"Beyond any chance of luck or anomaly?" Have to disagree.
In 2011 the Seahawks just opted for quantity, drafting 3 DBs in the space of 20 picks starting in round 5. One of them was cut before the season even started; one of them was Richard Sherman. In 2010 the Seahawks drafted DB Walter Thurmond in round 4, and only took a flier on Kam Chancellor a round later. Etc.
It's in the nature of chance that some results will be well above average. Are the Seahawks good at assessing DBs? Probably, yep. Have they also gotten lucky? Surely.
They are clearly looking for some qualities from players, despite which rounded they are drafted in.
Let's take a look at their drafts since 2010, when Pete Carroll and crew took over. I'll include all picks, including both hits and misses. I will list them below by round and include the year.
1- Earl Thomas, 2010
4- Walter Thurmond, 2010
5- Richard Sherman, 2011
5- Max LeGree, 2010
5- Kam Chancellor, 2010
5- Tharold Simon, 2013
6- Eric Pinkins, 2014
6- Jeremy Lane, 2012
6- Winston Guy, 2012
6- Byron Maxwell, 2011
This is a remarkable group of players, considering there is only one pick in the first three rounds and two in the first four.
Of these players, it would be hard to argue that Thomas, Sherman, Chancellor, Thurmond (when healthy), Lane (nickel back), or Maxwell are not solid starters; although Brady picked on Simon in the Super Bowl, Simon was not a good matchup for the Patriots because of his lankiness. I'll leave Simon off and suffice to say that
six out of ten picks are solid starters.
Thomas, Sherman, and Chancellor are All-Pro players, while Maxwell just signed the second biggest deal of any CB this offseason. Maybe Maxwell won't turn out to be great, but let's just say he is in between elite and non-elite, considering some team is paying him a lot of money as a #1 corner. So, let's say that
three and a half of those ten picks are elite, with three of them being arguable the best at their positions.
Take a look at who the Patriots have drafted over the last fourteen years under Belichick. Using 12 picks in the first three rounds (as opposed to 1 pick for Seattle) and 25 picks overall (as opposed to 10 for Seattle), the Patriots have not come close to approaching the overall value of Seattle's drafting for defensive backs. In particular, Seattle owns the late rounds; if you look at how the Patriots have drafted in the late rounds (5, 6, and 7), you'll see that it is very, very unlikely to actually get any value there. Seattle has gotten, Sherman, Chancellor, Simon, Lane, and Maxwell-
five starters in the later rounds, whereas the Patriots have gotten only Dennard, who may get cut next offseason.
1- Devin McCourty, 2010
1- Brandon Meriweather, 2007
2- Tavon Wilson, 2012
2- Ras-I Dowling, 2011
2- Pat Chung, 2008
2- Darius Butler, 2008
2- Terrence Wheatley, 2008
2- Eugene Wilson, 2003
3- Logan Ryan, 2013
3- Duron Harmon, 2013
3- Brock Willilams, 2001
3- Ellis Hobbs, 2005
4- Jonathan Wilhite, 2008
4- James Sanders, 2005
4- Antowan Harris, 2000
4- Asante Samuel, 2003
4- Gus Scott, 2004
5- Dexter Reid, 2004
6- Jamea Thomas, 2013
6- Leonard Myers, 2001
6- Mike Richardson, 2006
7- Alfonzo Dennard, 2012
7- Willie Andrews, 2006
7- Christian Morton, 2004
7- Malcolm Williams, 2007
So, you can call it luck or an anomaly, or whatever you want, but this sure would be a lot of luck that continues its luckiness over and over. Am I saying the Seahawks will not have a bad draft or two, or that they are infallible? Of course not. I am merely showing that it is clear they have a less random and more predictable way of evaluating talent for their system. Not to say their system doesn't make it easier to draft players, just that they are more likely to hit on defensive backs through the draft than the Patriots.
So, yes, I agree with you 100% that they are both good and lucky, but much more good than lucky.