2018 NFL Mock Draft: Browns land Baker Mayfield

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 04: North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive end Bradley Chubb (9) enters the field before the game between the Clemson Tigers and the NC State Wolfpack on November 04, 2017 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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36. . S. Florida State. Derwin James. 18. player

The Seahawks enter the 2018 season in a transition phase that will likely determine the fate of the franchise for the next several years. From wide-ranging coaching turnover on both sides of the ball, to injuries hampering stars like Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril, the Seahawks’ window to win another Super Bowl ring grows seemingly smaller by the minute. One player that could become a leader of a new era in the Legion of Boom is ultra-talented Florida State safety, Derwin James.

The Seahawks love athletes and Derwin James may very well be the best athlete in the entire draft. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, it’s hard to not see the comparisons to Kam Chancellor with James’ outstanding athleticism and ability to lay punishing hits on ball carriers. James ended his Seminoles career in 2017 by logging 84 tackles and 11 pass breakups en route to second-team All-America honors.

At times, James’ instincts can be a bit lacking and a past knee injury may be a red flag for some teams concerned about his durability in the future. But with the possibility that Kam Chancellor may not see the field any time soon, adding a player of James’ upside could be just what Pete Carroll and John Schneider are looking for with the future of the Seahawks’ secondary.

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