SEATTLE — A day after standing pat to use their original first-round pick for the first time in nine years, the Seahawks pulled another surprise Friday, trading up in the second round to take defensive end Darrell Taylor of Tennessee.
Seattle traded its second-round pick at No. 59 and its pick in the third round (101, which was compensation for the free-agency loss of Earl Thomas) to the Jets for pick No. 48 to take Taylor.
Taylor, listed at 6-3, 259 pounds, had 8.5 sacks last season at Tennessee and 19.5 in his final three seasons.
And his selection helps Seattle fulfill what had appeared to be the team’s biggest need of improving the pass rush.
The trade leaves Seattle with just four more picks in the draft for the moment at 64, 133, 144 and 214.
Six picks would be the fewest for the team since coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider arrived in 2010.
The Seahawks are known for usually trading down to acquire more picks later in the draft, and they may still do that now that they have just four more.
But Taylor was a player the team wanted to move up the 11 spots for, potentially seeing that a run on defensive ends/edge rushers may have been about to begin with many that some felt could be taken earlier in the draft still on the table.
Seattle used its first pick on Thursday to take linebacker Jordyn Brooks of Texas Tech and have now used their first two picks to beef up the defensive front seven.
The pick of Taylor may be further proof that the Seahawks do not expect to re-sign defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who remains an unsigned free agent, or at least providing more depth at that spot in case he heads elsewhere, as has seemed increasingly likely.
Wrote Sports Info Solutions in its scouting report of Taylor: “Taylor is a natural pass rusher who employs a variety of methods to disrupt the pocket, but his inconsistent play strength and discipline in the run game could hold him back.”
Taylor started all 13 games last season for Tennessee and had 45 tackles, for a loss, along with 8.5 sacks.
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