Field Gulls
Who, and when, will the Seahawks try to save their offensive line?
With the NFL Draft less than five weeks away, the 2025 draft feels like a fork in the road moment for not just the Seattle Seahawks, but for John Schneider. The success or failure of these selections, as well as the necessity for these players to bring an immediate impact, could make or break this franchise and Schneider’s future in Seattle.
Throughout the past few weeks, we have seen a wide variety of mock drafts that have showed the Seahawks going in a multitude of directions at pick 18. We’ve seen versatile linebackers, tight ends and DK Metcalf replacements mocked to Seattle every other day it seems. Heck, even last week I mocked Michigan’s Kenneth Grant to Seattle with their first pick.
While I’d love to see head coach Mike Macdonald continue to build a championship level defense with their first round selection, I think the path is clear as to where the Seahawks are going with their pick in round one. I would be surprised at this point to hear any name other than an offensive lineman with Seattle’s first pick in the draft.
The inability in free agency to lock up guard Will Fries was a disappointment, but the lack of any meaningful signings (sorry Josh Jones) has left many fans dumbfounded and concerned. We have seen multiple free agent guards visit Seattle and leave to sign elsewhere. Last week in his weekly interview on the John Schneider Show, Schneider stated that, “The draft is strong. It feels like a really nice group,”.
Now that might not mean much to some, but I took that as a pretty loud statement by Schneider. Right now, this team feels like they could easily go 12-5 or 5-12, and hitting on an interior offensive line draft pick could go a long ways to hitting the former. If Seattle does indeed attack the trenches early in the draft, these are the three players for three different draft paths that the Seahawks could take.
Every year the Baltimore Ravens “hit doubles” with their draft picks. Whenever they make their selection, everyone talks about what a perfect fit and how solid of a draft pick that is. If Seattle decides to stick with the 18th pick in the draft, I believe Grey Zabel would be that Ravens type of pick.
Zabel, the best player on North Dakota State’s FCS national championship team, is the most versatile IOL prospect in this draft. At 6-6, 312 lbs, Zabel has over a 1,000 snaps at both the tackle spots, while also a small amount of experience at the guards and center spot during his three years getting snaps for the Bison.
A star at the Senior Bowl, Zabel looks the part of someone that would bring the attitude and grit that seems to follow NDSU O-linemen, and he would immediately be the best IOL...
