The Seahawks got it right.

Having been so patient during free agency, now was the time to strike. They had to reinforce their offensive line after so much good work on the defensive side of the ball over the last couple of years.

Grey Zabel is the kind of player fans have complained about in the past when they haven’t been drafted by the Seahawks. This isn’t another Cam Jurgens, Creed Humphrey, Landon Dickerson, Joel Bitonio, Quinn Meinerz, Erik McCoy moment.

Zabel has everything you look for. He’s an elite athlete. Jumping a 36.5 inch vertical at 315lbs isn’t normal. His explosive testing mark was a 3.25 — the exact same as Kansas City’s Humphrey. Nearly all of the best offensive linemen in the league are explosive testers and Zabel ticks that box.

This shows he has the upside to be great. I’d also say he has a base level of performance expectation that means he’s unlikely to bust. He just does everything well for the zone-blocking scheme. He combo blocks superbly, he can pull with ease, he reaches up to the second level and finds targets. He’s a legit finisher who plays with violence.

This is the kind of player who excels in the NFL.

The selection of Zabel now opens everything else up in the draft. They can attack the next six rounds and target the best players on their board without any O-line sized doubts lingering in the background.

They could still add another offensive lineman. I said after the combine that the best way to create an Eagles-style interior would be to pair Zabel with Tate Ratledge. Jared Wilson also makes sense at center. Elijah Arroyo and Mason Taylor are still available. Pass rushers like Donovan Ezeiruaku, Bradyn Swinson and JT Tuimoloau stand out, while there’s talent at cornerback in Will Johnson, Shavon Revel Jr, Benjamin Morrison and Azareye’h Thomas. At receiver, Luther Burden, Jack Bech and Jayden Higgins remain available and there are good options stretching into day three.

I’m not sure Mike Green or Nick Emmanwori will be on their radar due to reported character concerns but I suppose there may come a time on day two where the value is worth rolling the dice.

There’s also the question of a quarterback. Was Adam Schefter steering us in the right direction by hinting a round two selection was possible?

This couldn’t have gone any better for Seattle. When I did this video in February discussing Zabel as the best option in round one for the Seahawks, it was with this day in mind. As you can see here in this tweet, he’s a player who’s been on our radar for a long time.

I’m also happy to report I finished joint 24th in Huddle Report scoring for my mock draft. Given how unpredictable the first round was, I’m delighted with that. To finish 24th in the world justifies a lot of the work we’ve done since the summer trying to find the right evaluation for these players.

Join us tomorrow for more coverage — we’ll have so much content both on the blog and on the YouTube channel.

Discuss the first round in the comments section with the community but please NO TIPPING PICKS.

I will post a video on my YouTube channel with instant reaction to Seattle’s round one pick as soon as it’s made.

I’m also sharing my thoughts on every pick on the BBC Sport website. You can check it out here.

As soon as the first round is complete, Robbie and I will be doing an instant reaction live stream.

#1 Tennessee — Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
#2 Jacksonville (v/CLE) — Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado)
#3 NY Giants — Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
#4 New England — Will Campbell (T, LSU)
#5 Cleveland — Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
#6 Las Vegas — Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
#7 NY Jets — Armand Membou (T, Missouri)
#8 Carolina — Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
#9 New Orleans — Kelvin Banks Jr (T, Texas)
#10 Chicago — Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
#11 San Francisco — Mykel Williams (DE, Georgia)
#12 Dallas — Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
#13 Miami — Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
#14 Indianapolis — Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
#15 Atlanta — Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia)
#16 Arizona — Walter Nolen (DT, Arizona)
#17 Cincinnati — Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
#18 Seattle — Grey Zabel (G, North Dakota State)
#19 Tampa Bay — Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
#20 Denver — Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
#21 Pittsburgh — Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
#22 LA Chargers — Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
#23 Green Bay — Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)
#24 Minnesota — Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State)
#25 NY Giants (v/HOU) — Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss)
#26 Atlanta (v/LAR) — James Pearce Jr (EDGE, Tennessee)
#27 Baltimore — Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
#28 Detroit — Tyleik Williams (DT, Ohio State)
#29 Washington — Josh Conerly Jr (T, Oregon)
#30 Buffalo — Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
#31 Philadelphia (v/KC) — Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
#32 Kansas City — Josh Simmons (T, Ohio State)

If you missed my pre-draft live stream earlier, check it out here:

— The growing buzz that Grey Zabel might not last to Seattle’s pick feels legit. So what if he doesn’t make it to #18? Perhaps they pivot to Donovan Jackson or Tyler Booker to fill the gaping void at left guard? They are plug-in-and-play types. Would they consider Josh Conerly Jr for that role? He fits the bill athletically with a strong vertical jump and a good 10-yard split. However, it’d feel a bit like they’d drafted Charles Cross again. I graded both players in round two. They both had smaller builds, they were athletic but lacked strength and power. I’m not sure I want two versions of Cross on the left side for 3rd and 1 or the red zone. Conerly for me is best served sticking at left tackle.

— At other positions, they could look at Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, Donovan Ezeiruaku or Malaki Starks — three players who fit everything they look for in a player and person. There’s also Kenneth Grant, who seems to be admired by all of the ex-Michigan coaches. I’m just not sure about using the #16 and #18 picks on defensive tackles in back-to-back years, to have them rotate with Leonard Williams (who also cost a second rounder) and Jarran Reed. That’s a bit much for me, especially in a deep defensive tackle draft.

— A note on Malaki Starks, who is beloved at Georgia. When I spoke to my best source in the league and asked him to give me the names of some players he liked, the first answer was Starks. Here’s what Bob McGinn’s scouting sources said about him:

“Everybody loves him (at Georgia). They think he’s a slam dunk. Can play nickel, safety and, corner, in a pinch. Leader, instinctive, athletic. Everybody stands on the table when they talk about him. Top 20.”

“Kirby Smart loves, loves Malaki Starks. Real great reputation.”

“I still think he’s one of the most valuable defensive players in this draft because he can play safety and/or down as a sub defender. He’s still the best safety. Hell of an athlete, great kid. He’ll know everything there is to know about your defense.”

“It’s hard to find these guys. I don’t really have any negatives. He could be a little more consistent with his tackling technique from a breakdown standpoint but he didn’t miss many. It’s splitting hairs on him. Outstanding young man. Starter since Day 1. Went to (SEC) Media Day for them. A+ across the board. And someone may get crazy and decide they want to try him at corner for a little bit. He’s got the corner movement. I’d rather keep him where he is.”

— Who are some wildcard options? If they stay at #18 or move down, keep an eye on Shavon Revel Jr. He would’ve been a first round pick if it wasn’t for his knee injury. He has a terrific understanding of defensive concepts. He’s a swearer during interviews and there’s a clear fire in his belly. On tape he looks the part — physical, fast and talented. He looks like a Mike Macdonald defender. JT Tuimoloau could be a target after running a 4.37 shuttle and don’t count out the two excellent tight ends — Elijah Arroyo and Mason Taylor.

— Could they take a quarterback at #18? Adam Schefter has really messed with my mind this week with his big old hint about the Seahawks drafting a quarterback, potentially in the first two rounds. What if John Schneider has fallen for Jaxson Dart and plans to take him at #18? Remember how good the data was for Dart in this article? He’s athletic, aggressive and he has an arm. These are things Schneider tends to like. It’s worth not ruling out.

— One of the reasons I projected Mason Graham to the Jets at #7 is because of a CBS podcast appearance by Rick Spielman last year. He frequently talked about Graham potentially being the best player in the 2025 draft. Spielman now works for the Jets. He doesn’t have final say or anything but I’m guessing that opinion has been voiced and heard.

— Why might the Seahawks be a good trade target for teams like the Giants if they want to move back into round one? Teams are putting a lot of value on day two picks this year. The Falcons (five total picks) and Vikings (four total picks) might want to add to their stash. However, if teams don’t want to give away second, third and fourth round selections — there’s not much they can do. With the Seahawks already having 10 picks this year, including five in the top-100, they can afford to do a deal for 2026 stock. If their grading chart has similar players available at #18 and #40 — and they can get a 2026 second rounder in a trade — that is appealing. Sure, they might lose out on certain players by doing it. You’d still have 10 picks to address your issues. If the Giants don’t want to give up #65 this year to trade up, the Seahawks might be the ideal trade partner.

— Based on Jeremiah’s mock where the Seahawks do trade down, who would I consider taking at #34? Elijah Arroyo, Mason Taylor, Luther Burden, Tate Ratledge, Jared Wilson, Shavon Revel, Benjamin Morrison, Bradyn Swinson and if Schneider is eyeing a quarterback, that’d be an option too. I’m not a big fan of his but I know people who like Jonah Savaiinaea in the late first or early second round range. Depending on the medicals, Will Johnson is an option too.

— Character really matters to the Seahawks. Here are some players I think are unlikely to be drafted by Seattle as a consequence, based on reported concerns: James Pearce Jr, Mike Green, Walter Nolen, Nick Emmanwori, Josh Simmons, Maxwell Hairston and Shemar Stewart. Fit also matters and I don’t think Shedeur Sanders is a fit for Schneider and Macdonald.

— The following players reportedly have injury flags: Jihaad Campbell, Will Johnson and Derrick Harmon. These players are also still recovering from pre-existing injuries: Colston Loveland, Josh Simmons, Abdul Carter, Shavon Revel, Benjamin Morrison, Kevin Winston Jr.

The plan for today is an open thread throughout round one. When (if?) the Seahawks make a pick at #18 I will post an instant reaction video to my YouTube channel and post it on here too. As soon as round one finishes, I will be doing a live stream with Robbie Williams. When that concludes, I’ll be writing an article for the blog.

Here’s a reminder of my final mock draft. Shout-out to Sea Mode for the graphics:

Join me at 9am PT to discuss the latest buzz ahead of the start of the NFL Draft and what it all might mean for the Seahawks…

#1 Tennessee — Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
The consensus top pick for some time but I know one talent evaluator in the league who only gave him a third round grade.

#2 Cleveland — Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado)
All the talk in the last 24 hours has been about a team (maybe Dallas?) trying to trade up for a shot at Hunter. I doubt anything happens.

#3 NY Giants — Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
The Giants don’t take a quarterback here and will need a plan for their second pick to address the need.

#4 New England — Will Campbell (T, LSU)
I don’t like this pick. Campbell’s tape wasn’t very good in 2024 and he will struggle at tackle in the NFL. But this is where the buzz is.

#5 Jacksonville — Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
In my stream on Sunday I put Jeanty with the Jaguars and it has now become the betting favourite pairing. It makes sense, he’s the pound-for-pound best player in the draft.

#6 Las Vegas — Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia)
The Raiders need a culture-setter. That’s Jalon Walker. He’ll come in, contribute to the pass-rush, play linebacker and set the tone for Pete Carroll.

#7 NY Jets — Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
There’s plenty of chatter that the Jets plan to give their defensive-minded Head Coach the opportunity to add a top defender here. Graham had dinner with the Jets, an official visit and they’ve shown a lot of interest.

#8 Carolina — Mykel Williams (DE, Georgia)
With Walker unavailable, the Panthers pivot to his Georgia team-mate to fill a need.

#9 New Orleans — Armand Membou (T, Missouri)
Ryan Ramczyk is retiring and they’re not taking up the fifth-year option on Trevor Penning.

#10 Chicago — Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
Warren or Colston Loveland will be tremendous in Ben Johnson’s offense.

#11 San Francisco — Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
I know a talent evaluator who loves Nolen. Without the character concerns he would’ve been a top-10 pick.

#12 Dallas — Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
I’m not a McMillan fan but I was told by a good source he’ll be the first receiver taken and I’m sticking with it.

#13 Miami — Kelvin Banks Jr (T/G, Texas)
Jahdae Barron makes a lot of sense but there’s a lot of smoke around the Dolphins wanting Banks Jr.

#14 Indianapolis — Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
One of the legit top-10 players in the draft, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Loveland goes higher than this — leaving the Colts to go O-line instead.

#15 Atlanta — Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall)
They need sacks and Green had 17 last season.

#16 Arizona — Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
It feels like O-line and cornerback are the likely options here.

#17 Cincinnati — James Pearce Jr (EDGE, Tennessee)
The Bengals rarely worry about character concerns. If they make this pick, could they trade Trey Hendrickson shortly after?

#18 Seattle — Grey Zabel (G, North Dakota State)
The Seahawks have a gaping void at left guard and need to fill it. Zabel’s testing profile being comparable to Creed Humphrey, Frank Ragnow and Zach Tom makes him a justifiable top-20 pick. The key question is — will someone else take him before #18?

#19 Tampa Bay — Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE, Boston College)
They like to add pass rushers and Ezeiruaku can provide real burst and agility off the edge.

#20 Denver — TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
Sean Payton apparently wants a ‘joker’ weapon on offense and he showed last year he’ll take the guys he wants and isn’t bothered what anyone thinks.

#21 Pittsburgh — Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)
It’s difficult to work out whether Pittsburgh’s interest is legit but at the moment they only have Mason Rudolph on the roster and Aaron Rodgers seems to be waiting for the Vikings.

#22 LA Chargers — Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
The Michigan coaches and staff seem to have a real belief in Grant, so expect him to land in Seattle, LA or Baltimore.

#23 Green Bay — Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)
The Packers finally draft a receiver in the first round.

#24 Minnesota — Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State)
He has explosive traits, strong character and he feels like a needed plug-in starter at left guard.

#25 Houston — Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
‘The guy’ at Ohio State will go earlier than people realise. Character, production, athleticism, reliability and talent. He has it all. He’d reunite with CJ Stroud here.

#26 LA Rams — Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
The talk is they’ll go O-line (most of the options are gone) or an offensive skill player (the receivers are gone). Hampton could be a demon in this offense.

#27 Baltimore — Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
I’m a huge fan of Starks and this could be an ideal home.

#28 Detroit — Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
They replace Kevin Zeitler with a player who fits the Lions like a glove.

#29 Washington — Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
Aside from the lack of production, there’s talk he could fall due to poor representation and the way he’s handled the draft process — including a shoddy and quite unprofessional exit from the Senior Bowl, which included telling Field Yates (so he can tweet it out) and not Jim Nagy, who reportedly had no idea until he saw it on social media.

#30 Buffalo — Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
The injury flags are supposedly legit so we’ll see if this sinks Johnson down the board. His testing results won’t help.

#31 Kansas City — Josh Simmons (T, Ohio State)
He’s incredibly talented but lasts this far due to the patellar tendon injury and some maturity concerns. The Chiefs can take their time with him.

#32 Philadelphia — Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
Hairston’s tape shows a fluid, exciting talent. He might go earlier than this.

Players not included

Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina
Todd McShay reported yesterday: “Reports about his football character and locker room personality are concerning, as are his inconsistent focus on the field and aggressiveness versus the run.” This is the second report about character concerns, following Bob McGinn’s scouting sources who among other things called him “Naturally contrarian to most everything” adding “Just be sure you know, he can probably fray some things. You’ve got to have somebody to deal with the personality. They say this guy is so strong-willed, if you get him onto your side he’ll save the world. If he is opposed to your views he’ll burn the world down.”

Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
I think Campbell is one of the best players in the class. However, labrum surgery meaning he starts the year on the PUP list is a concern. His team pushing a video of him running on a treadmill to the media this week hinted at some concern about what they’re hearing. For a potential non-contributor in year one, I think that impacts his stock.

Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
There have been some late reports about medical issues with Harmon that could mean he lasts into day two.

What happens if Grey Zabel isn’t available?

This is the scenario to consider. If Kelvin Banks Jr comes off the board before Miami picks at #13 — it’ll be interesting to see whether they pivot to Zabel or go with a different position. The Colts at #14 and Cardinals at #16 could also take him.

Yesterday Adam Schefter said the Dolphins had to improve their O-line with their top pick. He might be assuming in that scenario that Banks Jr is available. A few people have touted Zabel to Miami, including Mike Mayock. Albert Breer and Todd McShay have talked about #18 being Zabel’s floor. It’s a reality that he might not last to Seattle.

If this happens — I can see why they might be keen to trade down. The 18th pick would be a tricky place to sit. They’d probably rather get more stock and put themselves in a range where they can let the board come to them, given the players at #18 might have the same grade as the players at #32.

A deal might be incredibly difficult to execute. If so — I think they’d pivot to the next best available O-liner (that could be Donovan Jackson, Tyler Booker or Josh Conerly Jr) or go with another position — bringing Emeka Egbuka, Kenneth Grant, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malaki Starks, Matthew Golden and some others into play.

If either of the top-two tight ends come into range, they also need to be monitored. I still think Warren, Loveland, Arroyo and Taylor could all be on their radar.

Seahawks thoughts for day two

Given Adam Schefter’s significant hints recently, I’m going to assume there’s a decent chance the Seahawks will select a quarterback in round two. There’s no smoke without fire and all that. A few people have suggested this is merely one big ruse to try and convince teams to trade into Seattle’s #18 spot. I’m not buying that. For starters, a rumour about the Seahawks eyeing quarterbacks would probably just make it easier for Atlanta (#15) and Arizona (#16) to trade down. You don’t wait until Seattle’s on the clock and deal directly with them if you really want a player at the most important position in the sport, knowing the Seahawks would have all of the leverage if you fear they’ll take your guy.

It’s much more likely Schefter knows something, just as Chris Mortensen did when he famously told Russell Wilson before the 2012 draft that he was going to be a Seahawk. It’s also possible the player Seattle is eyeing goes off the board before they get into range and this ends up leading to nothing. That might be why Schefter is being cagey with any further details. He is, however, dropping seriously big hints that the Seahawks are eyeing an early-round signal caller and my guess is he knows which one.

As we talked about yesterday, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they copied the Baltimore Ravens and traded up for Jalen Milroe — or took him in the late second. There are mixed views on his range. Some think he’s a fringe first rounder having been invited to the draft. Others think rounds 2/3. With so much ammunition, the Seahawks can make sure they get Milroe (or anyone else) if they really want him.

It’s also worth noting that Mike Mayock also tentatively brought up the idea that the Seahawks might move up in round two recently. It’s something to prepare yourself for.

Here’s another thing to keep in mind. The Seahawks aren’t going to copy the Ravens just because Mike Macdonald happens to be the Head Coach. However, this is what Baltimore did in the 2018 draft:

— Traded down from #22 to #25, gaining a fourth rounder for a sixth

— Took a tight end — Hayden Hurst — at #25

— Traded up from #52 to #32 to draft Lamar Jackson

Is it preposterous to think the Seahawks might trade down from #18, then move up to draft Jalen Milroe — effectively copying the Ravens’ strategy from seven years ago?

Of course they might not be eyeing Milroe. It could be another quarterback. We’ve been saying for a long time that Schneider could have interest in Quinn Ewers. We’ll see if there was ever anything in that.

If they go O-line at #18, aside from quarterback their second rounders could be reserved for a weapon (receiver/tight end) or it could be the best defender available. Or even another O-liner.

So there we go. Another mock sent off to the Huddle Report for scoring. Thank you to everyone who has followed along with our coverage of the 2025 draft, which began last summer. This is a long process and has become a second full-time job, rather than a hobby. I wouldn’t change anything about it though.

The blog started in 2008 and I appreciate the community we’ve built, particularly everyone who helps with the running costs through Patreon and YouTube.

Tomorrow I might do a pre-draft live stream with some final thoughts. We will have an open thread to discuss the first round and I’ll do an instant reaction video on Seattle’s first pick. At the end of round one Robbie and I will do an immediate live stream and then I’ll have a full article on the blog.

Stick with us over the next few days — we’ll have loads of content. Here’s to a great draft for the Seahawks. ✌️

My final mock draft is being finalised and will be published today. In the meantime, check out my latest Puck Sports show discussing what the Seahawks might do in the draft:

Well, we have been saying for a while that the Seahawks will draft a quarterback this year. Check the video out for the details. Few written thoughts below too:

I’ve had a chance to reflect on this a little and perhaps the idea here is it could be Jalen Milroe. Firstly, there’s been a bit of chatter about why he was invited to the draft. It would make sense for someone like Adam Schefter to dig around to find out more information and maybe he’s discovered, one way or another, that the Seahawks have a keen interest.

Secondly, Mike Macdonald was in Baltimore when the Ravens traded up from #52 to #32 to acquire Lamar Jackson. I’m not suggesting the Seahawks will make that kind of jump up. They might not need to trade up at all. However, Macdonald saw how the Ravens developed Milroe after selecting him to initially sit behind Joe Flacco. His dynamic athleticism and physical tools were harnessed to create a NFL MVP level player. There’s no guarantee Milroe will ever reach anywhere near those heights — but he is a similarly dynamic physical talent. As the defensive coordinator in Baltimore, Macdonald will know how Jackson’s running ability tested opponents week-to-week.

We also know John Schneider values tools and mobility. Milroe ticks both of those boxes. Between them, they may have decided this is a guy they want to bring in to try and develop. That it’s worth rolling the dice on his upside.

Some other things to consider. Milroe is from a military background and handles his business in a serious and professional way. That will likely appeal to Macdonald. He’s also well liked and considered to be of strong character. This is something the Seahawks put a lot of emphasis on.

As soon as Klint Kubiak was hired, people speculated about the Seahawks potentially adding Taysom Hill when he recovers from injury because of the fondness Kubiak had for Hill. Milroe could initially feature in that kind of role as he develops as a passer.

The Seahawks brought him in for an official visit, as they did Tyler Shough. That is worth noting. Plus, I just get the sense the Seahawks and Schneider are ready to take shots at the position. Part of their motivation to move on from Geno Smith was his desire for commitment. I think the team preferred a more open relationship because they want to try and find a long-term solution.

These are just some thoughts. I can still well imagine them equally showing interest in Shough. Just because he’s older likely won’t dissuade them, especially if their intention is to push Darnold from the off. How far will Jaxson Dart fall? After all this time, has the hunch about interest in Quinn Ewers been accurate? Would they take him earlier than some are suggesting?

Either way I’m convinced that Adam Schefter knows something and is subtly informing his audience that the Seahawks are probably going to draft a quarterback in the first two rounds.

The Seahawks say they want to be tough and physical up front, win in the trenches and be a team nobody wants to play against.

If they get the opportunity, they should put that into action this week.

I say ‘if they get the opportunity’ because it’s never as simple as having a desire to do something. It doesn’t matter how much you want a great offensive line, an elite edge rusher or a franchise quarterback. The players have to be there.

It’s possible on Thursday the options aren’t there. Plenty of tuned-in media types are reporting a potential run on offensive lineman. Grey Zabel, the player most tipped to be Seattle’s pick at #18, has been connected to the Dolphins at #13 and even the Cowboys at #12. The Cardinals at #16 are also a team to watch.

If he joins Will Campbell, Armand Membou and Kelvin Banks Jr in leaving the board before pick #18, the Seahawks could face a dilemma. They’d have to decide whether they want to go O-line anyway and take someone like Donovan Jackson or Tyler Booker. Or they could pivot to another position, which might be the better move in that scenario. There are really good high-character, highly talented players at other positions.

You also have to be ready for players who drop unexpectedly and for non-medical or character reasons. It happened a year ago with Byron Murphy. Could it happen with Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland this year? I highly doubt it but it would be a situation you probably couldn’t pass up.

There are two prevailing thoughts I have:

— After not signing a single interior offensive lineman in free agency, I have to believe they’ve had a plan. All along, I think they knew there were going to be options at #18 that they really liked. They know they have to fix the O-line and to be so restrained during free agency suggests they knew reinforcement were coming in the draft.

— If Zabel lasts to #18 he could and probably should be Seattle’s choice. He has excellent tape showing clearly his fit in a zone blocking scheme. He can pull with ease, he reaches up to the second level comfortably, his combo-blocking is good, he subtly shifts defenders to open running lanes and he targets second-level defenders well when on the move. His PFF zone-blocking grade was an 84.8.

He has the exact same explosive testing score (TEF) as Creed Humphrey (3.25). He’s a shade below Cam Jurgens, Zach Tom and Frank Ragnow — all players who have excelled in the pro’s.

From a character stand point he’s considered an A+. He can help set the tone in Seattle and create a new O-line identity.

When the Seahawks pass on players like this, people tend to complain. A lot. Taking Zabel and just feeling good about it would be a step in the right direction. He can operate at left guard as a rookie and fill the gaping hole left by Laken Tomlinson (who needed upgrading anyway).

If Zabel isn’t available, to develop the thought of the Seahawks having a plan, perhaps this is a solution? I put a lot of faith in explosive traits translating to success at the next level. Look at the list in this article. Almost all of the top O-liners in the league have explosive testing results.

Donovan Jackson’s TEF score of 3.19 is highly impressive and only a notch below Zabel. Given Seattle’s need to fix the O-line, I do think they should just consider pulling the trigger on Jackson if ‘Plan A’ isn’t available. I would also consider Tyler Booker still, given his 4.65 short shuttle offsets some of the weirdness about his appalling testing everywhere else. But he’s not explosive. Zabel and Jackson are.

There are also a bunch of tackles who could be moved inside to guard.

If the O-liners are coming off the board quickly in round one, I’m not sure you can afford to wait this out. This isn’t reaching for need. So many of these players are going to be grouped together closely. It’s possible Zabel, Jackson and others are going to carry grades similar to players taken at #14 and #40.

I wouldn’t stop there.

At #50 and #52 I would seriously consider drafting Tate Ratledge or Jared Wilson if they are available. I tweeted immediately after the combine that it’d be quite a thing to have Zabel and Ratledge at guard. That would revolutionise your line. You’d be bigger, tougher, more explosive, more athletic and the attitude of the entire unit would jolt into life. With Abe Lucas at right tackle too, you’d have a legit tough-guy approach up front. It would feel positively Eagles-esque.

Wilson could be an alternative. His testing profile is so reminiscent of Erik McCoy’s you’d be foolish not to consider bringing him in, given how well McCoy played for Klint Kubiak and John Benton in New Orleans.

Two high O-line picks. A statement of intent. You want to be tough and physical up front? This would be it.

With the other pick in round two I would consider being aggressive. Can you move up from #50 to the 30’s to land one of the top-four tight ends (Elijah Arroyo or Mason Taylor)? Do you move up for a defensive lineman — tackle or edge — to further bolster the other side of your line?

You’ve got to come away with a bolstered offensive front, at least one dynamic target needs to be added to the offense (tight end or receiver), they should take advantage of the deep D-line class and use depth at other positions to fill out their roster. For example, there’s enough safety depth in this class to feel like you can find a Tyrice Knight-type starter later on.

It all starts in round one with a move up front though. If Zabel’s there, take him. And then seriously consider one more high pick — Ratledge or Wilson — to make the O-line a focal point of your roster.