Seahawks Scheme Fits: Best Zone Blocking Guards in 2025 NFL Draft
Culminating an offseason that has been full of change for the Seattle Seahawks, the franchise will enter the 2025 NFL Draft holding 10 selections, including five in the first 92 picks, presenting a prime opportunity to bolster their roster with an infusion of young talent.
Among Seattle’s most pressing needs coming out of free agency, as has been the case for multiple seasons running, the franchise still has lingering concerns in the interior of the offensive line after failing to land veteran guard Will Fries and not making any other signings at the position thus far. While general manager John Schneider has expressed optimism a new coaching staff featuring offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, line coach John Benton, and run game coordinator Rick Dennison can maximize on the talent of returning players Christian Haynes, Anthony Bradford, and Sataoa Laumea, drafting a guard who fits their zone-centric scheme sits atop the list of priorities rolling into the draft later this month.
Looking for athletic blockers who excel on the move, which prospects in this year’s 2025 class stand out as the best fits for Kubiak’s offense? Split into first round candidates, day two candidates, and day three candidates, here are 13 guards who represent the best potential options for the Seahawks:
First Round
Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Highly sought after as a top-10 recruit in his class, the Longhorns landed a major prize when Banks committed to play in Austin and he immediately earned a starting job at left tackle, receiving Freshman All-American honors. Aside from missing the SEC championship last season, he has been incredibly durable, starting 42 games as the blindside protector over the past three seasons. Few players were more consistently dominant during that span, as he surpassed a 98.4 pass block efficiency rate in all three seasons and surrendered a grand total of 34 pressures while steadily improving as a run defender along the way, wrapping up his career by winning the Lombardi Trophy as the nation’s top lineman.
Most teams would keep Kelvin Banks Jr. at tackle, but I'm very intrigued by his potential as a guard in a zone-centric scheme. Light on his feet, plus-lateral movement skills to be able to reach, hook defenders inside out.
Would be enticing fit for #Seahawks in first round. pic.twitter.com/g54EHABvJm— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) April 9, 2025
At 6-5, 315 pounds, Banks offers the size, length, and athleticism to hold his own as a tackle at the next level, though his hand placement will have to be shored up to handle speed rushers and maintain locks on them in pass protection. Due to his quickness and smooth change of direction skills, however, some teams may be inclined to consider shifting him to guard, a position that he did not play at Texas. There are certainly transferrable traits in place for him to be an All-Pro guard in time, starting with an elite quick slide and the ability to execute all types of move blocks that have been on display as a tackle. If the Seahawks want to invest the 18th overall pick on a guard who can dominate in Kubiak’s system, he fits the bill as the prospect with the highest ceiling of the bunch that would justify such a high selection.
Tyler Booker, Alabama
A mountain of a man at 6-5, 325 pounds, Booker emerged as one of the SEC’s premier offensive linemen as a two-year starter for the Crimson Tide, earning First-Team All-SEC honors in 2024. While he posted outstanding pass protection numbers without allowing a single sack in 2024, he’s far from an elite athlete and tested relatively poorly in Indianapolis, creating questions about whether or not he has the traits to be a scheme-flexible prospect and conjuring up bad memories of former Alabama standouts such as Alex Leatherwood who flamed out in the league. With Alabama running more gap schemes than zone, putting him in a system such as Kubiak’s requires projection more so than other top flight guards in this class.
IMO, Tyler Booker still needs to be in consideration for #Seahawks at 18 if he's available.
He can create horizontal and vertical displacement as a blocker and he has so many second level pancakes on tape. There's plenty to work with here - don't care about agility testing. pic.twitter.com/5lCsLlV7oF— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) April 9, 2025
However, Booker offsets perceived below average lateral mobility and quickness with outstanding technique, excelling at taking quality angles out of his stance to consistently win on reach blocks by utilizing his excellent length and finding a way to get his hands on defenders at the second level. Contrary to the narrative some draft pundits have tried to drive home this spring, he’s more than capable of winning with vertical and horizontal displacement in gap and zone schemes alike, regularly finishing off helpless defenders downfield with pancakes. Drafting him would likely require Kubiak to adapt a bit by implementing less wide zone and more gap runs than he has in the past, but he’s a mauling alpha who isn’t a one trick pony and should be better equipped to handle a zone-centric scheme than his athletic testing would indicate.
Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
The latest Bison offensive lineman to burst onto the scene as a viable NFL prospect, Zabel wore many hats in Fargo, seeing snaps at all five offensive line positions over the course of his five seasons with the FCS powerhouse. Jumping into the lineup during his sophomore campaign, he made five starts at right tackle and one at left guard while also playing some snaps at center, turning that audition into a full-time starting job at left guard in 2023. As a senior, he moved to left tackle and turned in a dominant season protecting the blind side, yielding seven pressures and one sack on 453 pass blocking snaps and posting an elite 86.4 run blocking grade, earning All-American honors and a Senior Bowl invite for the national champions.
Built with a lean 6-6, 312-pound frame that holds room for added muscle, Zabel’s natural athleticism - he posted a ridiculous 36 1/2-inch vertical jump in Indy - and fluid movement skills shine on zone concepts both as a tackle and a guard, as he regularly wins the position battle on reach blocks to seal defenders and can do damage at the second level. His lack of length will be a concern for some teams, as he will have to have a quick trigger to get his hands into defenders at the next level, but the proof is in the pudding with elite 84.5 and 87.2 zone blocking grades as a tackle in his final two collegiate seasons and a dynamic week dominating opponents at the Senior Bowl. Bringing a touch of nastiness with his top-flight athletic ability, he’s an ideal match for Kubiak’s scheme and should be in the mix for the first pick if available.
Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
A rare three-year starter for the Buckeyes given the amount of NFL talent that comes through Columbus, Jackson garnered All-Big Ten distinction in 2022 and 2023 as a stalwart guard in Ohio State’s prolific offensive machine, yielding just three sacks during that span protecting C.J. Stroud and Kyle McCord. He opened his senior season at left guard before an injury to tackle Joshua Simmons forced him to slide outside and initially, he struggled transitioning to left tackle, surrendering two sacks and five pressures in a rough start against Penn State. But he adapted smoothly from there and didn’t allow another sack in the final eight games of the season, showcasing unexpected positional versatility for NFL scouts.
Athletic Western Michigan blocker Addison West moved to center due to an injury against Ohio State - the eventual national champions - and put the best game on tape I've seen from a center in this draft class.
He played guard rest of the year. 94.4 zone blocking grade (!). pic.twitter.com/FtjyHzDz2z— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) April 9, 2025
As demonstrated with his successful run at tackle, the 6-4, 315-pound Jackson has above average movement skills that allow him to consistently reach defenders on wide zone runs and flip his hips open to sprint out into space on pulling assignments with ease. He also has plenty of punch at the point of attack and can drive defensive tackles off the ball when called upon. As a tackle, Jackson graded out as PFF’s 40th best run blocker with a solid 74.3 score and he sat in the middle of the pack as a guard in 2023 (66.5), but that latter grade doesn’t match with the tape, where he had no problem executing stretch blocks with his mobility and offered a finishing touch driving defenders to the turf. He’s very much in the first round conversation now and would make sense for the Seahawks as a plug-and-play starter with the 18th pick.
Day 2 - Second/Third Round
Tate Ratledge, Georgia
Entering his senior season viewed as one of the top guard prospects in the 2025 class after yielding no sacks as a junior in 2023, Ratledge suffered a serious high ankle sprain in September and had to undergo tight rope surgery, forcing him to miss four games in the heat of the SEC schedule. Upon his return, it took him a while to get his legs back underneath him, as he struggled before getting benched in a Week 11 loss to Ole Miss. But the 6-6, 308-pound blocker found his rhythm at the tail end of the year and finished with just seven pressures allowed on 311 pass blocking reps, still managing to earn First-Team All-SEC recognition despite the injury and landing on the Senior Bowl roster.
Some were surprised by Tate Ratledge's athletic testing, but his agility/quicks have long been an underrated part of his game.
Love his ability to get to linebacker, then hook him back inside, springing back for big gain. That will play in a zone scheme like #Seahawks. pic.twitter.com/8z87zlWHmm— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) April 9, 2025
Built more like a tackle at nearly 6-7, Ratledge has been best known for moving defenders off the line of scrimmage at the point of attack and when healthy as a three-year starter in Athens, he cut his teeth as a high motor agitator who loves to bully from snap to whistle. But his height creates natural leverage issues and when opponents can get their hands on him first, they can get underneath his pads. To help limit those opportunities, he may be best suited for a zone-heavy scheme like Kubiak’s where his elite athleticism showcased at the combine can be maximized blocking on the move, and he has a good track record in that department receiving 71.4 and 74.5 zone blocking grades from PFF in the past two seasons. Already a polished pass protector, his top-notch athletic traits and nastiness as a run blocker could push him into the first round or early on day two, making him a candidate worth it for the Seahawks to trade up for.
Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
Quickly finding a home in the starting lineup, Savaiinaea bounced around at multiple positions for the Wildcats in three seasons with the program, beginning his career at guard before transitioning to tackle as a junior last season. Posting a career pass blocking efficiency rate of 98.2 percent per PFF, he enjoyed his greatest success as a pass protector inside, allowing four sacks in 2024 when tasked with playing significant snaps at left tackle. He earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 recognition in his final year before declaring for the NFL Draft and then surprised with a better than expected performance at the NFL combine.
With near 34-inch arms, Savaiinaea has enough length to potentially stay at the right tackle spot in the league, but his stellar athletic testing doesn’t match on-field play consistently when lined up on the outside on an island against speedy rushers. Already offering extensive experience at guard, moving back to the interior would seem to be his best bet at the next level, and if there’s reason for optimism about him fitting in well in Kubiak’s scheme in Seattle, he demonstrated marked growth as a zone blocker from both tackle spots in 2024, receiving a 69.5 grade from PFF. His quickness and initial explosiveness should lend well towards winning as a blocker on the move and he has a track record of cleaning up at the second level, so the tools are in place for him to be a potential long-term starting guard as a day two target.
Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
Jumping into the starting lineup for the Mountaineers early in his college career, Milum eclipsed 600 snaps in all four of his seasons with the Mountaineers, initially playing right tackle as a freshman before flipping to the left side as his permanent home for the final three seasons with the program. Incredibly, he didn’t allow a single sack from his sophomore year onward, finishing his college career with a pass blocking efficiency rate of 98.3 percent and surrendering fewer than 10 pressures in 2023 and 2024. He also graded out as the second-best run blocking tackle per Pro Football Focus (90.0) last season, earning First-Team All-Big 12 distinction and landing a spot in the Senior Bowl.
Athletic Western Michigan blocker Addison West moved to center due to an injury against Ohio State - the eventual national champions - and put the best game on tape I've seen from a center in this draft class.
He played guard rest of the year. 94.4 zone blocking grade (!). pic.twitter.com/FtjyHzDz2z— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) April 9, 2025
Standing 6-6 and weighing 313 pounds, Milum plays with a powerful base and an ornery demeanor in pass protection and as a run blocker, rarely getting bullied on bull rushes and locking his feet into the ground to thwart opposing power. Though not the most nimble athlete and had an average at best combine performance, he takes good tracks out of his stance on zone schemes reaching defenders and has exhibited enough movement skills to excel in any scheme. Due to sawed-off arms and lingering athleticism questions, teams will be faced with a difficult decision regarding where he will play in the NFL. But in the case of the Seahawks, guard would be the best option to accentuate his strengths, as he finished third among tackles with a 90.0 zone blocking grade in 2024 and projects to be a strong fit as a wide zone blocker from the interior.
Marcus Mbow, Purdue
Starting three seasons for the Boilermakers, Mbow transitioned from guard to tackle prior to his redshirt sophomore season, finding a home at right tackle in his last two campaigns with the program. Playing for one of the worst teams in the Big Ten, he didn’t have much support around him, resulting in a career-worst 25 pressures and three sacks allowed in 2024. Still, he managed to garner Honorable Mention all-conference recognition and an invite to the Senior Bowl, rebuilding his draft stock a bit in Mobile while playing both tackle and guard in the all-star event.
Another smooth athlete at tackle who could benefit from sliding inside in the league: Purdue's Marcus Mbow.
He glides out of his stance - consistently beating opponents to his spot and sealing them to create creases for running backs. Exciting athlete with some pop in his hands… pic.twitter.com/0JrtyuNaSN— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) April 9, 2025
Barely weighing 300 pounds, Mbow isn’t going to ragdoll opponents in the trenches, but he offers fight at the point of attack above his weight class. Playing tackle exposed his lack of length and led to issues oversetting against speed rushers, making him vulnerable to inside counters. Moving back inside seems inevitable for multiple reasons, as he enjoyed his best success as a pass protector at guard in college and his elite lateral agility lends itself well to zone blocking and getting out in space, evidenced by his 81.3 zone blocking grade as a tackle last season. His ability to effortlessly climb to the second level and react on the fly as a blocker should jump out in the scouting process to the Seahawks as a second or third round target to bolster the interior.
Day 3 - Fourth-Seventh Round
Luke Kandra, Cincinnati
Starting his college career at Louisville, Kandra saw significant snaps at both guard spots as a sophomore for the Cardinals in 2022, but he chose to transfer to nearby Cincinnati to follow Scott Satterfield, who took over as the Bearcats new coach. Entrenched as the starter at right guard for his final two collegiate seasons, he made dramatic improvements in pass protection as a senior, allowing no sacks after giving up four of them in 2023 and improving his pass block efficiency rating by 1.5 percent. Though he was a First-Team All-Big 12 selection, he didn't participate in the Senior Bowl or East/West Shrine Bowl.
A powerful 6-5, 319 pounds, Kandra throws heavy hands and has enough pop to throw a violent punch in the run game as a drive blocker, but he also will surprise in the zone run game, winning more with technique than pure athleticism on reach blocks. Playing in a phone booth helps mitigate his sub-32-inch arms to an extent and he’s a better athlete than advertised, illustrated by his 32 1/2-inch vertical jump and 4.78 short shuttle time. PFF scored him as one of their top 10 zone blocking guards in 2023 (86.1) and he still finished 25th in that department last season, so while questions may remain about his athletic viability in a zone blocking scheme, his track record suggests he’s more than capable of playing in Kubiak’s system in Seattle as a day three pick.
Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
Originally signing with Georgia as a heralded five-star recruit, off-field issues led to Webb being subject to a lawsuit and departing the program after his redshirt freshman year to take his talents to Jacksonville State for a fresh start. Turning his life around and re-establishing himself as a viable NFL prospect outside of a Power 4 conference, he thrived as a three-year starter at left guard for the Gamecocks, finishing his standout college career giving up just seven pressures and receiving an 82.7 run blocking grade as a senior while being named First-Team All-Conference USA and securing an invite to Mobile for the Senior Bowl.
Not the biggest prospect at 6-3, 310 pounds, Webb’s lack of length with 32-inch arms coupled with his smaller frame could be far more problematic at the next level and may even lead to him moving back to center, his natural position coming out of high school. However, despite surprisingly not testing well in the 3-cone and short shuttle, he’s a glider from the guard spot who has elite lateral quickness out of his stance, allowing him to consistently beat opponents to his spot on zone runs. Few guards were better on such concepts over the past two seasons, as he received top-10 grades from PFF in 2024 (84.9) and 2023 (87.5). A jump in competition will bear watching, but as long as character questions check out, he offers all the tools Seattle will be seeking at guard.
Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
A home-grown product who starred at Newport High School in Bellevue, Slater somehow didn't receive offers from any of the big schools in Washington or Oregon, ultimately landing with Sacramento State at the FCS level. He became a full-time starter at guard during his true freshman season and followed up by earning FCS All-American honors in two of his final three seasons with the Hornets along with three All-Big Sky selections, earning an invite to the Senior Bowl where he impressed against superior competition in Mobile.
Though he's on the shorter side with a 6-3, 311-pound frame and short 32-inch arms, he uses his length well in pass protection to keep his hands glued to defenders and he’s excellent at mirroring them with light feet, which also translates to the run game working in space. An outstanding athlete who produced a 9.43 Relative Athletic Score, he was equally effective as a drive blocker on gap runs and movement blocker on zone runs as a senior, showcasing marked improvement as an all-around blocker. Considering the level of competition he starred against, it may take time for him to develop at the next level, but with his athletic traits and steady growth in the run blocking department, he could be a high ceiling late round flier for the Seahawks to take a shot on.
Willie Lampkin, North Carolina
One of the smallest offensive linemen to enter the NFL draft discussion in decades, the 5-10, 279-pound Lampkin uses his short stature to his advantage from a leverage standpoint, thumping opponents with powerful, large 10 3/8-inch hands and consistently winning the battle to get underneath defensive tackles’ pads. Going against NFL size, it may be difficult for that success to translate with him giving up 50 or more pounds to most of his competition, but landing in the right scheme where he can utilize his athleticism could be the difference in regard to whether he makes it in the league or not.
During two seasons in Chapel Hill, Lampkin graded out as one of PFF’s best zone blocking guards, ranking third in 2024 (90.4) and 19th in 2023 (80.3). Compensating for his size deficiencies, his athleticism on the field looks far better than his Relative Athletic Score would suggest, as obviously low scores in height and weight automatically lowered his score before even considering his testing results. But he posted an excellent 1.76 10-yard split and a respectable 4.70 short shuttle, exhibiting the burst and quickness necessary to thrive in a zone-centric scheme like the one Kubiak deploys, and for those counting him out, he has a shot to be a day three bargain in the right landing spot.
Addison West, Western Michigan
Playing in the MAC instead of a Power 4 conference, no guard - or lineman for that matter - may be hovering more under the radar entering this draft cycle than West, a three-year starter for the Broncos who developed from an average mid-major guard into a consensus All-American selection as a senior. Over the course of his final two years on campus, he allowed a combined six pressures and no sacks in pass protection on more than 800 passing snaps, and he was nearly as dominant in the run game receiving overall grades of 83.9 and 94.4 in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Yet he somehow didn’t receive an invite to the combine or an invite to any all-star showcases.
Athletic Western Michigan blocker Addison West moved to center due to an injury against Ohio State - the eventual national champions - and put the best game on tape I've seen from a center in this draft class.
He played guard rest of the year. 94.4 zone blocking grade (!). pic.twitter.com/FtjyHzDz2z— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) April 9, 2025
One of the reasons West has remained on the periphery in terms of draft attention is his size, as he’s only 6-2, 300 pounds, far smaller than most of the guard prospects in this draft class. Level of competition has also likely been a catalyst for him staying undetected, but on film, he exhibits plenty of scrappiness as a drive blocker to go with soft feet and top-flight quickness for his position. Leading the way to his All-American selection, PFF graded him as the best zone blocking guard in the nation (93.3) last season and he finished fourth in 2023 (88.8). He’s likely a late day three selection at this stage, but the Seahawks would be a great landing spot for him to have a shot at his college success translating to the next level in a movement-based blocking scheme.
