Hawks say hello, farewell

KIRKLAND — For the Seahawks, Day 1 of the NFL draft was a waiting game.

Waiting to make their first pick of the day in the second round Saturday — which happened roughly 8-½ hours into the draft when Seattle took cornerback Josh Wilson of Maryland 55th overall. And waiting for word from the San Francisco 49ers about wide receiver Darrell Jackson's physical, which would apparently finalize a trade.

It's believed the Seahawks would get one of San Francisco's three fourth-round picks today in exchange for Jackson, though negotiations appeared to be continuing late Saturday night.

Jackson was at 49ers headquarters Saturday morning for the physical, which his agent said he passed. The trade must be announced by this morning during the fourth round.

The deal was likely to go through pending the results of the physical, several sources said, though San Francisco coach Mike Nolan said the trade had a "50-50" chance of happening.

The Seahawks were also vague about the trade getting done.

"That's an ongoing situation. Nothing has happened," said Tim Ruskell, Seahawks president and general manager. "I'll have more as we go through [today], maybe, or maybe not. If nothing transpires, he'll be here at minicamp [next week.]"

Ruskell did say the Seahawks wanted Jackson to take the physical on Saturday because the situation for a possible trade presented itself quickly.

Jackson, 28, has had a recent history of injuries, which makes the physical critical. He had two knee surgeries, in 2005 and in the 2006 offseason, and the first procedure cost him 10 regular-season games. Jackson also missed three games last season with turf toe in his left foot.

Though signed through 2009 with the Seahawks, trade rumors about Jackson surfaced this offseason because of his high salary-cap number (he is due $3.25 million in base salary this season) and the fact that the Seahawks have four other receivers capable of starting.

Jackson was a third-round pick of the Seahawks in 2000 and has spent his entire career in Seattle. He's in the top five in franchise history in several receiving categories and has played in 103 games with 96 starts.

The trade talk somewhat overshadowed the Seahawks' selection of Wilson, who was thrilled when coach Mike Holmgren called him at home in Pennsylvania.

"That's what it felt like, the greatest moment of my life," Wilson said. "I finally accomplished one of the major goals in my life.

"I got on the phone with coach Holmgren, and the first thing he asked me was, 'Are you ready to win a Super Bowl?' That's a great feeling to know that we're going to be in contention and I'm going to be able to help the team win."

Ruskell said the Seahawks' scouting department liked Wilson's competitive nature.

"We felt that way when our scout went to watch him at Maryland, and then you realized it in the [Senior Bowl] all-star game," Ruskell said. "Then when you talked to him, it really comes to roost just how competitive he is at everything that he does. And he's one of those guys that raises the level of play of the guys around him. That's what attracted us to him over the hordes. He just sticks out that way."

Ruskell said Wilson will compete for nickel cornerback — the position held by 2006 first-round pick Kelly Jennings most of last season — and the No. 1 kickoff returner.

The Seahawks ended the day by taking defensive tackle Brandon Mebane from California in the third round. Mebane, a two-time All-Pac-10 selection, was at home in Los Angeles when the Seahawks called at 7:30 p.m., ending a long day of waiting.

"I had to be real patient," Mebane said. "I didn't really know where I was going to go. ... I'm blessed and I thank the organization for picking me."

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