RENTON -- After trading down one more time -- moving back just one more pick to No. 35 overall -- the Seattle Seahawks selected Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell in the second round of the NFL Draft.
A 6-foot-6, 299-pounds, McDowell is a defensive tackle that can play both inside and at defensive end.
"They brought me down for a visit," McDowell said. "They said they liked me and it was up to them to make the decision and I appreciate it dearly that they chose me."
With Ahtyba Rubin in the final year of his contract and the team electing not to re-sign Tony McDaniel, the Seahawks felt the need to add to their defensive front. Cliff Avril is also 31 years old and is entering his 10th season in the league.
McDowell becomes Seattle's highest drafted defensive lineman since Bruce Irvin was selected with the 15th pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. The Seahawks have selected a defensive lineman with their second round pick each of the last three seasons
"I'm just really excited to be here. I don't know what else to say," McDowell said. "I'm not crying but I'm smiling from ear to ear."
McDowell said he plans to come in to compete and that the team hasn't told him where they see him fitting in along the defensive line. McDowell said he played about 90 percent of his snaps at nose tackle at Michigan State. However, he likely projects more as a 3-technique tackle, or 5-technique end in Seattle's system.
McDowell was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the Associated Press. He led the Spartan defensive line with 34 tackles, including a team-best seven tackles for loss, in nine games for Michigan State. An ankle injury took him out of the team's final three games.
Photo Credit: INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Malik McDowell #4 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)