The Seahawks must fix their offensive line. Here's where they might start
To assess the state of the Seattle front line and identify potential paths to improving the unit this offseason, I spoke with analyst Brandon Thorn, creator of the Trench Warfare newsletter, which focuses on offensive and defensive line play in college and the NFL. Thorn also does NFL Draft scouting for Bleacher Report with a heavy focus on offensive line prospects.
Advertisement
Our conversation focused on three areas: assessing Seattle's 2024 season up front, free-agent options and potential draft targets.
The Seahawks had six different starting offensive line combinations in 2024. One of those featured George Fant at right tackle for two games, but he played just 12 offensive snaps in the season opener and only 16 upon returning to the lineup in Week 9. And although third-round rookie Christian Haynes didn't make any starts, he played multiple offensive series in seven games as part of a two-man rotation with fellow right guard Anthony Bradford. Seattle started four different right tackles, and the intended starter Abe Lucas was available only for a seven-game stretch from Weeks 11 through 17.
'The whole right side was just kind of a problem the whole year,' Thorn said.
Left guard Laken Tomlinson started every game but didn't play well. Veteran center Connor Williams struggled before retiring after the Week 10 bye. He was replaced by second-year center Olu Oluwatimi, who was an improvement but didn't play at a level that should dissuade the Seahawks from attempting to upgrade the position this offseason. Four of Seattle's five offensive line spots were 'shaky at best,' said Thorn, who described the team as having 'one of the bottom five or six lines in the league.'
With left tackle Charles Cross due for a potential extension and Lucas now healthy, the interior three positions are the primary points of concern.
At center, Thorn said Oluwatimi's size — he's listed at 6 foot 2 and 309 pounds — and lack of play strength have been a reoccurring issue, as has his ability to sustain blocks.
'A little bit of a sawed-off, squatty kind of build and just not the most powerful guy,' said Thorn, who had a fifth-round grade on the 2022 Rimington Trophy winner. 'But he does a lot of the little things. He's an athlete. … I think he's replaceable, though.'
Advertisement
The 2025 class of centers isn't great, Thorn said, which works in Oluwatimi's favor, but he still believes Seattle can find an upgrade this offseason.
'There's a pretty decent chance of that, honestly,' Thorn said.
Some of Seattle's best rushing performances occurred when sixth-round rookie Sataoa Laumea was in the lineup at right guard. Thorn said Laumea showed flashes of the natural power in the run game that he put on tape at Utah. Pass protection was a different story, however. Laumea allowed quarterback pressure on 11 percent of his snaps in pass protection, the highest rate in the league among qualifying guards (all stats provided by TruMedia unless stated otherwise).
'Some of his finer aspects of pass protection — specifically like processing things in front of him: stunts, line games, being out of position, being caught a little late reacting to loopers — (he) gave up quite a bit of penetration,' Thorn said. 'He looked very raw to me in pass protection, although kind of like a ball of clay. Kind of like a Day 3 pick, with some promise there.'
GO DEEPER
Seahawks offseason to-do list: Six steps to help Seattle get closer to contention
Thorn was bullish on Haynes coming out of Connecticut in last year's draft, giving Haynes a third-round grade and classifying him as a high-level backup and potential starter. Thorn didn't agree with former offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's assessment that Haynes had problems with play strength in games (practices could have been different, of course).
'I saw him get walked back a couple times from bull rushes, but not anything out of the ordinary from anybody else — on that line especially, but just across the league,' Thorn said. 'A rookie coming in where he was drafted, I thought there were some positives, too. It was a lot more even with some promise as opposed to, 'We whiffed, and he shouldn't have gotten drafted.' I didn't see that.'
Of Seattle's returning interior offensive lineman, Thorn is most optimistic about Haynes, though he expects Seattle to add at least one or two players to that group either via the draft or free agency.
🚨NEW #SeahawksMan2Man pod 🚨
'Defensive minded'
Live now: Talking DB improvement, pass rush help, Myles Garrett, FA options, draft targets at 18 + more!
Video https://t.co/DdYHJqEPwP
🍎 https://t.co/VzyRYCBOdY
🟢 https://t.co/ZYUThrtgSo
🔵 https://t.co/74jwwSw2BL pic.twitter.com/0VoMotJl0W
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) February 5, 2025
The big fish in this year's free-agent class is Kansas City Chiefs right guard Trey Smith, a sixth-round pick in 2021 who was voted to the Pro Bowl on the initial ballot this year and will be only 26 years old next season. Smith has a chance to become the highest-paid guard in the league, surpassing Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson's average annual salary of $21 million.
Advertisement
Aside from Smith, Thorn said, there's a second tier of impending free-agent interior linemen that includes Bears left guard Teven Jenkins (27 years old next season), Buccaneers left guard Ben Bredeson (27), 49ers left guard Aaron Banks (28), Lions right guard Kevin Zeitler (35), Steelers right guard James Daniels (28) and Cardinals right guard Will Hernandez (30).
Half of those players are coming off injuries, and finding a good fit depends on preference and scheme. Assuming new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak brings his zone-heavy scheme to Seattle, Thorn highlighted Bredeson and Banks as potential fits. Banks underperformed in 2024 but has experience in the scheme Kubiak will likely run, having played for 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.
As for Bredeson, who played in more of a gap scheme last year, Thorn said: 'He is a pretty good athlete, moves pretty well. He can function for you for a year or two in the zone run scheme.'
These are all 'band-aid type of options,' Thorn said, which is typically the case in free agency when not spending top-of-the-market money.
The same is true at center. Ryan Kelly is expected to test the open market ahead of his age-32 season after playing just 10 games for the Colts in 2024 due to neck and knee injuries, the latter of which required surgery. Thorn said the four-time Pro Bowl center could be a nice short-term fix for the Seahawks, health permitting.
A younger, though potentially pricier answer would be Packers center Josh Myers, who turns 27 in July. Myers has experience in a zone-based scheme and allowed only one sack last year but also had one of the highest pressure rates among qualifying centers.
GO DEEPER
Seahawks big board: Prospects who could fill needs in Rounds 1-3
Thorn's top-rated true guard in the class is Tyler Booker, a two-year starter at Alabama. Despite the Crimson Tide deploying a diverse run scheme, Thorn said Booker would make sense for the Seahawks, who could use his combination of size, strength and athleticism in both the run and pass game. He also anticipates Booker winning teams over because of how he carries himself and his reputation as a good teammate.
Advertisement
'He'll be a first-round pick,' Thorn said.
The 2025 draft class is unique in that there is an abundance of tackle-guard hybrids. Thorn said teams tend to be split on how they view those prospects based on measurables or inconsistency in pass protection. He anticipates that many of this year's prospects will start as tackles due to a lack of supply at the position.
Thorn's top offensive lineman is LSU left tackle Will Campbell (he was the third offensive lineman off the board in Dane Brugler's most recent mock draft). Campbell was a first-team All-American last season and shared the award for the top lineman in the SEC with Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. Thorn feels Campbell is an outstanding run blocker, but he also had many clear losses in pass protection, particularly when on an island, which is in a position he'd be in often as a tackle in the pros. Those issues playing in space, specifically against quality edge rushers, are why Thorn believes Campell will be better at guard in the NFL.
'If I was the Seahawks, I would love to put him as my left guard,' Thorn said. 'He'd be my No. 1 option.'
The second option would be Banks, a player who has often been mocked to the Seahawks this offseason (Brugler had Seattle taking him with the 18th pick).
GO DEEPER
Seahawks mock draft reaction: Could John Schneider break from tendency in Round 1?
'I'd be pretty happy with him somewhere late Round 1, ideally,' Thorn said. 'If you can get good value in that regard, he could be your left guard.'
Rounding out Thorn's top three first-round favorites is North Dakota State's Grey Zabel, who was named the overall practice player of the week at the Senior Bowl in a poll of executives from all 32 teams, according to Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy. Zabel played all over North Dakota State's offensive line, but Thorn sees him as an interior player and has highlighted his footwork, mobility and ability to displace defenders. He can be a starting guard or center in the NFL, Thorn said.
Advertisement
There's a drop-off after that, Thorn said, but another name to consider is Georgia's Jared Wilson, who missed the Senior Bowl due to injury. 'Definitely no worse than the No. 2 center in this class,' Thorn said. A late-round option would be Sacramento State's Jackson Slater, who like Zabel was able to help his draft stock in Mobile, Ala., by showing out against premiere competition.
'Had a really good Senior Bowl, and he's very athletic,' Thorn said of Slater, whom he has with an early Day 3 grade. 'He had a little bit more play strength than I thought coming in based on watching this film, which was really nice to see, so I gave him a little bit of a boost.'
(Photos of Christian Haynes, left, and Will Campbell: Jordon Kelly / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nik Bonitto returns from bone spur removal and insists that contract talks aren't bogging him down
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — All-Pro outside linebacker Nik Bonitto is back on the field and still unruffled by protracted negotiations on a contract extension. Bonitto practiced Tuesday for the first time since having a bone spur removed from the top of his right foot last week following a spectacular preseason debut. If all goes well, Bonitto will play Saturday at New Orleans in the Broncos' final tune-up for their Sept. 7 opener against the Tennessee Titans. Bonitto played a dozen snaps in the Broncos' 30-9 win at San Francisco on Aug. 9 when he showed once again that a looming contract extension isn't bothering him. He sacked Mac Jones on first down, forced him to step into a sack by John Franklin-Meyers on second down and then forced him into an incompletion to avoid a 25-yard loss on third down. 'He did ruin that whole series,' said 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. 'Bonitto is a hell of a player.' Bonitto came up limping after his 12-snap debut, however, and a few days later he underwent surgery to remove the bone spur. 'It was just a thing that showed up in the 49ers (joint) practice' on Aug. 7, Bonitto said. 'And it was kind of bothering me, bothering me, I was trying to fight through it in the game.' Bonitto said he decided to heed the advice of coach Sean Payton and the Broncos' medical staff and have the bone spur removed during camp rather than deal with it during the season. 'It was just something where we could either keep trying to fight through this throughout the season or have the procedure done and not worry about it,' Bonitto said. Although he appeared to move around well at practice, Bonitto said he's still on the mend. A two-time All-American at Oklahoma and a second-round pick in 2023, Bonitto is in line for a big pay raise after his breakout 2024 season when he helped the Broncos lead the league with 63 sacks and go from 27th in points allowed in 2023 to third last year. Bonitto set career highs with 48 tackles, 24 quarterback hits, 13 1/2 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, three pass breakups, an interception and two defensive touchdowns. He earned a Pro Bowl berth and a second-team All-Pro selection. The Broncos entered training camp with a trio of veterans in line for big contract extensions and they quickly got two of them done. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton signed a four-year, $92 million deal and All-Pro defensive tackle Zach Allen signed a four-year, $102 million extension on Aug. 2. Bonitto is still waiting for his big payday. Negotiations are 'going well,' he said. 'I feel like there's been good communication on both sides. I think it's just my agent (Tory Dandy of CAA Football), I feel like he's one of the best in the game. I feel like I gotta trust what he's doing. And knowing how they feel about me upstairs, I feel like something will get done. It's just a matter of when." Complicating the timeline is the unsigned status of Cincinnati's Trey Hendrickson, last season's sacks leader, and Dallas' Micah Parsons, leaving the edge rusher market still in flux. Bonitto demurred when asked if he preferred to wait for one of those deals to get done, and he said he doesn't necessarily need to sign an extension before the start of the season. 'I mean, at the end of the day I'm still under contract for another year," he said. "So, yeah, I would like to get the contract done, but that's the least of my worries, honestly. I just want to compete for a championship this year, do all the things that we have set out to do as a team and as a defense.' Asked what his goals for 2025 are, Bonitto said, 'We want to have the No. 1 defense and as far as individual, just be better than last year.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rodgers, Heyward, Watt and Metcalf will sit out the Steelers' preseason finale
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers' first official snaps with the Pittsburgh Steelers will have to wait until Week 1. Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that the four-time MVP, along with All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward, star outside linebacker T.J. Watt and wide receiver DK Metcalf, will not play against Carolina in Pittsburgh's preseason finale on Thursday. Everyone else on the roster that's healthy, including defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay, running back Jaylen Warren and tight end Pat Freiermuth, could see the field in Carolina. All were part of a sizeable group that watched Pittsburgh's first two exhibitions from the sideline. Yet with more than two weeks to prepare for the opener on the road at the New York Jets, Tomlin sees an opportunity for the majority of his team to knock off some rust before the games start counting. The 41-year-old Rodgers has said throughout training camp that he'd be more than willing to take the field. Tomlin said he's seen enough progress over the last month that there's no need to put Rodgers in harm's way. 'I'm comfortable with what I'm seeing out here, obviously,' Tomlin said. "If I weren't, I'd be playing him.' Asked Tuesday what he wants to see coming out of Carolina, Rodgers repeated the word 'health' multiple times. The decision not to have Rodgers take the field for at least a series during the preseason is an unusual step for Tomlin, who is entering his 19th season with the Steelers. Longtime Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger always saw some level of game action in August, and each of the Week 1 starters since Roethlisberger's January 2022 retirement — Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Justin Fields — all made at least a token appearance, if not more, in the preseason. Like that trio, Rodgers is in his first year in Pittsburgh. Unlike that trio, Rodgers is the league's oldest active player and still less than 24 months removed from an Achilles tendon injury that cut short his initial season with the Jets in 2023 after just four snaps. There's a chance Pittsburgh's new-look secondary could play together for the first time against the Panthers. The Steelers added cornerbacks Ramsey and Slay — who have a combined 13 Pro Bowl appearances and two Super Bowl rings between them — in the offseason to join a group that includes Joey Porter Jr. and DeShaun Elliott. The group has been dominant at times during training camp, but save for a joint scrimmage with Tampa Bay last week, has yet to see the field together against an opposing team. That could change on Thursday, though Tomlin indicated plans may change if the Panthers decide to sit quarterback Bryce Young and running back Chuba Hubbard, among others. 'There's a collective component, a communication component, a coordination component to what they do, and if they get the opportunity to get some snaps against some capable people in the stadium, we'd appreciate it,' Tomlin said. While Heyward will not play, he did return to practice on Tuesday for the first time in nearly two weeks. The 35-year-old four-time All-Pro has been in attendance but not participating on the field as he seeks a bump in pay following a bounce-back season in which he collected eight sacks following an injury-marred 2023. Asked if Heyward's familiar No. 97 being on the field signals a shift, Tomlin deferred to Heyward. Heyward went to the trainer's room after practice and did not speak to reporters. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon eager to keep proving skeptics wrong as he adapts to expanded role
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay's Keisean Nixon has heard the criticism about how the Packers' pass coverage could struggle without departed two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. Nixon takes those words in stride. He notes that he's been doubted ever since arriving in the NFL in 2019 as an undrafted free agent from South Carolina. Even as he developed into a two-time All-Pro kick returner, Nixon remembered getting labeled as merely a special-teams guy or later as a nickelback. Nixon then played primarily cornerback in 2024 while stepping in for the injured Alexander, who played just seven games last season before getting released in June and eventually signing with the Baltimore Ravens. Alexander's exit means Nixon enters the season as the Packers' likely No. 1 cornerback. He's eager for the opportunity to face an opponent's top receiver each week. 'My confidence level is just through the roof right now,' Nixon said Tuesday. 'It doesn't really matter who's going to be out there. They're going to have to see me just like I've got to see them.' Nixon, 28, took a long road to get to this point. He spent his first three NFL seasons with the Raiders, emerging as a key special-teams performer but never playing more than 15% of the team's defensive snaps in any of those years. Nixon joined the Packers in 2022 while his role on defense gradually expanded. He played 28% of the Packers' defensive snaps in 2022, 73% in 2023 and 94% last season. 'With the Raiders, I wasn't really able to do anything,' Nixon said. 'I literally just sat there for three years, I guess making money just being on the team. They wouldn't trade me or get rid of me, so I was just there. When I finally got to Green Bay, I just kept checking boxes, checking boxes. They asked me to do something, I did it. Gave me another role, I did that. Gave me another role. Now I've got the biggest role they can give me.' Nixon made a career-high 88 tackles last season and was the only NFL defensive back to have at least three sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception. That has the Packers confident he can thrive as a full-time cornerback. 'He's competitive,' defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said. 'He can play man coverage, which is important. You have to be able to play man to be on the outside. Because he can run, he can cover, he can change direction, and I like that he'll tackle. He's a physical guy. Teams are going to try to get your corners one-on-one and force them to tackle. And he's going to do that.' Nixon prepared for his expanded role by studying film and paying attention to other cornerbacks. He singled out Washington's Marshon Lattimore and Cleveland's Denzel Ward as two of his favorites because of the way they play man-to-man coverage. After being labeled by his perceived limitations, Nixon is eager to showcase just how well he can handle increased responsibilities. 'I just never let anybody put me in a box,' Nixon said. 'My confidence and my skill level has always been there. I just had to find a role to just get to where I want to go. Everything they've ever asked me to do, I always did it at a high level. That's just what it was. I've always been good at everything I do. That just comes with what God gave me. Now I've got the perfect way to show it on the biggest stage this year.' Nixon also wouldn't mind continuing to show off his ability as a kick returner. After saying at the end of last season that he didn't want to return kicks anymore, Nixon backed off that statement earlier this summer. Nixon said Tuesday he'd welcome the chance to keep returning kicks. 'With the game on the line, I want the ball in my hands, at the end of the day,' Nixon said. 'I don't think nobody can mess with me when I've got the ball in my hands. It's just being a Swiss Army knife, being able to do it. Some of the greats did it: Deion (Sanders), Charles Woodson, stuff like that. I just want to put my name in that hat.' NOTES: Packers coach Matt LaFleur said QB Jordan Love's role in Thursday's joint practice with the Seattle Seahawks would be 'very limited.' Love has been practicing the last two days with his left (non-throwing) hand heavily taped, a week after undergoing thumb surgery. LaFleur said the joint practice could include 7-on-7 workouts to allow Love to participate. … K Brandon McManus served as a surprise side judge in Tuesday's practice. 'Anytime he saw I was trash talking, he threw a flag at me,' Nixon said. 'Bogus.' ___ AP NFL:
