Seahawks take Germain Ifedi with first-round pick in NFL draft

RENTON — On the first day of the NFL draft the Seahawks got player they described as “a big, big, powerful guy’’ and an additional draft pick they called “huge.”

Indeed, on paper it was a win-win for the Seahawks. They filled an obvious need by picking Texas A&M offensive lineman Germain Ifedi and indulged in their favorite draft strategy — moving down to acquire more picks.

The 6-foot-5¾, 324-pound Ifedi was a three-year starter as a right guard and right tackle in college and is expected to compete with free-agent signee J’Marcus Webb at right tackle.

The Seahawks took Ifedi with the 31st pick in the first round after trading the 26th pick to Denver, which wanted to move up to take quarterback Paxton Lynch.

They received the 94th pick in the third round for moving down five spots, giving them 10 picks in this draft, including five in the first 97 selections.

Schneider said Thursday night that the Seahawks considered trading down again to move out of the first round, adding, “It got close a couple of times.’’ But ultimately they kept the 31st pick and made their first selection in the opening round since 2012, when they took Bruce Irvin at No. 15.

Adding another pick, Schneid­er said, was “huge for us picking three times in the third round (at 90, 94 and 97). … We have nine more picks, so that’s really exciting for us. We feel like it’s a solid draft all the way through, so for us to be able to get Germain (and the extra pick) is a big deal.’’

The Seahawks also saved money. Lynch, as the 26th pick, will be paid almost $9.5 million over the four years in the NFL’s slotted system for rookie contracts, and Ifedi will receive $8.265 million.

By adding Ifedi, the Seahawks took a significant step to address perhaps their most significant draft need, shoring up an offensive line that took a while to coalesce last season. They also must replace departed starters J.R. Sweezy and Russell Okung.

Besides adding Webb and Ifedi, Seattle signed veteran Bradley Sowell, who is expected to compete with Garry Gilliam at left tackle.

“I think by getting Germain in here, we’ve really built some fantastic competition with Brad, with J’Marcus, with Garry and now with Germain,’’ offensive-line coach Tom Cable said. “We need that. We need that kind of depth and quality.”

Ifedi, a native of Houston, redshirted at Texas A&M in 2012 when current Seattle center Patrick Lewis was in his final season with the Aggies.

Ifedi played right guard in 2013 and right tackle his final two seasons.

Cable said he began to get excited about Ifedi while watching film and grew more so when he worked Ifedi out during Texas A&M’s pro day. Ifedi also has the kind of measurables Seattle has often favored, notably 36-inch arms.

“You’re talking about a big, big powerful guy with a lot of length,’’ Cable said.

Ifedi can play several positions but Cable said, “We see him as a guy who can be a cornerstone player for you at tackle.’’

Asked if Ifedi can compete for an immediate starting spot, Cable said, “You certainly hope so. That’s obviously why we picked him with the 31st pick.”

Ifedi played mostly in a two-point stance in A&M’s spread offense, and Seattle’s coaches have lamented that players who come out of such schemes sometimes need a while to adjust.

Cable said Ifedi is “a little bit raw fundamentally, so there is some cleanup to do. But it’s an easy fix, I think.’’

Coach Pete Carroll said he also thinks Ifedi can make a quick adjustment in part because he has the kind of temperament that fits Seattle’s style.

“This guy is a really aggressive football player, so that makes it more comfortable for us, makes it a little easier for us,’’ Carroll said. “He’s got the nature we are looking for, so I think it’s going to work out good.’’

Or as Schneider said: “That’s just an ass-kicker over there.’’

Several mock drafts had Ifedi pegged for the Seahawks, based on his measurables and their need.

Asked if the Seahawks would have taken him at No. 26, Carroll and Schneid­er declined to answer.

Schneider, though, noted that the Laremy Tunsil situation — a possible top-three pick, Tunsil fell to 13 after a video of him smoking marijuana surfaced — meant “the tackles lasted a little bit longer,’’ which he said “was beneficial’’ for the Seahawks.

Schneider, though, also said the Seahawks “could have gone either way’’ with the pick. “Could have gone defensive line, could have gone offensive line.’’

The Seahawks figure to take a few more of each in the final six rounds, which begins for them in the second roundwith the 56th overall pick. The Seahawks then have three more in the third round Friday, giving them five of the top 97 picks.

The Seahawks haven’t had that many in the first 97 since 1977, when they traded the No. 2 overall pick to Dallas, which then took Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett.

Asked about the prospect of making that many picks in the final two days, Schneider smiled.

“It’s going to be a blast,’’ he said.