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Trent Williams' substance-abuse suspension for the final four games of the 2011 season delivered another blow to the 2010 draft's offensive tackles.

Five of the first 10 tackles drafted that year are unavailable to their teams, including the Seattle Seahawks' Russell Okung and the St. Louis Rams' Rodger Saffold.

Seven of the 10 are starters or would be starters if healthy.

Okung was playing as well as any of them when Trent Cole's takedown ended his season. Saffold, slowed by back and ankle problems at various points, was struggling in his second season starting with the Rams. The San Francisco 49ers' Anthony Davis, though improved, continues to struggle some in pass protection.

The chart shows the first 10 tackles drafted. A few other potential tackles, including Denver's Zane Beadles, projected to guard in the NFL. They were not listed.

The Oakland Raiders' Bruce Campbell remains on the list even though he has been a backup guard to this point. He projected at tackle coming out of college and still could wind up there.

Five things I noticed while watching the Seattle Seahawks' most recent game, a 23-17 home defeat to the Washington Redskins:

• About those young safeties. The Redskins enjoyed early success against Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor when Rex Grossman found Fred Davis for a 31-yard gain to the 2-yard line on Washington's first drive. Thomas blitzed and got into the backfield quickly, only to chase a ghost. Grossman faked a handoff inside, then faked one to Jabar Gaffney on an end-around. Thomas followed Gaffney long enough for Grossman to find Davis. Chancellor, having already leveled Santana Moss earlier in the drive, whiffed on Davis when trying to hit him instead of wrapping up. These were errors of aggression.
• Competitive battles on the lines. The Seahawks' left tackle, Russell Okung, continues to play better as his ankle injuries fade from memory. He faced difficult matchups against the Redskins' Stephen Bowen and Brian Orakpo. All parties made positive plays. Okung stood out early when the Seahawks got the Redskins' front flowing to the offensive right, setting up Marshawn Lynch's cutback for a big gain. Okung drove Bowen across the formation and landed on him. Okung took an awkward hit from teammate Breno Giacomini late in the game and was limping. Trent Williams, the Redskins' left tackle, was jabbering at various Seahawks throughout the game. He was the aggressor and seemed to get the better of his matchups. Two young Seattle linemen, center Max Unger and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, looked good.
• Guards were hustling. Robert Gallery and Paul McQuistan made excellent blocks well downfield to spring Lynch's 20-yard scoring reception.
• Redskins' trippy field-goal team. Red Bryant's power was part of the story behind the field-goal attempt he blocked in the second quarter. The Seahawks bunched defenders over the right side of the Redskins' protection. A twist left the Redskins' Will Montgomery trying to block two players at once, including Bryant. He had no chance. The tighter splits linemen use when blocking for field goals prevents them from moving backward freely without tripping over teammates' legs. Montgomery tumbled over backward as Bryant rushed through.
• Sprinting through the whistle can help. The Seahawks allowed their first rushing touchdown since Week 4 when Roy Helu sprinted around the left side for a critical 28-yard run with 9:57 left in the fourth quarter. It's unrealistic to expect every player on defense to run his absolute hardest throughout every moment of every play. The Seahawks would have been better off her if Leroy Hill had done that on this play, however. Hill let up when Chancellor appeared likely to make a tackle near the line of scrimmage (after Helu hurdled Roy Lewis). Hill accelerated when Helu broke free, but he let up again when Helu reached the 10-yard line. Hill was a couple yards behind and to the inside. He wasn't going to catch Helu, most likely. This was the signature play in a poor tackling game for Seattle.

That's it for now. I'm heading to Qwest Field early for the Thursday night game.

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Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 3:

Big opportunity for Arizona. Yes, the Cardinals looked horrible in Week 2, but of all the NFC West teams, Arizona appears most likely to win in Week 3. The Cardinals are better than the Oakland Raiders and they're playing at home with much to prove. If San Diego beats Seattle and the Cardinals beat the Raiders, Arizona would stand atop the division with a 2-1 record heading into Week 4. Just another reminder that this division race could be close and the Cardinals, for all their struggles, figure to remain a part of it. I think San Francisco will be there in the end, but Arizona has a chance to buy some breathing room while the 49ers play road games against Kansas City and Atlanta (the 49ers have a 2-21 road record since 2005 in early games against teams other than the St. Louis Rams).

One week late on Chris Long hype. Rams defensive end Chris Long was supposed to break through in Oakland a week ago, but Raiders tackle Langston Walker played better than I anticipated. Long and fellow Rams defensive end James Hall should have a better opportunity in Week 3 because they're playing at home and their opponent, Washington, has issues on the offensive line. Rookie left tackle Trent Williams suffered knee and toe injuries while allowing a sack to Houston's Mario Williams last week (Williams had three sacks in the game).

Barometer game for Seattle. Beating the Chargers at Qwest Field could reveal plenty about the Seahawks' prospects this season. The team appears to lack the pure pass rush and overall talent to claim many victories away from home. Coach Pete Carroll has been hopeful that crowd noise at home can make his pass-rush more effective. It happened in Week 1 against San Francisco. Beating the 49ers and Chargers to go 2-0 at home would make it easier to envision the Seahawks going, say, 6-2 or 7-1 at home season. And if that happened, the team could get into the .500 range by winning one or two games on a road schedule featuring the Rams, Raiders and Tampa Bay Bucs.

Alex Smith needs help. The 49ers' quarterback made strides by leading the fourth-quarter drive to a tying touchdown and two-point conversion against New Orleans on Monday night. Smith was effective largely because the Saints had to worry about the 49ers' running game. Smith will need more of the same from Frank Gore and his offensive line against Kansas City in Week 3. The Chiefs have allowed 3.8 and 2.8 yards per carry in their victories over San Diego and Cleveland, respectively. They haven't faced a running back with Gore's credentials, however. Smith and the 49ers have won three road games with fourth-quarter comebacks over the years. They had a 100-yard rusher in two of those games.

About those Cardinals. They lost three of their first four home games last season and needed an interception return for a touchdown, plus a goal-line stand, to beat Houston in the one home game Arizona won during that stretch. Arizona plays its 2010 home opener against the Raiders on Sunday and I've seen nothing from Oakland suggesting an upset is coming. But the Cardinals seemed to lack fight and urgency against the Falcons last week. The Raiders improbably won at Denver and Pittsburgh during the final month of the 2009 season. Arizona needs to win this game before facing San Diego (road) and New Orleans (home).

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times sees no signs of protracted contract disputes involving the Seahawks' remaining unsigned draft choices. O'Neil: "In fact, just the opposite. Friday's slew of signings started with left tackle Trent Williams, who plays the same position as (Russell) Okung and was chosen two picks earlier. Eric Berry, the safety chosen fifth by Kansas City, one spot ahead of Okung, also signed. That gives the Seahawks and Okung's agent a good idea for establishing the ceiling for Okung's deal. Similarly, the player picked ahead of (Earl) Thomas in the draft -- defensive end Brandon Graham -- reached a five-year agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. Those deals will help set the parameters in negotiations between Seattle and its two remaining unsigned rookies."

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com asks 10 questions heading into Seahawks training camp. Johns: "The Seahawks ranked 30th in the league in pass defense last year, largely because of the lack of rush (see No. 3 earlier), but also because of some injury woes. That's why two of the most critical players to watch this preseason are cornerback Marcus Trufant and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says during a chat he doesn't think Justin Forsett will reach 1,000 yards this season. Williams: "I don't think Forsett is going to get enough touches to rush for a 1,000. I expect Forsett and (Julius) Jones to split the carries down the middle, with a sprinkling of (Leon) Washington, who likely will contribute more on special teams. But we'll see. If Forsett can stay healthy and get 15-18 rushes a game, it's possible."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic expects the Cardinals to sign first-round choice Dan Williams sooner rather than later. He also says the Cardinals placed inside linebacker Gerald Hayes on the physically unable to perform list. Rookie O'Brien Schofield landed on the non-football injury list. Also, the Cardinals signed a contract to keep their training camp at Northern Arizona University for the next three summers.

Also from Somers: a look at the Cardinals' roster heading into camp. Whisenhunt: "There's going to be a lot of interesting things going on this training camp. There are going to be battles for positions. There are going to be battles for playing time. We're going to get an opportunity to see if some of the young players are ready to step up."

More from Somers: The Cardinals' conditioning test holds special appeal this year. Somers: "Saturday morning's conditioning run usually holds little interest. But guard Deuce Lutui will be on center stage. If he completes the runs in the prescribed time, Deuce can tell everyone that he knew he had things under control at all times. If he doesn't, well, coach Ken Whisenhunt won't be happy. No word on what Deuce is weighing. He's under 396, which he weighed in mid-June, but more than the 340-or so he weighed in December."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the surgery Hayes underwent earlier this offseason was similar to the procedure Monty Beisel underwent a year ago.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch quotes Rams executive Kevin Demoff this way after the team signed rookie Sam Bradford: "I kept hearing during this process, especially early in the process, that maybe Sam didn't want to be here. But I've never heard Sam say anything but how excited he was to be in St. Louis, and how excited he is about the opportunity to help make this team successful again. I talked to Sam earlier tonight, and he's very excited. I'm excited that every fan will want to see the beginning of a new era with him and the Rams and our other new players."

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Donnie Avery showed up to Rams camp at 193 pounds, reflecting an effort to become stronger and more durable.

Also from Nelson: Rams tight end Fendi Onobun appealed to the team for his natural ability. He needs seasoning.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with Rams guard Roger Allen III, who is back from knee surgery.

Roger Hensley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch polls colleagues for their thoughts on camp battles for the Rams. Thomas: "As of Thursday, it became clear that the left tackle position was up for grabs between last year’s No. 2 overall pick, Jason Smith, and this year’s second-round pick, Rodger Saffold. The coaching staff likes Saffold’s athleticism as a pass blocker, and Smith isn’t even practicing fully as he comes back from a June fractured toe. At right guard, versatile vet Adam Goldberg enters camp as the favorite, but Hank Fraley and John Greco are in the mix as well. And of course, the No. 1 question entering camp is when does Sam Bradford take the reins from A.J. Feeley at quarterback?" The Rams previously said Saffold projects at right tackle. The team subsequently said Saffold could wind up on the left side. I would think the basic plan remains in place, however. Smith projects as the left tackle unless Saffold appears better suited to the position -- in which case St. Louis used the second overall choice for a right tackle.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says it's only a matter of time before Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati crack the 49ers' starting lineup. Maiocco: "Although coach Mike Singletary said he expects the incumbents to continue to work with the first team at the outset of camp, the rookies will clearly be given their chances to prove themselves. And it's clear both Davis and Iupati have designs on earning their way into the starting lineup sooner than later."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee updates the 49ers' rookie signings and says Kyle Williams spent his offseason fielding punts from former NFL mainstay Tom Rouen, 42. Williams: "He's been in the league forever. He told me a lot about what punters are going to do. He's about 100 years old, but he can still do it."

Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat explains why the 49ers' Taylor Mays waited before signing his rookie deal. Mays didn't want to sign until Jimmy Clausen's deal was done. Barber: "Me and Jimmy actually have the same agent, so it was kind of waiting for Jimmy to get his contract done (with Carolina), so it would kind of be based upon what Jimmy did. That was kind of a little bit of in-house stuff ... I know my agent Gary (Wichard) had to get Jimmy taken care of first."

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says it's time to update the 49ers' roster to reflect the true form of a certain third-round pick's first name. Remember Navorro Bowman? Well, forget about him. Brown: "Bowman clarified that his first name is spelled with a capital V -- as in, NaVorro -- even though it's been written repeatedly in lowercase, including on the 49ers' roster."

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers weren't sure whether franchise player Aubrayo Franklin would report to camp on time.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers haven't committed to naming first-round picks Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati as starters on opening day. Barrows: "(Coach Mike) Singletary said that Davis and Iupati were two of the most physical offensive linemen in the draft. He said there was one other offensive lineman -- Oklahoma's Trent Williams -- they had in the same category."

Also from Barrows: Acting general manager Trent Baalke says the 49ers traded up two spots in the first round because they were afraid someone else would jump ahead of them to draft Anthony Davis. The price was a fourth-round pick. Barrows: "The biggest knock on Davis entering the draft was his commitment to the game. As a freshman, he arrived at Rutgers weighing 363 pounds -- far heavier than what the Scarlet Knights' coaches were expecting. He was suspended for a game in 2008 for violating team rules, and he also was benched for a quarter the following season for undisclosed reasons."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat expects Baalke to continue in his current role after the draft. Maiocco: "He made a decisive move to trade up two spots to secure the services of tackle Anthony Davis. It was a questionable strategy, considering the 49ers surrendered a fourth-round pick to jump over a couple teams that did not have any needs at offensive tackle. But Baalke did not want to take any chances of losing out on Davis to a team trading up. Baalke said he'd do the same thing '100 out of 100 times.' " It still seemed unnecessary and impatient, but we'll never know for sure. And if Davis becomes an outstanding player, no one will care.

Also from Maiocco: The 49ers' moves in the first round broke from tradition. Maiocco: "Since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, the 49ers had not previously chosen an offensive tackle within the top 20 picks, and they've never gone with a guard in the top 30."

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says it's clear Singletary is running the draft, and that was a good thing Thursday night, in his view.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News quotes Singletary as saying the 49ers put "very little" thought into drafting a quarterback in the first round.

Also from Kawakami: Singletary reveled in the 49ers getting bigger and more physical through this draft.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says first-round choice Dan Williams was the 11th-rated player on the Cardinals' draft board. Was this the full board or the separate 120-player board? Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "You start to let your mind think, 'OK, we're going to have a chance to get this player,' and you start to worry. You know how superstitious I am, you don't want to think about it because you might jinx it."

The Arizona Republic runs a photo showing the Cardinals' new alternate uniform, to be worn occasionally: "NFL teams can wear the alternate uniform as many as three times per season -- once in the preseason and twice in the regular season (not permitted in the postseason). It has not yet been determined how many times or in which games the Cardinals will wear their alternate uniforms."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says defensive end Darnell Dockett was excited when the team drafted Williams. Dockett via Twitter: "IT'S A CELEBRATION. NOW I GOT TO TRAIN THE DOG and we shall GO BITE!"

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are open to trading the 33rd pick of the draft. General manager Billy Devaney on the time between first and second rounds: "It does at least give us more time to weigh options if we do get calls, which is kind of neat. And hopefully there might be a team that thinks that's their last chance to get a certain position ... so maybe they'd be willing to move up."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams No. 1 draft choice Sam Bradford felt all the way back from a shoulder injury during a workout for the team in Florida a couple weeks ago. Bradford: "We were down in Pensacola (Fla.) throwing, and it was just one of those workouts where I was accurate. My ball, it was coming out quick. My arm strength felt good."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Bradford offers a new beginning for the Rams. Miklasz: "The Rams must be aggressive in doing everything they can to find Bradford an elite wide receiver and a good-hands tight end. The Rams' offensive line is better than most people assume, but still requires sprucing. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo and staff will have to prove they know what they are doing. And that they can find the right balance by handling this gift with care — but without being overly protective. Already there are questions about how soon Bradford will start."

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says it's important to be patient with Bradford.

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat offers options for the Rams in the second round. Balzer: "The end of the first round left numerous talented players available. It appears the Rams’ most likely choices would be a defensive end or wide receiver. They could choose between receivers Golden Tate, Arrelious Benn and Damian Williams, or defensive ends Sergio Kindle or Everson Griffen. However, Kindle has off-field issues, which could be why he lasted through the first round. Griffen also has maturity questions."

Jim Rodenbush for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat quotes Devaney this way on Bradford: "There’s going to be a learning curve. But at the end of the day, that’s going to be one of his assets. He’s extremely intelligent. The more work he gets here, and he gets exposed to that, that’s going to be one of the real pluses about Bradford. He’s going to be great at that part of the game."

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times offers approval for the Seahawks' new leadership -- coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider -- after the team drafted Russell Okung and Earl Thomas in the first round. Kelley: "In the postdraft news conference Carroll and Schneider were almost giddy, teasing each other about their bowling night with Okung and kidding about the camera in the Hawks' war room that caught Schneider flexing his muscles at the end of the day. But he deserved a few flexes. Schneider made the right calls. He found two starters to help fill his skinny roster."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times was surprised Okung was available for Seattle. O'Neil: "The biggest surprise about Okung's selection was the fact he was available. For months he was considered the top offensive lineman available, and he was one of two offensive tackles Seattle would have been willing to pick No. 6 overall. The other, Trent Williams of Oklahoma, was drafted No. 4 by Washington. When Kansas City chose safety Eric Berry with the fifth pick, it cleared the way for Seattle to take Okung."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks filled two major needs.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks know they didn't land a professional bowler in Okung, but they hope they've gotten a future Pro Bowler. Okung: "I come from very humble beginnings. You learn how to be a hard worker, and be somebody who has a lot of drive, who is self-motivated."

RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach Alex Gibbs generally doesn't spend much time speaking with reporters, but he couldn't hide his excitement Thursday night.

Gibbs said he went into the draft hoping to land tackles Russell Okung or Trent Williams. Okung will start at left tackle from the beginning, Gibbs said, and recently signed guard Ben Hamilton will mentor him.

Hamilton, who played for Gibbs in Denver, previously mentored the Broncos' Ryan Clady. Gibbs said he wouldn't want to throw a rookie into action right away without having a veteran experienced in the offensive system to line up nearby. The team signed Hamilton with that in mind, Gibbs said.

Gibbs said Okung appealed to him because of his work ethic, love for football, long arms, talent and overall attitude.

RENTON, Wash. -- This just in from ESPN's Shelley Smith, reporting from Seahawks headquarters:

A source close to the team tells me Pete Carroll wants an offensive tackle, a defensive tackle and a safety and that the only OT Carroll wants is Trent Williams from Oklahoma or else he won't draft an OT early.

The top players at those positions could be gone, in which case we start thinking about ... Jimmy Clausen? C.J. Spiller?

Nolan Nawrocki, Rob Rang, Rick Gosselin and Pat Kirwan have posted updated mock drafts recently.

The chart shows their predictions for NFC West teams, with links to their full mock drafts.

They agree on Sam Bradford at No. 1. Two think Eric Berry will land in Seattle at No. 6. Two like Anthony Davis to the 49ers at No. 13. None agreed on Seattle's choice at No. 14 or the 49ers' choice at No. 17. All predicted Arizona would take a linebacker -- Sean Weatherspoon or Brandon Graham -- at No. 26.

Rang has Seattle taking Jimmy Clausen at No. 6. Gosselin has Clausen going 30th to Minnesota. Not much of a consensus, in other words.

Note that Gosselin is the only one thinking Seattle will draft an offensive tackle in the first round. There's no question the Seahawks' obvious need for a tackle has made it easier to reach when making projections for Seattle at No. 6.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic offers highlights from an XTRA910 radio interview with Cardinals quarterbacks coach Chris Miller. Somers: "Miller was forthcoming with his opinions on the top quarterbacks in this draft. Oklahoma's Sam Bradford is big, strong and throws a tight spiral. Like most people, Miller thinks the Rams will take Bradford with the first pick. Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen is impressive, too, but Miller said teams have to wonder how much he will improve. Clausen played at Notre Dame under Charlie Weis in a pro system. Texas' Colt McCoy doesn't have a great arm and might have some trouble throwing some routes. But Miller likes McCoy's leadership ability and toughness and thinks he could be a good QB, maybe best suited for a West Coast attack."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says new Cardinals kicker Jay Feely doesn't shy away from contact, same as predecessor Neil Rackers. Feely: "If you see the play develop and you have the guts and ability to go down and fill that hole at the 25-yard line, they only have two or three yards to beat you and you can make the play. That’s when I feel like a football player too."

Also from Urban: Catching up with globetrotting Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Brian McIntyre of scout.com passes along dates for the Seahawks' organized team activities. The team has a minicamp scheduled for next week.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks will not select Clausen in the first round, according to ESPN's Mel Kiper. I wasn't able to hear all of Kiper's media conference call Wednesday, but at one point I thought he said Seattle could consider Clausen. I'm in the minority on this one, though. Multiple reports are quoting Kiper to the contrary. The call lasted two-plus hours.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says there's too much smoke before a draft to make sense of various projections. Boling on Seattle: "Some of the talk suggests that they don’t need to expend high-end picks on offensive linemen because of the nature of the zone-blocking scheme brought in by new line coach Alex Gibbs. Baloney. This line has been dreadful and the tackle on that left side is still going to have to block the best pass rushers in the league regardless of scheme. Look at the big picture. How would it have been in 1997 if somebody had said they didn’t want to take Walter Jones because he didn’t fit the current scheme. The Seahawks are on their fourth head coach since Jones was drafted. Schemes have come and gone; great players persist."

Michael Lombardi of NFL.com says the Broncos still want a first-round choice for Brandon Marshall, and that trade talks could accelerate. Seattle would not give up one of its current first-round choices for Marshall, in my view, unless the team received something more in return.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with Clausen while noting that the Rams appear more likely to select Bradford. Clausen: "I've played in a pro-style offense for the past three years, played under center under coach (Charlie) Weis, and I feel that I'm the most ready guy out there. ... I think I translate the best to the NFL because I've already had to deal with what those guys are going to have to go through, which is learning a pro-style system and having growing pains growing up in a system."

Also from Thomas: Na'il Diggs is the newest Ram. Thomas: "Rams general manager Billy Devaney has continued to work on getting bigger in the front seven this offseason, in an effort to improve the team's run defense. Diggs, a 6-feet-4 and 240 pounds, had good size for an outside linebacker and has a reputation as a good run defender."

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Diggs is most likely to play the strong side, contrary to expectations.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says Diggs' addition gives the Rams three linebackers from Ohio State.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says during a chat that the 49ers would be wise to draft Dan Williams, if available, because teams running 3-4 defenses need good nose tackles and Aubrayo Franklin could leave after the 2010 season. Barrows on Alex Smith: "My gut feeling is that he'll have his best year yet but that there will be enough bad spots that at the end of the year we'll still be asking the same questions about him. Maybe I'm just a pessimist, but I just don't see it being black and white."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat offers draft advice for the 49ers. He lists Russell Okung, Trent Williams, Bryan Bulaga, Eric Berry, Joe Haden, Derrick Morgan and Sergio Kindle as players the 49ers should draft if available to them (the assumption being that Bradford, Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy would be long gone).

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider says the 49ers should use mid-round picks for offensive tackles if the team cannot find one worth taking in the first round.

Mel Kiper's latest mock draft, available with commentary to Insider subscribers, features quite a few changes.

I'm providing updated thoughts, focusing next on the Seahawks (additional analysis here):

6. Seattle Seahawks

Mel's latest pick: Trent Williams, LT, Oklahoma

My thoughts: Perceptions have come full circle in this spot. Kiper previously had the Seahawks taking Morgan, Oklahoma State left tackle Russell Okung and Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford in this spot. Both were gone by No. 6 in his latest mock. A general manager told me this week he thought the Redskins would take Williams at No. 4. Would the Lions or Bucs take Okung instead of one of the defensive tackles? They could, but that might be overthinking things. Williams does make sense for the Seahawks at No. 6 if he's available, based on need, his projected fit in the zone-blocking scheme and the potential talent evaluators see in him (despite concerns about his work ethic). Alex Gibbs, the Seahawks' influential line coach, has never been with a team that drafted a tackle higher than No. 20. The Seahawks' obvious need at the position might make Williams or the top-rated available tackle hard for Seattle to pass up.

Mel Kiper's latest mock draft, available with commentary to Insider subscribers, features quite a few changes.

I'm providing updated thoughts, focusing next on the 49ers (additional analysis here):

17. San Francisco 49ers

Mel's latest pick: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

My thoughts: This scenario would work out well for the 49ers. They certainly could use a tackle. Davis would fill the need. As Kiper noted earlier Wednesday, he considers Davis a top-five talent with enough question marks to drag him down a bit, similar to Michael Oher's situation in 2009. Kiper thought Davis' draft status would have improved with another year of seasoning. The 49ers' new line coach, Mike Solari, could help get Davis ready. This choice needs to be a long-term selection anyway. And if Davis truly has elite talent, the 49ers wouldn't be reaching. I do wonder if Davis will remain available this late, and whether the 49ers could resist taking him at No. 13. In previous mocks, Kiper had the 49ers taking Texas safety Earl Thomas, Idaho guard Mike Iupati and Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams. He had the 49ers passing on Iupati this time, with Williams gone before the 17th pick.

Draft analysts Nolan Nawrocki and Rob Rang posted updated mock drafts Monday.

I've singled out their selections for NFC West teams and run them alongside the Insider projections Mel Kiper and Todd McShay made March 11.

Nawrocki says he thinks Williams' skills mesh perfectly with what the Seahawks want to do offensively, offsetting questions about Williams' work ethic.

Three of the four analysts have Clemson running back C.J. Spiller landing in the NFC West.

Nawrocki and Rang line up on Sam Bradford (Rams), Williams (Seahawks), and Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.

Weatherspoon would replace Karlos Dansby at inside linebacker in these projections. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was with the Steelers when they used a second-round choice for a 3-4 inside linebacker with similar height and weight (Kendrell Bell).

I'm just not sure if using a first-round pick for an inside linebacker qualifies as an ideal scenario. Nose tackle Dan Williams remained available for the Cardinals' choice at No. 26 on Nawrocki's mock draft (landing with San Diego at No. 28).

The earlier item about Rob Sims' status led to a Facebook discussion featuring thoughts on Alex Gibbs' preferences for offensive linemen.

Gibbs is the line coach in Seattle and probably the most influential assistant in the NFC West as far as shaping draft priorities in 2010. That is partly because Gibbs is a high-profile coach. It's also because he demands a specific type of player for his scheme.

I've gone through every offensive lineman Gibbs' teams have drafted (download sortable list here). Patterns have emerged. I filtered out the years he spent in the league prior to 1995, his first with Denver, when analyzing player weights across specific positions. The thought was that player weights from the 1980s and even early 1990s might be outdated. Also, Gibbs might have been less influential early in his career, particularly when with the Raiders.

Since 1995, the players listed as guards averaged 289 pounds. Gibbs' teams drafted them in the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh rounds. The players listed as centers averaged 302 pounds. Gibbs' teams drafted them in the third, fifth and seventh rounds. The players listed as tackles averaged 313 pounds. Gibbs' teams drafted them in the first, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds.

The Facebook discussion brought to light a Florida State-related blog entry summarizing comments Gibbs made during a coaching video (extra credit for anyone who can find the video). The summary suggested Gibbs was most particular about centers, then guards, then tackles.

An inexperienced or less intelligent player would have a harder time starting right away at one of the interior positions. Look up scouting reports for Gibbs' interior linemen and they'll mention smarts and a lack of size. "Very, very smart and plays smart," the late Joel Buchsbaum wrote about eventual Broncos draft choice Lennie Friedman in his 1999 report for Pro Football Weekly. "Average size, speed and physical tools."

Broncos guard Ben Hamilton, one of the free agents Seattle has considered this offseason, fits the description. Buchsbaum summed up Hamilton this way in his 2001 preview: "Very smart and dedicated. ... Might be able to play guard or center for a team like the Broncos. ... Lacks great natural size and ability. Is a pumped-up 250-pounder."

Sims is much bigger and more powerful, which doesn't matter in a Gibbs blocking scheme.

Since Gibbs entered the NFL in 1984, his teams have drafted one offensive lineman among the top 20 overall choices -- 338-pound tackle George Foster, selected 20th in 2003 despite not really fitting the Gibbs mold. Gibbs' teams have held a dozen choices higher than 20th during that time. His teams have held 43 choices among the top 59 overall picks, using three of them for offensive linemen (all tackles).

Gibbs' teams have held 11 picks between the 60th and 77th slots. They used five of them for offensive linemen, all guards or centers, including Dan Neil and Will Shields. Seattle holds the 60th pick this year. Three of them were 6-foot-3, one was 6-2 and one was 6-4. That's another thing about the linemen on Gibbs' wish lists. The guards and centers aren't very tall.

It's a little tougher to project what kind of tackle Seattle might select. The Seahawks' need at the position could be great enough to justify taking the most talented player, with less regard for the things Gibbs demands from his interior offensive linemen. That might be a justification for projecting Trent Williams to Seattle at No. 6, as some have done lately.

The Seahawks and 49ers could be in the market for an offensive tackle in the first half of the draft's first round.

The pecking order for tackles can be open to interpretation. Andre Smith wasn't a consensus Top 10 choice heading into the 2009 draft, but the Bengals saw him in that manner, and that is all that mattered. They selected him sixth overall.

Seattle holds the sixth pick this year and I've heard increasing chatter about them targeting Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams in that spot. Analysts Nolan Nawrocki and Rob Rang both have Williams going to Seattle at No. 6 in their latest projections.

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. saw Williams as a right tackle when we discussed the position in November. I followed up with Muench this week and wanted to share some of his thoughts.

Mike Sando: Could Williams make sense for Seattle that early?

Steve Muench: I talked to one scout recently who said he thought Williams was the best tackle on the board. That is not my opinion.

Mike Sando: Who do you see as the best tackle in the draft?

Steve Muench: I think talent-wise it is Anthony Davis, who from what I understand is dropping big-time. People are very concerned about how hard he is going to work after getting that first paycheck. I would not take him first. I also have concerns about Russell Okung. I like how tough he is. I really like how he is just physical. He does a good job riding guys past the edge. But I don't think he is an elite athlete like some of the other guys we have seen come through. He has a hard time sinking his hips, which could affect his ability to anchor and change direction. I would like to see him play lower at times.

Mike Sando: Let's get back to Williams.

Steve Muench: He has really kind of surprised us with how athletic he has looked, but he has had a hard time with speed rushers off the edge. That is why we have said he is better at right tackle. Him running a great time at the combine, frankly, doesn’t change that for me. He is a tough kid. He is not as long as Okung. If you asked me, I think Okung might start at right tackle as a rookie and then develop into a very good left tackle. whereas I think Trent Williams is going to be a Pro Bowl right tackle for years.

Mike Sando: The Seahawks would have to like the fit for their zone scheme to take Williams that early. Another prospect, Bryan Bulaga, has been rated everywhere from early first round to down in the 20s.

Steve Muench: I think he has some work to do in terms of technique. He gets caught flat-footed in pass protection and that gives him a hard time with athletic rushers. Spin moves give him some problems because of that. The thing I love about him, he is not a great athlete but his balance and ability to absorb is really, really good. He doesn’t have to be in perfect position to hold his ground all the time. You'll see guys running full speed into him and he will just stone them. The jury is still out because he is a younger kid.

Mike Sando: What you're saying, basically, is that this is yet another draft class without a great tackle prospect.

Steve Muench: These guys are not as athletic as a Joe Thomas. There is no Joe Thomas. Bulaga is not elite in that sense, but he has a chance to be a very good NFL player. Davis is dropping. Bruce Campbell is interesting because he is such a freak with his workouts. The sky is the limit, but he does not have a lot of experience at Maryland. He is just a three-year starter. He has had problems staying healthy. He is an interesting prospect, but not a guy I would touch that early in the first round.

Mike Sando: How early might Davis make sense?

Steve Muench: He is one of the more fascinating picks. He becomes an interesting pick there at No. 13, where the 49ers are picking. Davis is more of a left tackle. He is so talented in terms of value. If Mike Singletary sits down with him and thinks he can make him work, great. Otherwise, it could be Vernon Davis going the wrong way.

Tom from Orange County, Calif., writes: Mike, longtime Rams fan. Thanks for the coverage. Trade question for you: What do you think about Adam Carriker and the 33rd pick to Kansas City for Glenn Dorsey? Both players have not lived up to expectations and are playing out of position. Each could use a change of scenery.

Dorsey gives the Rams the potential game-changing tackle that they need, and justifies the Sam Bradford pick at No. 1. Carriker gives Kansas City the end the Chiefs need in the 3-4, and what is turning out to be a very valuable 33rd pick. Thanks for taking the question.

Mike Sando: Good thinking, Tom. I don't know if the Rams would value Dorsey high enough to make that move, but if they thought he could basically be close to Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, why not? The quick reaction would be to dismiss any such comparisons, claiming Suh and McCoy are much better prospects. But a lot of prospects look better before they line up against NFL players week after week. Dorsey was considered a top-five talent when he entered the draft.

Here is what Scouts Inc. said about Dorsey when he was coming out of college:

"A squatty defensive tackle prospect with a thick build and very good quickness. Anticipates the snap well, explodes out of his stance and generally will win one-on-one battles with his initial burst. He plays with a non-stop motor. Stays active, using swim and rip moves to get off of blocks when necessary. Displays good upper-body power and the ability to knock linemen back on their heels with initial pop. Does a fine job of locating the ball once he's in the backfield and flashes good change-of-direction skills for his position. A powerful tackler when he can line up a hit. Also does a better job of taking on blocks in the run game than he gets credit for. He can be washed out by some bigger OL, but generally does a good job of staying low and holding his ground when asked to."

Durability concerns were singled out as the primary weakness. Dorsey has played in 31 of 32 games with the Chiefrs, starting 30 of them. The Scouts Inc. report said Dorsey would fit best in a one-gap scheme that would allow him to get upfield and disrupt offenses. The Rams are running that type of scheme. The Chiefs are not. You're right in suggesting that Carriker could fit better at end in a 3-4 scheme. Durability is a big concern with him, but that 33rd overall choice would have to tempt the Chiefs.

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Michael From Lynchburg, Va., writes: Why or what is Seattle waiting on? They need running backs, defensive backs, offensive linemen, a wide receiver, but no movement. Is the draft going to be their best bet?

I have been a fan since 1983, and since then I have seen draft pick after draft pick be a bust. Thomas Jones would have been good for us. Chester Taylor could have helped and Brandon Marshall would definitely be an upgrade from Deion Branch and Nate Burleson. I think Darren Sharper or Antrel Rolle would have been good for us, or Anquan Boldin at wide receiver. I would just be happy with some kind of movement.

Mike Sando: It's human nature for fans to crave action once the signing period begins, but a lot of money has been spent foolishly in free agency over the years. The Redskins will be paying a $21 million bonus to Albert Hayensworth shortly and he might not even fit the scheme they are implementing.

It's also human nature for general manager and coach to undervalue the players they inherit. The Seahawks' previous leadership might have been more aggressive in keeping Burleson. I also think former general manager Tim Ruskell would have been more aggressive in free agency. That doesn't mean being aggressive in free agency would have necessarily served the team well, however.

This was a very weak free-agent class packed with aging, declining veterans. As I tweeted Saturday, there were 156 unrestricted free agents left and 139 would be 30 or older come September.

Seattle did finally add a tight end in Chris Baker (not a UFA, but rather a player whose contract was terminated). I thought the Seahawks might have been a little more aggressive in this signing period, given their needs and coach Pete Carroll's desire to improve quickly. But I also realize Carroll and general manager John Schneider want to go young. That's tough to do through free agency when so many of the younger players failed to hit the market as UFAs thanks to the current labor situation.

The team will probably sign an offensive lineman or two. Ben Hamilton could make sense. He lost his job in Denver largely because the Broncos were changing to a scheme that did not fit him. The Seahawks are adopting the scheme Hamilton ran for years.

The Marshall situation could take time to play out. There's no sense in the Seahawks bidding against themselves. They can afford to wait on that one, probably.

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Edward from Tempe writes: Sando, you mentioned in your NFC West Draft Watch that selecting Alan Branch in 2007 was a mistake; he was the first selection in the second round that year. He missed a few games his first year but then played the remainder. He might not be what the Cardinals had hoped, but do you see him more now as a situational position player? I mean, he has shown some signs of life this past year, so maybe not all is lost.

Mike Sando: Drafting Branch didn't give the Cardinals a reliable nose tackle. The pick was a "mistake" from that standpoint. He did show some promise playing defensive end. All is not lost. And when you look at the players drafted immediately after Branch that year -- Paul Posluszny, Arron Sears, Kevin Kolb, Eric Weddle, Zach Miller, Justin Blalock, John Beck, Chris Houston, Tony Ugoh, Drew Stanton -- it's not like all were home runs.

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Scott from Maryland writes: Do you think the Niners could trade away their 17th pick this year and first-rounder next year to the Browns for their first-rounder? If the Rams take Sam Bradford, there could be a good chance that Eric Berry falls to the Browns' pick. However, the Browns have so many holes and Mike Holmgren is familiar with the Niners. I think it could benefit both teams.

Mike Sando: Would that be the best use of draft capital for the 49ers, though? They would have no first-rounder in 2011, just to move up 10 spots? I wouldn't give away that future pick.

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Joe stationed in Germany writes: Sando, love the blog. One of the best sources of info on the net. Please keep up the great work. With the Colts releasing Ryan Lilja, can the 49ers maybe use him? I know we really need an offensive tackle, but seems they are in need of depth and talent on the offensive line over all. I Think Lilja has proved the injury is better after a full season of starting and he has experience. My only concern is that the Colts were not a running team, but he has got to be a good pass protector. That and I was hoping for something better than David Carr for us in the free agency. Just some thoughts. What do you think?

Mike Sando: Thanks for the support, Joe, and your service. Lilja doesn't fit the 49ers' profile for offensive linemen because he's a smaller guy, listed at about 290 pounds. I just don't see him fitting what they want. At quarterback, the 49ers decided to trade what they knew -- Shaun Hill -- for a bit of a wild card in Carr. I understand their desire to shake up the position. They had tried Hill and decided he wouldn't be the starter. Could they have done better than Carr? I'm with you a little bit. Not expecting very good things from him.

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Cal from Daly City, Calif., writes: What are the NFL rules on signing multiple restricted free agents? if a team wanted to, could they sign two RFAs, both with a first-round tender attached? If so, how do they work out the draft picks involved?

Mike Sando: A team could sign more than one RFA only if it had its own first-round choice and a better first-round choice available as compensation.

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Blazzinhawk from Spokane, Wash., writes: Why not trade Deion Branch and the 14th to denver for Brandon Marshall and a third-rounder? Sounds good to me.

Mike Sando: My initial thoughts also focused on a way for Seattle to recoup a third-round choice, given that the team does not own one. Your proposal would allow the Broncos to get back their own first-rounder as well. Your proposal assumes the Broncos would do such a deal. I think Seattle might be waiting to see if the price is lower.

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Eri from Los Angeles writes: What would you say percentage-wise is the Rams' chances of landing Michael Vick? And why do I hear Donovan McNabb as an option for the Rams as well?

Mike Sando: Looks like the Vick-to-St. Louis chatter has gone away. I wonder if the pending ownership change has diminished the team's interest. On McNabb, I still do not believe Andy Reid wants to trade him.

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Jerry from Mishawaka, Ind., writes: Mike, I've read that Denver is not negotiating with any team to trade Brandon Marshall. If that's the case, then Seattle should find a team from the 12 to 23 range to trade the sixth overall pick to for that team's first-round pick and a second- or third-round pick, depending on the value of that team's first-round pick.

Then sign Marshall to an offer sheet. Denver gets the pick it wants for him, Seattle comes out on top with Marshall and the Seahawks don't have to pay the cash for a sixth overall player, plus Seattle still has three picks in the first three rounds , and the team that got that sixth pick could get a player to replace what they lost.

Green Bay comes to mind in this scenario becaause most GMs like to work out trades with their former teams. Also, Green Bay could use the sixth overall pick to draft a defensive end to replace Kampan. What are your thoughts?

Mike Sando: The effort is appreciated, but there would be a few problems with such a scenario. One, rules require teams to possess their own pick or a better pick in the relevant round before signing a restricted free agent. Two, most teams would rather pick 12th through 23rd instead of sixth. Third, Green Bay in particular wouldn't want to move up that high, in my view. Their general manager, Ted Thompson, seems to prefer moving back to add picks (the Packers have drafted a league-high 51 players since Thompson took over in 2005).

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Michael from Midland, Texas writes: Hey Sando, As an avid 49ers fan in the heart of Cowboys country, I just want to thank you for your solid coverage of the 9ers. I just wanted to bounce some ideas off of you in terms of draft/free agent acquisitions.

By my way of thinking, the 49ers have three key needs to make them a playoff contender: right Tackle, inside linebacker to pair with Patrick Willis and a cornerback to start opposite Shawntae Spencer. I know a lot of talking is being made of finding a dynamic return man, but I consider that more of a luxury than an absolute need.

Anyway, enough preamble. My actual question is, what do you think are the chances of the 49ers emerging from the first two rounds of the draft with some combo of Trent Williams/Bruce Campbell/Mike Iupati, Eric Berry/Taylor Mays and Devin McCourty/Kareem Jackson?

Also, do you know if the 49ers are taking any looks at Larry Foote or Pisa Tinoisamoa? Seems like either of those guys would be a good fit at will linebacker for the 49ers and we could probably get them relatively cheap.

Mike Sando: Thanks for the support. Good questions, too. Would Foote be better than Takeo Spikes at this point? That could be a consideration. Tinoisamoa seems too small to fit in a 3-4 defense. He goes about 230 pounds.

I could see Williams and possibly even Iupati. Berry would seemingly be gone by the time the 49ers selected. Mays could be there, but I'm not sure where teams are going to value him. He seems like a higher-risk player, but the measurables could appeal from a pure personnel standpoint.

The corners you mentioned sound promising. Jackson would be the bigger of the two, and that could be important to the 49ers. San Francisco is past due to draft a cornerback somewhere relatively early. General manager Scot McCloughan's teams haven't drafted a cornerback in the first two rounds since 2003 (Marcus Trufant, when McCloughan was with Seattle).

Don't forget about quarterback as a potential need, too. Alex Smith and David Carr aren't exactly perennial Pro Bowl players.

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Mike from Seattle writes: Hey Mike, just wanted to say keep up the good work and I really appreciate on how quickly you update your stuff. Well, I have a quick question that you can clear up for me. I thought Mike Holmgren was hired to be the president of football operations, and he retained the current coaching staff. I was just curious why he made a trade for Seneca Wallace, unless he wants him at Wildcat. I was just wondering why there are articles that was written that Holmgren wanted Seneca because he knows the offense.

Mike Sando: I keep forgetting that Holmgren isn't coaching the team and I have a feeling I'm not the only one. Holmgren is a coach at heart. I even asked him at the combine how in the world he would be able to watch another coach run practice. He joked about having hired two security guards to restrain him in case his instincts take over and he feels the urge to run out there and blow a whistle.

Holmgren does want the Browns to run his offense. His offensive coordinator in Seattle, Gil Haskell, is already onboard in Cleveland. One of his other trusted offensive coaches, Keith Gilbertson, is also there. None of us should be surprised if Holmgren is coaching the team in another year or two.

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Ryan from Puyallup, Wash., writes: Hey Sando, here's a kicker question for ya. Are the Cardinals planning on moving on from Neil Rackers? he's a free agent and I figured the cardinals would have resigned him. Minus the playoffs, where I belive his groin injury was still affecting him, he is a really good, reliable kicker. You think that they are just planning on drafting a kicker in the late rounds?

Mike Sando: The Cardinals would probably go in another direction if Rackers demanded a lucrative deal. Coach Ken Whisenhunt was clearly not happy with Rackers' injury situation in the playoffs, indicating he thought Rackers was healthier than Rackers wound up being. Re-signing Rackers does not appear to be a priority, although I think he could come back for the right price.