The 10-player class of draftees was a pretty back-to-basics group consisting of three offensive linemen, two defensive tackles, three running backs, a tight end known mostly for his blocking, and a lone receiver taken in the seventh round.
RENTON — There ultimately wasn’t a lot of glitz and glamour for the Seahawks in this NFL draft.
Instead, the 10-player class of draftees was a pretty back-to-basics group consisting of three offensive linemen, two defensive tackles, three running backs, a tight end known mostly for his blocking, and a lone receiver taken in the seventh round.
In essence, nine players who likely will do their most important work at the line of scrimmage and between the tackles.
It was a class, coach Pete Carroll said after the team made five more selections Saturday, that “is going to make everything feel more full and thick and competitive.’’
Seahawks in 2016 draft
Round 1, Pick 31
OL Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M | Bio
Round 2, Pick 49
DT Jarran Reed, Alabama | Bio
Round 3, Pick 90
RB C.J. Prosise, Notre Dame | Bio
Round 3, Pick 94
TE Nick Vannett, Ohio State | Bio
Round 3, Pick 97
OL Rees Odhiambo, Boise State | Bio
Round 5, Pick 147
DT Quinton Jefferson, Maryland | Bio
Round 5, Pick 171
RB Alex Collins, Arkansas | Bio
Round 6, Pick 215
C Joey Hunt, TCU | Bio
Round 7, Pick 243
WR Kenny Lawler, Cal | Bio
Round 7, Pick 247
RB Zac Brooks, Clemson | Bio
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The three offensive linemen hit on each position — one tackle (first-rounder Germain Ifedi), one guard (third-rounder Rees Odhiambo) and a center (sixth-rounder Joey Hunt).
Both defensive linemen played primarily tackle — second-rounder Jarran Reed and fifth-rounder Quinton Jefferson. The Seahawks made a trade with the Patriots on Saturday to move up and take Jefferson, a Maryland product, with the 147th overall selection.
And among the running backs was Arkansas’ Alex Collins, a 217-pounder known more as a bruiser than a burner.
“This draft in particular makes me feel like we have really bolstered areas that you are going to have to battle for your spots, and everybody is going to have to really bring their best, and we really couldn’t have asked for more than that,’’ Carroll said.
Carroll and general manager John Schneider said the number of linemen and running backs taken was due to the fact the draft was strong in those areas.
“This was a draft that did highlight those three spots,’’ Carroll said. “There were good, solid groups of numbers in those spots, and we were able to take advantage of them.”
Still, it also allowed the Seahawks to make a statement about the value the team places in improving its lines and its continued emphasis on running despite the retirement of Marshawn Lynch.
The three offensive linemen add depth and competition to a spot that was considered the team’s biggest weakness a year ago. The Seahawks aren’t ruling out that any of the three could play immediately as Seattle looks to remake a line that lost left tackle Russell Okung and right guard J.R. Sweezy in free agency.
“All three of these guys (Ifedi, Odhiambo and Hunt) are really smart players,’’ Carroll said. “They’re physical players. We were able to latch on to guys that I think have a great competitive mentality.’’
Hunt’s selection marked the first time the Seahawks had taken a center since drafting Max Unger in the second round in 2009.
Schneider joked that offensive-line coach Tom Cable was so enamored with Hunt that, “I don’t know if Pete and I would have been able to leave the building if we didn’t come away with Joey.’’
Jefferson joined Reed as players who can help the Seahawks replace departed nose tackle Brandon Mebane, who was a key in helping Seattle lead the NFL in run defense last season.
Seattle entered the final day with no scheduled picks until the late fifth round, at 171. But when the Seahawks saw Jefferson available, they made a trade with the Patriots to give up a 2017 fourth-round selection and swap seventh-rounders to move up to get him. It was just the fourth time they have moved up in the draft in the Schneider/Carroll era.
“We didn’t see a ton of players like him (remaining on the draft board) after that,’’ Schneider said.
After taking Jefferson, the Seahawks nabbed Collins at 171, Hunt at 215, California wide receiver Kenny Lawler at 243 and Clemson running back Zac Brooks at 247.
Seattle entered the draft with just three running backs on its roster — Thomas Rawls, Christine Michael and Cameron Marshall, a free agent signed recently out of the CFL — and doubled that total in the draft.
Rawls is recovering from a broken left ankle, but the Seahawks said hitting the position hard in the draft was not any reflection on his rehab.
“We ran into some interesting runners,’’ Schneider said. “It’s not a reflection on Thomas at all, or Christine. These are just darn good players.”
The 10 draft choices tied for the fourth-most in the NFL and was the most for the Seahawks since 2013. Though all drafts are critical, this one was viewed by many around the league as especially key for the Seahawks to stay at a Super Bowl level after getting some inconsistent return on recent drafts.
Schneider said he couldn’t say the team’s roster is better now than it was a year ago at this time. But he also didn’t argue the point when it was raised.
“I know that just comparing — we had a real positive vibe leading up through our whole offseason, leading up to the draft, and I know there is just a ton of excitement in that (war) room right now.”