No. 25

Pick by Field Gulls Brian Brohm Quarterback Louisville

With the 25th overall selection in the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the Seattle Seahawks have pulled a bit of a surprise and selected Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm.  Once considered a top prospect, Brohm's senior season slid him down draft boards.  John Morgan, head blogger at Field Gulls and the man behind the pick, explains why Brohm is an excellent fit in Seattle:

  This fall, Matt Hasselbeck turns 33. Fans may want to extend his career indefinitely, wishcast he'll throw for 4,000 yards at 37 like Steve Young. But, in reality, the smart and politically active Hasselbeck's career likely ends when his contract ends, in 2011. Therefore, in the next three seasons Seattle must replace a player who, in 2007, was the heart and soul of their offense. With only Seneca Wallace and Charlie Frye on roster, it's a good bet that player arrives through the draft. That forces Seattle to find a quarterback in this draft, reach for one in a very scarce 2009 class or start a second year player in 2011. With no gaping holes on the Hawk's current roster, the team's biggest weaknesses of 2007 filled through last year's draft and this year's free agency, they may never be in a better position to draft Hasselbeck's successor.

Brian Brohm exited high school 5th on Rivals top "pro style" quarterback prospects list. Despite playing behind senior and pro prospect Stefan Lefors, Brohm played in 11 of 12 contests, attempting 98 passes his freshman year. He was the uncontested starter the next three seasons.

Brohm entered 2007 the near universal #1 quarterback prospect in college football. In his first three seasons, Brohm worked from a spread style offense under Bobby Petrino. When Bobby bailed, the Louisville Cardinals hired Steve Kragethorp. Kragethorp instituted a new offensive system. Instead of struggling, experience growing pains or pouting, Brohm had his best season of his career. On a stumbling Louisville squad, behind a rebuilt offensive line, Brohm completed 65.1% of his passes and suffered only 24 sacks. For his career, Brohm owns a 65.8% completion percentage. That combined with his 4 year exposure to the scrutiny of scouts, consistent top prospect rating, Academic All-America status and spotless character record makes Brohm both a high upside and low downside pick.

This past January Tim Ruskell announced that Jim Lawrence Mora would succeed Mike Holmgren as head coach in 2009. In making the announcement Ruskell emphasized "stability and unity". That accord has been extended to Seattle's roster, where young, cornerstone defensive players Lofa Tatupu and Marcus Trufant were each signed to long-term, below market contracts this offseason.

Many tie Seattle's current window of contention to Walter Jones and Matt Hasselbeck. Arguing that after either is lost, Seattle will enter a rebuilding phase. But if this past Super Bowl argued anything, it's not that a top pass rush wins games (duh), it's that no matter how venerable the favorite, or how under the underdog, on any given Sunday, in just one game, any team can win. Therefore, like virtually every prior Super Bowl champion, winning is not about seasonal dominance, breaking records like the 2002 Saint Louis Rams or 2007 New England Patriots, but about maximizing opportunities. Reaching the playoffs consistently until your miracle run arrives.

Brohm is the best available player, at an apex position, filling one of Seattle's greater needs, backup/future quarterback. He has an established record of success, is beloved by scouts, and rates highly in David Lewin's rookie forecasting system. His presence provides quality depth at an otherwise irreplaceable position and a saving grace from the dreaded rookie quarterback starter. Brohm decouples Seattle's fate from the arm of one man, and makes a post Hasselbeck injury playoff-run a possibility; now only a pipedream. Given time to develop and normal progression, Brohm could be one of the best quarterbacks in football by 2011, if not earlier. A late first round pick, Brohm is cheap, and should he falter, can be draft-insured against before he ever starts.

Drafting Brohm is a move away from window-based roster construction. Instead of playing for one year, or two, or three, booming before suffering a protracted rebuilding phase, the Hawks maintain consistent contention while perennially adding young talent and building for the future. In football, no position is more essential nor more scarce than quarterback. Brohm is invaluable insurance today, and the keystone of tomorrow's next great Seattle Seahawks.  

Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

An excellent pick for Seattle. The team has needs at offensive guard and defensive tackle, but they wisely did not go in that direction with their first pick. The best available tackle is Kentwan Balmer (UNC), but is not a fit in the three-technique position needed by Seattle. Trevor Laws would be the best pick for a tackle, but he may be a small reach at 25. Drafting a guard here would have been a reach as well, but Chilo Rachal is the best player available there.

Brohm will come in and learn behind Matt Hasselbeck, a player he is very similar to. Last season Brohm was a top 10 pick, getting him with another year of experience is a steal for Seattle at 25. This will ensure that as Hasselbeck ages, Seattle stays competitive.

Grade: A  ::  Brian Brohm Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining: 1.  LB Dan Connor, 2.  LB Jerod Mayo, 3.  QB Joe Flacco, 4.  RB Felix Jones, 5. DT Kentwan Balmer

Only six more picks to go in the first round of our mock draft - my, time flies when you're mocking!  The Jacksonville Jaguars are now on the clock, and Big Cat Country will have their pick posted here this afternoon.  Stay tuned!