SEATTLE – After attacking the defensive line with their first pick in the NFL draft, the Seahawks turned to the other side of the ball Friday, taking guard Christian Haynes of UConn.
They selected defensive tackle Bryon Murphy II of Texas in the first round Thursday.
That helps fill what was one of the team’s most obvious needs heading into the draft after the Seahawks did not bring back either of last year’s opening-day starting guards — left guard Damien Lewis and right guard Phil Haynes.
Earlier this month, they signed veteran free agent Laken Tomlinson to a one-year deal and he right leads the depth chart at left guard with second-year player Anthony Bradford on the right side.
The Seahawks had no proven depth behind either player and now can throw Haynes into both the mix to start — most likely at right guard, his primary position at UConn — and to add depth as a rookie.
Haynes played every snap of the last three seasons at UConn at right guard, including 802 last season. He was taken at pick No. 81.
Haynes is listed at 6-foot-2, 313 pounds and turned 24 earlier this month.
Wrote Pro Football Focus in its scouting report on Haynes: “Haynes was a four-year starting right guard at UConn. He has the ideal build for an interior offensive lineman: shorter in height for leverage but higher in weight with long arms. His weight is also distributed well, especially in the lower half, which allows him to anchor bull rushes and throw down lighter defenders.
“He has a good first step off the line of scrimmage, and that makes for some impactful blocks as a puller and a zone blocker. His overall athleticism is good, but he can get off balance when in space. He isn’t as much of a people-mover in a man- or gap-blocking scheme. He also doesn’t sit as low as he should in pass protection.”
The Seahawks had a long wait from pick 16 in the first round Thursday to 81, having traded their second-round pick last October to the Giants as part of the Leonard Williams trade.
The Seahawks were thought to have explored options to try to add move up but ended up sticking at 81.
Seattle has five more picks as the draft concludes Saturday with rounds four through seven — 102, 118, 179, 192 and 235.
Haynes, a native of Bowie, Md., will receive a slotted four-year contract worth up to $5.8 million that includes a $1.04 million signing bonus and carries a cap hit of $1.055 in 2024.
Haynes was coached at UConn by Jim Mora, who was Seattle’s head coach in 2009 and a former player at the University of Washington.