pickings were slim for the Seahawks at No. 29. They did not have a first-round grade on L.J. Collier but took the TCU product anyway, fearing what they viewed as a significant dropoff between him and their potential Day 2 alternatives.
Collier recorded three sacks over four underwhelming seasons with Seattle and wasn’t re-signed when his rookie contract expired.
The lesson learned: if you go into a draft with a glaring need, you might be tempted to reach in order to fill it.
That cautionary tale is worth revisiting given the Seahawks’ current situation at guard, which remains their biggest roster hole a month into free agency.