Has Jalen Sundell Earned Seahawks Starting Center Spot?
The story of Wally Pipp is a cautionary one. Hardcore baseball fans know the story. The 1925 Yankees had a first baseman named Wally Pipp. He missed some time with severe headaches, allowing for a young player named Lou Gehrig to get some playing time.
Famously, Gehrig set an MLB record of 2,130 consecutive games played and became one of the greatest first basemen in baseball history, obviously preventing Pipp from ever getting his starting job back.
The disclaimer is, of course, this is not to say the Seattle Seahawks have someone on the depth chart that is a future Hall of Famer just waiting for a chance. Still, one lineman is taking full advantage of the assumed starter at his position being out with an injury this preseason.
The center position has been a thorn in Seattle’s side ever since Justin Britt got hurt in the middle of the 2019 season. The Seahawks have had 10 different players take a snap at center in the five and a half seasons since Britt’s injury. One of the most important positions on the offense has been a revolving door for over half a decade now.
Is that changing soon? While he’d be the fourth different starter at the position in as many years, Jalen Sundell has played well enough this preseason to merit consideration for the starting center spot over the past few weeks.
Most went into the 2025 season assuming 2023 fifth-rounder Olu Oluwatimi would be entrenched as the starting center. After all, he took over last year when Connor Williams abruptly retired midseason. It was a mixed bag for Oluwatimi in his first true stretch of games as the main starter. His 64.2 overall Pro Football Focus grade was serviceable, including a decent 65.8 mark in run blocking. His pass blocking left something to be desired, with a 54.8 grade. However, he never allowed a sack in 260 pass blocking snaps.
Oluwatimi is still young, at just 26 years of age. But the fact that he’s been out with an injury for the first two preseason games has allowed someone else to shine in his place. Sundell went undrafted in 2024 and signed with Seattle after completing his college career at North Dakota State, mostly playing special teams in limited action as a rookie last year.
With first-round pick Grey Zabel looking like a lock to start at left guard, Sundell is trying to make it so Seattle has two former North Dakota State teammates in the same starting offensive line playing next to one another. Even more interestingly, the two players were college roommates for three years with the Bison, so they have incredibly close chemistry on and off the field.
With Oluwatimi’s injury, Sundell and rookie Federico Maranges have been the ones at center in the two preseason games. It’s very clear which one is at a better spot than the other right now. Through two preseason games, Sundell has logged 71 snaps at center. In that time, he has earned a solid 77.0 overall PFF grade, including a stellar 84.6 mark in pass protection. He is yet to even allow a single pressure in 34 pass blocking snaps. His run blocking hasn’t sagged either, with a 73.2 grade.
Not only is he earning top marks, but using your eyeballs, he passes the test. His athleticism jumps out. Centers need to be nimble, given they usually try to chase down linebackers or safeties beyond the line of scrimmage in the run game. Sundell has that in spades. He also played left tackle at NDSU, displaying his versatility and athleticism. Most centers don’t have a profile to also play left tackle. His combination of size and athletic ability make it happen.
Among the 43 centers with at least 50 blocking snaps this preseason, Sundell ranks second-best in pass blocking grade and is one of just seven that has not allowed a pressure yet. His overall grade is fourth-best among centers.
Did the Seahawks just find their new starting center? Or is Sundell using his athleticism to prey upon lesser competition in preseason games?
That’s the tricky part of evaluating players during preseason games. What is easy to see, however, is Sundell’s physical gifts that might outweight what Oluwatimi brings to the table as the more experienced player coming from a Power 4 juggernaut in Michigan.
With the Seahawks donning a new offense in 2025, including a new quarterback, now is the time to find their center of the present and future. If Sundell continues playing like he has so far in camp and during preseason games in the exhibition finale in Green Bay, it appears he is that guy. The best ability is availability and Sundell has not only been available, but thrived at center in Oluwatimi’s absence.
One telling sign is that Oluwatimi is back at practice, but it is still Sundell who is taking reps with the starting offense in front of Sam Darnold.
The team has not said anything definitive about who will start at center on September 7 against the 49ers. But for now, the tape speaks for itself, and Wally Pipp may have some unfortunate company to join him.
