The Seattle Seahawks are set at running back with Marshawn Lynch, but if the franchise had a choice at its No. 1 player in the 2015 NFL draft, Lynch might’ve had a new backup.
According to an anecdote provided by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen, Seattle believed Todd Gurley was the best prospect in the draft.
“The Seahawks will be content not having to deal with Gurley, whom they rated as the best player in the draft, until they meet again Dec. 27 in Seattle.”
Gurley’s place on draft boards was hotly contested due to the perceived lack of value as it pertains to running backs, since the position is considered among the easiest at which to find a replacement. Additionally, Gurley tore the ACL in his left knee during his final season at Georgia, so his proverbial stock fluctuated.
However, the St. Louis Rams ultimately used their No. 10 overall pick on Gurley, who won’t play in Week 1 against the Seahawks but will likely contribute for the offense shortly thereafter.
Now, Seattle certainly had no realistic visions of the Georgia product tumbling all the way down to the second-to-last pick of the first round. Plenty of franchises in need would’ve had a shot at Gurley, and he wouldn’t have experience a Geno Smith-like fall.
Besides, the Seahawks packaged their earliest selection with center Max Unger and sent them to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for star tight end Jimmy Graham.
The biggest takeaway isn’t that Seattle perhaps toyed with the idea of replacing Lynch with Gurley; rather, it’s that the now-Rams running back still kept a place among the top of one NFL team’s draft list.