Mike Mayock: Malik McDowell played like 4th-round pick vs. Michigan

What NFL television analysts said about the Seattle Seahawks selecting former Michigan State defensive lineman Malik McDowell at No. 35 overall, the third pick of tonight's second round:

NFL Network's Mike Mayock: "This kid is gifted genetically. He played both inside and out. But he runs hot and cold. When you watch him against Notre Dame, he looks like a top-15 pick. If you watch him against Northwestern, he looks like a top-15 pick. If you watch him against Michigan, he looks like a fourth-round pick. I've had an awful lot of coaches say, 'If we can just unlock the potential in this kid, we'll have something special.' Guys, Pete Carroll has always done a great job of taking these kinds of guys and getting the best (out of them), whether he was at USC or Seattle."

NFL Network's Charles Davis: "The deeper they got into their season last year – which was supposed to be a special season at Michigan State – the worse he played. It's almost like people were saying, 'Did he shut it down?' But Seattle has never shied away from these guys. You mentioned the off-the-field stuff? Remember, they took (former Michigan lineman) Frank Clark in the second round a couple of years ago. That's worked out well for them. They don't shy away from some guys with off-field issues. They believe they have the locker room and structure for it. It's worked out pretty well for Seattle."

ESPN's Todd McShay: "This is a good place for him. I think Malik McDowell, just from a talent perspective, is the best interior lineman in this draft. ... To me, this is all about how you manage him because the effort is really up and down, and that can drive you crazy."

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: "With a talent like that, you should not be a second-round draft pick. You should be a Top 10 draft pick. He (McDowell) was a classic underachiever."