Since the early summer I’ve been studying draft eligible offensive linemen, predictably anticipating it’d be a major need for the Seahawks. My first prospect article covered Alabama left guard Tyler Booker.

Clearly the roster has multiple issues. They don’t have enough of a physical edge. They don’t have a clear long-term plan at quarterback. The defense still needs more. Despite all of the picks used since the Russell Wilson trade in 2022, they haven’t crafted a team. As Jeff Simmons brilliantly put it during our stream on Monday — they’ve done a reasonable job identifying players with talent since 2022. There’s a difference between that, however, and actually building a team to support your publicly stated preferred identity and vision.

They say they want to be tough, physical and run-orientated — yet their personnel moves over the last few years have failed to make that a reality. Instead, they look quite finesse, remain overly reliant on the quarterback and can neither run the ball consistently or defend the run at all.

Change will only happen if they take the actions to make it happen. It’s time for a more aggressive, perhaps even riskier approach (at least financially) to address the offensive line. This team will not possess the identity it says it wants unless it goes out and fixes the O-line. If you want to be a team that wins in the trenches, that has to be the priority until you’ve sorted things out. The only deviation away from that in terms of resource spend should come if you see an opportunity to acquire a possible franchise quarterback for the long term or a game-wrecking pass rusher.

So how do they do this?

It isn’t a deep O-line class in 2025. I’m going to discuss some names in this piece but remember — there are plenty of other teams also in the offensive line market.

There’s a further dilemma in relying on the draft to try and solve this problem. Look at the Christian Haynes pick. Most people approved of it, myself included, and it felt like it was good value. However, he can’t beat out struggling Anthony Bradford and the offensive coordinator recently admitted he simply isn’t strong enough to start.

Using the draft to construct a new line will likely come with teething problems. Rookies you pencil in as immediate starters might end up needing a redshirt year. It’s not clear at the moment whether Haynes is even capable of being a NFL player, despite being taken in round three.

One of Seattle’s biggest problems is a lack of chemistry too. They change centers every season. The guard positions have been a continuous shifting cycle of players. Due to Abe Lucas’ injury, they’ve had no consistency at right tackle. The only consistent presence has been Charles Cross.

Let’s say you draft two offensive linemen next April. You might need to commit to them starting, come hell or high water, in order to establish some consistency. It could be a disaster in 2025, even worse than we’re currently seeing. But until the Seahawks actually find some consistency up front, they’ll never get on track.

This is why I would try to combine a free agency splurge with drafting. The best thing to do is to try and manufacture a situation where you can mimic what the Eagles have done. They had a bunch of established starters, then drafted players to develop over time. This has created a transition from the old guard to the new. They also took players we felt very good about coming into the league. Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens were two blog favourites who perfectly fit the bill for what the Seahawks currently are missing — brutal, physical blockers with an edge.

What can the Seahawks do to try and create something like this?

Work out a way to create cap space in order to invest heavily in veteran offensive linemen. Then draft younger players to develop behind them. You build chemistry with proven veterans instead of young unknowns, then set the table for the future.

It’s a lot of resource and might leave you lacking in other areas. So what? It’s about time the O-line was loaded.

Firstly, free agency.

Ryan Kelly the Colts center is out of contract at the end of the season. Indianapolis drafted another blog favourite Tanor Bortolini this year as his heir apparent. It seems reasonably likely he will reach the market.

I am not against re-signing Connor Williams if he finishes the season strongly. Retaining a center would finally create some consistency. However, I’ve always admired Kelly’s gruffness. I like the way he held Anthony Richardson accountable this week. I want the Seahawks to build their future identity through the trenches and running game and I want a player like Kelly, with his mentality, to be at the forefront of it.

I would look to sign a right guard. Pittsburgh’s James Daniels is out for the season through injury but has consistently graded well. He could be an option. I’d consider Brandon Scherff if the Jaguars void his contract. I’d also look at Austin Corbett and Kevin Zeitler. I want a proven, veteran presence at right guard — ending the musical chairs rotation between Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes. There are several options here that could be available to add a plug-in-and-play veteran.

This would also give Haynes an opportunity to develop in the background or simply be a backup.

Left guard is a problem area for free agency because the options are dreadful. You might need to draft an immediate starter here (more on that in a moment) but I wouldn’t just give up. I’d make a few calls and check on the trade market. If there was a chance to be pro-active, I would seriously consider it.

My first call would be to the Colts about Quenton Nelson. There’s no harm in asking the question. I’d be willing to pay quite a price to get an elite guard still in his 20’s. I highly doubt the Colts would trade him but I’d make them say ‘no’.

The Chiefs are really pushed for cap space and have two vital young players on expiring contracts. They will be desperate to keep right guard Trey Smith and linebacker Nick Bolton. They can create $16m in cap space by trading Joe Thuney in the off-season. Thuney has one year left on his contract and turns 32 next month. Kansas City has already faced ‘pick your poison’ decisions with their roster — trading Tyreek Hill trade and deciding not to keep Orlando Brown Jr. This will be another big call. I don’t think it’s that unlikely they’d at least listen to offers for Thuney — although a front office like Kansas City’s will probably find a way to keep him and still pay Smith and Bolton. Again though, I’d make the call.

If you could acquire Nelson or Thuney, I’d be willing to make it worth their while in terms of a new contract. If you’re going to pay a fortune for the likes of Jamal Adams, Dre’Mont Jones and others, there’s no excuse not to pay big money for a proven guard.

Do you run the risk of adding ageing players who have maybe seen their best football come and go? Yes. Will this be expensive? Absolutely. However, I sense the entire Seahawks fan base is ready to give this approach a go. They want to see the front office be aggressive with the offensive line for once.

Going all-in to land proven, grizzled veterans would be a statement of intent. Imagine if next season they had a line with Cross at left tackle, Thuney at left guard, Kelly at center, one of Daniels or Zeitler at right guard and then either a healthy Abe Lucas or George Fant at right tackle. For the first time in years, this wouldn’t feel like a problematic unit.

I appreciate such a transformation probably feels unrealistic. They’ve got to go for it though. They’ve got to try and make it happen. They’ve got to be as aggressive here as they were in the Adams trade. They made that happen. Make improving the O-line happen.

Solve this problem in free agency and you can be open minded in the draft. With the way the season is heading after four defeats in five games, they might be in a position to land Jalon Walker or Abdul Carter — both perfect fits for the Mike Macdonald defense.

If they aren’t picking high enough for either, I’d continue investing in the line via the draft. Copy the Eagles. Draft younger guys to develop behind your older veterans. I have absolutely no problem drafting offensive linemen in the first two rounds to sit, develop, learn and prepare to replace the older players you drafted. Philly did this with Dickerson and Jurgens and it paid off.

If it isn’t possible to acquire a stud left guard like Nelson or Thuney (which I accept is likely a long-shot), Alabama’s Booker is the prospect I’d be willing to throw in at the deep end and have confidence he’d succeed as a rookie starter. I’d possibly also include Kelvin Banks Jr in that discussion because I think he will kick inside to guard.

Booker is an ideal combination of brilliant size, athleticism, power at the point of attack, maturity and leadership. He is ‘the dude’ in the Alabama locker room. If it simply isn’t possible to acquire a veteran via trade, I wouldn’t have a problem with the Seahawks taking Booker in the first round and installing him as a day one starter. I think he can handle it and has the potential to develop into a very useful NFL player within a couple of years.

This season he hasn’t given up a sack to go with only two hits conceded, five hurries and seven pressures. It’s his physical tone setting that I think is so impressive. He drives defenders off the screen to finish blocks. He loves a pancake. I think he had a few more last season but it’s still in his locker. He just absorbs opponents with his incredible frame yet has five-star athleticism so he’s able to get on the move and pull, latch on to targets at the second level and do anything you need your left guard to do.

The Seahawks will have good intel on Booker given he’s being coached by Kalen DeBoer. I’m not planning to do a mock draft any time soon but unless the Seahawks lose enough games to end up picking in the top-10, I’ll almost certainly be pairing them with Booker with their first pick.

Josh Conerly Jr at Oregon is an interesting option albeit with a different outlook. He is playing left tackle in college but lacks the size to stay there in the NFL. He has a guard frame. I think there’s a reasonable chance he will need time in the pro’s to transition, get in a pro-weight programme and might need a year. That said, I love watching him play. He’s angry, aggressive and gets after opponents. He’s given up one sack this season, one hit, three hurries and just five total pressures.

Conerly Jr has the kind of intense playing style the Seahawks lack. He reminds me of a smaller version of Matthew Bergeron. Even during interviews he looks angry, with a classic offensive lineman grimace on his face while he answers questions. He’s actually interesting to listen to when he gets into an answer — but you can just tell he’s more comfortable hitting someone in the face on the field. That’s what I want. I think he’s a top-40 pick but might need a red-shirt season.

Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson is a tremendous athlete and he looks the part. I think his recent performances have been good after a challenging 2023 season. I think he’s playing better than Buckeye fans online are giving him credit for. He’s given up zero sacks, one hit, three hurries and four pressures this season. He’s explosive, shows a level of physicality and you feel like he’s only scratching the surface of his potential. He’s an upside pick rather than a sure thing — but I do think he has talent to become one of the better guards in the league and will also likely be a top-40 pick.

After watching the Bills debacle on Sunday it’s not implausible that the Seahawks end up in a position to select the likely first offensive lineman off the board, Kelvin Banks Jr. As mentioned, I think he’s a guard based on his frame. I think he could potentially be a player similar to Alijah Vera-Tucker. His last two performances against Vanderbilt and Georgia were underwhelming but for the season he’s only given up one sack, one hit, one hurry and three pressures. He has the personality that the Seahawks need up front. Banks Jr is very engaging, mature and has a ‘dude’ factor to him. He’s a very appealing talent. I’m convinced that as a guard he can have a long productive career. Measurements during the draft process will determine whether teams prefer to keep him at tackle or move him inside.

At center, I think there are a handful of intriguing players. Iowa’s Logan Jones might be an even better athlete and overall talent than Tyler Linderbaum. He’s been underrated by the draft community all year, mainly I suspect because his tape prior to this season was messy. He’s worked out some technical flaws and has taken a major jump this year — giving up only one sack, one hit, one hurry and three pressures. I’ve been so impressed with his tape I think he’s a top-50 pick and could easily develop into one of the better centers in the NFL within three years.

I think there’s something to be said for drafting Iowa linemen and tight ends. I realise Noah Fant isn’t pulling up any trees but he’s not a typical Hawkeye tight end. I would take a serious look at Jones the center, Luke Lachey the tight end and Gennings Dunker who can potentially play guard or tackle.

Jake Majors is having an excellent season for Texas and I’ve been really impressed with him, even during games (eg Georgia) where the line struggled. He’s given up zero sacks, two hits, six hurries and eight pressures this year. He’s an excellent athlete, he’s tough, physical, technically sound and again looks like a player destined for a long NFL career. I’ve given him a strong day-two grade.

Illinois’ Josh Kreutz isn’t likely to be a high pick — think more rounds 3/4 if he declares — but I just love the intensity with which he plays. Forget pulling or reaching up to the second level — he’s a front-on, head-up brute who bullies defensive linemen 1v1. He plays like he belongs in the AFC North. He’s given up one sack, zero hits, six hurries and seven pressures this season. His upside isn’t as high but I like the way he plays.

Jared Wilson at Georgia is a tremendous athlete and was a bit of a surprise package when I watched him. He combines traits with power and I thought he was mostly technically sound. There’s a lot of upside here and I’ve given him a third round grade. He’s quite softly spoken and not necessarily the kind of edgy tone-setter I think the Seahawks need — but his tape was solid. He’s given up zero sacks, zero hits, three hurries and three pressures this season.

There are three other players worth mentioning. I much prefer Georgia’s Dylan Fairchild over his more highly touted team mate Tate Ratledge. Fairchild was a strong wrestler and it shows on tape. He’s a brawler when matched-up and has a great mix of size, strength and attitude. I think he could easily end up being a long-term NFL starter with the kind of grizzled attitude the Seahawks should target. I have him graded in round three but could see a second round placing. He’s given up zero sacks, one hit, four hurries and five pressures this season.

Wisconsin’s Jack Nelson has been on our radar for three seasons. He’s playing tackle but I think he’ll make an excellent guard. He’s got good size, plus athleticism, he has a classic Wisconsin lineman attitude and while I’m not convinced he has an amazing upside — I think he has a chance to be a very solid, dependable interior blocker. He’s playing left tackle in college and this year he’s given up one sack, zero hits, six hurries and seven pressures. I think he’s a day two pick.

Then there’s Jonah Savaiinaea from Arizona. I think he shows real aggression in his play and will be at home in the interior of a NFL line. He’s playing tackle in college and I think he struggles a bit there — he’s given up 13 pressures and 11 hurries this season. Let him move inside and block 1v1 from a square position and he can bully opponents. I think he will be a day two pick.

As you can see, there are options — both in the draft and the veteran market. The Seahawks need to really commit to fixing this problem with an aggressive plan. They can’t go into next year waiting to see what’s left at guard like they did with Laken Tomlinson. They can’t let it be known they dabbled with trading up for Cooper Beebe, only to stand pat and end up drafting a player who can’t get on the field. They can’t have a situation at center where the starter changes every year and they’re looking around for players to sign in August. And while all this is going on, they tell everyone they want to run the ball and bully people up front.

They have to go for this. They need to find a way to fix this problem. Nobody will criticise them if they’re aggressive and it doesn’t work. The criticism comes when they do what they did this year, everyone anticipates problems, and the line plays like crap in the first eight games.

If you want to be a tough, physical, bullying team that wins in the trenches — that’s where you need to spend your resources. That’s where you need to craft your identity. It really is as simple as that.