Heading into an offseason where they are expected to come out favored to make another deep playoff run yet again, it may seem that the Seattle Seahawks have little to worry about when it comes to this year's NFL Draft. Looking around the field, you might argue that they have no real glaring needs.

At the skill positions, that is mostly true. Russell Wilson took a gigantic leap pushing elite status, Doug Baldwin was among the league leaders in receiving touchdowns, Thomas Rawls likely would have been name Offensive Rookie of the Year if he stayed healthy, Jimmy Graham is still Jimmy Graham and the Legion of Boom is still in tact. 

But there's the old cliché that games are won and lost in the trenches, and that is exactly where the Seahawks need help. Their offensive line we all know was sub par, and that's putting it lightly. On the other side, yes Frank Clark will be coming into his second year and both Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril are back, but both Brandon Mebane and Ahtyba Rubin are entering free agency. Not to mention they will be 31 and 29 years old, respectively.

Many draft "experts" think that Robert Nkemdiche would be an excellent fit for the Hawks should he fall to them at no. 26 overall. Nkemdiche is widely viewed as having top-10 talent, but attitude and off the field problems have caused his stock to downgrade. John Schneider and Pete Carroll have looked past supposed character flaws before, with Frank Clark's selection serving as proof. What worries me is Nkemdiche's reported lack of effort, which will never fly with Pete.

But if there's anyone that can accurately gauge a young man's desire to compete it's Pete Carroll. But the Seahawks can not afford to cut ties with a top draft pick this year like they have done so many times in the past. One might say that this is the most critical draft since the Carroll-Schneider tandem arrived in Seattle. They have to focus on areas that they have not yet hit a home run with in any of their drafts to date.

Really the only pick they have spent on a lineman that paid dividends was Russell Okung back in 2010, and now he is likely headed out the door. Their depth along the offensive line isn't what is was in say their Super Bowl year, and their stars along the line are of course older.

Therefore the Seahawks can not afford to take risks with any picks they use on lineman on either side of the ball. But I've gone against Pete and John in the past and been wrong, so what do I know?

Photo:Flickr/Mike Morris