‘That Guy is a Monster’: Seahawks Banking on Deven Eastern Bringing Violence to Trenches
From a supply and demand perspective in the NFL, offensive and defensive linemen don’t grow on trees, and it’s even tougher to find 300-plus pound prospects who offer quality athletic traits to go with their sheer size.
As they built their Super Bowl LX-winning squad over the past few seasons, the Seattle Seahawks have pulled a 180 degree turn on that front, particularly on the offensive line. Since 2022, general manager John Schneider has drafted long-term starters in tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas as well as guard Grey Zabel while also unearthing an undrafted gem in center Jalen Sundell. On the opposite side of the ball, he traded for All-Pro defensive tackle Leonard Williams, re-signed veteran Jarran Reed, and drafted a budding star in Byron Murphy II, a trio that now anchors arguably the best defensive front in the league.
Not to rest on his laurels, Schneider continued to build in the trenches in the 2026 NFL Draft, including trading down three times in the final two days to recoup a trio of seventh round draft picks, using one of those selections on versatile Minnesota defensive tackle Deven Eastern to further fortify a stout defensive line for the future.
