If you watched my stream a week ago (click here if you didn’t) you will know why I’ve shaped the conversation a certain way over the last few days. As I said at the time, I’m not an insider. Yet after 20 years of doing this blog, you’d be surprised who you come into contact with.
None of the information I receive is specific to the Seahawks. It’s always general to the draft class. One of the things discussed in the stream was the relative ‘meh’ feeling about the offensive linemen in round one. Another thing was discovering just how highly regarded Emeka Egbuka is. There’s a lot of other info I’d recommend checking out in the video.
This shaped my latest mock draft with the Seahawks taking Egbuka at #18 as a ‘quintessential’ Seahawks type player, then waiting on the offensive line.
It makes further sense given Daniel Jeremiah and Mel Kiper moved Egbuka up to 17th and 18th respectively on their big boards. Tony Pauline reported a feeling within the league that the Seahawks could go receiver at #18. Numerous mocks are projecting that idea.
I don’t think it’s ‘nailed on’ by any stretch. There are a handful of players that fit, as we’ve discussed, not just Egbuka. Malaki Starks, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Grey Zabel to name three. Matthew Golden is an alternative receiver option.
With the Colts, Cardinals and Bengals all needing an offensive lineman, there’s a chance Zabel won’t last. In that situation, the Seahawks will probably have no choice but to pivot. They cannot reach. They should not reach. They will take the best player on their board.
Even if Zabel is available, it is not 100% clear that the Seahawks will view him as a player worthy of #18. Some evaluators think that is too high.
I don’t get the sense there’s any panic among the front office about the offensive line — whether you think there should be or not. Seattle’s ability to build a great line will not rely solely on first round picks, especially in a draft where the high-pick options are not great. As we’ve also discussed, good ‘zone blocking’ fits will be available on days two and three.
As someone who has been critical of the Seahawks in the past, having spoken about the need to fix the O-line as a priority, I’m comfortable with the situation. I would hope that means something. I don’t carry water for the team or the GM. I’ve studied this draft rigorously and paired with information from my sources, I think reaching for certain linemen would be unwise. Equally, after studying the free agent options, I think the Seahawks did the right thing in targeting Will Fries, concluding the Vikings offer was not worth beating, then accepting the situation. The other options were not great or universally rated, so throwing good money at bad or average players would’ve been a bad idea.
I appreciate some people don’t want to hear this. They want to say it’s the same old Seahawks — as if they’ve been deliberately avoiding the offensive line need as part of their philosophy. They aren’t. I’m 100% sure they’d love nothing more than to draft an exceptional offensive lineman at #18.
If that player isn’t there, what can you do?
It’s no different really than demanding the team drafts an outstanding franchise quarterback. These players are rare. You can’t take a QB just because, then expect them to be great. It’s no different with offensive linemen. The player has to be worth the pick, based on your evaluation.
There are very few elite guards and centers in the NFL. That’s the reality.
The best center in the NFL was a late second round pick (#63 overall). PFF’s top-five from 2024 also included a fourth rounder and another second rounder. Cam Jurgens was a second rounder and so was Landon Dickerson. The top-10 guards include a third rounder from UW-Whitewhater, a fourth round converted left tackle and an undrafted player from Western Kentucky.
The prize free agent guard everyone wanted before he was franchised, Trey Smith, was a sixth round pick.
As much as we all want the Seahawks to fix this issue, John Schneider, nor anyone else, can create supply to match demand. ‘Just take or pay a lineman’ is not a reasonable request. You have to play the cards you are dealt, in free agency and the draft.
Have mistakes been made in the past? Yes, absolutely. But people sometimes act like the Seahawks were the only team to pass on Humphrey. In reality, the entire league passed on him twice. The entire league allowed Dickerson and Jurgens to reach round two. The entire league allowed Quinn Meinerz to last until round three. The entire league allowed Smith to reach round six.
This is one of the trickiest units to build and the Seahawks are not alone. You might want to continue to discuss Seattle’s misses of yesteryear when reflecting on whether the Seahawks will get it right in 2025. All I’d say is, for me, they’ve just executed one of the most effective and impressive off-seasons in a long while, a year after hiring a talented young Head Coach and now pairing him with an intriguing, experienced offensive staff.
I think the GM deserves an opportunity to show what he can do with this draft class and the coaching staff deserve an opportunity to work with the group they take on.
It might be slow progress. But let’s not act like a quick fix was available. When the Chiefs revolutionised their O-line in 2021, they didn’t just draft Humprhey. They had the opportunity to spend major money on a proven, elite player in Joe Thuney. They had the opportunity to trade a first round pick for Orlando Brown Jr. They found Smith in the sixth round. We’d all love that kind of off-season for the Seahawks — but elite 20-something guards were not available, no peak-year linemen were available via trade and they’ve not had the opportunity to draft anyone yet.
Nobody should expect two home-runs like the Chiefs did with Humphrey and Smith. That’s rare. Brett Veach deserves all the credit in the world — but he’s also the GM who traded up for Patrick Mahomes. It isn’t surprising. What does emulating Veach and the Chiefs look like?
For the offensive line, it doesn’t mean forcing a pick at #18. If a lineman isn’t worth drafting in that range, it means finding the player worth having in the late second and the hidden gem on day three.
At quarterback, it means creating a good bridge (Alex Smith) and waiting for the right moment to strike on the future (Mahomes).
If anything, I think the Seahawks are following this approach.
I know what the reaction will be if they don’t take a lineman at #18. People will immediately start ranting, raving and complaining. I don’t think this will be justified.
I want to play two clips from Mike Mayock this week. Firstly, here’s a video of him discussing the receivers. He believes there are four potential first rounders. Note he included Egbuka as part of the four:
Then, he was asked about the offensive linemen. Without prompting he brought up the Seahawks — discussing their needs at receiver and the O-line and how they might go about addressing both. Note, he speaks about the underwhelming nature of the offensive line draft class in round one (the same thing my sources shared) and he also says the options after the top-four receivers aren’t that appealing:
Mayock states there are better interior options on day two and wonders whether they might go receiver first, then look at the O-line. He talks about them having the flexibility of trading up. I don’t think it’d be round one like he suggests — but round two is more likely to get a linemen they really like.
Remember a year ago? They tried to trade back into round two to get Cooper Beebe. They drafted Christian Haynes when they couldn’t. It’s entirely possible they trade to trade up from #50 this year if a plug-and-play starting left guard is within striking distance.
Or maybe they just stick and pick? The official visit of Shavon Revel Jr — a perfect scheme fit at cornerback — speaks to their willingness to possibly continue to go BPA in round two and potentially rely on the attractive offensive line options for zone-blocking later on, such as Chase Lundt.
There’s also a final point from Andrew Siciliano about the lack of commitment to Sam Darnold and how they might look to draft a quarterback, something Mayock nods along to. This is also a possible option with any of their first five picks.
This is a very interesting draft for the Seahawks. They can further shape the future under Mike Macdonald. They don’t have to force picks. They’ll be best served drafting the best players available. Fans and media will hate it. I hope that isn’t the case. This is a great opportunity to make the roster better and they deserve not to be judged after one day of the draft if they don’t take a lineman at #18.
