X-Factor Could Influence Seahawks’ Draft Decisions Along Offensive Line
Over the course of the past several months, the Seattle Seahawks have orchestrated numerous moves shaking up personnel on offense, including signing Sam Darnold as a replacement for former starting quarterback Geno Smith and jettisoning two iconic receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
But while Seattle has revamped its skill positions, a young offensive line that struggled mightily for most of the 2024 season remains largely unaltered. With the exception of starting guard Laken Tomlinson and reserve tackle leaving in free agency and versatile veteran Josh Jones arriving as a new swing tackle to replace George Fant, no other moves have been made with general manager John Schneider appearing to put all of his chips on the corner betting on an overhauled coaching staff to better develop and maximize on the talent already on the roster.
Such a gamble undoubtedly carries risk, though Schneider’s viewpoint isn’t necessarily a misguided one. The Seahawks have invested seven draft picks in offensive linemen over the past three years, the second-most in the NFL during that span, including a third-round pick on guard Christian Haynes and two sixth rounders on guard Sataoa Laumea and tackle Mike Jerrell last April. With an average age of 24.8 years old, there’s obviously a lot of room for growth with better coaching.
Interestingly, along with expectations remaining high for Haynes to step up as a viable starting guard after a disappointing rookie season, Seattle’s offseason game plan to this point suggests new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and offensive line coach John Benton like the group of centers they inherited. As the headliner of a pretty green unit, former fifth-round pick Olu Oluwatimi started the final nine games last season following the abrupt retirement of Connor Williams, standing out as the lone “experienced” option, but a dark horse may be waiting in the wings to usurp him from the starting role.
At this time a year ago, Jalen Sundell was wrapping up his pre-draft preparation, hoping his FCS All-American pedigree would allow him to hear his name during the 2024 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, that did not happen, and he didn’t even sign an NFL contract as an undrafted free agent until signing with the Seahawks mere days before the start of training camp, which normally spells doom for such a late addition.
However, Sundell beat the seemingly overwhelming odds against him as a delayed undrafted rookie signing, impressing coach Mike Macdonald and the offensive staff with his high football IQ and remarkable positional flexibility. At North Dakota State, he played snaps at all five offensive line spots for the Bison during five years with the program, including starring as a blind side protector at left tackle in his senior season to earn All-MVFC First-Team honors and All-American distinction.
Though the Seahawks had Sundell primarily playing center in training camp and the preseason, he could be seen rotating in at right tackle and both guard spots during practice, illustrating his rare ability to sub in anywhere along the line. After allowing one pressure and no sacks on 38 pass blocking reps in exhibition play, he earned a spot on the final 53-man roster, and for a few weeks in September and October, he dressed instead of Oluwatimi behind Williams, in large part due to his tackle background providing an insurance option at the position with starter Abraham Lucas on the PUP list recovering from knee surgery.
For the vast majority of the regular season, Sundell only saw the field for special teams and a handful of plays as a fullback or sixth offensive lineman. But when Oluwatimi went down in the first quarter of a Week 16 game against Green Bay with a knee injury, he was immediately thrust into action in the middle of a critical prime time game with major playoff implications, the type of pressure cooker that often melts down untested rookies.
Klint Kubiak likely watching this block by Jalen Sundell on repeat as #Seahawks consider their center options for 2025. pic.twitter.com/eDPnXqOQkw— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) March 31, 2025
However, despite Seattle scuffling on offense all night long, especially in the second half when Sam Howell was thrown into the fire following an injury to starting quarterback Geno Smith, Sundell acclimated himself quite well in a 30-13 home defeat. With the Seahawks forced to throw the ball most of the second half trailing by multiple scores, the undrafted rookie locked down his opponents in pass protection, allowing no pressures on 37 pass blocking snaps. He also made an incredible block as a pulling center on a sweep play to reach a safety downfield and help Zach Charbonnet find the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown scamper, showing off his elite athleticism.
For those who weren’t familiar at all with Sundell, that downfield block may have come as a major shock in his first extensive NFL action. But anyone who watched him star for North Dakota State or put on a clinic at his pro day workout would have just seen that play as another day at the office.
At his aforementioned pro day, Sundell earned a fantastic 9.32 Relative Athletic Score, posting excellent 10 and 20-yard split times along with a 30 1/2-inch vertical jump at 301 pounds. Those traits were regularly on display as a pass protector and run blocker for the Bison at multiple positions, as he earned top-10 zone blocking grades for the FCS Division from Pro Football Focus at tackle in 2023 (77.8) as well as center in 2022 (73.7). He was the only player in the FBS or FCS division to produce top-10 grades in that category at two different positions in those seasons.
Sundell’s quickness, explosiveness, and lateral movement skills flashed during the preseason for the Seahawks as well, and he finished ninth out of 40 qualified guards with a 74.6 run blocking grade on zone concepts. That could bode well for his future playing for Kubiak, who dialed up zone calls on north of 70 percent of his running plays with the Saints last season, as well as Benton, whose teams have typically been zone heavy in 20-plus years as an NFL offensive line coach. Both coaches covet mobile blockers who can run and get to the second level, particularly at the center position.
Lack of experience remains a hurdle Sundell will have to clear, at least in terms of NFL snaps, but there’s a lot to love about what he put on film last season, albeit with a small sample size. He showed he had the burst and quicks to handle zone blocking assignments and pulling assignments at the next level while also holding his own in pass protection, providing just enough quality play to create intrigue about his potential and upside for the incoming offensive coaching staff.
Of course, this doesn’t preclude Seattle from drafting a center next month. With 10 picks, including four in the second and third round, Schneider has the ammunition to land a potential future starter at the position or at least a viable third competitor if the board falls the right way.
Regardless, were the season to start tomorrow, Oluwatimi would be the favorite to start after performing well in the second half last season, and the former Rimington Award winner won’t be giving up his job without a fight. With that said, in regard to scheme fit, Sundell has a superior athletic tool box to execute Kubiak’s bread and butter wide zone compared to both his veteran counterpart and this year’s incoming draft class, and the absence of activity pursuing a center in free agency provides further evidence the Seahawks have internal excitement about a competition between the two players, allowing the front office the freedom to not have to force it drafting one simply on need basis.
