It was a long wait between rounds three and six, but the 'Hawks finally drafted, pulling the trigger on Rutgers QB Mike Teel.
The 2008 Big East Player of the Year, Teel finished his career as a three-year starter with 9,398 passing yards and 59 touchdowns.
This is the first time GM Tim Ruskell has selected a quarterback in the draft since David Greene in the third round in 2005.
Continue to the scouting report...
Strengths
Teel has good size at 6-foot-4 and a decent arm. He gets the ball out quickly and shows good accuracy, leading his receivers.
Despite a weak start to the season in 2008, Teel began to dominate the competition down the stretch, leading his team to seven straight wins. During that span, he threw 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
Weaknesses
Teel isn't very mobile and his accuracy and decision making suffer when he's forced from the pocket. While his arm is adequate, he tends to lose accuracy when going deep.
When it comes to reading the field, he tends to lock onto his primary receiver, which can lead to unnecessary interceptions.
How does he fit in Seattle?
As a sixth-round pick, there's no guarantee Teel makes the team. Obviously Ruskell and company liked the production they saw out of Teel down the stretch in 2008.
He was a leader on some great teams at Rutgers and has the size and ability to possibly develop at the next level. Still, he benefited from throwing to a first-round receiver in Kenny Britt.
Drafting a quarterback is a crapshoot in any round, so taking one in the sixth round is even more so. Hopefully, QB Matt Hasselbeck takes a shine to a fellow sixth-round pick and helps Teel along in the transition.
Teel is obviously a competitor though. He took a swing at teammate Glen Lee, who was trying to get him off the field after Teel threw a game-ending interception in 2008. No character concerns?
Highlights:
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
