Seeing Green: Seahawks pick USC defensive end

RENTON, Washington — Pete Carroll dipped back into the Southern California pipeline to fill a need on the Seattle Seahawks defensive line.

Unable to make a move back into the second round for an additional pick, the Seahawks selected USC defensive end Rasheem Green with the 79th overall selection in the thirdround on Friday night.

Seattle’s initial selection on the second day addressed a significant need along the defensive line. Seattle was slated to have the No. 76-overall pick but traded with Pittsburgh and moved back three spots to No. 79 while also picking up an additional seventhround selection.

And much to the delight of the Seahawks, Green was still on the board.

“It’s tough watching guys getting drafted that play the same position when I personally feel like I’m a bit better than them. But it is what it is.” Green said.

It was a relatively quiet night for a team known for being busy with draft moves. Seattle will now have eight picks on the final day of the draft.

General manager John Schneider said there never were any reasonable options that would have allowed Seattle to get back into the second round. That included any possible deals involving safety Earl Thomas, who was the source of trade speculation as his current contract expires after the 2018 season and he was one of the few Seattle options that could have landed a high draft pick.

“We’ve been counting on Earl being here the whole time,” Carroll said.

Schneider believed Green was still available in the third round due to a knee injury suffered several years ago that likely downgraded his stock. Schneider said Green was examined twice by Seattle’s doctors.

“I’m sure he thought he was going to go higher. We like to have guys like that,” Schneider said.