The Seattle Seahawks were six points away from making the NFC Championship last season and it's clear that if things go the right way and the team continues to add a few more pieces, they can return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2015.
Seattle is in a good spot to compete for the next few seasons but still has areas in which they need to improve and add depth.
With Jadaveon Clowney still yet to re-sign with the Seahawks, one of the most common positions that experts expect Seattle to address in the 2020 NFL Draft is their need for a premier pass rusher.
Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa was once seen as a surefire top 10 pick earlier in the year. His NFL Draft stock has steadily fallen due to a sub-par performance at the 2020 combine, but that may work in Seattle's favor.
At 6-fo0t-6 and 280 pounds, Epenesa is a physical freak that has the production to back it up. In his final two seasons with the Hawkeyes, Epenesa totaled 21.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss.
Another area that the Seahawks could address is their need at offensive tackle. Germain Ifedi and George Fant — who combined for 23 starts last season — have both signed elsewhere. And while the Seahawks did a solid job adding pieces like Cedric Ogbuehi and Brandon Shell, it still feels like Seattle may need to add to that group.
USC offensive tackle Austin Jackson is a prospect that is expected to be picked in the 20-32 area and if he's available at 27, the Seahawks should give him a look. Incredibly athletic for his size with very quick feet, Jackson could immediately help Seattle cut down on the 48 sacks they gave up in 2019.
Lastly, I think the Seahawks could stand to improve the talent of their defensive backs. Trading for Quinton Dunbar was a great move and he should be a productive player in Seattle but I think at safety, the team should add a piece or two.
Like Epenesa, LSU safety Grant Delpit was in talks to be a top pick in this year's draft class earlier in the season. However, a less-productive final collegiate season and some injury concerns have forced Delpit's stock to drop to the point where he is now seen as a late first-rounder.
Delpit is an absolute playmaker on defense and when healthy, was the best safety in all of college football. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-3 safety recorded 74 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, nine passes defended, five sacks and five interceptions.
Last season, the Seahawks struggled mightily to defend the pass and ranked 27th in the league in terms of passing yards allowed per game (263.9).
If Delpit is healthy and falls to Seattle at 27, he has a good chance to be the steal of the first round and a future starter for the team for years to come.
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