/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54523043/674179532.0.jpg)
The Seattle Seahawks finally made their first pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, taking Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell with the 35th overall pick. McDowell had been touted as a potential top-five pick going into last season, but injuries (and potentially motivation) sapped his production and his stock began to slip. At the combine, McDowell tested about as well as you could hope a defensive tackle to test, but teams were still wary of the on-field results that didn’t seem to match his abilities.
The Seahawks held a private visit with McDowell to decide for themselves if he was motivated enough, and apparently they were satisfied.
If you are curious about the things that don’t show up in shorts though, then this is the video for you. Brett Kollman of Battle Red Blog has been doing great video breakdown of top prospects all year, and here’s his 13-minute vid on McDowell, a player he told me was “one of the most dominant defensive players in this draft.” High praise given the quality of the defense in this class.