For the second day in a row, the Seahawks used their draft picks to focus on development in the trenches, selecting guard Christian Haynes from Connecticut with the 81st overall pick in the third round.
Haynes is the second player selected by the Seahawks in this year's draft, following first-round pick Byron Murphy II, a defensive tackle out of the University of Texas.
Haynes, a four-year starter at UConn, has started all 49 games over the past four seasons and brings considerable experience and durability to Seattle's offensive line. Haynes was a third-team AP All-American the past two seasons and was a team captain twice. And although he played almost exclusively at right guard in college, Haynes says he can play anywhere if called upon.
“If they want me to play, I can play anything,” he said. “I'm going to go out there and dominate regardless. I only played a lot as a right guard in college, but I can play any position they want me to play.”
When asked about his playing style, Haynes answered, “He's smart and mean at the same time. He's very athletic, he can run, and he dominates on offense.''
Haynes is also looking forward to coming to Seattle, having grown up a fan of the Seahawks and current Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
“Oh, fans, number 12, that's all,” he said. “The culture there. I've been a Seattle fan since I was little. I'm also a big Geno fan. I used to watch him when he was at West Virginia. I'm ready to come out.” Dominate. ”
Haynes draft profile by NFL's Lance Zierlein:
“A fourth-year starter and team captain who is a stalwart at the point of attack. Haynes plays with football intelligence, viewing every snap as a command to move opponents and complete blocks.”
“His draft availability could be affected by his lack of length and being limited to one position, but his determined style of play counteracts those factors.
“He's not a great shooter, but he wipes out targets with his pull blocks, and he's good in space and in pass protection. He can be sloppy with his hands, making it difficult for opponents to get away from him. All things considered, he could be a solid NFL starter over his draft quota.
