Why Seahawks View Draft Pick Derick Hall as 'Immediate Starter'

The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2023 NFL Draft with a variety of needs, perhaps the most pressing of which being on the defensive line - but throughout the pre-draft process, many believed a quarterback was firmly in play for Seahawks general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll.

However, in the moment of truth, Seattle passed on signal callers at No. 5 and No. 20 in the first round, instead opting for Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon and Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

But to the surprise of some, two quarterbacks commonly thought of as first-round picks remained on the board at the start of the second round - Kentucky's Will Levis and Tennessee's Hendon Hooker.

Levis didn't hang around for very long, as he went at No. 33, but Hooker remained when the Seahawks were on the clock at No. 37 ... and yet, they passed, selecting Auburn edge defender Derick Hall.

Most importantly, it was always Hall for Seattle. According to Seahawks.Com, there were less than 20 players with first-round grades on Schneider's board - Hall was the only one still available entering Day 2 and the biggest focus when the session resumed.

But, why? Per ESPN, the Seahawks feel Hall has a chance to make an early impact on a team fresh off a playoff appearance that has aspirations for more.

"The Seahawks were pretty excited about replenishing the roster to win now," ESPN writes. "That played out in the second round -- they see Auburn pass-rusher Derick Hall as an immediate starter because of his combination of effort, physicality and speed, so that selection felt more crucial than straining for Will Levis or Hendon Hooker, despite all the QB homework they did on the pro-day circuit."

Hall, 22, was a first-team All-SEC selection this past season after recording seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss, but Schneider and Carroll have lauded his work and character off the field as key parts of his evaluation.

At Auburn, the 6-3, 254-pound Hall was a team captain and won an award for his involvement in the community; he was a steadying presence for the Tigers during a mid-season coaching change and proved to be a stellar leader.

Now, Hall's poised to bring his on- and off-field value to the Pacific Northwest ... and the Seahawks believe he has a chance to put it on display sooner rather than later.

You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft