Seahawks sign Nazair Jones, five Seattle draft picks still unsigned

The Seattle Seahawks signed third-round draft pick Nazair Jones to a four-year deal (financial details not disclosed), making him the sixth player from the team’s 2017 draft class to finalize a contract. Jones is a 6’5”, 305 lbs defensive tackle out of North Carolina whose story of near-paralysis to becoming a gridiron star is absolutely remarkable to read.

Seattle has invested considerably in its defensive line through the last two drafts, particularly at interior positions. In addition to Jones, the team grabbed Jarran Reed in the second round of the 2016 draft, as well as Quinton Jefferson in the fifth. Michigan State’s Malik McDowell was obviously the Seahawks’ #1 choice this year.

Looking at the ages of those four players, Reed is 24, Jones is 23, McDowell is 20 (will be 21 by the time the new season starts), and Jefferson is 24. It doesn’t look like 32-year-old Tony McDaniel will be re-signed. Through my sharp mathematical abilities, I’ve concluded that there’s a youth movement going on. Lest we forget that 24-year-old Frank Clark is coming off a ten-sack season, so the future of Seattle’s defensive front is looking pretty damn good, if you ask me.

Oh yeah, if you’re keeping track, these are the five remaining unsigned Seahawks draft picks: Malik McDowell, Ethan Pocic, Shaquill Griffin, Delano Hill, and Amara Darboh.