Seahawks stay on defense, pick safety Marquise Blair

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.