RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks continued to focus on defense by drafting safety Marquise Blair from Utah in the second round of the NFL draft Friday.
Seattle was set to have the fifth pick of the second round but made its third trade in the first two days of the draft, this time with Carolina. Seattle moved back to the 47th pick and picked up an additional third-round selection, No. 77 overall.
Instead of making another deal, Seattle went with Blair. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Blair appears capable of playing either free or strong safety for the Seahawks. He showed that versatility by playing in a variety of roles in a complex defensive scheme at Utah. Blair was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection last season after recording 59 tackles and grabbing two interceptions.
Along with the No. 77 pick, Seattle also has the 92nd pick in the third round.
The Seahawks closed the night by moving up four spots — yet another trade — and selecting Utah linebacker Cody Barton with the 88th overall selection.
Barton played inside and outside linebacker at Utah and that versatility will be important as Seattle is mostly set with its starting linebacker group. Barton led Utah with 116 tackles his senior season.
“I had experience at both positions and I think that gave me great tools to use in the draft and make me more valuable to teams,” Barton said.
After all the trades, Seattle enters the final day of the draft with five picks.
Additionally, the Cleveland Browns selected Brigham Young linebacker Sione Takitaki with the 80th overall selection in the 3rd round.
Takitaki is a 6-2 230-pound prospect who has experience playing defensive end as well.
In 2018, Takitaki amassed 119 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss, while also posting 4 sacks.
During his collegiate career at BYU, Takitaki posted 15.5 sacks, 33.5 tackles for a loss, 241 total tackles and 5 passes defensed.
The NFL Draft concludes Saturday.
