John Idzik’s Draft History with the Seattle Seahawks: 2008

Jan 30, 2014; Jersey City, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end

(79) at a press conference at The Westin in advance of Super Bowl XLVIII. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As we move ahead into the off-season, Jets’ fans are looking ahead with a great deal of excitement, and with good reason. With many draft picks and lots of cap money available, John Idzik has his first off-season, free of the restraints caused by the Mike Tannenbaum years.

Beginning yesterday, we started looking back at John Idzik’s years in Seattle. Who did the team choose? How did they draft to set themselves up for the success they are now having. We started with the 2007 draft.

Today, we move along to take a look at the choices from the next year, 2008.  Here are the choices:

The first thing you notice right away is seven picks, the equivalent of one every round. The only round in which the Seahawks did not have a pick was the third. They made up for it by acquiring a second pick within the seventh round.

We have said it many times, but it is worth repeating, the draft is the way to build your team. You need to bring in many players. The more you bring in, the more chances you have for players to stick.

There are a couple of names that been around the league ever since they were drafted, John Carlson and Justin Forsett.  Incidentally, Forsett was a player that the Jets’ fans were interested in bringing over, so we see the quality of player drafted, even in the later rounds.

There is a player from this group, drafted in the middle rounds (round four), that has been with the team ever since being chosen in 2008.  That player is Red Bryant.

Picked in the fourth round with the 121st pick overall, Bryant worked his way into the starting lineup along the defensive line.  He started seven games in 2010, and from 2011-2013, he started every game except one.  In 2013, Bryant posted 30 tackles and 1.5 sacks, making an impact along the line.

What have we learned so far?  Over the first two posts in this series, we learn that the Seahawks valued the draft pick.  They understood that hanging onto draft picks is the “lifeline” when building a team looking for sustainable success.

It paid off for Seattle.  It will pay off for the Jets as well, and I can’t wait to watch.