THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Saturday, April 25, 2015
Two straight Super Bowls under their belts.
The annual NFL Draft starting next Thursday.
So what's on the Seattle Seahawks wish list this year - maybe only a few things.
UNLESS THE team is looking for another blockbuster deal similar to the one they made to acquire Jimmy Graham from New Orleans for Max Unger, there are maybe three holes to fill.
The first is the offensive line.
Russell Okung, Justin Britt and J.R. Sweezy are the team's returning starters after losing Unger and James Carpenter during the offseason. Depth is something that each team could use more of, especially in this spot for the Seahawks.
Alvin Bailey started some last year, and the team had a rotation of centers to get through until Unger returned for the playoff run.
A second is wide receiver.
Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse are probably the biggest threats the team has at receiver, and they in no way compare to others around the league. And that's just fine for what Seattle is trying to do on offense.
They're not going to throw the ball a ton, with Marshawn Lynch likely to get a ton of carries next season. If not Lynch, then Robert Turbin or Christine Michael running the ball.
Then again, the emergence of Chris Matthews in the final two games (NFC championship and Super Bowl) where he recovered a key onside kick and led the team in receiving against New England, maybe Seattle has some guys to get the job done.
The last is defensive tackle.
With the status of Brandon Mebane and Kevin Williams in question, it might be time to address this position on the team. But without a first round pick due to the Graham trade, they'll have to get creative with whoever they select.
By the end of last season, they resorted to playing Will Tukuafu - a fullback they acquired midway through the season - to playing at defensive tackle on some snaps.
SOME EXPERTS blasted the Seahawks for their draft in 2012, stating that they weren't very good picks at all.
For those that don't remember, that class included Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson, Robert Turbin, Jeremy Lane, Sweezy and Greg Scruggs, all of which have played key roles in two runs to the Super Bowl. Korey Toomer of Idaho was also in that 2012 class, and has found some success with Dallas and is now on the St. Louis practice squad since being released.
When Wagner missed games last season, you could tell as the defense couldn't stop the run in some key games. Without Wilson, who knows just where this team might be right now.
Maybe they're not a two-time defending NFC champion.
Maybe they don't put that Super Bowl banner in the rafters at CenturyLink Field a few years ago.
IF I had to guess, and that's all it is at this point, the Seahawks won't find the next Steve Largent or Cortez Kennedy in this draft - at least not where they're picking right now.
But don't put it past them to find a couple guys that can play at a Hall of Fame level whenever they fall to them.
Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.