This year in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks selected OLB Aaron Curry from Wake Forest with the fourth overall pick. These three players are the highest LB's selected in the last three drafts. Willis in '07, Gholston in '08, and Curry in 2009.

Now the question for the 2009 pick, Aaron Curry, is will he be the next Vernon Gholston or Patrick Willis (this is not about position)?

Lets take a look at both Willis and Gholston's stats, mainly from their rookie seasons.

Patrick Willis:

Tackles: 174 total tackles, 135 solo tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles in his rookie season. Willis won the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2007. He's also a two-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler.

Willis finished off his 2007 season by being named one of the ESPN "NEXT" players along with Brandon Roy (NBA) and Joba Chamberlain (MLB).

Willis led the NFL in 2007 in total tackles, as a rookie. Not too shabby of a season and this would be great for Aaron Curry and the Seahawks if Curry turned in this kind of rookie season.

Vernon Gholston:

Tackles: 13 total tackles, five solo tackles, zero sacks, zero everything else.

There were a lot of people around the NFL that said Gholston would not translate to the NFL and well, he flat-out proved them right.

Jets fans wanted Gholston and they got him. He was drafted as a DE, hopefully Rex Ryan will do a lot better than Mangini and have Gholston turn out like a sixth overall pick should.

Jets fans also wanted Mark Sanchez. They got him now, but will he turn out like Gholston but at the QB position? Sanchez was drafted only one slot higher.

Now looking at Aaron Curry. He was the best LB in the entire draft, along with the title of the best overall and complete player in the '09 draft. He was a tackle machine in college at Wake Forest.

The Seahawks are going to want him to be the SLB and do a lot more blitzing in the NFL than he did in college. But having Curry paired with Tatupu and Hill should help him out a little bit.

If Aaron Curry can get even close to the type of rookie season like Patrick Willis had and have maybe 130 total tackles, then he's turned in a great rookie season. What should Seahawks fans expect from Aaron Curry? Well, let's project what he should have for stats right now.

Tackles: 120-130 (110 solo)

Sacks: Four to six (Lofa will have most of the sacks, so that's why it will be lower)

Forced fumbles: One to three

Interception:One to three

If Curry can have that as his rookie season then Seahawks fans won't be calling for Tim Ruskell's head and Curry should have a decent shot at the Pro Bowl.

For the Seahawks to have success this season they are going to need all the big contract guys (Jones, Hasselbeck, Housh, Lofa) to get back to Pro Bowl form.

So this list is going to be about three Seahawks on offense who will have a great shot at making to pro bowl:

1) WR T.J Houshmandzadeh

Examination: The last Seattle Seahawk WR to make the pro bowl was 19 years ago. As TJ said in an "interview" with NFL.com, "Well then it will end at 20, a nice round number."

TJ said it and he has the talent to end it at 20. TJ is a sure handed receiver that can go and get any ball thrown to him. He has a great shot having a QB like Matt Hasselbeck along with two other WR's to get the attention off of TJ in Deion Branch and Nate Burleson.

Now TJ on the depth chart is the No 1 WR. Is he going to be the Seahawks No 1 WR? No, he's most likely going to be the slot WR. You're thinking why did they pay him $40 million to be a slot WR? Well, he will play at No. 1 but Matt Hasselbeck's favorite target is the slot WR. Bobby Engram was the slot WR and had his first 1000+ yard season in 2007 (when Hasselbeck was a Pro Bowler). So you put him in the slot with a healthy Hasselbeck, he should be a lock for the game.

2) QB Matt Hasselbeck

Examination *If Matt Hasselbeck is healthy for all 16 games: In 2007, Matt Hasselbeck played all 16 games. Mike Holmgren went to a pass first offense. What happened? Hasselbeck took over the Seahawks, made the Pro Bowl as a starter and also had slot WR Bobby Engram have his first 1000+ yard receiving season.

That's all it takes. A healthy Matt Hasselbeck for 16 games, and a great slot WR. As previously mentioned, TJ Houshmandzadeh is that WR if Matt Hasselbeck is healthy.

Now in addition to TJ, Hasselbeck also has Deion Branch and Nate Burleson to really open up the passing game as well as the running game with PA. Hasselbeck also has the best TE in the NFC in John Carlson. Carlson was in the top three all time for rookie TE's. He was up there with Ditka and company, not too bad.

Hasselbeck also has something to prove. The Seahawks were close to drafting QB Mark Sanchez, but because Aaron Curry was available they selected Curry over Sanchez. Now the Seahawks have two first round picks next year. Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy will lead the 2010 class. This is his chance to show that they made the right choice by passing on Sanchez and that he can still be an elite NFL QB.

3) TE John Carlson

Carlson, the one lone bright spot on the Seahawks last season, is entering his second season with the team. Now he has Matt Hasselbeck healthy, and three great WR's to open up the field for him.

Carlson can take that next step this season by becoming one of the top NFL TE's (current day not all time).

Unlike TJ and everyone else, Carlson doesn't have to have Matt Hasselbeck because he did great with Seneca Wallace.

Either way, having Hasselbeck is a bonus and this is Carlson's chance to make himself more than just a second year rookie. 

This list does not include OL because, well, it's really not fair. We know Walter Jones is a lock and eveyone else still haven't proven themselves.

Now we all know about Spagnuolo and what he did with that Giants defense. But can he do the same in St Louis? We will find out.

Singletary was the interim head coach last season so we know what he can do. The only coach that we haven't seen be a head coach or know what he can do is Jim Mora. The last time he was a head coach was in 2006 with the Atlanta Falcons.

Jim Mora, now the permanent head coach has brought a whole new outlook to the Seahawks organization.

Mora, unlike Holmgren is aiming for a very aggressive approach to both sides of the ball. Mora hired former Bucs LB coach Gus Bradley as the Seahawks DC. Bradley, under one of the greatest DCs in the game Monte Kiffin, comes very highly recommended by Kiffin. He's going to bring the Tampa-two defense, like they had in Tampa with Kiffin.

Mora also hired Dan Quinn as the Seahawks D-line coach and assistant head coach. Quinn, following form, brings a very agressive approach to the defensive line. Almost like a Steve Spagnuolo approach.

Another important thing that Mora is doing differently this season is during the practices the players are always in motion and running at all times. Even the coaching staff is running with the players.

A new approach that Mora is using after practice is having all the players do sets of Gasser's after practice. Even the coaches joined in which was nice to see.

Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said, "My wife wants me to skip a meal and start to lose weight. Well I'm not skipping meals so I have to run to make it look like I am."

Well good luck with that Knapp.

Mora and the entire Seahawks coaching staff are really pushing for an aggressive game on both sides of the ball, and you can see it during all of the OTA's, and even at Bobby Engram's softball game today. Lofa was running from first to third, sprinting all the way. Mora would love that sight.

There was speculation about the Seahawks, SF 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, NE Patriots, and even the St. Louis Rams.

John Clayton and all of his wisdom, well I liked him before he came out with his Vick list, now I really question if he just says that everyone is going to Seattle or if it's true. Clayton came out with a top five.

The truth of the matter is Vick can sign with anyone at any time but between now and training camp.

Vick won't be looking to sign or have any teams even look at him because there is no point in bringing in Vick, because he's not a starting QB so he doesn't have to learn the entire playbook.

Teams sense Vick is most likely going to be a backup QB/wildcat QB/athlete, it would make more sense to sign Vick at the very latest time, maybe a week before the season.

So for now, all of the Michael Vick rumors that come out will just be writers coming up with scenarios and nothing close to the truth.

Especially, if the rumor links Vick to the Seahawks, Patriots and Cowboys. Seahawks head coach Jim Mora came out with a statement say that Vick should be reinstated but he will not be a member of the Seattle Seahawks.

The Pats are not going to take a chance on Vick, and they already have a backup they believe in O'Connell. The Cowboys have Isiah Stanback and Tony Romo. They just cut T.O because of his locker room problems. That says it right there.

The Seahawks will have returning wide receivers Deion Branch and Nate Burleson coming back from injury-plagued seasons.

Deion Branch came over in a trade in 2006 from the New England Patriots for the Seahawks' first round pick in 2007. Branch has had an injury-plagued Seahawks career, and when he was healthy, Matt Hasselbeck wasn't. So Hasselbeck and Branch have not been on the same page since he joined the Seahawks.

Branch, this upcoming season, is going to really have to prove himself to the Seahawks fans, front office, and the coaching staff to make sure that he stays a Seattle Seahawk.

This is a golden opportunity for Branch, because teams really are going to be focused on TJ and Burleson, not as much on Branch. So if Branch can take advantage of this opportunity this season, if he can stay healthy, and if Matt Hasselbeck and Deion can get a great connection together, then the Seahawks' passing game will be alive and well.

For all of those people out there who think Branch isn't good anymore or that he doesn't have any heart: just look at the game against the NE Patriots. He ran his heart out on a play that almost didn't even have a chance of happening. He laid out for a one-handed catch when they were losing, showing he cares about the Seahawks and winning. He's a player with a great heart.

Truthfully, it’s a little bit of both.

This offseason, if you examine who the Seahawks have signed, traded for, or drafted you could clearly see that they are trying to win now but also build towards the future.

The Seahawks had needs at wide receiver, safety, running back, corner back, depth on the offensive line, and a future quarterback.

Through free agency, the Seahawks filled two of those needs. They signed wide receiver T.J Houshmandzadeh to a five-year, $40 million contract.

The signing of T.J. falls into the category of winning now because he gives the Seahawks a true No. 1 wide receiver, but at the same time it falls into the category of building to the future.

Housh will be the Seahawks' No. 1 wide receiver for five years, until they draft the next Andre Johnson, which could be A.J Green from Georgia—that’s the future.

Seattle also signed defensive tackle Colin Cole to a five-year, $21 million contract. That signing falls into the same one as Housh. The only difference is he’s a lot younger than Houshmandzadeh, so he will be around longer into the “future.”

The next move is what made the Seahawks offseason interesting.

They traded Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson, who only fit the “win now” category, to the Detroit Lions for DT Cory Redding and a fifth-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

That began to show that the Seahawks were not just aiming to win now but to build to the future. What added to that speculation was when the Seahawks restructured Redding’s contract. It states that he will be a free agent next year; he’s going to make only $2 million this season.

They just blew up the rest of his contract. So, for Redding it’s a one and done.

After the draft, the Seahawks used the free cap space, which was created when the Seahawks let of Leroy Hill, to sign CB Ken Lucas to fill a hole at CB opposite Marcus Trufant.

Now, for the 2009 NFL draft. The Seahawks had the fourth overall pick, the highest pick since 1997. So, with the Seahawks having MLB Lofa Tatupu already in the fold, and Leroy Hill refusing to sign the franchise tender, the Seahawks lucked out.

The Kansas City Chief’s passed on OLB Aaron Curry for DE Tyson Jackson. So it was too easy for Seattle.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell strolled to the podium and announced the following: "With the fourth pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Seattle Seahawks select, Aaron Curry, linebacker, Wake Forest."

Which was great for the Seahawks because they didn’t know about Hill, they traded away Peterson, and Aaron Curry was the best player in the draft and the best player available on the board when the Seahawks picked at four.

Now, the Seahawks have quite possibly the best young LB corps in the NFL, with Leroy Hill, Lofa Tatupu, and now Aaron Curry. Curry falls into the category of “win now” but mainly building towards the future.

The biggest move that the Seahawks made that shows that they are building towards the future was when they traded their second-round pick to the Denver Broncos for their first-round selection next year, which a lot of people around the league suspect will be sixth overall or higher.

That gives the Seahawks two first-round picks next year, which is any team’s goal if they are building towards the future. For the rest of the draft, they took the following players:

Wide receiver Deon Butler in the third round, who is more of a “build to the future” player. Quarterback Mike Teel in the sixth round, definitely a “build to the future” player, but I see him as the next Charlie Frye for Seattle.

Strong safety Courtney Greene could turn out to be a “win now” type of player depending on if he beats out Brian Russell for the starting job. Defensive end Nick Reed in the seventh round could also be a “win now” player.

Every team wants to try and win right now, which is exactly what the Seahawks are trying to do.

But Tim Ruskell is smart, he knows that he has a lot of aging veterans on his team like QB Matt Hasselbeck (34), LG Mike Wahle (32), LT Walter Jones (35), WR T.J Houshmandzadeh (31), DE Patrick Kerney (32), and FS Deon Grant (30) among others.

Ruskell's moves include bringing in top young talent and locking them in long term, like CB Marcus Trufant (six years $50.2 million), MLB Lofa Tatupu (six years $42 million), OLB Leroy Hill (six years $38 million).

They have also signed/drafted OT Ray Willis (re-signed), OT Sean Locklear (five years $32 million) and drafted OLB Aaron Curry, C Max Unger, DE Lawrence Jackson among others.

Don't forget that next year the Seahawks have two first-round picks (Denver and their own).

They passed on Mark Sanchez this year, so look for the Seahawks to take QB Colt McCoy with Denver’s pick, which will be in the top 10. That way, McCoy can either learn under Hasselbeck or it means they traded him which would also be smart because they could pick up another first or second-round pick.

Then with their own pick they could target a free safety like Eric Berry or Taylor Mays. Most likely it will be Mays, because Berry is going to go in the top five and Seattle should pick around hopefully 32. They could possibly trade up to get Mays.

Those are really the only two positions that Seattle needs to fill. Running back they can get in the second round or via free agency. But hopefully Julius Jones pulls a Michael Turner this season.

So overall, Ruskell has made all the right moves and has put this team in a position where, if they can stay healthy, they can make a deep playoff run and possibly a Super Bowl run.

When all of the NBA owners voted to decide whether to approve of the Sonics move to OKC Mark Cuban completely apposed the move and said the NBA needs to be in Seattle and that Seattle is a better market than OKC. Well that is completely true, why not invest in your own words and move the Dallas Mavericks to Seattle.

Mark Cuban was unsuccessful in buying the Chicago Cubs. Now there are many reasons why Cuban moving the Mavs to Seattle would make sense and also work for a new arena.

1) The Fans in Seattle are passionate about all of their sports (Mariners,Seahawks and Sounders FC).

The new MLS expansion team, the Seattle Sounders FC have sold out every single home game to date and will continue to sell out. A lot of MLS players are excited to come a play in Seattle, also MLS commissioner Don Garber said the fans are great in Seattle.

The Mariners drew 30,000+ this weekend for their series against the Twins. Also having the kid come back draws a crowd as well but for a series with the Twins thats great.

And the Seattle Seahawks, the 12th man, they always sell out season tickets, the loudest stadium in the entire NFL. The fans are completely behind the Seahawks even when they were 4-12.

Now you bring the Dallas Mavericks to Seattle where hometown boy Jason Terry would have a very warm welcome back, along with NBA greats like Kidd,Dirk and others on the Mavs roster.

2) Mark Cuban would have to sit around and wait for the politicians to sit on their hands and wait for tax payer dollars for an arena. Cuban has the wealth to pay for his own new arena, or completely renovate the Key Arena, and make it much larger and NBA fit.

Cuban would have to spend a decent amount to get the NBA in Seattle but with passionate fans that would line up for blocks to get season tickets for a winning franchise like the Mavs then he would definitely make a wise investment.

3) The market is great for sports in Seattle. Everyone is worried about the economyand not spending money for new things, but Cuban can look right in the eye of Joe Roth, the Sounders owner and see his success in Seattle then Cuban can make the deal.

4) The history would come back. Seattle has a great NBA history, with their NBA championship, great players and great coaches. Bringing in the Mavs would continue that great tradition in Seattle.

The Mavs would most likely become the Seattle Sonics again, and then could you imagine having Jason Kidd's No. 2 jersey being retired in Seattle, Jason Terry's jersey being retired in Seattle. It would be great.

5) The league needs a great NBA franchise in Seattle. The NBA only has the Portland Trailblazers in the north west, but restoring that I-5 rivalry with Portland would bring a brand new attention to the Pacific north west.

Now I'm not saying this is close to happening, but with the Mavs not doing so well in Dallas and would be useful for them to have a fresh start it would be a great fit. The Mavs get a fresh start, and the NBA comes back to Seattle.

Now this is with Jason Kidd on the Mavs, he's a free agent now. The next part to this article will chronicle the mind set that the Mavs are in Seattle. Who would they go after in free agency next season, and how they would do this upcoming season.

The Seahawks, well that's their way to success.

Even when the Seahawks went to the super bowl, they flew under the radar for the majority of the season until everyone realized that they had one 11 games in a row.

The West really has always been about the 49ers back in the Montana and Young era, and then the Rams for the majority from 2000-2004.

But, in 2004, Seattle really started to make themselves known going 10-4, second in the division and losing to the Rams in the playoffs.

Then, in 2005, they went 13-3, winning the division and went to the super bowl and lost 21-10 to the Steelers. But that was the beginning for the Seahawks and everyone had picked the Steelers to win the super bowl, mainly because this was the Seahawks' first division title in the NFC West.

Now, for this season, Seattle could have another 2005 effect happen, because the Arizona Cardinals won the division last season like in 2004 when the Rams won it.

Coming into this season, a lot of people have overlooked the Seahawks and are picking the Arizona Cardinals to win the division.

This is great for Seattle though, because you are just adding fuel to a fire that's already been lit by the fact that they all have something to prove.

Seattle is going to be a team with a vengeance and a team that will win the West and go deep in the playoffs because they can fly very low on the radar.

Think about it.

The Seahawks don't have any prime time games in 09. They are coming off a 4-12 season, and no one is picking them to win and finally they are in Seattle—the city that is tucked up way in the north of this country.

Seattle also has a favorable schedule only playing Tennessee, Indianapolis (at Indy), Chicago, Dallas, (at Dallas) and Green Bay as the games where they have a possibility of losing.

Now Tennessee and Chicago will be a lot easier to win because they will be at home instead of on the road.

Seattle will have a lot of fun flying under the radar and going back to their comfortable home atop the division and in the playoffs.

The Seahawks, well that's their way to success.

Even when the Seahawks went to the super bowl, they flew under the radar for the majority of the season until everyone realized that they had one 11 games in a row.

The West really has always been about the 49ers back in the Montana and Young era, and then the Rams for the majority from 2000-2004.

But, in 2004, Seattle really started to make themselves known going 10-4, second in the division and losing to the Rams in the playoffs.

Then, in 2005, they went 13-3, winning the division and went to the super bowl and lost 21-10 to the Steelers. But that was the beginning for the Seahawks and everyone had picked the Steelers to win the super bowl, mainly because this was the Seahawks' first division title in the NFC West.

Now, for this season, Seattle could have another 2005 effect happen, because the Arizona Cardinals won the division last season like in 2004 when the Rams won it.

Coming into this season, a lot of people have overlooked the Seahawks and are picking the Arizona Cardinals to win the division.

This is great for Seattle though, because you are just adding fuel to a fire that's already been lit by the fact that they all have something to prove.

Seattle is going to be a team with a vengeance and a team that will win the West and go deep in the playoffs because they can fly very low on the radar.

Think about it.

The Seahawks don't have any prime time games in 09. They are coming off a 4-12 season, and no one is picking them to win and finally they are in Seattle—the city that is tucked up way in the north of this country.

Seattle also has a favorable schedule only playing Tennessee, Indianapolis (at Indy), Chicago, Dallas, (at Dallas) and Green Bay as the games where they have a possibility of losing.

Now Tennessee and Chicago will be a lot easier to win because they will be at home instead of on the road.

Seattle will have a lot of fun flying under the radar and going back to their comfortable home atop the division and in the playoffs.

Line backers:

Rosevelt Colvin-Colvin is 31 years old and entering his 10th NFL season. He's played for the Patriots, Texans and the Bears. Colvin would be a good addition to a team that needs a veteran LB or a backup LB in case of injury.

Possible final destination-New England Patriots (history and the Pats love LBs)

Derrick Brooks-Brooks, who is a lot like Colts WR Marvin Harrison in that they had very high cap hits and because of their age they felt better to release him and draft/sign a younger LB.

I stated that the Colts should sign Harrison and I'm doing the same with Brooks. I think he will sign with the Bucs for a much lesser price.

Possible final destination-Tampa Bay Bucs

SS/FS and CB's

Michael Boulware- Boulware is solid veteran safety and would be a welcome addition to a team that could use some much needed help in their secondary. Boulware isn't a great starting SS/FS but if he needed to become a fill in starter he would do just fine. Also he would come at a very low cost-high reward type of player.

Possible final destiation-Seattle Seahawks

Deltha O'Neal- O'Neal is a solid cover CB with great speed and would bright a talented veteran addition to any defense. He isn't really a starting CB anymore because of his age and the younger CB's in the league are better than O'Neal but for a team that could use some KR/PR help and a good 3rd CB to cover the slot would be a great choice.

Possible final destination-New England Patriots

These are the best four players left at their respected positions (LB,CB and S).