NFL Draft: Hawks get Jennings, Tapp
Another NFL draft, another success for Tim Ruskell and the Seattle Seahawks. Given that the team’s stated needs coming into the draft were an impact CB and a pass-rushing DE, it’s hard to imagine the Hawks could’ve done much better — at least on paper — than they did today.
Some early reaction and quotes about Miami CB Kelly Jennings and VaTech DE Darryl Tapp:
The Times’ Steve Kelley notes how odd it looks to see Tim Ruskell, who’s huge on drafting character guys, take someone from the Univ. of Miami, but says Jennings is the anti-Hurricane.
“He is a rarity in college football, a cornerback whose GPA is as high as his 40-speed is low. And he wasn’t satisfied getting one degree at Miami. He got a second degree in business administration.”
The Seahawks’ coaches say both Jennings and Tapp are potential starters on what was already a vastly improved defense.
Seahawks defensive coordinator John Marshall said the two new players will have chances to prove themselves — and soon.
“Believe me, they’re both going to log considerable playing time this season,” Marshall said. “Both have significant opportunities for starting roles.”
And over on the T-N-T blog, Mike Sando has lots of audio from today’s interviews with Hawks’ officials and the draftees, and also points out that the selection of Jennings likely kills any interest Seattle had in Ty Law.
Over on NFL.com, Vic Carucci says Kelly Jennings should “eventually” make a solid starter.
Ultimately, it’ll be how Jennings and Tapp perform that determines if this draft was a success, but for now it looks good.
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So what about the rest of the draft?
– Mike Shanahan should be arrested and put in jail for stealing his way into the 11th pick (Jay Cutler) and for stealing Javon Walker from Green Bay. Incredible.
– On ESPN.com, John Clayton praises two of the Seahawks’ NFC West rivals — Arizona and San Francisco — as early winners from Day One. And his .com colleague, Michael Smith, does the same thing.
Hey — good for AZ in getting Matt Leinart, and good for them in signing Edgerrin James. But their offensive line is still crap, and until that’s fixed, they could have Joe Montana and Walter Payton in the backfield and it wouldn’t matter. As for the 49ers — congrats. You might win 6 games this year instead of 4.
