As per the usual offseason shuffle, the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive line will undergo changes before the upcoming season commences. Departures include left guard Damien Lewis and Evan Brown in free agency, with right guard Phil Haynes currently unsigned and unlikely to return to Seattle. With the entire interior of the starting lineup set to be revamped by Week 1, the question remains regarding who will step into these positions.
While the Seahawks may consider second-year center Olu Oluwatimi and right guard Anthony Bradford as potential replacements for Brown and Haynes respectively, the left guard spot remains uncertain. General manager John Schneider acknowledges the need for further action this offseason. During his regular appearance on Seattle Sports 710, Schneider revealed the team’s intention to host free agents for visits in the coming days.
“We’re going to be bringing a couple of veteran offensive linemen through during this second phase of free agency and then comparing that to what the draft looks like,” Schneider stated. “Anytime you’re just drafting for need – that is a need on our team right now, I think it’s fairly obvious – but we like so many young guys like Raiqwon O’Neil, McClendon Curtis. I mean, there’s some guys in there, some younger guys that we like, too, that we’ve added… There’s some young players that a fan may not necessarily know, but that we’re excited about in the mix.”
In free agency, Seattle has brought in center Nick Harris and former Los Angeles Rams reserve Tremayne Anchrum Jr, although both have limited starting experience at the NFL level.
The Seahawks have often been associated with Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu in mock drafts, with the speculation that Fautanu could transition to guard. Seattle has invested in its offensive line by selecting Charles Cross in the first round in 2022, followed by Abe Lucas at right tackle in the third round. Could Seattle opt for an offensive lineman early again this year? The team faces decisions aplenty.
“What does the draft landscape look like and what are the different tiers? What are the breaking points? How aggressively do you pursue a player or trade back to target another group of players where there might be three or four viable options compared to the talent level of a single prospect?” Schneider pondered. “We’ll be continuously assessing that over the next four weeks.”