With the twenty-fifth pick in the 2011 BGN Mock Draft, outsyderz34 selects...
Gabe Carimi - OL, Wisconsin
Pete Carroll's first season as the Seahawks head coach could be seen as a successful one. They were able to win their division and defeat the defending Super Bowl champions in the wildcard round. However, when you pull away the curtain, what you see is a 7-9 team that has a myriad of holes. Every position on the team, sans linebacker, free safety and left tackle, is up for grabs.
The best scenario for Seattle is to possibly trade back and gain picks to add depth and starters. They currently do not have a 3rd round pick and would probably benefit from getting secondary help - their biggest need - in the second round. But, obviously, there are no trades in the BGN community draft.
Pete Carroll is known for going for the best player available and that player is the behemoth left tackle from Wisconson, Gabe Carimi. The 2010 Outland Trophy winner is a monster at 6'7 and 315 lbs. Sean Locklear has been the long-term starter at right tackle, but has had some injury issues and will be 30 at the start of the season. He's not known as a great run blocker and that's what this team needs after finishing 31st in rushing. According to coldhardfootballfacts.com offensive hog index, Seattle finished tied for 28th in the league.
More after the jump...
The Seahawks of earlier in the decade were known as a run first, pass second team and that's what sent them to the Super Bowl. They need to get back to what they do best and Carimi can handle that manning the right side. Carimi is a strong mauler, benching 29 reps of 225 lbs at the Combine, and has drawn comparisons to former Eagle Jon Runyan. While Carimi was strictly a left tackle at Wisconsin, he took over for perennial NFL Pro-Bowler, Joe Thomas, and the Wisconsin offense never missed a beat. Carimi can boast being one of the more experienced offensive linemen in this draft having started 49 career games at left tackle. And, as reported, he has boasted as such stating, "I'm a physical player who has gone against four potential first round picks this year." He's even gone so far as to state he is the best offensive linemen in the draft while participating at the Combine.
It seems more and more likely that Seattle will re-sign Matt Hasselbeck for at least another season, decreasing the likelihood they would spend a first day pick on quarterbacks such as Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett. He's fought back problems for years, but the best way to avoid Hasselbeck from being laid out is to have Carimi and last year's first round pick, Russell Okung, protecting him. With the late season addition of Marshawn Lynch, and the return of 2009 second round pick, G/C Max Unger, this offense can vastly improve from last season with a powerful right tackle like Carimi.
Next on the clock will be Udalango with the Baltimore Ravens.
Previous Picks: 1 - Nick Fairley 2 - Patrick Peterson 3 - Blaine Gabbert 4 - Cam Newton 5 - Von Miller 6 - Marcell Dareus 7 - Prince Amukamara 8 - A.J. Green 9 - Da'Quan Bowers 10 - Corey Liuget 11 - Robert Quinn 12 - Julio Jones 13 - Tyron Smith 14 - Jimmy Smith 15 - Mark Ingram 16 - Cameron Jordan 17 - Ryan Kerrigan 18 - Anthony Castonzo 19 - Mike Pouncey 20 - Adrian Clayborn 21 - Phil Taylor 22- Stephen Paea 23 - Brandon Harris 24 - Aldon Smith