NFL DRAFT

Seahawks take Michigan State DT Malik McDowell at No. 35 after 3 trades down

Apr 28, 2017, 4:42 PM | Updated: 10:40 pm

The Seahawks added strength to their defensive line by taking Malik McDowell in the second round. (...

The Seahawks added strength to their defensive line by taking Malik McDowell in the second round. (AP)

(AP)

LISTEN: Brock Huard's NFL Draft preview: Michigan State DT Malik McDowell

RENTON – The third trade turned out to be the charm.

At least that’s what the Seahawks hope after making defensive tackle Malik McDowell their first choice in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Seahawks drafted McDowell out of Michigan State with the third pick of the second round, selection No. 35 overall. The selection came after Seattle made three separate deals, sliding down the draft order from the pick Seattle initially held at No. 26 to pick No. 35 while accumulating four additional picks in the process.

McDowell is 6 feet 6, 295 pounds and entered the draft after his junior season. He was the second defensive tackle chosen in the draft, going after Jonathan Allen from Alabama, who was picked by Washington midway through the first round.

Brock’s take | McDowell photo gallery | Seahawks draft tracker | 710 draft page

The selection of McDowell was a long time coming considering the trades Seattle completed dating back to Thursday evening before finally pulling the trigger.

First, Seattle went from No. 26 to No. 31, picking up an additional third-round pick and seventh-round pick from Atlanta. Then, the Seahawks went from No. 31 to No. 34, adding an early pick in the fourth round.

That put Seattle on deck when the second round began on Thursday afternoon, only to see Seattle slide back one spot in a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, picking up a sixth-round pick.

After 34 players came off the board – and nearly 24 hours after the first round officially began – the Seahawks made their first selection.

Seattle used a second-round pick on a defensive lineman in 2015, too. The Seahawks used that pick to select Frank Clark, the first player it had drafted after trading away their first-round pick to acquire Jimmy Graham from New Orleans.

McDowell is going to be compared to the players that Seattle could have had if the Seahawks had not traded down. Like Kevin King, the UW cornerback whom Seattle could have chosen on Thursday night instead of trading out of the first round. King was the first pick of the second round, selected by Green Bay.

Or Cam Robinson. That’s the offensive tackle from Alabama, who was chosen with the second pick of the second-round, the one Seattle began Friday with only to deal it to Jacksonville.

Seattle still has another pick in the second round and four picks in the third round, which will conclude Friday.

Danny and Gallant Show

NFL Draft

Seattle Seahawks rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba...

Brandon Gustafson

Seahawks OC Waldron shares 1st impression of rookie class

Seattle Seahawks OC Shane Waldron joined Brock & Salk to share what he's seeing from the team's five draft picks on offense.

10 months ago

Seattle Seahawks draft Derick Hall...

Brandon Gustafson

ESPN NFL Draft expert breaks down all 10 Seattle Seahawks picks

ESPN NFL Draft expert Matt Miller broke down each pick the Seattle Seahawks made during the 2023 NFL Draft with Seattle Sports' Brock & Salk.

10 months ago

Seattle Seahawks John Schneider NFL combine...

Brandon Gustafson

Why Seahawks GM Schneider made draft day trade with Broncos

The Seattle Seahawks made yet another trade with the Broncos, this time a deal during the NFL Draft. John Schneider breaks down the move.

11 months ago

Seattle Seahawks draft Cameron Young...

Brandon Gustafson

Seattle Seahawks draft picks Bump & Stacy are most excited about

Seattle Sports' Bump & Stacy break down which players they're most excited to see from the Seattle Seahawks' 2023 NFL Draft class.

11 months ago

Seattle Seahawks UDFA C.J. Johnson...

Brandon Gustafson

Huard: The Seattle Seahawks UDFA creating the most buzz

According to Brock Huard, East Carolina wide receiver C.J. Johnson is the undrafted free agent with the most buzz on the Seattle Seahawks.

11 months ago

Seattle Seahawks Jaxon Smith-Njigba...

Brandon Gustafson

OSU HC: What new Seahawks WR Smith-Njigba has that’s ‘off the charts’

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day joined Brock & Salk to share his insight into Seattle Seahawks first-round wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

11 months ago

Seahawks take Michigan State DT Malik McDowell at No. 35 after 3 trades down