Field Gulls
Lucas has brought stability back to the right side of the line after countless. Is that enough to justify a big contract extension from the Seahawks?
The 2024 season marked the return of Abe Lucas to the Seahawks’ starting offensive line after an injury-plagued 2023. Playing at right tackle, Lucas stood out for his combination of solid technique, controlled aggression and good spatial awareness, being a key player in the running attack and in protecting the quarterback.
His potential is undeniable, the problem is that he is entering the final year of his contract with injuries in the first three years. He showed great effort during the offseason, training hard to return in good shape in 2025.
Will it be enough?
How much will his extension be?
In the 2024 season, Lucas returned from injury to participate in seven games, playing 406 snaps, after playing 273 in 2023 and 975 in 2022. His PFF-rated performance, for OTs with at least 100 snaps (104 qualifying OTs), was:
Overall Grade: 61.9 (65th out of 104 tackles);
A very good and technical block. He doesn’t block an edge, but rather a DT. So, the idea is not to move this guy many yards back, but to create the angle for the RB’s run. Lucas does this excellently, notice how he uses his hands inside and from above, winning the leverage battle and controlling the opponent.
This is a Dart Run. It is a gap scheme run that works similarly to Power, except that it is the tackle who does the pulling instead of the guard. Lucas has the mobility to get to the LB (since his first target on the DL has already been neutralized) and still takes an excellent angle to create the gap for his RB.
He is an extremely athletic OT with a good snap exit. In addition, he processes the play quickly. He helps push the defender to the TE and already has his eyes on the LB. Lucas blocks him and creates a gap for the RB.
He rarely misses a block at the second level due to lack of athleticism. Here he pulls, processes the play well, slows down the DT and keeps a free hand to stop any rush from the LB (No. 7).
This was certainly one of the things that surprised me the most about Lucas. He came from Washington State, where few runs were called. A scheme similar to the one Charles Cross played (both influenced by the legendary Mike Leach) in Mississippi St. However, Lucas, unlike Cross, showed that he could be dominant in the run game. He starts the double-team with Sataoa Laumea at DT and has the strength to push him several yards...
