Skip to content

Seahawks finally make a pick, add sliding McDowell to D-line

Aaron Doster / USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks have selected defensive lineman Malik McDowell out of Michigan State with the 35th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.

The pick came after the Seahawks traded out of the first round, then dropped one additional spot in the early second round.

McDowell is a top-10 talent who fell in the draft because of concerns about his work ethic and attitude.

The Seahawks don't seem particularly concerned about defensive linemen with character concerns, adding Frank Clark in the second round in 2015, and will love adding McDowell's high-end athleticism to their pass-rushing unit.

Malik McDowell Bio

Position: DL
School: Michigan State
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-6
Weight: 295 lbs

Strengths

  • Boom-or-bust prospect whose upside is as intriguing as any defensive player's in this class.
  • Has everything scouts are looking for in terms of size and explosiveness for a prototypical interior defensive-line prospect.
  • Can line up and excel almost anywhere, taking on double-teams inside, penetrating against guards, or kicking outside and bending the edge.
  • Looking past the underwhelming numbers, McDowell was often the most dominant player on the field during his time at Michigan State.

Weaknesses

  • Rumblings about his effort and dealings with Michigan State's coaching staff gave McDowell some pressing questions to answer heading into the draft.
  • May require a good environment that can make the most out of his abilities.
  • Workout scores didn't match everything he showed he has on tap.

Combine Results

Event Result
40-yd Dash 4.85 sec
Bench Press 23 reps
Vertical Jump 28.5 inches
Broad Jump 112 inches
3-Cone Drill 7.69 sec
20-yd Shuttle 4.53 sec

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox