The Seattle Seahawks, under new head coach Mike Macdonald, are undergoing significant roster changes. Despite having just over $2 million in cap space, the team remains active in the market for new additions.
One potential target is former New York Jets starter Laken Tomlinson, who recently became available after being released as a cap casualty. Tomlinson, who had signed a lucrative three-year, $40 million contract ahead of the 2022 NFL season, garnered interest from the Seahawks, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The team views bolstering their interior offensive line as a priority, and Tomlinson could address that need effectively.
While Seattle’s projected starting interior offensive line currently consists of relatively inexperienced players, including Tremayne Anchrum Jr., Nick Harris, Olu Oluwatimi, and Anthony Bradford, there is a recognition of the need for stability and experience in this crucial position group.
“Offensive line coach Scott Huff faces a significant challenge in his debut year coaching the position in the NFL, particularly if Seattle opts to use its first-round pick on a guard.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Tomlinson, aged 32, logged 1,099 snaps last season. The former first-round selection from the 2015 NFL draft received an overall grade of 55.0 in 2023, conceding 7 sacks. Fowler also reported on Monday that Seattle has “explored the possibility of bringing in (Cody) Whitehair for a free agent visit, with several established guards on their radar.” Whitehair, who was also released as a cap casualty after eight years as a starter with the Chicago Bears, made an appearance in all 17 games last year and started in 11. As a versatile interior lineman, he took snaps at left guard, center, and right guard, receiving a 45.0 overall grade from PFF in 2023 and allowing 3 sacks. During the 2022 season, he played every snap at left guard, earning a 65.9 overall grade. In 2020, he split his snaps between center (490) and left guard (409), earning a 76.3 overall grade. The former second-round pick from the 2016 NFL draft signed a five-year, $51.2 million extension before the 2019 NFL season. The release of Whitehair saved the Bears $9.15 million, with a $4 million cap hit in 2024 and $1.1 million in 2025.
During the NFL’s annual league meeting last month, Macdonald addressed reporters, emphasizing that they were actively addressing concerns within the offensive line. “It’s a process in motion,” Macdonald stated, as reported by SI. “We’re far from finished. There’s going to be fierce competition in that area, and we anticipate a high level of performance from the players this year.”
He continued, “We’re actively working on it. There’s no need to panic; the season doesn’t start until September. We have plenty of time to identify the right individuals and seize the best opportunities to enhance the team.”
Seattle’s general manager, John Schneider, also acknowledged the existing gaps in the offensive line during a March 29 interview on Seattle Sports. “We’re planning to bring in a couple of experienced offensive linemen for visits during this next phase of free agency,” Schneider explained. “We’ll then assess these options in comparison to the talent available in the draft.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73146603/2001364948.0.jpg)
He added, “While addressing immediate needs is important – and the offensive line is indeed a priority for us at the moment – we’re also optimistic about the potential of some of our younger players like Raiqwon O’Neil and McClendon Curtis. There are several promising talents in the mix that fans may not be familiar with, but we’re excited about their potential contributions.”
