THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Schneider working on his second genius run with Seahawks

It’s draft week.

Unless you work in an NFL club war room, or make wagers for a living, this event can sneak up on you.

That’s especially true if your hometown team is terrible (why pay attention?) or an absolute powerhouse that might be one or two special players from a shot at the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks, we all know, belong in that latter category.

Want to visit the Lombardi Trophy?

It’s right here, folks.

This is where I remind you that it takes a special group of executives and athletes to win the Lombardi — and a VERY elite crowd to capture the thing back to back.

Seattle GM John Schneider is still waiting for that two-in-a-row celebration, but he’s done just about everything else.

Schneider built the Legion of Boom around 15 years ago, crushed Denver in the Super Bowl and would have snaffled up the next one if Russell Wilson hadn’t thrown that pick from the 1-yard line.

But that’s not what got Schneider rolling toward what I believe should be a spot in the Hall of Fame.

No, the REALLY tough gig is creating another Super Bowl cast from scratch — nearly two decades later.

SO, HERE we go.

The Seahawks basically have been a team constructed from the draft, or through trades using draft capital.

That’s pretty much how you roll when you pick 32nd.

Seattle has just four selections in this year’s draft, which kicks off Thursday evening and runs through next weekend.

Schneider certainly got his money’s worth while dealing some draft choices a year ago.

He didn’t exactly hand over the family treasure in any of the picks used or traded.

And yet, some of the Seahawks’ most critical pieces arrived at less than staggering prices.

It started, obviously, with quarterback Sam Darnold, who turned into one of the league’s genuine surprises.

Darnold lit up the offense, but he had plenty of help from the likes of Kenneth Walker III (now gone in free agency), receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (picked 20th two years earlier), and all-purpose speed merchant Rashid Shaheed.

Talk about getting a decent deal ...

Shaheed arrived in midseason via trade with New Orleans and returned three kicks for TDs, and caught some huge deep balls from Darnold that opened up space for everyone else.

Meanwhile, the captain on the other side of the ball was Ernest Jones IV, another midseason bargain who wound up leading the Super Bowl winners in tackles.

The entire draft class led directly to the playoffs: Safety Nick Emmanwori, guard Grey Zabel, tight end AJ Barner, and a horde of others.

WHAT NOW?

Well, you can assume that Seattle won’t be causing explosions at the podium — not with just four picks.

Schneider is almost certain to peddle a couple of his selections for more picks in lower rounds.

Even in a down year (both for the Hawks and a thin class league-wide), Schneider will want numbers, even in lower rounds.

He’s also going to be operating with some “rules,” if you fancy calling them that.

After those first two Super Bowl appearances, Schneider believes he leaned too heavily on drafting for need.

“We got away from the idea of looking for the best football players,” Schneider said. “We’ve turned that around more recently.”

Schneider insists that the Hawks won’t ignore good prospects at positions where they need help — as they proved by taking Zabel from North Dakota State.

The difference was that they ranked Zabel as a high-end athlete, as well.

This time around, the Seahawks have to make sure they don’t slide backwards.

Oddsmakers give Seattle a legit chance of putting Super Bowl titles back to back — but some of the toughest competition may be right near home in the NL West.

The Rams and 49ers are considered legit champion contenders.

“It’ll be tough,” Schneider said, “but that makes it fun.”

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Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three times each week, normally Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On."