3 biggest draft busts in Seattle Seahawks history

2. Malik McDowell

Pete Carroll’s club was coming off a 10-5-1 showing in 2016 and won the NFC West. The team knocked off the Detroit Lions in the wild card round but was humbled by the eventual conference champion Atlanta Falcons in the divisional playoffs.

The Seahawks owned the 26th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. When it was all said and done, the Seahawks wound up not drafting in the first round for the fourth time in five years. They traded down and their first selection of this draft came in the second round, the 35th overall pick.

The team opted for talented Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell. He displayed plenty of potential with the Spartans and by all accounts, this was the player that Carroll and the organization wanted. The problems began before training camp with a car accident in late July. McDowell spent 2017 on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Roughly one year later, he was waived by the Seahawks (non-football injury designation).

McDowell finally got on an NFL field in 2021, suiting up for the Cleveland Browns. He played in 15 games and made 14 starts, finishing with 33 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery. He did not play football in 2022 and it remains to be seen if he will continue his NFL career.