2018 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round after pro days, trades
player. Scouting Report. Center. Iowa. James Daniels. 18. 36. Pick Analysis
Needs: C, CB, DE
The Seattle Seahawks offensive line has struggled mightily since trading center Max Unger for tight end Jimmy Graham before the 2015 season. While Graham did catch double-digit touchdowns the Seahawks line hasn’t been the same and Russell Wilson has been sacked 129 times over the three years since the trade. The Seahawks will right the wrong in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft with James Daniels.
Daniels, the former Iowa Hawkeyes center, is graded out as an instant starter by NFL.com. At 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds, Daniels has NFL size and put up a solid but not eye-popping 21 reps at 225 in the bench press.
Where Daniels impresses is with his football IQ and technique while his weaknesses are taking on a bull rush against a 3-4 defense nose tackle. Daniels will improve the protection schemes at the line of scrimmage which will buy Wilson more time in the passing game. He’ll also be expected to open running lanes for whoever winds up the feature back in Seattle in 2018.