Hawks fill one need early with addition of Green

The Seahawks making a move in the days leading up to the draft is becoming a trend under team president Tim Ruskell.

For the second straight year, Seattle acquired a veteran player to shore up a need at a position with the NFL draft fast approaching.

That need this time? Safety, as the Seahawks picked up six-year pro Mike Green from the Chicago Bears on Tuesday in exchange for Seattle's sixth-round draft pick in this weekend's draft.

The Seahawks are now down to six picks — one each in the first, second, fourth and fifth rounds and two in the seventh.

The addition of Green, 29, means the Seahawks now appear to have the depth, experience and insurance at safety they had sought. The trade is contingent on Green passing a physical.

Draft facts


When: Saturday (Rounds 1-3) and Sunday (Rounds 4-7).

Where: New York City.

TV: Saturday (ESPN, 9 a.m.; ESPN2, 5 p.m.); Sunday (ESPN, 8 a.m.).

Seahawks' first-round pick: No. 31.

Green, a seventh-round pick of the Bears in 2000, appeared in 81 games, with 45 starts. The 6-foot, 195-pound Green, who can play both free and strong safety, started all 16 games for Chicago in 2002 and 2004. He notched 138 tackles in 2002 and 132 in 2004.

Green was the Bears' most productive tackler behind linebacker Brian Urlacher over the past four seasons.

Last season, Green played in all 16 games, starting three.

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	After getting Mike Green, do the Hawks still need to draft a defensive back? Absolutley No, we're set Depends who is available View Results

Seattle's projected starters at safety next season are Ken Hamlin and Michael Boulware. Green figures to assume the key backup role vacated by Marquand Manuel, who filled in as the starter at free safety after Hamlin was injured last October and lost for the season. Manuel left for Green Bay in free agency.

With the team already having added safeties Oliver Celestin and Shaunard Harts, the safety position looks well stocked. Seattle isn't likely to address the position in the draft unless a can't-miss talent is available.

Last year, the Seahawks signed cornerback Andre Dyson and wide receiver Jerome Pathon two days before the draft.

Notes

• Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be featured in this year's TV commercials for Campbell's Chunky Soup. Hasselbeck will join his mother, Betsy, in the ad campaign along with Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and his mother.

• Offensive tackle Sean Locklear, CB Marcus Trufant and DT Marcus Tubbs will team up with Rebuilding Together South Sound and Masters Builders Association on Thursday to help remodel a house in Tacoma.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com